Sea Life Chapter 13

Eagle Atlanta

30^th March 2006 to 19^th November 2006

I was suppose to enjoy my 5 months paid leave as promise by the company, but they use my friendship with Kenneth to get me to join one month earlier. Kenneth need to go back urgently to settle some legal paperwork on his property, but the company could not get replacement for him in the past few months. I happen to be enjoying my well earn paid leave during this period and I became an easy target as usual because of my soft hearted nature.

One of engineer which I had sail with once told me that our paid leave are not as good as we thought, taking into account of the Public Holiday and Weekends that we have to work it is only a reasonable compensation. The company did try to convince us to switch our tanker allowance to paid leave, but most disagree with it because it is just a delay payment which allow the company to earn more interest.

Same like AWS (Annual Wages Supplement), it is introduce when they change the weekly payment of salary to monthly payment. 4 weeks will come to 28 days, but other than February all the other months had more than 28 days. Taking into account of 2 to 3 days extra for each month and not counting the extra 1 day for the leap year which occur every 4 years, the AWS still short change you by 1 day as the extra days amount to 29 days.

I met CJ again and he is Fourth Engineer now, there is also China Third Engineer Fu Sheng who is always calculating his salary and bonus. I told him that if he would spend more effort on his job, he would have become a better engineer. But he still more interested in his paint business back in China, I am glad that his mentality did not affect the China Fifth Engineer Ming Fan.

There is an incident which happen on one of the vessel where an engineer got injure by the door swing out under pressure, the engine room is always maintain under positive pressure for all tanker ship to prevent toxic gas from entering. The company ask all the ship to start measuring the air pressure inside the engine room with various condition of door open and shut or fan running on ventilation or exhaust mode.

I remember when I was fifth engineer on Neptune Crux, we encounter Typhoon when going to Korea for loading. Whole vessel was down with sea sick, and when I go to control room for tea break I saw all the engineer laying flat on the floor. I feel a bit awark being the only one siting up, so I decided to join them and lay down on the floor.

Chief Engineer came down to see how we are doing in engine room, he open the control room door and saw all his engineer laying down on the floor. He thought we were overcome by toxic gases and he quickly shut the door again, after thinking for a while he realized that it is just sea sick so he question me why I lay down when I am not even sea sick like the rest.

I also encounter a few rough sea during my cadet ship, and it was so bad that only me and pump man were still standing. I keep watch in engine control room controlling the engine speed to prevent over speed while the pump man steer the vessel on the wheel house. I always make egg sandwich for Chung Hun and Eric whenever they got sea sick, and funny thing is that the Second Engineer always visit them in their cabin to ask if they had feel better so that they can go down engine room to work again.

Chief Engineer Patrick join later with his wife, he decided to on his honeymoon mode when he saw me onboard. The number of time he go to engine can be count with fingers on one hand and the numbers of time he went ashore with Captain cannot be count with both hand and feet.

Before I join the vessel we already had a lot of piping problems, Kenneth had requested for piping material and a welder for the repair but the material only arrive after he had sign off. The welder never came after a very long time, and we are also busy with main engine bearing job on top of a lot of oil major inspection.

The ship use a common telephone exchange system and some of the cabins are sharing the same line under the common server. I try to assist the Electrician on the issue when we encounter some issue with the system and found that only those with three connection will work well. We only have spare for those two connection type, in order to resolve the issue I had to replace one of the two phone in my cabin with the one with two connection.

As I am sharing the same line with one of the AB, I had to off the ringer for the bedroom phone to prevent them from waking me up when they call the AB for night duties. Then there was one occasion where the Chief Engineer cannot get me on the phone and he report the issue to the Captain and claim that I am irresponsible.

Got another occasion he was force to carry out the main engine bearing job with the China Third Engineer, the Third Engineer had done the job many time together with me and he should be able to handle it without any issue. But the China Fifth Engineer told me later that the Third Engineer was not familiar with the Special Tools and cause a lot of delay on the job.

I was really disappointed with the company as I had told them I am planning to get married after this vessel, they had promise to get a replacement after 5 to 6 months but they back out of their word. I had to cancel all my reservation and redo all my planning after I sign off after 8 months and I thought to myself it is time for me to leave this life behind.

Sea Life Chapter 10

Eagle Tucson

28^th July 2004 to 19^th March 2005

I join this vessel as Second Engineer, Kenneth was there to guide me on most of the paperwork require. My batch mate James had been sailing on various vessels and writing operation manual for all the same type of vessels, it had become a very useful project for the whole fleet.

This vessel had a few issues with the generators, one of the design failure is the lub oil purification inlet and outlet were position side by side which cause a short circuit that reduce the efficiency of the purification process. This was later resolve by modification of the piping system by shift the inlet away from the outlet at another location near to the flywheel.

Another issue is there are no water washing arrangement for the turbo charger, and we have to remove the newly design scoop type turbine blade for cleaning every month. This issue was resolved later when the maker install the modified water washing arrangement.

The last issue is the Exhaust Valve Spindle Stem Seal was not design to withstand high temperature, so failure of the stem seal cause large amount of lub oil going into the combustion chamber and cause a lot of carbon deposit. This worsen the situation for the turbo charger with the previous two issues, but this was resolve earlier with new spare which is able to withstand high temperature.

I once ask the Indian Fourth Engineer to ease up all the vent flap in the engine room during one Saturday as we are doing our Saturday Routine, he told me that he had already completed the job by morning tea break. I saw the condition were mostly rusted and seize in open position, I am not sure if he is so strong that he is able to ease up all of them within two hours.

I went around and check on the job and found that most of it were not done, some of the pull chain were also damage and require some repair. So the Electrician was surprise that I as an Senior Officer had to carry out the job myself when he saw me in the engine room going around with hammer, pliers and grease gun to repair and ease up all the vent flap. Electrician respect me a lot for that, but I am more concern about the safety of the vessel as it is critical for us to isolate the ventilation in case of fire.

I heard that my batch mate Chung Hun also do the EGE (Exhaust Gas Economizer) Washing himself when he sail with Chief Engineer Ahmad when he was Second Engineer. This is the Leadership by Example that I had learn during my army training, and I don't think this mentality will be able to pass down after we quit sailing.

We are not concern whether the job is difficult or hard, the more we do the more experience we gain. We have seen a lot of young engineer only concern about their pay, welfare and promotion, they are not interested in improving their knowledge and experience. The company culture had make us more competent as compare to other, and we are able to adapt to various situation with ease.

I remember when I am sailing on one of the ship as third engineer, the chief engineer was surprised that I am able to carry out Generator Overhaul alone as it is using hydraulic jack to loosen and tighten the nuts. Usually for those using Torque Wench would require at least two person.

Sea Life Chapter 9

Eagle Boston

4^th November 2002 to 4^th May 2003

I join this vessel in New York, but I did not get any chance to visit New York. The only place I get to visit is Philadelphia, and when I join the vessel my luggage was detained by the airport security for inspection and it arrive later with some damage on the locking arrangement. The vessel had very good voyage of going between America and Canada, and I had the worst Chinese Food in my life when I went to the Chinese Restaurant to have dinner in Canada.

The vessel went to Portugal for docking toward the end of my contract, and we encounter a lot of issues with the System Monitoring and Alarm Panel after the docking. I had notice abnormal low insulation with the 440 volt electrical panel when the yard side connect the shore power supply, they have their cable soak in the water and even after bringing up the issue to Electrician, Chief Engineer and Superintendent with no result.

As the panel is very sensitive to the current, abnormal defects start to happen after we complete the docking repair, I help Electrician troubleshoot and isolate a few of the control card in the server unit. I also had to savage some part from old computer to fix the work terminal, the only part lacking is a very old type of network card which they manage to found it in Russia after I sign off.

The Superintendent is my previous Chief Engineer Firoz, nobody are able to stand his Donald Duck voice nagging. I am not sure why he like to chat with me so much, got once he told me he wanted to get the Inert Gas Fan Casing de rust and coated as I had open it up for survey inspection. He was thinking whether to use hardener paint or epoxy for the coating, before he could make up his mind I had already completed the job with his initial instruction of using epoxy.

He told me that I should not have carry out the job myself and should have ask one of the junior engineer to do it, I told him that all the other engineers are also busy with other jobs and it doesn't really take much time to complete the job. Chief Engineer Paul was doing the docking with me, he later became the Superintendent for Bunga Kelana Satu after Superintendent Ang left the company.

I join Bunga Kelana Satu later when Superintendent Ang challenge me when I met him on Eagle Atlanta, I thought I had seen so many difficult ship in my life how difficult can Bunga Kelana Satu be? I was wrong when I board the vessel later in my life and I found out that 70% of the machinery are not working and they had been discharging cargo without Inert Gas System.

The vessel was handover by Malaysia Company when our tanker fleet was brought over, the vessel was only 8 years old but it was much worst than 30 years old ship which I had encounter later when I did a FPSO conversion project in Indonesia. The first Second Engineer resign after three months, the other Second Engineer emergency sign off after three months too and I took over.

Actually the Malaysia Port Authority rejected my application due to their requirement for Senior Officer with at least a year experience. My sea time was just short by two months, and the company was suppose to take me out when the temporary permit for three months expired. The office was surprise that I am able to last so long on that ship without requesting for signing off, so they decided to keep quite about the whole incident until the Malaysia Port Authority discover that I am still serving onboard after 5 months and threaten to impose a very heavy fine on the company before they told me I had to sign off at the next port of call in America.

I was suppose to attend the court case of the Austin Incinerator Incident in America after I sign off, but due to Visa requirement I would need to fly out of the country first and return back on a Tourist Visa instead of Seamen Transit Visa. The company actually arrange for me to fly to Canada for the reentry but after speaking to the company lawyer on the phone they think that I present is not require and I fly back to Singapore direct from America after that.

Sea Life Chapter 7

Eagle Auriga

5^th March 2002 to 6^th September 2002

I join this vessel after the 911 incident, my sign off had delay for a month due to security issues and both me and the Second Officer had to go to the airport at least 5 hours before the flight for the security clearance procedure. We are the first to try out the procedure after the 911 incident and the check in luggage had to be open up for inspection and all the items inside had to be wipe by a chemical paper to check for any explosive content.

I had manage to break up with my girlfriend due to her unreasonable demand of long phone call which is not possible after the 911 incident. I had went for a backpacking trip to China spending a week each in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing after that.

I took over the Generator from another third engineer and all are due for major overhaul, we mange to complete one of the major overhaul with two second engineer in just two days before one of them sign off and the other one took over.

The remaining two generator had to be done over the span of six day with two units per day as we had a lot of STS Operation after that. The other engineers will keep 6 on 6 off watch while me and fifth engineer will carry out the overhaul during the short voyage out of the river.

Most of my time are spend on preparing the cylinder heads at the Generator Platform, each generator had 6 cylinder heads and each cylinder head will take about a day or two to prepare. With the major overhaul of all the three generators with 18 cylinder heads to prepare and service, most of my time on this ship are spend on the job.

There are a lot of leakage around the engine room, cleaning also took up most of our time as there are a lot of oil major inspection coming one after another. Fifth Engineer CJ is always complaining about the job, but his complain doesn't really have any effect and in the end he still had to carry out most of the job against his own will.

Second Engineer Sam doesn't really talk much, he became a contrast to Chief Engineer Patrick who join later who like to talk a lot. Chief Engineer Patrick join the company after he left another better company when he was third engineer, he always comparing how life were better in the previous company. When he first join this company he cannot get use to the fact that most of the job had to be carry out by engineers ourselves, he use to having engine crews in the previous company and all he have to do is just supervision.

Our company happen to let other company manage 4 of our vessels later towards the end of my sailing career, one of my fourth engineer met the crew from the other company and try to chat with them about machinery maintenance. He realize that the engine crews actually know more about the machinery than the engineers as they are the one that do the actual job.

Chief Engineer Patrick told me more about the famous Rogina, he was sailing on one of the vessel and Rogina was the Third Officer. Most of the guys onboard were very interested in her but she only have eyes for a fourth engineer name Soh Hai. So one day the fourth engineer went to Chief Engineer Patrick and start crying and saying that he had been sexually harass by the Third Officer. When Patrick ask about the details he found out that Rogina had brought some candles and light a path from fourth engineer cabin leading to her cabin.

I had heard about how two of the girls from my batch had join a container ship and turn the vessel into a love boat where one having a relationship with Second Officer and the other had relationship with Third Engineer. There is also a Professional Third Engineer who sail on one vessel with his wife, when the vessel arrive Singapore the office inform him that his wife had requested to join the vessel. He start to panic and that is when they realize that he is having two wives in different countries, some rumor say he actually got three wives in three different countries too.

Sea Life Chapter 6, 8 and 11

Eagle Centaurus

3^rd April 2001 to 9^th October 2001

26^th December 2002 to 31^st July 2003

14^th April 2005 to 19^th May 2005

This installment consist of three chapters, namely Chapter 6, Chapter 8 and Chapter 11. Usually the company like to send me to different ships for me to gain more experience and expose myself to different configurations and machinery type. But this vessel is one of the top three difficult vessel where Bunga Kelana Satu at first place and Eagle Auriga at second place. Even Neptune Orion and American Pegasus had to fall to fourth and fifth place.

I had sail on this vessel three times, twice as Third Engineer and once as Second Engineer. The Second Engineer duration only for about a month as I was activated last minute by the company to bring the vessel for docking repair in Portugal. The Outgoing Bangladesh Second Engineer had tender resignation and the Incoming Bangladesh Second Engineer still not confident enough after one month of double up.

The first time I sail on this ship I join with my Cadet Ship Professional Third Engineer Falzan, he just got married to Rogina and had pursuit his further studies of Class Two COC. I never understand why he always get very frustrated whenever he is unable to get his wife when he call, then one of the AB who join ship with me told me about the History of his wife.

She was Third Officer on one of the vessel and one of the AB going to get married with her, the AB already brought the Diamond Ring for the proposal but an incident happen during her cargo watch and the AB was one of the three casualty that die in the pump room. He met her when he attend the funeral and that was the remaining part of the story after that.

The Chief Cook like me a lot, he thought I bring luck to him when he gamble. So during one of the port stay in America I did not get to sleep for 72 hours. I am keeping 4/8 watch, the first evening the Third Officer want me to go Hong Kong Bar open by a Vietnamese guy with him. The next day morning I went to visit NASA Space Center, then that evening the Chief Cook want me to go Casino with him, The following day morning I go to shopping mall and supermarket get some stuffs for the SRC, then that night the cargo discharging finish and the ship not sailing off until the next day so Third Engineer want me to go Strip Club with him.

The first three months was quite ok with some short voyage to Mexico, but the last two months we are doing about 8 STS Operation per months. So we get to alongside port twice every week and have been keeping watch round the clock, the Chief Cook always prepare special for me in the kitchen and I put on 20 Kg of weight on this vessel. When I sign off and go back Singapore, my mom doesn't even recognize me anymore.

The ship staffs gamble a lot every evening, the Captain finally put a stop after Third Officer lose three months of his salary. But Chief Cook still visit casino often, I heard he miss the schedule for ship departure after I sign off because of his casino visit.

The second time I join this vessel with Chief Engineer Ahmad, Raphael was the Second Engineer who join later and sign off together with me in United Kingdom. There is another China Fourth Engineer Guang Dong onboard, we became very close and became the three musketeers.

Chief Engineer Ahmad is still very short temper as usual, and most Electrician are afraid of him because he always like to fiddle around with controller and spoil it. I remember I need to run around engine room to manually control Jacket Water Temperature, Scavage Air Temperature and Fuel Oil Pressure when we do maneuvering operation for 36 hours voyage up the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge during my cadet ship.

This time round I was told to overhaul the Jacket Water Cooling Pneumatic Control Valve as it is always stuck in one of the position. The telfon seal rings were found to be wear off and renew of the seal ring solve the issue, Chief Ahmad was very happy and start to take credit for his expertise in pneumatic control system.

Then the problem came for the sewage treatment plant, me and another Indian fourth engineer were appointed to carry out the repair as Chief Engineer Ahmad, Second Engineer Raphael and Fourth Engineer Guang Dong will be busy with the Main Engine Cross Head Bearing Replacement.

I found out that the three way valve for the sewage treatment plant was fitted wrongly, so whenever we open it to overboard it is going to the plant and whenever we open it to plant it is shut and not going to plant or overboard. This mistake must have been there since the last docking as the plant have a lot of waste which are not discompose by the bacteria. We have to dose the yeast to cultivate the bacteria again and ban the use of harpic on toilet.

Raphael told me they forgot the aluminum spacer for the cross head stopper plug during the replacement, as the material is very soft it should not cost any damage to the unit. It was later that I bring the vessel for docking that I found out that the office had to send a service engineer to supervise the cross head replacement due to damage on the gliding shoe bearing surface.

There is also another service engineer from Yanmar to supervise the Cam Shaft replacement for one of the Generator Engine as pitting damage was found on the cam surface. The service engineer became very close to me as I had provided a lot of assistance to him, I met him again when I encounter some problem with cargo pump on one of the new build project in Thailand.

There was an oil spill from the clean drain tank due to misoperation of the three way valve, the scavenge air pressure went into the clean drain tank and the tank overflow. It should have switch to the bilge tank with the orifice plate when main engine is in operation as the diversion to clean drain tank is just for drain of remaining water residue when the main engine is stop.

It was a very small issue but Chief Ahmad start to throw his temper, he threw the whole tray of fried fish on Chief Cook when he went for his dinner. He is very frustrated with the fixed weekly menu onboard the ship, we usually know which day of the week by just looking at what dish the Chief Cook prepare for that day. Fourth Engineer Guang Dong suffer most, he say before we join all the food is yellow in colour but now is all red in colour.

Fourth Engineer Guang Dong encounter some issue with the Purifier, he ask for my help. We could not figure out the actual problem, so we ask Raphael who had more experience. He found out that the telfon plugs supply by the company are not original but fabricated instead, we had to measure every piece to ensure the height match before we can get it to work.

Since I became Second Engineer I did not get any time to enjoy my paid leave, I met Kenneth on Eagle Tucson when I first became Second Engineer. I extent my stay for 8 months due to company unable to find replacement when i am due for sign after 5 months, and less than a month later they activate me to bring Eagle Centaurus for Dry Dock. I attend the wedding of Dennis right after I get off my flight and within two weeks I had to join Bunga Kelana Satu due to my Neptune Crux Second Engineer Saleh emergency sign off in Singapore due to steam burn on his leg when he overhaul the Boiler Circulating Pump.

The company promise me to let me enjoy my five months of leave after that vessel but finally activate me a month before to join Eagle Atlanta as Kenneth need to settle some paperwork on his property in Malaysia. Eagle Atlanta was the last vessel I sail with the company as I am getting married and was very disappointed with the Chief Engineer Patrick who sail with me before on Eagle Auriga.

I join the vessel for the third time in America as I will need to do tank cleaning for the bunker tank before the vessel enter dry dock. The two weeks long voyage from America to Europe are use to prepare the vessel for the docking, the crews standard had drop and most of the task I had to handle by myself.

I was having late dinner at the mess room when the service engineer from Sulzer and Yanmar arrive, they thought I was Chief Cook and ask if there are any food left as they had not have their dinner and came straight from the airport. As I know Chief Cook very well I ask Chief Cook to prepare some simple meal for them, a small gesture go a long way and they had been very close to me throughout the docking period as none of the other staffs actually care about their need when they needed it most.

I was dismantling the attached pumps on the Generator Engine when the Service Engineer came down to inspect the spare Cam Shaft for replacement, he was surprised that I as an Second Engineer was working alone and never give up even after they found out that the spare Cam Shaft does not have any timing gear install on it. We have to transfer the timing gear from the old shaft and during the process the Fourth Engineer who is suppose to assist on the job got chase away by the Service Engineer because of his attitude.

The Service Engineer was only suppose to supervise the replacement process and give advise, but end up he is the one working with me for the whole process. He taught me a lot of things about the design of the engine which I did not know previously, he also came to my cabin to drink and chat after we completed the job.

He told me about his ghost encounter where he wake up one night when he was in Indonesia Hotel and saw a small kid playing with his watch. As he did not do any bad deeds so he is not afraid of it, he start to talk to the kid and ask the kid to promise him not to disturb his sleep if he take off his watch and let the kid play with it.

I had to go sea trial to monitor the cross head bearing temperature after the docking repair as requested by Superintendent Seah, he ask me to get some him some steel wire and rubber gasket as he need it for the repair of his house toilet flushing unit. I left the ship after completion of the sea trial at late night and get to enjoy half day in town before I fly home in the afternoon.

Sea Life Chapter 5

Eagle Austin

25^th May 1999 to 18^th December 1999

I decided to sail one more vessel before I go back for my Class One and Class Two Combine Course, I already got the 18 months sea time required but I just want to gain more experience. I join this ship as the second batch, it is also a new vessel but delivered from Korea. I heard about the oil spill incident and the detention in North Korea before I join, the vessel was at anchorage for few months and the official from the port board the ship every day to take stuffs from the ship.

After investigation it was found that the sea chest valve for testing the cargo pump during sea trial was not blank off, it had cause leakage during the cargo loading. The vessel had to survive on minimum provision for few months until the company send someone from the office to negotiate for the release of the ship.

The ship had a very impressive computer control monitoring system but it is not really practical as it always give a lot of false alarm. The system cannot withstand vibration and heat and very sensitive to small variation of electrical current changes, I encounter a major problem later in another ship when we did a docking in Europe.

The most common false alarm is the Vacuum Failure for the Sewage System, the pressure sensor pipe is too small and get choke easily. I usually will shut and open the cock a few time and use my adjustable spanner to give a few knock to clear the line.

Professional Third Engineer Donald is a very good temper guy, he help me improve my welding skill as there are a lot of repair work due to sub standard material use for piping work. This had benefit me later in my career when I become second engineer and I am the only person skill enough to carry out repair on boiler steam pipe and main sea water cooling pipe. I did suffer welder eyes on a few occasion and it had affect my eyes condition to be extra sensitive to bright sun light.

Eric was there too as Fourth Engineer, he sail with me for a short period and sign off. Second Engineer Aun Aun and Third Engineer Teoh join later, Second Engineer Aun Aun sign off together with me after he suffer some injury onboard. We both went to the Clinic and Hospital twice and was misdiagnose, I had hit my toe against the coffee table when rushing down to engine to answer, he had cramp and numbness on his leg.

The first clinic we visit at America, he was diagnose with muscle strain and I was diagnose with dislocation. But after two weeks both of us still did not recover and we went to a Hospital in America, this time the doctor took X Ray for me and found hair line fracture. He was diagnose with Hamstring Tear and recommended for sign off, I advise him to seek a third opinion in Singapore and found out that it was spinal cord slip disc.

He station in Singapore Office for a year helping the Container Fleet install the CCTV Monitoring System while receiving his Physio Therapy Treatment, I visit him when I went to the office to settle my paperwork before I join as Third Engineer after I got my Class Two COC (Certificate of Competency).

As Teoh just join the vessel and I was ask to bring him for Saturday Routine checking on all the LSA (Life Saving Apparatus) and FFA (Fire Fighting Apparatus). We manage to finish early and Teoh wanted to fabricate a Tool Board for his Generator Platform. As we were busy in the workshop, we heard a cry nearby and as I lift my head in that direction I was shock to see a man whole body on fire running towards us.

I thought I was dreaming as it is only something you will see in Hollywood Movies, but when I heard him trying to speak Hindi to the Electrician Ranjit I realize he is the Engine Cadet. As Ranjit is trying to remove his boiler suit with Fifth Engineer, me and Teoh connect the Fresh Water Hose to spray on his body to put out the fire and cool his body. Second Engineer call the Wheel House but the Second Officer did not believe what happen, I told them to bring the cadet to the hospital first then go to wheel house to drag second officer down for the treatment.

I went out of the workshop following the trace of the oil and found a burnt plastic bucket near the incinerator, I collect the content inside the bucket as I know we have to investigate the cause of the incident. As I clean up the oil stain on the floor plate, I notice Electrician came over and isolate the pneumatic system of the incinerator to shut down the equipment.

The cadet had been told to carry out some cleaning on Main Engine Crankcase, as I am doing Saturday Routine with Third Engineer Teoh in the morning he could not find me and decided to take the chemical from Steering Gear Room himself. The cleaning chemical had a lower flash point of 25 degree Celsius and I usually mix a little bit with half pail of water for them to clean, he had took half pail of concentrated chemical for cleaning instead.

He saw Electrician helping the deck crew burning cardboard at the incinerator, the Electrician had bypass the safety limit switch so that they can open both the loading door and the ram flap together for faster loading and burning of the garbage. The cadet should have dispose the chemical into the sludge tank but we are not sure why he decided to dispose it into the incinerator instead.

The rest of the incident as you can guess, the low flash point chemical back fire when it touch the hot metal plate of the ram flap. The fire burn the cadet face and he panic and drop the bucket of chemical on his body, his clothing start to caught fire and he was lucky enough to remember there are people working in the workshop nearby for him to seek help.

The cadet suffer 70% of second degree burn, he was lucky to survive. The Captain did not want to incur additional cost for Helicopter Evacuation and decide to let the Cadet suffer for a day before we arrive port. In the end we still having to send him by Helicopter as the Ambulance is unable to enter the jetty.

I had seen a lot of accidents throughout my sailing career, I am lucky to survive in one piece after ten years of sailing without any major injury. I had seen Burmese Fifth Engineer injure his fingers when the Piston Stuffing Box slide down during Main Engine Overhaul during my cadet ship. I had also seen fourth engineer finger crush by the Auto Back Wash Filter Gear later when I become third engineer on another ship as he try to make adjustment without isolating the control system.

The incident had create a mental stress on most of the ship staffs, some of them even question whether they should continue their career sailing onboard ship or to find a shore job and stay safe and alive. I am not sure if the company arrange for any psychology counseling for them as I took a year to study for my advance diploma in polytechnic after that.

Sea Life Chapter 4

Eagle Albany

12^th August 1998 to 18^th February 1999

I fly to Japan for the New Delivery in July 1998 about two week before the vessel is set to sail off. We stay in a Hostel near to the yard, and Dennis is my room mate. The senior officer had been there few months before and they just completed the sea trial recently. We change into our working clothing and start our inspection of the vessel, taking notes of the defects which we had notice and making mental notes of the stencil marking and layout setup for future operation.

Dennis forgot to bring the charger for his video cam, by chance it was able to use my digital camera charger. We planned for a visit to Hiroshima during one of the weekend evening, but we did not know that the cheaper train ticket we brought took 4 hours to reach the location. So by the time we reach there it was already about 2200 hrs at night and most of the shop and shopping center are closed.

We get another chance over the weekday as the yard is planning to paint the ship getting ready for delivery hand over. We did not know that day is the Atomic Bomb Memorial Day, so when we arrive at the town early in the morning we saw a lot of local heading to the Memorial Park. We walk along the Shopping Street and visit the Memorial Park, the crews are crazy about getting electronic goods at Pawn Shop while the Officers are interested in the 200 ($2) Yen Value Shop.

We also did went out the night before the ship sail off, as we are going for a long voyage we need to get some stuffs. One of the main item is the pillow, as the one provided by the Japan yard are too high and too hard. Second Engineer Aun Aun wanted to make the spare Master Key, the Key Smith check the catalog to ensure it comply to their country security standard before accepting the job.

We went to a local pub nearby to meet Third Engineer Kelvin, he was crazy about a Japanese Waitress there and trying to get her contact before we left. As 50% of the Japanese words are similar to Chinese, I became useful in getting the mailing address for him to write his love letters. They are having some harvest celebration at the small town near to the yard, we manage to met a local who speak English to explain to us about the origin of the celebration.

We sail off at 12^th August and will be stopping by at Singapore for our Bunker, Store, Spare and Provision. Second Engineer Cheah knew another Fourth Engineer Teoh will be joining in Singapore, so he send message to him asking him to bring some entertainment stuff from Malaysia.

The vessel arrive at Singapore Anchorage and I was busy taking bunker on deck, Superintendent Toh came and ask me for direct around the ship. I thought he was the ship chandler but later was told by the other ship staffs that he was the Superintendent. Superintendent Ang also came onboard for a visit, I met him when he was having lunch at the mess room, If the Chief Cook did not introduce him I would not have thought he is Superintendent too as he was wearing working clothing and just did a tank inspection.

New join crews brought a PlayStation Gaming Console, a few games and a few VCD, that will be our entertainment for the 45 days long voyage to America. We proceed to Australia first to load Crude Condensate, the cargo corrosive properties will help to clean the cargo tank. It can strip paint to bare metal on contact and Bosun kept a few jar in his store for future cleaning.

Burmese Electrician was not happy that the company cancel his request for power screw driver, as he will need to open a lot of screw for ceiling and bulkhead inspection he decided to get one himself. He later brought a set of Infinity Speaker Set and a Digital Universal Remote Control for his Home Entertainment System, he was kind enough to impress us during one of the SRC Movie Screening Night.

Chief Engineer love the Female Actress Whitney Houston in the Movie named The Body Guard, every evening after dinner he will be the first in the TV Room to watch the movie. We had watch the movie more than 40 times during our long voyage because of him. A few of the younger crew members prefer to challenge each other in fighting game in the other TV Room.

We saw the Cape of Good Hope after about 30 days of long voyage, it was the first time we saw land since we left Australia. Captain Mogay make a remark on Chief Officer Mohana Cabin, empty beer cans were rolling all over the cabin when he went for inspection. Third Engineer Kelvin bring Third Officer Dennis to a strip club when we arrive in America, Dennis say he had to wash his face for more than a week after the visit.

Both of them planned to visit Laos and Cambodia after they sign off from the vessel, and it led to a joke later when Dennis Sister call my home looking for him while my mom who answer the phone thought why my friend sister call me to look for their dog. I realize that it was Dennis Chinese name and call her back and told her about his trip and ask her to confirm if his passport is not at home.
 

We also visit Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both my fifth engineer were very exited when they saw the Mardi Gras style of celebration during New Year Eve. Second Engineer Wife adopted a small parrot which lost it way and wander around our ship, but the bird die after a few days and everybody feel sad.

The Second Officer who taking over Dennis claim he is a Computer Expert, but Dennis found out later it is otherwise. He call Dennis and say that he cannot find the file that Dennis handover to him, Dennis ask him to look for it on A Drive as it is save on Floppy Disc. He insist it should be on C Drive as he had already put the Floppy Disc into the Computer and the Computer should be C Drive.

He then call Dennis on another occasion claiming that all the data on the spread sheet are gone, Dennis thought he had accidentally delete it by mistake. When Dennis went to the computer he saw the marker on the screen is at the last cell, so Dennis just press Home and Page Up together and the data magically appear again.  

Me and Dennis sign off around Chinese New Year with some deck crews, we were suppose to arrive Singapore on the third day of Chinese New Year. But due to a lot of flight delay, we had to stay one night each in Houston and Los Angeles. Our luggage also could not be found when we arrive in Singapore on the fifth day of Chinese New Year, after checking with the Baggage Claim Department we found out that our luggage still in Los Angeles because they did not transfer it to our new flight when we switch.