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“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Maersk Group's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”
  Friday 28th of August 2015 and they were busy making a deviation table when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. We took on board the pilot about 20 minutes before 6 and we  had first line ashore in Tamatave about 1 hour later.
Time had been really quick. We're having a SIRE or better known as a vetting inspection and I had put positions with our new ECDIS all the way up to the jetty. Tamatave, the new name for the old Thomasina. Or if it is the opposite, let me check in the internet to see if I can find any info about Tamatave. And yes, as
I also read, and I quote: The city has wide palm tree-lined avenues and a wide selection of hotels and restaurants. The beaches in this area are famously beautiful, although sharks and pollution often prevent swimming and water sports. And the shark, must have been the shark I saw yesterday.  Tamatave beach and we can see a funfair
 Tamatave beach 7 o'clock in the morning
The beach was a few hundred meters from our jetty and we could see a funfair. And even though it was early morning we could see a few people in the water. Maybe people living on the beach, or can have been early swimmers. We're having a SIRE or better known as a vetting inspection here today or I would have gone ashore for a tour around the city. It looked beautiful from the sea side. But I will be busy all day long and there is no time to go ashore. But I had time to study the area while we moored alongside Galan oil jetty, I went down to my cabin to get my camera as I saw a small boat with a homemade sail. And it looked like it was made out of canvas and stuff they had found in the garbage. Obviously not very effective as they had to use paddles to get the thing to move. Anyway, it was a gorgeous morning and we had all fast 18 minutes past 7 o'clock in the morning.  Tamatave lighthouse
 We arrive and another boat is departing
     MSC Grace at Tamatave container terminal
I was turning off equipment on the bridge and I was looking at MSC Grace on the other side of the basin. Sun against me and looking through window covered in salt from the bad weather. But, what was that? Was it? I looked again and I went to get my camera from the chart table. Yes, it was not one but TWO blows from whales. They were far away out there in the Indian Ocean. But it really is true, you can see the whale blow from a great distance. Yeah, I was in a quite good mood when I left the bridge for the CCR and the onslaught of people expecting to come on board to visit us before we can start discharging. And of course, the vetting Inspector is expected to come on board during the morning.  There was not only one blow, but...
 ... there was TWO blows
We started to discharge the first parcel at 13:30 and I went for a tour with the vetting  Inspector on deck while we were discharging the 1580 tons from parcel #1.  We went around to have a look and when we were ready we went to check out the equipment in the CCR.
When he was finished scrutinizing everything he left and were soon to stop the first parcel. We started the second parcel at 19:06 and I was off to bed. My rest hours have been red since 13:30 and I'm really tired. But the SIRE or as I call it, the vetting inspection, well, 0 remarks and, well, that's what we're used to. Now it will be nice to leave here and 2 weeks to Singapore. +++++++++++++++
Saturday 29th of August 2015 and I was called for at 04:15. Almost ready with the discharging. It was not the first time I had to wake up during the night. My alarm went of at 03:35, but I was soon asleep again. And I had been dreaming about whales.
We completed discharging at 05:30 and we had to discharge very slow, tanks one by one to get the right quantity. And it is not easy as we're rolling and pitching along the jetty and that creates heavy  swell in the cargo tanks. I left my office at 8 thirty and I had time for a Diet MAX before pilot boarding time at 9 o'clock.
The Pilot was early so they were about to depart when I came on the bridge just before 9. I was back in my cabin 30 minutes later and I put my camera battery for charging. I was going to take a picture of the light house and the battery was flat. Need my camera to be ready for the afternoon as we might run in to sharks and whales. 2 weeks of whale watching on the Indian Ocean going to Singapore
 area to avoid any  pirates that might want to attack us.
Anyway, we had quite a nice evening, some swell, but it was OK. I saw a few whales but it was not any Humpbacks. At least I'm pretty sure it wasn't. Several buckets of tea and time turned quickly. Our 2nd Engineer came to make a phone call and I took a picture of him and the 3rd Officer on the bridge wing. Moonlight and I'm happy with the picture,  for sure not good, far from it. But hand held camera in the dark and a rolling ship!
So it is not easy. And I do it mostly for training, the controls on the camera are not easy to find in the dark, but I'm getting there slowly. I was back in my cabin not long after 8 o'clock. I watched 60 minutes for a while but I was soon in bed. I was really tired. My rest hours had been red since 13:30 yesterday until departure this morning. So  sleep is needed before my alarm went off at 03:30 tomorrow morning again.
It is kind of strange how I have grow to like the 4 to 8 watch. Getting up at 3 thirty in the morning is not so very fun, but the watch is OK. Enjoying my tea watching the sun rise is kind of OK. This was impossible when I was young as I was so tired, but the older I get... Well, the only thing getting easier with the age is to wake up in the morning.   +++++++++++++++
Sunday 30th of August 2015 and the wind have picked up a bit. And not one single whale during my morning watch. The day was spent mostly in my cabin, well, there are always some planning to do. And as we have plenty to do tomorrow I had to do a wee bit of planning.
Fire drill, remove steam pipes, chipping hydraulic pipes and to prepare for enter to ballast tank 6 Port. So it will be an action filled day tomorrow, something we're looking forward to. And it is the last day of August already and time is passing pretty quickly here.
+++++++++++++++
Monday 31st of August 2015 and the day started with a beautiful sunrise not long after coming on the bridge at 4 o'clock. We are a little off the SUN TIME and we will have to advance ship's time by an hour today. And then we will have to do it 4 more times before arriving to Singapore.
 I saw two flying fishes this morning, and that is a long time ago since I saw flying fishes last time
 soon back in bed. There is need for a power nap before we kick off the fire drill
The wind is picking up and the ship is shaking and rolling making way through the oncoming waves on our way towards Malacca Strait and Singapore. According to Captain it looks to be like this for the next week and that means no painting. So our extra painters are chipping and when we have  the good weather they will cup brush and paint. The crew have started to remove steam pipes on deck. Bad weather or not, there are plenty to do on deck.
Last day of August in the year of our Lord 2015 and what's better than to finish the months with some pictures of the crew on deck. Taking from the comfort of the bridge where I enjoy my Rooibos tea and the view of the crew working hard.
Well, the month of August has come to an end and it ends with us steaming straight in to the month of September leaving a beautiful sunset behind us. We have about 12 days or something like that before we reach Singapore. I don't expect to see any more whales, but I expect a lot of other excitements so you just hang on and click HERE to find yourself in the month of september 
    
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make powerful, self-propelled leaps out of water into air, where their long, wing-like fins enable gliding flight for considerable distances above the water's surface. This uncommon ability is a natural defense mechanism to evade predators.
of waves to cover distances of up to 400 m (1,300 ft). They can travel at speeds of more than 70 km/h (43 mph). Maximum altitude is 6 m (20 ft) above the surface of the sea. Some accounts have them landing on ships' decks.
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E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
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