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Updated with new and bigger pictures at Singapore OPL anchorage February 2012
  M/T CT Star
I took this picture 24th of july 2003 in Kokkola, Finland
 CT Star was built 1980 at Oskarshamn's shipyard in Sweden as OT Sulphur for OT Shipping in Skärhamn. She's a chemical tanker and she loads  10886,3m³ (98%) in 21 tanks with 16 segregations.
She has 6 stainless steel center tanks and she has 16 FRAMO deep well pumps. Gross tonnage: 6,060 tons Summer DWT: 8,790 tons Length: 129.6 m Beam: 19 m Draught: 5.2 m Former name(s): - Havi Trader (Until 2009 Mar 05) - Ct Star (Until 2006 Sep 10) - Sulphur (Until 1987 Sep 11) - Stena Sulphur (Until 1987 Mar 07) - Sulphur (Until 1986 Dec 31) - Ot Sulphur (Until 1983 Oct 04)  We transported Caustic Soda, sulphuric acid. ChemTrans AG owned the ship but Broström Management had the technical and crew management for M/T CT Star.
Here are some interesting Milestones from ChemTrans AG web page.  Saturday 5th of April 2003 and I had ordered a wakeup call for 0600 in the morning. It took me 25 minutes to get out of my bed and I took a long hot shower. I went down to the restaurant and  had some tea. I called a taxi that arrived to the hotel just before 7 o'clock and we took off for the airport with screaming and smoking tires.
My friend had his son over the weekend so I stayed at a hotel, but I had my bag in his apartment so we had to stop at my friend's apartment to pick up my bag. He was sleeping and I was out of there in a jiffy. It was a beautiful spring morning in Go:teborg and the sun was shining even though it was early  morning. Nice when the spring comes with the sunshine and day light instead of the PITCH DARK 24/7 during the winter. I picked up my ticket at Serviseair on the airport. I had to fly via Copenhagen to Helsinki and from Helsinki to Oulu in the north of Finland. Hmm, leaving the spring in the south for the winter in the north.
My friend gave me the "Hälsovakten" on a CD before I left for my hotel Friday afternoon. Now it's possible for me to monitor the progress of my diet on my computer. I enter all my data on the computer and I put up a goal. Then the program tells me how many calories I can eat each  day. I passed the security check at Landvetter just before 8 o'clock and I had some time to update my web page and to familiarize myself with "Hälsovakten" before my flight at 09:15.
We arrived to Helsinki just after 1 o'clock LT in the afternoon. Flight time from Gothenburg 3  hours including stop in Copenhagen. I left a sunny Gothenburg and arrived to a gloomy and grey Helsinki covered in snow.
I can't say that I was so happy about the weather and the worse are still to come in Oulu. I found my gate #20 and took a seat waiting for the departure. I had some time to upload the latest excitements on my web page while waiting for the flight in Helsinki. I saw a guy reading " Skånska Dagbladet " and I asked him if he joining CT Star, and he was. I knew that I was going to join the ship with the Chief Engineer, I had never meet him, but I know that he was from Skåne and he was the only one reading " Skånska Dagbladet " We arrived to Oulu around 1535 and the sun was shinning and nice weather. OK, it was snow but the weather was nice. Our Agent waited for us at the airport and he told us that the ship was  delayed because of the ice.
So he had to take us to a hotel in Kemi where we were going to join CT Star when she arrived. It took about 1 hour to drive to Kemi from Oulu so it was time for dinner after we had checked in at the hotel. The ship was delayed until 2300 or midnight. We wanted to go to the ship in the evening but if she was further delayed we agreed that we should stay on the hotel to Sunday morning. I had time to update my web page and to check my e-mail. But I don't expect any e-mail from Sue because she have no access to internet. So we use SMS. Anyway I hope the ship arrives tonight so we can go onboard and start to kick ass. At 10 o'clock the agent came to the room and told us that Chief Officer needs to be onboard when the ship arrives. I meet the agent in the reception at 2315. We put my bags in the trunk of  the agent's car. We arrived to the jetty around 2330 just when CT Star arrived. It took them about 1,5 hour to get alongside in the thick ice. Seriously, how can you live at a  place like this? We had spring time in the South of Sweden and here it is winter with severe ice condition and meters of snow. I had to sit in the agent's car because it was very cold outside.  Brrr, when I left Sweden in the morning it was spring and now it was a bitterly cold winter. I was onboard around midnight!!?? How did I manage to be onboard around midnight? Well, on the ship we have Swedish time and that's 1 hour after Finnish time.
When I came over the gangway many of the crew recognized me from other ship I had been working on. So I knew most of the crew onboard. I went straight to the CCR and meet the Chief Officer. He will sign off in next port and he will show me around the ship. We had a chat and I looked at the equipment in the CCR. Pretty much the same as on other ship. SAAB radar and stuff. Cargo and ballast valves operated by light pen on the computer screen. We started to discharge our Caustic Soda just before 2 o'clock in the morning. At 3 o'clock I went to bed after a long day. I had been going since 6 o'clock in the morning. +++++++++++++++
Sunday 6th of April 2003 and I got new shoes, boiler suit and a nice winter jacket first thing in the morning. I was ready to meet the winter. We completed discharging around 1700 and we cleared shore line with 47m³ of water. We need to clear the line because the Caustic Soda have a pour point of 18°C. At 18°C the Caustic Soda will become rigid like stone.
This is nothing you would like to have in your cargo lines as you understand.  Chief Officer on deck
After discharging we have to fill ballast. A 12 hours operation. When we are going in ice we need Finnish Icebreaker Sampo in the back preparing the harbour for arriving ship.  much ballast, otherwise it takes about 3,5 hours to fill ballast.
When I'm on oil tankers we fill the ballast at the same time we discharge. But as this is acid we cannot fill ballast in the double bottom until the cargo tanks above the ballast tanks are empty. If we have a leak and we get acid down in the ballast tanks we will have some serious problems. During the night I had time to familiarize myself with the cargo program. My brother had been working on this ship last summer and he made a cargo program they were using onboard.  A very good program, and easy to use. So now I knew it would be easy to do the cargo calculations and I didn't expect any problem.
 Chief Officer and 2nd Officer in the CCR
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Monday 7th of April 2003 and we left Kemi 7 o'clock. The plan was for us to leave Kemi and wait  for the ice breaker outside the harbour. At 0740 the pilot left us on the ice and we had to wait for the icebreaker.
Our 2nd Officer was a little pissed off at me. I had taken a picture on him with my digital camera the day before in the CCR, the picture didn't turned out good so I erased it. When he asked me for the picture I told him: - I erased the picture. It was too dark. Then he got a little grumpy. But he wanted me to take a picture of him with the ice in the back. He wanted to send the picture to his family in the Philippines. - They don't believe me when I tell them about all this ice. I took the picture and he was all happy again.  In the ice waiting for the ice breaker
 In the ice waiting for the ice breaker
 In the ice waiting for the ice breaker
 Chief Officer on the fo'c's'le taking pictures
The ice breaker arrived at 13:30 and we left Kemi bound for Rönnskär, Sweden to load Sulphuric Acid for Immingham, England. We had cleaned all our tanks in the morning but we could not clean 5C tank until we reached a deep of 25m. We had pumped all our cleaning water to 5C and we are not allowed to pump anything to the sea until we are at a depth of 25m. After Caustic Soda we only need to clean the tanks for 1 hour with hot water. Then drying and I will inspect the tank bottoms before we can load the Sulphuric Acid. We fill the ballast tanks so we have pressure on the tank bottom from the water gravity. Then I check if we have any leaks in the tanks. As I mentioned before, it is a disaster to mix water and Acid so we don't want any leaks. If I discover any leaks I send down the Fitter to weld the tank bottom. But this time there were no leaks.  In the ice waiting for the ice breaker
Assisted by a Finnish icebreaker
We had a rendezvous with the Swedish icebreaker Atle outside Luleå at 2030 in the evening. We followed Atle together with 1 other ship and we had ETA Rönnskär pilot 0230 8th of April. I went down and inspected the cargo tanks after midnight together with the old Chief Officer. They looked good except for 6C. It was all black at the bottom and I hope the Sulphuric Acid will corrode the bottom so it will be blank when we have tank inspection before loading Caustic Soda in Stade, Germany. The Surveyor there is known to be a pain in the behind. But everything is usually solved by buying some chemicals for cleaning the tanks. Of course, the Surveyor is the supplier of the chemicals and he is more than glad to see a few drums.  Chief Officer on the bridge
 Chief Officer and our Filipino 2nd Officer on the bridge
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Tuesday 8th of April 2003 and we arrived to Rönnskär and had all fast at 03:30. We had to discharge all our ballast before we could start loading the Sulphuric Acid and we started to load at 1130. We also had to wait for loading instructions. First we were ordered to load 6500MT +/- 5% and then they changed it to 8000MT +/-5%.
I have been busy since I joined CT Star and so far I haven't had any time to instal "Hälsovakten" on to my computer, but I hope I will get time tonight so I can predict when my diet will run aground. Our Fitter and the old Chief Officer is going home today and then I will be all by lonesome  But Sue is always with me on my mind 
After my " power & beauty " nap I went down to the CCR in the afternoon. We had calculated completion of cargo handling to be just before 8 o'clock in the evening. It was a very nice day with sunshine and no wind. We have had very nice weather since I signed on in Kemi. Even if it's cold it's nice in the sun and you can feel the spring in the air. At 1940 we stopped loading and we had received 8171,835MT. Ship figures = B/L. Pilot ordered for 2100. Now I hope we can leave without the assistance of the icebreaker so I can have some tea and a nice watch on the bridge. Well, I don't know about the nice watch. We left Rönnskär just after 9 o'clock in the evening 8th of April bound for Immingham. We had to navigate in the ice looking for open water and old track with the search light during my watch (no time for tea). At 2300 we got stuck in the ice and the icebreaker Oden had to come and pick us up. Oden had picked up 1 ship just north of us so she arrived to our position and we should be vessel #2 in the convoy.  Anyway, I had no time to load "Hälsovakten" on to my computer, but I hope I will get time tomorrow. I hope I can remember what I have been eating today. Hmmm, 2 peanuts and not very much more. Hmm, I think.
The whole idea with "Hälsovakten" is to put in how much you have been eating and the program will calculate how long time it will take to obtain a V-shaped torso. +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 9th of April 2003 and the icebreaker had left us when I came on my morning watch, but we were still behind the ship from the convoy. It was a small ship and she had more problem  than us with the ice.
We agreed that we should take the lead. The ice was not too bad but it was very thick ice at some places. After passing Nordvallen L/H the ice was thin and there was much open water. We made 14 knots and the other ship was soon far behind. It was nice weather with sunshine and not much wind. I managed to have some tea with the Chief Engineer on my watch. Captain came for some tea as well. Soon the whole crew is drinking tea. Now I hope that I don't have to spend all my watches listening to: - This ship and that ship. 1957 and I remember when........  I brought my Linguaphone language course with me this time. I have space in my bag since I gave up on lint seed and diet powder. Every time I sign on I set up the goal to lose weight and learn a new language. Yes, always aiming high.
Well, anyway, the time turns quick and before soon it's time to drink the last cup of tea and tell the  last yarn and it's time to sign off and the books and diet powder is still in my bag, untouched.
Now I'm running out of time and I will load "Hälsovakten" on my computer before my nap. Goodbye for now. First thing for me to do after the installation of "Hälsovakten" was to enter my data. Hmm,  a few alarms went off straight away.  Then the program asked me for my goals. I entered my desired weight. The program wanted me to confirm the desired weight together with a warning: Losing so much weight should be supervised by a Doctor!!!
I wanted it all gone and quick. Next the program wanted to know when I wanted to reach my goal. I thought yesterday, I wanted it all gone in a jiffy. New warning: Losing so much weight should be supervised by a Doctor!!! I was a little disappointed with the program. But from tomorrow I will start without the Doctor. I tried to enter my consumption for today and it looked real good and I went to bed happy. In my bed I remembered some snack that I had forgot to enter in to the darn program. Hmm, better to start tomorrow. My cabin
Picture of my cabin uploaded 2012
 Here I work with my web page
 My bed room
 Desk and refrigerator, TV and stuff
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And the original pictures of my cabin uploaded 2003
Well, this is enough for today. Now I will go for a shower and to prepare myself for my night watch. Don't despair, my page will soon be updated. At 2330 we got a fire alarm and it was a broken exhaust pipe in the engine room. So we had to drift just north of Ålands Hav for a few hours while the engine department repaired the leak. After my watch I updated my web page and I also managed to send some e-mail. I got 1 e-mail from "Unge Herr Sjö Officeren". He wanted to know if I had plans to put any pictures from the bridge on my web page. He wanted to see pictures of the bridge. Hmm, no e-mail from Sue.  But she's visiting her parents and she have no access to internet until May. I hope she doesn't forget me. Then it's crying big time.
After my watch I went down to my cabin and I simulated today's food intake in "Hälsovakten" on my computer. I got a bar chart and all figures were good. It shows that I only eat 46% of the calories in my severe diet. If I can keep this intake I will be handsome in a jiffy. I hope I can put the actual bar chart here tonight. (If I manage to keep this food intake will say)  Bar chart over today's simulated food intake
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Thursday 10th of April 2003 and, well, I can't say no when "Unge Herr Sjö Officeren" wants to see pictures of the bridge. So first thing on my morning watch I took some pictures of the bridge and here are the pictures for you to see. Hold on to your mouse and don't wet your pants in excitement. And now "Unge Herr Sjö Officeren" have a little something to watch during tedious nights in Nynäshamn.
This is the old style bridge that I like the most (most important equipment is tea machine and a good entertainment center) without a lot of high tech stuff that no one understand to operate. I don't need an engine telegraph that can make my bed or a fire alarm panel that can bake bread. But I must admit that it would have been nice with an echo sounder that could make good tea.  Our Bridge
 Our Bridge - 2nd Officer working at the chart table
 Our Bridge
Several setbacks for me today. First it was snowing when I came on watch. I expected us to be welcomed by the spring when we were moving south. Then after my watch I went down in my cabin starring at the ceiling waiting for the time to pass by so they could finish lunch before I went down. When I came down there was still lunch and I had to taste. (First day is the worst) I need to go down for my " Pep talk" with the Bosun. When I entered the data to "Hälsovakten" all figures turned red and all the columns in the bar chart disappeared in the sky. But as I said, this is the first day.  And to make things worse there was a terrible siren going off
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Friday 11th of April 2003 and coming on my watch at 8 o'clock was a pleasant surprise. The wind was gone and the sun was shining. We passed between the coast of Skåne and the Danish island Bornholm on the way to the Kiel Canal. I got network coverage with my mobile phone. I called my friend "The Site Manager" and asked about my apartment. During the call "Unge Herr Sjö Officeren" called me and he told me that he had just been visiting my page and he had seen the update with pictures from our bridge. Nice with quick feedback.
 But the best thing was that Sue called me. I was happy for the rest of my watch. And Captain came to the bridge and told me the good news:
- I have ordered Diet Coke. Will be delivered in the Kiel Canal tonight, he said. Well, what to say? This Captain is growing to a favorite. Hmm, now I hope you don't think being a Chief Officer on a chemical tanker is all about talking with Sue and drinking Diet Coke. In the afternoon I went on deck and tested high level alarms and inspected P/V valves. We checked the SAAB radar ullage and temperatures with an Hermetica. By now I hope you know what a P/V valve is and what a SAAB tank radar is used for. You should also know the other equipment and high tech stuff on deck and in the CCR. If not visit my web ship on the double. We arrived to Kiel pilot station just before 2200 and we entered the lock just before 2300 and we left the lock just after 2330. We had to stop at a jetty just inside the lock to pick up 1 power pack that had been ashore for service. We were secured around midnight. When I got of my watch I found a few cases of Diet Coke that we had received in the lock so I went straight to my cabin with 1 case. I enjoyed my Coke while I did some work with my web page and I did send a few e-mails. I received e-mails and people want me to put charts on the page with daily positions of the ship. I have received many e-mails from people wishing to see a picture with Sue. Well, as explained
- How did you end up with a loser like Aladdin? +++++++++++++++
Saturday 12th of April 2003 and we left the jetty with our new power pack around 1 o'clock in the morning. We got a new Bosun onboard and the old Bosun signed off in the lock. We entered the lock in Brunsbüttel a few minutes before my morning watch.
 When I came on deck I could hear the birds singing and the sun was shining. Very nice and I was in a good mood. We left the lock and I had a few hours with the pilot on the bridge. Our Chief Engineer was popping by for a Diet Coke and it was soon time to leave the pilot at Elbe L/B. At 1130 the pilot was off and we could set course for Immingham. I was happy about it. Hmm, I had enough of German Radio. On my watch yesterday night when approaching Kiel pilot the Danish radio disappeared. I had have a nice watch with tea (Chief Engineer on the bridge telling me all kinds of tales) and good music and then we had to listening to, believe me or not, Bridge over trouble water. What the  !!?? I was about to choke myself with a plastic bag. Chief Engineer turned off the radio and saved my life.
On my night watch we had very nice weather. Calm and the North Sea was like a mirror and. Chief Engineer and Captain relieving each other on the bridge with tales and drinking tea like there was no tomorrow. During the night the fables got more and more amazing. +++++++++++++++
Sunday 13th of April 2003 and we arrived to Humber Pilot at 0935. We were alongside around 12 o'clock. The weather was nice with sun shine and now I don't have to use my fur hat any more, at least not today. Cargo Sampling was completed at 1230 and the Surveyor went ashore for analysis. He told me that it would take about 2 hours to do the analyse of the cargo. We waited and waited and finally, at 1555 we could start discharging.
 Discharging Sulphuric Acid in Immingham
 Discharging Sulphuric Acid in Immingham
After my watch at midnight I went on deck to inspect the empty tanks. It had started to blow. I hope the wind will disappear when we are leaving river Humber. I looked down in 6CT and the bottom was still black. I hope the rest will be gone after next cargo of Sulphuric Acid. Well, anyway, I went to bed waiting for 2nd Officer to call me when we have completed the discharging.  Discharging Sulphuric Acid in Immingham
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Monday 14th of April 2003 and our 2nd Officer called me at 01:55, a terrible time to wake up.  I went down to the CCR and did the last paper work and I was off to bed again. I'm not sure when they left Immingham, but I think it was between 0430 and 0500 but I know that they called me at 07:40 and it was time to go on watch again. We had left Immingham and the pilot behind us when I came on the bridge.
We cleaned our tanks so they should be ready to load the Caustic Soda in Stade. We had strong wind from the east on the way to Elbe. Gloomy and grey but it was still spring in the air. After my power nap I went down in the cargo tanks to inspect the cleaning. It looked good, except for 6C. +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 15th of April 2003 and when I got off my watch at midnight I watched a video in my cabin. So 15th of April 2003 just after midnight was the first time in my life I watched a movie in my cabin. I always use to watch the movie in the dayroom, it's close to the galley and the snacks.
  Hmm, I had never watched a video without snacks, so I went to grab some snacks in the galley before going to watch the movie in my cabin. The snack was gone even before the  intro to the move was over. The movie was about a farmer and aliens. The remote control to my video had disappeared during bad weather so I could not fast forward the movie. It was a real sleeping pill and I really wished that I had the remote control.
The Pilot boarded us @ Elbe L/B at 06:18 and at 1150 we had all fast at Jetty #3 at DOW terminal in Stade. We discharged our ballast and then we had to load 40 ton of Caustic Soda. That's about 27 m³. Then we have to transfer the Caustic Soda from tank to tank and finally they take a sample in 6 CT. 1835 we completed transferring from tank to tank and we waited for the Surveyor to come and take the sample. We had summer weather so waiting was not too bad. And I was happy for every minute he was late. The longer the Surveyor takes the later we can complete loading and I can sleep longer. I had been up from 8 o'clock in the morning and I don't have a chance to sleep until midnight after my watch. So for me it's good if we have to wait for a while, they estimated our loading time to about 8-10 hours. At 2025 the lab result was OK and we could start to load. ETC 0500, and that means that they are going to call me in the middle of the night for calculations and paper work. +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 16th of April 2003 and 2nd Officer called me at 0400 and we completed loading at 0505 and all paper work was ready at 6 o'clock. I went straight to bed at 6 o'clock without any stop in the mess room. I don't know what time they left the jetty. But when they called me at 8 o'clock for my watch we were at the anchorage with the bunker barge alongside. We will bunker 175 tin, 45 ton DO and 130 ton HFO. So when I loaded the Caustic Soda I had to stop about 8cm under our fresh water draft so they could take onboard 175 ton of bunker.
175ton and 8 cm so now it doesn't require much to figure out that for every 22 ton of cargo we  load we increase our draft by 1cm. So if I would have loaded full cargo in Stade the load line would have been 8 cm under water and the Police would have come with the blue light on and the company would have had to pay a hefty fine.
On the bridge I made some tea. We got Earl Grey tea yesterday so I really enjoyed my tea. This Lipton yellow label is a little unexciting. The only exciting about Lipton is the tales that comes with the tea during dark night watches on the bridge. Chief Engineer is already making plans for thrilling nights on the bridge with new exciting Earl Grey tea.  Bunker barge alongside
 Bunker barge alongside and Bosun on Deck
 AB heaving up our anchor
 Bosun busy on the fo'c's'le when we're heaving up the anchor
At 0930 it was time to heave up our anchor. We had got our bunker and we could not lie around relaxing and scratching our behind. We have to set course towards Finland so we can discharge our Caustic Soda. I stopped in my cabin for a belt to my shorts on the way down to deck. I needed a belt for my shorts, they keep on falling down. On the way forward to the fo'c's'le we released the bunker barge. When the bunker barge was gone we went forward to the fo'c's'le and our Bosun started to make stencils and the AB on my watch heaved up the anchor. (I was giving pointers while scratching my behind) 16th of April in the year of our lord 2003 was the second day I could work with shorts on deck this year. No more "Panta longas" as they say in Spain. Well, when we return to Finland I think I have to use my "Panta longas" again. On the way back to the bridge I could catch our Chief Engineer and Fitter catching some sun. I talked with them about welding on deck and we took a tour on deck. We have a few spots on deck that needs to be attended with a welding machine and we are lucky to have a very good Fitter onboard. When loading and discharging acid all the time there are many leaks and holes that needs to be welded. And now it's nice weather so working on deck is nice.  Chief Engineer and Fitter catching sun on deck
On the way from deck to the bridge (without passing the mess room) I stopped by at my cabin. Our  Mess man had just finished the cleaning of my cabin and he wanted me to take a picture of him. Yeah, why not? It's a nice guy, well, I think it's a nice crew onboard and we have a good time (when not working hard).
Our pilot recognized me immediately when he saw me. He had been pilot on a ship where I had been working. Well, it's not the first time it happened to me and I'm used to it. My friend uses to tell me: - Aladdin, you can never be a bank robber because they recognize you everywhere, even in a crowd of 10 000. On our way to Stade I received an e-mail from the Cadet on my previous ship. He wanted to see pictures of our Cadet onboard on my web page and as you know I can't say no. (Only when they want to see pictures of Sue). So when I came to the bridge I took a picture of our Cadet together with the Captain and the pilot. So here it is, the picture and the Cadet from Vinga Helena can visit my web page and look at the exciting picture. He also wrote to me that he had tried to send e-mail from my web page and there had only been an error message.  Cadet, Captain and Pilot on the bridge when we're leaving Stade
Hmm, during week 15 they had changed to new servers on my web hotel and I hope it's working again. So now you know what's was going on with my e-mail. Now you can try again. On the way to England I got 24 delivery failure notes. Very funny, 24 of my e-mails that I had wrote just disappeared out in the blue. They have to shape up at my web hotel. We had ETA to the lock in Brunsbüttel at 1130. I went forward with 1 AB just after changing the  pilot. We had to change from River Pilot to a Pilot to take us in to the lock. It was nice weather so waiting on the fo'c's'le was nice. I was happy because if we entered the Kiel Canal at lunch we could be out before my night watch started and maybe even have left the pilot behind at Kiel L/H.
Just after 1130 Captain called us and told us that there was a big ship entering the lock and that we had to wait for 30 - 40 minutes. The crew could go in and eat lunch while waiting. AB on watch had his lunch in the CCR while I did some paper work and I was relieved by the 2nd Officer at 12. Now I haven't been sleeping for a long time and I will have my power nap. Just hope that we are out of the Kiel Canal when I wake up for my watch. I slept until just before 7 o'clock in the night and when I looked out we were still in the Kiel Canal. Big disappointment, but then I thought that it was good. Now I can run the cargo heating longer. We are using auxiliary engines when passing the canal and then I take the opportunity to do the cargo heating. Our Caustic Soda was about 36°C when we loaded it and they wanted 40°C as per heating instructions. We entered the lock just after 8 o'clock so I went straight to the fo'c's'le when I got on my watch. Finally at 2200 we left the pilot at Kiel L/H and I was alone on the bridge. Our Chief Engineer popped by for some tea and it was soon time to go on watch below. I could not sleep after my long afternoon nap so I watched a movie in my cabin. +++++++++++++++
 Thursday 17th of April 2003 and it was very nice to come on my morning watch. We're closing in on Skåne and the sun were shining and the sea looked like a mirror. I tried to call Sue but her phone was off. But just before I got off my watch she called me and I had a chat with her. After lunch I went out on deck together with the AB on watch and we took cargo samples in CT 3 & 6.
When I came on my night watch we had left Skåne behind and the weather had turned bad. Strong head wind and the weather forecast said that it should be sunshine in the whole of Sweden during the Eastern. 10 - 15°C in Norrland. +++++++++++++++
Friday 18th of April 2003 and, well, they had promised sunshine over Sweden but it was gloomy and grey and strong wind over us all the way until we arrived to Ålands hav in the afternoon. North of Ålands hav we came in to the ice. It was mostly lose ice but some ice-floe was up to 1m thick and it was like small iceberg. At 21:00 we had passed through the ice and it was open water for the rest of my watch. Weather forecast for tomorrow 10 - 18°C and the ice will soon be gone.
 After my watch I watched a movie. Something about Bond in North Korea and I was soon sleeping. I can make this movie last for a few days, especially when I don't have the remote. When I have a remote the move is mostly on FFW and I can complete a movie in 10 to 15 minutes. Hell, a trailer is about 45 seconds long and that usually covers all the action in the movie
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 Easter Eve 19th of April 2003 and we were in the ice when I came on my morning watch So it was very nice to get off my watch after 4 hours of ice navigation. We got stuck in the ice around 12:40 but they managed to back out of it. There should be a Finish ice breaker on the way to assist us.
We don't use our auto pilot when we are navigating in ice. So we need to have 1 AB at the wheel when we try to find the way through the ice. It's very hard during the night when we only have a search light. During the day it's easier but it's very hard to see the ridges sometime and the ridges can be several meters thick and as you understand it's not good to hit the ridges.  Back in the ice
 AB at the wheel
 Trying to find their way through the ice
They called me at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 20 minutes to go to our jetty in Kokkola, Finland. We  had all fast 5 minutes past 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 30 minutes later we had completed sampling and calculation and I was told that it would take about 2 hours for the cargo analyse before we could start discharging. They would come back to connect the cargo hose when the analyse was completed and the cargo had passed.
During the waiting time we can fill up FW and to prepare for the tank cleaning tomorrow. At 1830 we started to discharge our Caustic Soda. I had a bitter taste in my mouth after brushing my teeth with something I got from our Bosun. He lives in Brazil and he got something looking like sawdust he used to brush his teeth with. It's from a tree and his dentist in Brazil recommended it to him. So I decided to give it a try, it should be good for my gum according to our Bosun. Last time I was at the dentist she told me that I brush my teeth too much and it was no good for my gum. I thought it was the snus, but she told me that snus was good for my teeth.  Our Chief Engineer had copied my MP3 CD's so now he got 72 hours of very funky music. So whenever I go in to his office there is good music blasting high from the loudspeakers. When I went to his cabin to get a video after I got off my watch at midnight I could hear a classic Tone Loc tune blasting high on the Richter scale.
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Sunday 20th of April 2003 and it was time for a new Bond movie when I got of my watch at midnight. Now he was on Cuba and I don't know all the places. I was soon asleep again getting ready for a new day with heavy duty action.
They called me at 0255 when we completed discharging and they needed me for paperwork. Hmm, I was not very ready for heavy duty action but I had no choice. I wanted to stay in my bed and dream about Sue. 
I went back to bed when I finished the paper work, we had to stay alongside to fill ballast. I slept until they called me for my watch and we were still filling ballast when I came on my morning watch. We had ordered Pilot for 10:30 and we left Kokkola at 1045. We started the tank cleaning at departure and we had about 4 hours sailing time to Rönnskär without delay for the ice.  Leaving Kokkola assisted by a Finnish ice breaker
 Leaving Kokkola assisted by a Finnish ice breaker
 Bosun when we're doing tank cleaning
We got stuck in the ice short after leaving the pilot and we waited for the Finnish icebreaker Ohru and when she arrived and we had to follow her through the ice. By now the whole crew was fed up  with the ice. Well, I hope it's gone next time we come here but they can have ice here until end of May.
I remember this tank cleaning, we had to do tank cleaning with the ballast water. The sea water intake for the tank cleaning pump was full of ice, we were driving through is and the pump sucked in the ice in the mud box and we didn't get any water to the tank cleaning machines. So we took the water from our ballast tanks instead. At 1500 we completed the tank washing and it was just to ventilate the tanks and for the  AB's to mop the tanks. When I came in to the CCR it was occupied by the engine department and the coffee klatch  was in full swing.
 Engine department relaxing as only the engine department can relax
At 1742 the pilot boarded us outside Rönnskär and 1832 we had all fast. We started to discharge our ballast and we expect to start loading around 1 o'clock in the morning 21st of April. It was a very nice evening and I could walk on deck in T-shirt. The summer is lurking around the corner. 
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Monday 21st of April 2003 and we had to wait for a while for the shore personel when we had discharged our ballast. Finally at 0040 the cargo hose were connected and we started to load at 01:10. At 0905 we completed the loading and we were ready to leave for Härnösand with 5200 ton of Sulphuric Acid. It was a nice day again and I could use my shorts and a pullover at departure.
The pilot boarded us outside Örnsköldsvik at 22:05. It's about 3,5 hours further south with the pilot to Härnösand. The pilot went to sleep in the pilot cabin when he came onboard and we have to call him just before arriving to Härnösand. At midnight when I got of my watch I went to my cabin and watched the end of a movie I had begun to watch in the afternoon. No use to sleep when we have ETA Härnösand 0130 and they need me for paperwork and cargo calculation. The movie wasn't that exciting so I took the opportunity to send e-mail to Sue and to update my web page before arrival to Härnösand. +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 22nd of April 2003 and it was time for me to start work at 01:30. First line ashore at 02:00 and all fast at 02:35. We had to use our own cargo hoses for discharging so it took some time and man power to connect the hoses. We needed 3 hoses to reach the manifold ashore and at 03:10 we started to discharge the Sulphuric Acid.
At 1250 on a sunny Tuesday afternoon we completed discharging and we started to fill ballast. Before my power nap I finished the movie and I tried to call Sue. It was not possible to reach Sue on her phone but I got 3 e-mails from her. I woke up from my power nap just in time for dinner and I went down to the boys and I had some salad and potatoes. I had to run to the CCR for some business and when I returned to the mess room there was biscuits at my place. I asked Captain and the Chief Engineer if they had put the biscuits at my place. -No, you got them by yourself and then you went away like the wind. OK, maybe I forgot about the biscuits and never mind. I haven't had the guts to fill up "Hälsovakten" for quite a few days anyway. We left Härnösand just after 7 o'clock in the evening and we started the tank cleaning after filling 40m³ water in the tanks 2CT + 4CT + 6CT to neutralize the acid. Then 1 hour of cold water machine wash. Then we will be ready to load Sulphuric Acid in Rönnskär for Immingham. +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 23rd of April 2003 and we arrived to Rönnskär just after lunch so I had time for a quick salad before I had to go on deck. It was sun shine but a little cold in the wind. Last day there had been a northerly wind and the ice accumulated south of Rönnskär so we needed ice breaker assistance the last hours of our voyage.
I had my forty winks when they called me. At 1635 we had discharged our ballast and we started to load at 1700. During my zizz the ship chandler had delivered 50 cans of snus and 2 cases of Diet Coke to me. I got Swedish Coke and I was happy about it. When you get the Polish made  Coke they taste like motherf...!!
I was off to my cabin in a jiff and I sent some e-mail and updated my web page while drinking Diet Coke. We had bet some money on a horse race. Bosun took the pushbike ashore in Härnösand with our money. He invested the money on 1 race on Wednesday night and 1 on Saturday. So the race was during my watch in Rönnskär. Well, I could as well have thrown the money in the harbour, but then I would of course have missed the excitement. +++++++++++++++
Thursday 24th of April 2003 and we completed loading 00:40 but we had to wait with the departure because of engine trouble. We got a technician from KAMEWA onboard just after midnight and Pilot was ordered for 3 o'clock.
When I woke up for my morning watch there were 11 missed calls from Sue. I had forgotten to turn off my phone. When I came on watch we were still in the ice and we reached Nordvalen L/H just before lunch and the ice was gone. Instead of ice we got a snowstorm over us, and it is the end of April!! And I suppose we will encounter ice again further south. After my afternoon siesta I tried "Hälsovakten" again. It's soon time to sign off so there is no time  to lose if I want to sign off as Mr. Handsome. When I run the program in simulation mode everything looks good. But reality is another story.
During my night watch our Chief Engineer was on the bridge drinking tea as usually. We talked about "Hälsovakten" and I explained how easy it was to get handsome in a snap, all according to the simulated diet on my computer. We should meet at 8 o'clock every morning for health food (2 slicesknäckebröd) and tea. Before lunch it would be the same and we would not have to go to the mess room and we would dodge all the temptations in the mess room. At 8 o'clock in the evening we scheduled tea and 2 slices knäckebröd again. A total of 6 knäckebröd/day + 4 apples and 1 orange. +++++++++++++++
Friday 25th of April 2003 and I was on the bridge in 2 steps. Full of enthusiasm to start our new diet. Our Chief Engineer came in second with screaming and smoking soles. Our tea was ready in a blink of an eye. We started with 1 orange each ( a very small orange). Then we got 2 knäckebröd each and we completed our breakfast in 2 shakes of a lambs tail.
And we felt good with our self after that breakfast, but we were still hungry.  Chief Engineer doesn't look to happy with his ration
Our Chief Engineer was back on the bridge after one hour. We had decided to take 2 knäckebröd with tea at 1130 and skip the lunch. I asked him: - Do you want to eat lunch? - Yes it's better with a slow start. We decided to play the stone, scissor and paper about it. If I won we skip lunch and if he won we had to eat lunch. I got the stone and he got the scissor so I won and no lunch. - Best out of 3, I said. OK. I got the paper and he got the scissor 2nd time. Now it was pretty exciting. 3rd time I got the stone and he got the paper. So we had to eat lunch. During the morning watch our Cadet was practicing old style navigation with the sun. Good refreshment for me as well.  Cadet taking heights
 Cadet taking heights At lunch things got out of hand When I arrived to the scene (mess room) our Chief Engineer had  got his second wind and I had yet to start. I had been busy with my laundry.  But I got my first plate (mostly salad with traces of dressing) and I was soon to get my second.
We were soon stuffed and we decided to take the 2 knäckebröd tonight with our evening tea. - Hey!! We didn't eat our ration of 2 knäckebröd for lunch so we can have 4 tonight, I said. We asked our Mess man not to set the table for us at dinner and when we were at it we asked him not to set the table for us at lunch tomorrow.  - We are not eating anything until we sign off, we told him.
- Yes, you don't have to set our table. We will only eat knäckebröd from now on. - Yeah-yeah, blah- blah, he said.  .After lunch I felt like a boa constrictor but I had to go on deck and take a cargo sample. We passed Gotska Sandön and it was nice weather so it was nice to come out on deck. I took a sample of our Sulphuric Acid from #3 CT. On the poop deck Bosun and the AB on watch changed the brake lining on the mooring winches.
The deck crew did the mounting and our fitter had changed the lining. During the day Bosun had removed our wing tank cross-over so our fitter could fill up a hole in the pipe with the welding machine. Always new holes and cracks to weld. Luckily enough we have a very good Fitter and Bosun on the ship. And it's easy to find something to do on deck when there is no tank cleaning going on.  Our Bosun and Fitter change brake lining on the winches
 Our Bosun and Fitter change brake lining on the winches
Our Fitter busy with the winch brakes
I tried to sleep in the afternoon without any success so I had a few Diet Cokes and I spend a tedious afternoon in front of the video watching Shaft kicking ass. I also spent some time with my web page and e-mail to Sue. I hope that we pass Öland on my watch tonight and that I have network coverage. Captain told me that he had ordered 3 cases of Diet Coke for me in Rotterdam. We are going to load Caustic Soda in Rotterdam for Kemi, Finland after discharging in Immingham. But that's another exciting story. +++++++++++++++
Saturday 26th of April 2003 and I passed Bornholm on my morning watch. At 0840 they called from the engine room and asked if we could drop anchor some place close by. There was a leak in the engine room. At 0920 we had dropped our anchor just off Sandhammaren and at 12 o'clock we could start to hive up the anchor again. In the afternoon we had an oil spill drill and a Man over board drill and we carried out a Williamson's turn. Pretty exciting except for the weather. Gloomy and grey with force 5 wind from SE.
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Sunday 27th of April 2003 and we arrived to Kiel pilot station at 00:30. We had almost passed the Canal when I came on my morning watch . I had time for some tea and knäckebröd before arriving to the lock.
There was a big dish with sandwiches for the pilot and I was foresighted enough to ask 2nd  Officer to take the dish from the bridge when he left. Otherwise I would have been tempted to eat the sandwiches. And then it would have been agony and remorse for the rest of the day, something I can live without.
At 0900 we entered the lock in Brunsbüttel. We took 5 pilots as passenger to Cuxhafen and 2 pilots from Cuxhafen to Elbe. We reached Elbe pilot station around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. During the passage from Elbe to River Humber we had winds from SW and the weather was gloomy and grey all the time. Captain told me he have ordered new Diet Coke for me in Rotterdam. He ordered Coke for me in Kiel but they delivered ordinary Coke.  - MOTHERF@CKERS!!
I asked him to order Milo for our Pilipino crew. They wanted Milo and instant noodles. I told them to go speak with Captain about the noodles so they get the right noodles. Our crew from the Philippines was happy about the Milo but not as happy as the guy from the Philippines on Vinga Helena. I gave him one of my pillows when I signed off. He was very happy and he looked
Well, I can't say that I don't understand him. After several months without pillow it's nice to get one. When you work hard you need a comfy bed so you can sleep. Easy to understand. +++++++++++++++
Monday 28th of April 2003 and we arrived to Humber pilot station at 12:45, but we had to wait a little for the pilot to arrive. The pilot was onboard just after 1 o'clock ship time and that is 12 o'clock English time. We had to steam up the river Humber for about 1,5 hour and at 15:08 we were all fast at Eastern Jetty in Immingham. The boatmen were pretty impressed when we got our manifold connection spot on position for the shore connection. I told him that we had Swedish flag.
- Next time you have a Panama Greek here and then you don't know if you have to connect through the galley, I said. We had a good laugh. Well, I can't help it but I have to show the picture of my door in my
The Surveyor went ashore at 1545 with his samples and we have to wait for about 2 hours for the analysis before we can start to discharge our Sulphuric Acid. Finally at 1825 we started to discharge. That gives me some time to jazz up my web page and to send e-mail to Sue before my watch. +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 29th of April 2003 and when I got off my watch at midnight I expected them to call me around 4 o'clock in the morning for paper work. But they had to stop discharging during the night because the shore tanks were full. At 07:25 they called me for the paper work. That gave me a few extra hours of beauty nap and I came down to the CCR handsome like never before.
There something wrong with my server again so I neither manage to send e-mail nor to update my web page. We had to fill up our ballast before leaving for Rotterdam. It's about 3,5 hours to fill up double bottom and cargo tanks 4/5WT. Pilot ordered for 11 o'clock. I meet the pilot on the jetty just before 11 when I checked our draft. The pilot disembarked at Spurn at 1230 and then we started with the tank cleaning. We are going to load Caustic Soda in Rotterdam so we cleaned the tanks with cleaning machines for 1 hour with cold water.  The guys relaxing in the CCR
We were lucky with the weather. Sunshine and not very much wind. Nice to be on deck in shorts again. I just hope that most of the ice is gone when we return to Sweden and Finland. We finished the tank cleaning in the afternoon and I was off to bed for my power nap so I'm thoroughly rested when I'm going on watch at 8 o'clock. After a nice watch with a visit from our Chief Engineer and plenty tea I went off for my bed again. +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 30th of April 2003 and they called me at 03:55 to give me 20 minutes notice before arrival to the jetty. Well at 0510 we had all fast and just after we started to discharge our ballast. No Surveyor at arrival so I went to my cabin, hoping for better luck with my server so I could send e-mail to Sue and to update my web page.
Well, I could not connect to my server. Maybe time to change. At 8 o'clock I was called for again and we started to load at 09:50 and after 1 hour stop for foot sample we could start to load again  at 1220. After lunch I called my web hotel and I asked about the problem with the server. They should fix it.
- We promise! After my power nap I went for dinner and when I came back to my cabin there were 7 missed calls from Sue. When I tried to call back there was no connection and my server did not work yet so no e-mail or updated web page. So I watched a quick video and it was time for my watch again. +++++++++++++++
Thursday 1st of May 2003 and I went straight to bed after my watch at midnight, but I didn't fall asleep and at 04:10 He-man was called for again. Time to complete loading and to do the cargo calculation. Well, it's the 1st of May and they call it Labor Day so it's a day for hard work. We completed loading 0520 and pilot was ordered for 0700.
After calculation and paper work I tried to connect to my e-mail server again and now it was working so I could update my page and I managed to send some e-mail. After a chat with Sue I had a shower and breakfast and then it was time for my watch again. We left the pilot at Maas 0900 and we set course for Kemi, Finland. ETA Elbe pilot 0130 2nd of May. After my watch I had a nap and I woke up just before dinner. As a person of firm character I skipped dinner and watched a movie with a Diet Coke. Before my watch I went down to the store room and I brought 2 cans of Milo to the bridge. Milo is a nice chocolate flavoured drink with plenty vitamins and minerals. Among other ingredients there are low-fat cocoa. Just to mix the powder with hot water. First thing I did when 2nd Officer had left the bridge was to make hot water and then I called the Captain and Chief Engineer. - Now it's hot chocolate time on the bridge, I said on the phone.  We got some nice chocolate and we were in a good mood, nice weather and tail wind. Captain asked us if we had got Christmas gifts from the company.
- No, we were not on the ship during the Christmas.  Captain got dressed in his Santa dress and he got us Christmas gifts. Never mind that it was  not Christmas. It was Labor Day and anyway the high festivals like Christmas could be celebrated several times during the year as long as there are gifts.
Finally I was left alone on the bridge and I could connect my MiniDisc to our entertainment center. I was listening to a recording of P3 Hip Hop with Timbuktu and DJ Amato. I could hear Danish Hip Hop with Nat iLL & DJ Static and it was very good or as Timbuktu said "Fy helvete va fet".
The AB on my watch signed off in the lock in Brunsbüttel but his reliever had missed his connection flight in Copenhagen so he didn't come onboard until the lock in Holtenau. +++++++++++++++
Friday 2nd of May 2003 and we were in the Kiel Canal when I came on my morning watch. I made some tea and I turned off the radio.
 - What the !!??ALADDIN TURNING OFF THE RADIO!!
Yeah, I did, this German Radio station managed to hit an all time low with a terrible song. Someone was singing something about "Give me hope Johanna" and I had it. The pilot was growling a little. - This is a very good radio station, he said. - Yes, and I'm about to jump overboard.  They were soon solving a lot of the world's problem
 Captain and Chief Engineer on the bridge
But before soon he was busy solving all the problems in the world with our Captain. I was listening while looking at the scenery in the canal. It was sunny and plenty traffic. We had to wait 1 hour first thing on my watch. So we didn't start to move until 9 o'clock. We changed our Pilot at Schülp Pilot Station at 11:10. Our Chief Engineer came to the bridge and had a chat with us so the watch went pretty quick. Changing pilot in Schülp
  At 12 o'clock I went down to the mess room together with Captain and Chief Engineer for a snack. After the lunch I went for inspection on deck. P/V valves and ventilators for our double bottom had to be inspected. It was a sunny day and I could work in shorts so it was very nice. Original picture uploaded by mobile phone 2003
 Bosun revealing the secrets of
good maintenance for the Cadet ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And the same picture uploaded 2012 at Singapore OPL Anchorage
 Bosun teaching our Cadet the importance of good maintenance
 Bosun teaching our Cadet the importance of good maintenance
After the inspection I had a pep talk (kicking ass) with the boys working on poop deck and then I was off to my cabin and my web page. At 1440 I could feel that we entered the lock in Holtenau. Well, I'm on diet so I'm not going to buy ice-cream in the lock. They also have marzipan from Lübeck in the lock and plenty other things to buy. But I stick with my Diet Coke for this time. Captain has snacks in the slop chest but I asked him to ban me. - Hey Cap! From now on you have to say NO when I ask for something from the slop chest.  The guys are busy on poop deck
 The guys are busy on poop deck
 The guys are busy on poop deck
Our Fitter welding on poop deck
 Bosun painting in the back and Motorman enjoying the sunshine
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Saturday 3rd of May 2003 and I got network coverage when passing Ölands södra grund just before lunch so I could send e-mail and update my web page. I hat a chat with Sue until I lost contact with the network. After lunch we had a fire drill and lifeboat drill.
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Sunday 4th of May 2003 and the sea was like a windmill pond when I came on mu morning watch in Ålands hav. It was gloomy and grey and I had fog for an hour or so. Just before the end of my watch the weather turned ugly within seconds with wind force 7 from the north. The weather really changed very quickly. When I was back in action after putting a position on the chart the  sea had turned rough from calm. Our ABs had to work inside the accommodation. It was not possible to work on deck because of the water spray.
On my night watch it was sun and calm sea again. It was almost daylight when I got off my watch at midnight. 6 weeks to midsummer and the midnight sun. +++++++++++++++
Monday 5th of May 2003 and when I came on my morning watch the midnight sun and midsummer was far away. Ice navigation again in gloomy and grey weather. At 1030 we entered open water outside the coast of Finland. In the afternoon I could feel when the ship entered ice again. They called me at 1700 for the arrival to Kemi and at 1815 we were secured alongside Fortum's jetty. I asked the agent how they could live up here. 5th of May and still plenty snow.
- We have 3 months of summer, he said. Finally at 1930 I was done with the paper work and I could go for a shower. I was running into the  Captain on the way in from deck.
- Where are you going? I asked him. - I'm going to the city with the agent. I will try to find a cake for us.  As you understand it's not easy to keep the "Slim line" on this ship. We started to discharge our Caustic Soda at 20:10. Just after that Captain and Chief Engineer came back from the city.
- No cake!! Everything was closed! Big disappointment. But it was good for my diet. +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 6th of May 2003 and we completed discharging at 11:20 and we ordered Pilot for 17:00 so we had time to fill ballast. We started with the tank cleaning when the Pilot had left us
After tank cleaning I was in my cabin making myself ready for a shower. I heard someone opening my door and it was Captain sneaking in with a bag of Danish pastry. I had ordered 2 cakes from the Captain when he went ashore during the afternoon with the Chief Engineer. I thought we should give it a try after the setback yesterday. But no cake today either so he bought Danish pastry instead. Well, we have to try again to get our cake next time we come to Sweden. Our boys are waiting for this cake we have talked so much about so failure is no option. Anyway, after my shower I went to the bridge and made tea and I had tea and Danish with the Chief Engineer. +++++++++++++++
Wednesday 7th of May 2003 and it was a sunny and nice day. We got order to pass through Öresund on the way to Immingham. Very nice!! No Kiel Canal. I can listen to good music all the way to Immingham. But it also gives us a chance to see beautiful Skåne. We arrived to Mäntyluoto pilot around 1830 and we had all fast at 1935 and we started to discharge our ballast. At 2310 they came onboard and asked us to connect the cargo hose and we started to load at midnight. Estimated loading time 10-11 hours.
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Thursday 8th of May 2003 and I went to my cabin after my watch at midnight. I was waiting for them to take foot samples and when this was ready I returned to my cabin and I had time to send some e-mail (I received 2 from Sue) before my nap.
We completed loading at 1015 and after the paper work we had to wait a little before we could depart. We had ordered pilot for 1130. We needed to do a little welding before we left because we had a hole in the FP. So the ballast was coming out from the hole. Original picture uploaded by mobile phone 2003
 Welding
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And the same picture uploaded 2012 at Singapore OPL Anchorage
 1st Engineer welding and our Bosun in charge of the dinghy
And we also have the bonus pictures uploaded 2012
Never seen on internet before  1st Engineer welding and our Bosun in charge of the dinghy
 Motorman, Chief Engineer and Cadet on the jetty watching the guys welding
1st Engineer welding and our Bosun in charge of the dinghy
We launched our dinghy and we put our 1st Engineer and Bosun in it. Our 1st Engineer was handy with a welding machine so he was voluntary for the job. Finally at 11:35 we left Mäntyluoto and I had no wish for coming back. Now we are looking forward to Öresund and Skåne. Original picture uploaded by mobile phone 2003
 My best man in charge on the Fo'c's'le
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And the same picture uploaded 2012 at Singapore OPL Anchorage
 My best man in charge on the Fo'c's'le
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Saturday 10th of May 2003 and we passed Drogden just before 9 o'clock on a sunny and nice spring morning. I took some pictures for my page about lighthouses in Öresund and I managed to get a few nice pictures. We were just about to pass Kullaberg when I got off my watch. I called Sue and had a nice chat with her.
During our dinner Captain was a little dull. It was the last dinner with the boys before signing off. We had ETA Skagen roads 21:00 and we will change Captain there. - Hey!! Don't be sad. If you are lucky you will work with nice Chief Officer and Engineer next time you come back, I said. We dropped anchor @ Skagen at 21:20 we dropped our anchor and we got a new Captain and a guy from KAMEWA onboard. Our KAMEWA guy will stay until Immingham and I hope he can fix our propeller. We left Skagen around 2300 for Immingham. +++++++++++++++
Monday 12th of May 2003 and the pilot boarded us at Spurn quarter past 12. We had to slow down a little waiting for the pilot. At 1410 we were alongside Eastern jetty in Immingham. Just before the pilot station we passed Bro Jupiter, she had just dropped her anchor. I called them on the VHF and it was a Captain I had worked with on Bro Nelly replying. We had a chat about old times and I asked about their Cock. It was the Cock making fläskpannkaka to Her majesty queen Silvia of Sweden.
I have been working with him on 2 ships and he have sent e-mail to me "Pissing and moaning" about me not writing about it on my web page. But now you know it. By the way, they were serving Raggmunk for lunch on Bro Jupiter and I wish I would have been onboard M/T Bro Nelly for lunch. At 1725 we started to discharge the Sulphuric Acid. +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 13th of May 2003 and I brought a Clint Eastwood  video to my cabin after my watch at midnight. When Clint arrived to the crime scene with screaming and smoking tires it was like the time had stopped for 7 - 8 years (I used to watch Clint Eastwood when I was 15). So I felt young again. I felt very good sitting in my sofa watching Clint Kickin' arse, at least until Clint chased a bad guy. He got a heart attack and they had to give him a new heart. I felt bad before quick and I drooped some A (aspirin is good for you heart) and turned off the video. I started my computer and I was running "Hälsovakten" (simulation mode only) and I was studying the bar chart. Looking good, but I haven't had the guts yet to enter the correct data.
No! It was better back in the days when Clint was running around asking: - Do you feel lucky punk? 
When I came on my morning watch we had left Immingham and the pilot behind. We started with the tank cleaning and our ETA to Rotterdam is 2100 in the evening. During my watch we got telex from the agent and he told us to drop our anchor at arrival. Our jetty was occupied until early morning 14th of May. So we dropped our anchor at #4 anchorage at 2205. Now Maas Approach called us and they wanted us at Maas pilot station at 2400. So 1 hour at the anchorage. Just gives me time for a quick cuppa and to send some e-mail. At 2310 our anchor was up and 0005 14th of May the pilot boarded us at Maas Center. At 0220 we were alongside jetty #1 at Vopak and we discharged our ballast and blah- blah-bla the same story. Finally at 0540 we started to load the Caustic and I was in my bed just before 0630. I woke up for lunch and during the afternoon I went down to inspect the FP with the Captain. We  got plenty stores delivered to us during the day. I also received e-mail from my friend (the site manager) with good news about my condo so I was in a good mood. At 2350 we completed loading and I had to wait for the Surveyor so we could do the cargo calculations and paper work. Pilot ordered for 0230.
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Thursday 15th of May 2003 and we had left the Pilot and Rotterdam behind when I came on my morning watch. It was nice weather with sun and no wind but there was heavy swell from the north, so we started to roll when I changed course to east at VL-center L/B. We had the tide with us and we picked up pilot at Elbe around 2230. We made more than 16 knots up river Elbe and we should be in Brunsbüttel lock before 1 o'clock in the morning.
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Friday 16th of May 2003 and I waited in my cabin for us to enter the lock when I got off my watch at midnight. I wanted to go ashore to buy more Diet Coke. But we had to wait for the lock  to be ready for us so I went to bed reading 91:an comics instead. We didn't enter the lock until 2 o'clock in the morning.
When coming to my morning watch the told me that we will be in Holtenau lock around 10 o'clock. Good! I can go ashore in Holtenau buying Diet Coke and I don't have to  spend my whole watch in the Canal.
We entered the lock just before 10 o'clock and I put my best man in charge on the foc'sle while going to the kiosk for a little shopping. I bought a case of coke and went back onboard. The picture of CT Star on your left hand side is an 2003 original, I have lost this picture so this is the best we can get even though it is 2012. Original picture uploaded by mobile phone 2003
 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And the same picture uploaded 2012 at Singapore OPL Anchorage
 My best man in charge on the Fo'c's'le
 My best man in charge on the Fo'c's'le, and we can see that the enthusiasm is bubbling in his blood
 The pilot is leaving is at Kiel Light House
 The pilot is leaving is at Kiel Light House
At 1020 we left the lock and the Kiel Canal behind. Last time for me before I sign off and at 1105 we left the pilot at Kiel lighthouse. Soon time for lunch. I went on deck after lunch, it was time to inspect the aft cofferdam. The cofferdam locked good, all bulkheads and bottom in stainless steel so no rust there. Only the frames were rusty because they were not made of stainless steel. After my nap I wrote e-mail to Sue and I hope I can send my e-mail when passing between Bornholm (Denmark) and Sweden on my night watch. I got network cover just before 2300 so I could send my e-mail and update my web page. We where between Bornholm and Skåne when I got off my watch at midnight. I went straight to my bed and my 91:an comics. But I miss "Uti vår hage" in the comics I found. Before there was always "Uti vår hage" in 91:an. +++++++++++++++
Sunday 18th of May 2003 and we had open water when I got off my watch at midnight and we had 9 hours to go. I had just got down in my bed with a 91:an magazine when they hit the ice. But it was just a little ice and it was open water all the way to the jetty in Kemi.
+++++++++++++++
Monday 19th of May 2003 and we had all our mooring lines fast in Kemi at 10:20. The ice had disappeared 2 days before we arrived because of northerly winds. There was just a little ice left and some snow ashore so no problem for us. At 1220 we started to discharge the Caustic Soda.
+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 20th of May 2003 and we left Kemi at 0710 on a gloomy and grey morning. Pilot was off at 0800 just when I came on watch. Lucky me!! No need to spend any time with the Pilot.
 Our Ship Chandler delivered 2 cakes for me when we arrived to Rönnskär at 1530. I had tried to get 2 cakes for the crew for quite some time and finally we managed to get cake, even though he didn't delivered the kind I have ordered. I hope there are less calories in this cakes.
We started to discharge our ballast at 1545 and we should be ready to load the Sulphuric Acid around 1900. Last time loading for me before I'm leaving the ship. We left Rönnskär 21st of May 7 o'clock in the morning. When I came on my watch at 8 o'clock there was thick fog. Well, spring time, cold water and warm air. On the way to Norrköping the company told us that the Sjöfartsverket inspection was procrastinated and no one was sad because of that. I overslept the dinner and I missed the cake. I took the left-over and I could enjoy my tea and cake together with the Chief Engineer on the bridge during the night. No fog on the night watch. +++++++++++++++
Thursday 22nd of May 2003 and no more cake onboard. God, I can try to save what I can of my failed diet before I leave the ship tomorrow. We arrived to the Pilot station at 1825 and we had all fast in Norrköping at 22:25.
+++++++++++++++
Friday 23rd of May 2003 and my reliever came onboard just after midnight. When I got off my watch I asked them to call me 6 o'clock in the morning. I wrote "New Chief Officer in charge" in  the cargo log book. Whoopee! Time to sign off. I was handsomely rewarded and I had my pockets full of money. But easy come easy go.
We stayed overnight onboard and I had to squeeze in to the rented car together with the Fitter and Chief Engineer early Friday morning. We left the ship just after 6 o'clock in the morning. 6 o'clock in the morning is not the best time of the day but we were happy to leave in the car.  Leaving CT Star behinf early morning
 We're ready to take off
Our planned dinner at Gyllene Uttern was cancelled because of the early hour so we stopped at Statoil and I bought a sandwich and 2 Ramlösa. Yeah, we had been talking about Gyllene Uttern since day 1 onboard. - When we sign off we will stop at Gyllene Uttern... - I will eat so much... - The best restaurant..   A post card with Gyllene Uttern that I found on the internet
Yes, I really like Gyllene Uttern and I always take the opportunity to stop there for a meal if I'm passing by. North of Skåne there is 2 restaurants that I like, Laxbutiken and Gyllene Uttern. Laxbutiken,  definitely because of the food. The surroundings sucks sitting next to the high way and the restaurant isn't very much to write home about. But the food, the best ever.
The food at Gyllene Uttern is OK, but the restaurant is very nice and the surroundings are beautiful. Well, anyway, we were disappointed for the missed dinner. It was sunshine when we left Norrköping in the morning but it started to rain after 20 minutes and it kept raining all the way to Go:teborg. After about 1 hours drive we decided to check out Gyllene Uttern eve if it was very early. We knew that we would not get any dinner. - HEY!! MAYBE THEY HAVE BREAKFAST!! It's not every day we pass Gyllene Uttern and we decided that a good breakfast would be a better memory than no memory at all. We got tea and fresh made bread and topped with bacon and sausages. Our Fitter had to be in Gothenburg and catch a train at 0945 but it was very hard to leave the breakfast table, so much to eat and not very much time.  Breakfast at Gyllene Uttern
We decided to take road #47 to Trollhättan after Jönköping instead of going to Gothenburg. We should try to intercept the train in Öxnabäck or whatever the village is called. Well, I think "off the beaten track" is the right expression for road #47. It was only wood and timber everywhere I looked and I expected Farmer John to come around every corner on his tractor. Yeah, our Fitter really took us through the Swedish country side. We needed gasoline and when we arrived to a place called Gräslöka or something like that. We stopped at 3 Älgar, a restaurant our Fitter had talked about since we left Norrköping. It was a self service joint and we had to run around with our own trays to collect the food. Exactly the kind of restaurant I hate. But I had some tea and a sandwich or two. Yeah, this had really turned out to be a real gourmet trip around Sweden. I really hope  that I have the opportunity to come back to Gyllene Uttern. But I have serious doubt of ever coming back to Tre Älgar
 2nd breakfast at Tre Älgar
Even though Tre Älgar in Gräslöka or what ever the place was called was a dull place we missed the  train in Öxnabäck. Our Fitter told us to leave him there so he could take the next train and our Chief Engineer and I continued to Gothenburg.
He left me in Gothenburg around 1245 before he got on his way to Skåne. I put my bags in my friend's apartment, he had his son over the weekend so I had to live at a hotel over the weekend. I had another friend to come pick me up and he brought me to my hotel. Between 6th of April and 22nd of May we did the following voyages: I signed on in Kemi while discharging Caustic Soda. After discharging we left for Rönnskär. Rönnskär - Immingham: Sulphuric Acid Stade - Kokkola: Caustic Soda Rönnskär - Härnösand: Sulphuric Acid Rönnskär - Immingham: Sulphuric Acid Rotterdam - Kemi: Caustic Soda. Mäntyluoto - Immingham: Sulphuric Acid Rotterdam - Kemi: Caustic Soda. Rönnskär - Norrköping: Sulphuric Acid. I was on my hotel room making "Nat iLL & DJ Static" and "Shiny days och Habib" to MP3 files and I had been home for about 2 hours, when they called from the company and wanted me on a new ship. I could not say no and I was scheduled for M/T Framnäs 26-27th of May. I will spend the weekend in my hotel room sleeping. |
can as well put a part of it for you to hear. SO JUST HIT THE PLAY BUTTON BELOW and you will soon have Nat Ill & DJ Static blasting high.
    
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