Day 1

Starting awfully early this morning, I am now back aboard the Cygnus, starting my 4 week shift. We're currently alongside in Aberdeen fitting the equipment necessary to accommodate this neat little thing. Still curious about it's weight including A-Frame, hopefully it will be provided tomorrow. 

The vessel is bristling with life, people running all over the place, carrying welding torches, and angle grinders. A welcome change since last time, when there were less activity. Things are coming together and we will shortly be leaving the docks heading out to sea, ready for whatever work is in store for us. 

Another change since last time, is the arrival of our new uniform shirts, we are now strolling about the vessel, carrying the proper insignia for our positions. Making it easy for visitors to spot who is who. When we carry the amount of visitors and newcomers, as we do now, it's a greatly improvement of safety that the ships crew is easily identified.

It needs some time to turn my mind from the normal laid back state I'm in when I'm home, to the alert state needed aboard. Some may think that the job consist of the random pushing of buttons. For the random bystander it may look like it, but do not forget to take into account all considerations taken before each button push.    

The food is still excellent, which gives me some trouble since I have decided that I will loose another 10 kilos before commencement of the bikini season. But hey, if it was an easy job anyone could do it. I've already started nicely, and have already lost close to 4 kilos, last 4 weeks, of course at home, when I had to cook myself. I will now shortly be heading for the gym, punishing myself for the dessert I should have passed. I'll never learn.

Life is full of temptations, which either are fattening, or sinful.  

Well, who's idea is it to start off at 6

Well, who's idea is it to start off at 6 in the morning. Plane is leaving 0730. I do believe there is a later flight

Here I go again

So then, ready for another 4 weeks at sea. 

Leaving my loved ones behind, feeling a bit sorry for myself, since I'm not to be home during April. At the same time, with anticipation looking forward to coming back to my second family aboard the Cygnus. I've really missed eggs and bacon for breakfast, and all the excellent food our chef's makes. I've also missed the luxury of the laundry service provided aboard, not to forget the housekeeping service. I've tried to explain to the people at home how life is aboard, and the closest comparison is living in a hotel.

At the same time, who am I to complain about staying 4 weeks away from home, when my Filipino coworkers stay aboard for 4 months, and when they go home for leave, they only get 2 months off.

Nah, life could be a lot worse. To be quite honest I've been very fortunate. I've had jobs a lot more stressing and work-intensive, for a lot less pay, but still there is the leaving home bit.

Well, nothing to do about that now, the plane leaves tomorrow morning, and I'm off to Scotland.

So long to all friend and family, I'll be back when May is due. May you miss me, less than I miss you, and may you all look forward to me coming back.

 

     

 

Hello all

Really curious about this blogg thing, really not sure if this is really me. But hey, let's give it a try. My main intentions are to, in some way ease some of my thoughts, share ideas, share pictures taken from my office (The Bridge of my vessel), or generally state my opinion about stuff.

I am currently working as 1.st Officer aboard the Deep Cygnus, which is a multipurpose ROV, Trencher Vessel, operating in the North Sea. This is a job I really enjoy. There is no way I can possible describe the feeling of operating such a vessel, controlling its powers, by means of only small adjustments of its levers. The vessel is 122 m long, and my office is situated on the topmost deck, with a panoramic 360 degrees view of the seven seas. 

My favorite time of day is at sunrise, after a long dark night's duty, seeing the sun rising above the horizon is always spectacular. My current watch duty leaves me sleeping at this hours, since it's the chief Officer that does the night-shift, but hey, sunset is not bad either.

This'll be all for now. I am currently packing my bag for another 4 weeks at sea, leaving family and friends behind. But that may be the price I have to pay for having one of the most exiting jobs in the world... 

I am really looking forward to be seeing them again in 4 weeks.