Anatomy of a grounding

Wonder how they managed this...

Near drowning incident

A few weeks ago I went out for my morning walk with my colleague Wendy. She had been hankering for days to walk on the beach and the idea was cool to me too, so we took our rubber dinghy and drove to the closest beach near the shipyard which is Woodman's point.

Monkey Mia

Been awhile since the last time but I've been really busy starting up this yacht I'm working on. Currently we are doing a "shakedown" cruise to find all faulty systems and to see that everything is working properly. 

Monkey Mia bay

Burglary

Damn, last nite we had burglars in the house. One of my flatmates, Wendy, forgot to lock the doors and they had been marching right in the door and took the closest thing available - her laptop. Luckily they did not take the other 3 laptops in the house, her jewellery, portable hard drives, our beers in the fridge...

Cancelled internet bill

Don't drink and drive

Last week and this has not been good for our team here in Australia. Our Captain who was on a wine tasting session with our boss got nipped by the coppers on a DUI (just over the limit) and today our landlord called us that we have exceeded our internet cap by the double and the bill is 4200 ozzie dollars.

A millionaire's dinner

Yesterday our boss came to inspect the ship he is building here in Australia. He had loads a meetings and finally settled down to discuss matters with the Captain.

Outback Wallaby

The weather has been awful for the last week, rain, rain and more rain. Haven't seen raining men but it sure is close. Well, enuff of that stuff. Yesterday we went out cruising east on the intention of seeing wild kangaroos or skippies as they call 'em here down under.

Night out in Freo

Greetings from Australia once more. Have been down under in Oz for a couple weeks now. Last Saturday I volunteered to be the designated driver for my colleagues. Ah, need to back track some more. We live in a 3 bedroom (3-story) house that is near the center of Fremantle.

Fremantle, Australia

Been now almost a week in Oz and seen and experienced a lot.

Titan

06.10.2006-05.04.2007

Chief officer

m/y Titan 

Titan in La Seyne-sur-Mer

CMA CGM Capella

26.05.2006 - 27.09.2006
Second Mate (Safety and medical Officer)
m/v CMA CGM Capella

CMA CGM Capella (photo courtesy of Ivan Meshkov/ Shipspotting.com)

Shore based employment - Pandaw cruises

08.08.2005 - 20.12.2005

Marine Superintendent

r/v Tonle Pandaw on Tonle Lake

RMS Windsor Castle

This post is copied as seen on ssmaritime.com for RMS Windsor Castle (5 pages), the website SSMaritime is private and the author elderly so one doesn't know how long the domain will remain active. I give all credit to the author Dr. Reuben Goossens, who has compiled the pictures and written the text. 

This to honor the history of the vessel I was involved in saving after the storm in 12th Feb 2004. (JL)

************************************************

RMS Windsor Castle

Later: SS Margarita L / Rita

Ship of sheer beauty! (Author’s collection)

RMS Windsor Castle 1960 - 1977

Grounding of Margarita L

Back in 2003 I was in Greece working for SETE yachts converting Columbus Caravelle to mega yacht Turama and we were alongside in Lamda shipyards where I had a good view of the laid up vessels in the sheltered Elefsis Bay, one of the interesting vessels out there was Margarita L, her imposing silhouette brought into my mind a lot questions of what is this ship doing here, where has she come from and what is she doing here. Little did I know that she was the property of the Latsis family.

After some research I learned that she was originally launched as Windsor Castle and sailed for the Union Castle lines from UK to South Africa. She was the last cruise ship ever built by Cammell Laird shipyard. Eventually after the advent of air travel cruising was no longer popular and she changed hands and became property of Mr John Latsis who used her mostly in Saudi Arabia where he had business interests. After that she was laid up in Elefsina Bay.

Then one night in the middle of the winter in 2004, Feb 12th she broke her anchor chain during a winter storm.

m/s Margarita L on Salamina

Columbus Caravelle sold

30.01.2003 - 03.02.2003

Owner's representative/ Captain
m/v Columbus Caravelle

Columbus Caravelle alongside Gaoyanglu wharf, Shanghai

(photo collage)

Columbus Caravelle

04.03.2000 - 31.05.2000 Chief Officer
01.06.2000 - 07.08.2000 Captain
02.10.2000 - 01.11.2000 Chief Officer
02.11.2000 - 04.02.2001 Captain
05.04.2001 - 04.06.2001 Chief Officer
05.06.2001 - 10.08.2001 Captain
09.10.2001 - 09.12.2001 Chief Officer
10.12.2001 - 26.04.2002 Captain
24.06.2002 - 07.01.2003 Captain
M/v Columbus Caravelle

M/v Columbus Caravelle in Jeju Is., S. Korea

Oihonna

24.01.2000 - 16.02.2000

2nd officer
m/s Oihonna

Oihonna (unknown photographer)

Winden

10.12.1999 - 07.01.2000

Chief officer
M/s Winden

Winden (unknown photographer)

Columbus Caravelle

07.04.1999 - 22.09.1999

Captain
m/v Columbus Caravelle

LOA: 117m, GT 7560, Passengers: ~200

Columbus Caravelle in Port Klang

Oihonna

11.03.1999 - 29.03.1999

2nd officer
m/s Oihonna

M/s Oihonna

Railship I

07.03.1999 - 10.03.1999

1st officer
m/s Railship I

M/s Railship I (Photo by A. Sporri)

Superstar Leo

22.09.1998 - 23.12.1998

2nd officer
m/v Superstar Leo

Superstar Leo (unknown photographer)

Superstar Sagittarius

16.06.1998 - 16.09.1998

2nd officer
m/v Superstar Sagittarius

Superstar Sagittarius at Pulau Pangkor, Malaysia

Roslagen

20.05.1998 - 08.06.1998

2nd officer
M/s Roslagen

Roslagen (unknown photographer)

Columbus Caravelle

09.01.1998 - 17.04.1998

Captain
m/v Columbus Caravelle

M/s Columbus Caravelle at WTC in Singapore

Finnmaid

07.10.1997 - 15.12.1997

2nd officer
m/s Finnmaid

Finnmaid (photo by Dirk Jankowsky)

Columbus Caravelle

02.06.1996 - 10.09.1996 Chief Officer
10.09.1996 - 04.11.1996 1st Officer (Safety)
03.12.1996 - 07.07.1997 Chief Officer
M/v Columbus Caravelle

M/v Columbus Caravelle

Master unlimited

Having been at it for 10 years in total I had finally completed my studies, at least for now. The universal day in Finland was that on the last day of May all schools closed for summer and students got their end of semester reports. I had been doing my Captains ticket for past 2 years now but the overall "process" started in 1984 when I joined Åbo Navigations Institut's general ratings course.

We all gathered at the Åbo Navigations Institut (Aboa Mare today) up on the "hill" and gathered in the big center lobby with all classes mingling together. There all Classes were divided up after the opening speech by the headmaster. Then certificates were given to each and everyone that had earned them (there was a few that had dropped out or needed more experience to get their competence), I was among our class one of the few that had the requisite experience to get the Master's COC on this very day!

Aboa Mare

The mood was very festive and also some stipends were given out. I was the 2nd student of my class deemed to be conscientious so I got a small monetary stipend to that effort. If I recall correctly it was 500 Finnish marks which works out to about a 100 euros, not much today, back in 1996 it would amount to a night out, still, a nice sign of appreciation. After having dispensed all formalities we got a glass of champagne for having graduated as Master Mariners and our headmaster told us "any ship, any trade" applies. Yes, today one might need a few additional certs for the sort of the ship (tanker, passenger vessel).

It was time to leave so we got our certificates and left the school, it was a sunny day and the birch trees had broken out fresh leaves, the air smelled fresh of the coming summer and life felt good. Few of us decided to go for a few celebratory drinks at the now defunct "Börs terrace" or familiarly called the "bush" because the terrace was in a back enclosure of the hotel and had a few trees growing up there among the tables. I recall we all sat there among the university graduates in their white hats and us with our fresh Captains tickets, sun was shining down from a clear sky through the branches. Couldn't stay for long as I needed to get home to my parents to give them the good news.

At home I was gifted the "American Practical Navigator" by Nathaniel Bowditch as well as another glass of champagne. Big tomes to read when I'll get retired. It was time to celebrate and pack my luggage as in few days I was off to Hong Kong  to sign on the Columbus Caravelle as Chief officer. My new chapter in life had began.

Delfin Star

04.04.1995 - 08.08.1995

Chief officer
M/s Delfin Star

m/s Delfin Star at Ocean Terminal

Winden

12.12.1994 - 18.01.1995

2nd officer
M/s Winden

Winden (unknown photographer)

Atlanta Forest

03.03.1994 - 04.09.1994
08.01.1993 - 02.08.1993
1st Officer
m/s Atlanta Forest

As Kent Forest (unknown photographer)

Finnsailor

01.02.1994 - 17.02.1994

2nd officer
m/s Finnsailor

m/s Finnsailor

Norden

08.11.1993 -20.12.1993

1st officer
m/s Norden

Norden (unknown photographer)

Anne

17.09.1993 -22.10/1993

Chief officer
m/s Anne

Anne (courtesy from shipspotting.com)

Atlanta Forest

08.01.1993 - 02.08.1993

03.03.1994 - 04.09.1994

2nd Officer

Atlanta Forest

Here still under Finnlines as m/s Atlanta

Bona Fe

1991-1992

2nd Officer

m/s Bona Fe

Bona Fe loaded (photographer unknown)

Mariella

Christmas and New Year temp gig
m/s Mariella

m/s Mariella (photographer unknown)

Bore Britannica

18.05.1989 - 05.06.1989 OS
19.06.1989 - 13.07.1989 OS
18.12.1989 - 04.01.1990 OS
09.04.1990 - 20.04.1990 OS
24.05.1990 - 25.06.1990 OS
26.06.1990 - 05.07.1990 AB

Ordinary seaman 

Able seaman (combined deck/engine)

Bore Britannica

LOA 156 m

GT 15525

Bore Britannica (unknown photographer)

Pasila

21.07.1989 - 19.08.1989
Ordinary seaman

The bad times in Finnish shipping were still going on in late 80's and jobs were always temporary. Nobody employed crew on a permanent contract due to no vacancies as ships were sold en masse abroad or flagged abroad under flags of convenience. 

This time I had been called up from the job centre to report to Pasila as ordinary seaman. I signed on at west coast in some port (I think Pori) with a power plant as ESL shipping's vessels supplies coal to all of them in Finland. As soon as we were empty we sailed for Poland or another port on the Baltic south coast to load more coal and bring it back to the hungry power plants.

Pasila being towed (unknown photographer)

Military service

In 1988 I was drafted to do my military service and I managed to get into the Navy. In Finland this could be tricky as the draft officers could be difficult and just assign you far up north to Lappland if you wanted to be in the Navy. Furthermore, I was a serving merchant navy seaman so it was bound to attract some questions if I would not like to go inland and serve my country. Fortunately the Draft Officer was in a good mood and after some discussion he assigned me to Helsinki to do my basic training. 

Photo by Kari Martiala

Crewing onboard as rating

In 1985 I graduated from the General Rating (fit for work on deck and engine) class on 31st of May as was customary for schools in Finland. During the spring I had been running to different shipping companies looking for a job and as it was a recession period in those days it was pretty hard to get hired. 

Bore Sun, built 1977 in Norway

Bore Queen

26.02.1986 - 26.03.1986
11.04.1986 - 20.05.1986
01.07.1986 - 09.09.1986
23.09.1986 - 14.01.1987

Ordinary Seaman
m/s Bore Queen

Bore Queen (unknown photographer)

Fortuna

21.08.1985 - 05.09.1985

Ordinary seaman

m/s Fortuna

Fortuna

Bore Sun

14.06.1985 - 20.07.1985 OS

04.10.1985 - 13.12.1985 OS

02.01.1986 - 10.01.1986 OS

24.01.1986 - 31.01.1986 OS

04.04.1986 - 10.04.1986 OS

13.02.1987 - 08.05.1987 OS

29.05.1987 - 12.06.1987 OS

26.06.1987 - 10.07.1987 OS

31.07.1987 - 21.08.1987 OS

04.09.1987 - 11.09.1987 AB

12.09.1987 - 25.09.1987 OS

16.10.1987 - 30.10.1987 AB

06.11.1987 - 13.11.1987 Engine apprentice

14.11.1987 - 20.11.1987 AB

21.11.1987 - 27.11.1987 AB

04.12.1987 - 18.12.1987 AB

19.12.1987 - 30.12.1987 Engine apprentice

31.12.1987 - 15.01.1988 OS

01.02.1988 - 20.02.1988 AB

Ordinary seaman

Able Seaman

Carpenter

Engine apprentice

m/s Bore Sun

LOA 150 m

GT 10762

Bore Sun (by Tommy Gjerling)

School - General rating

In 1984 I was completing my basic schooling from class 9 at St. Olofsskolan i Åbo. It was the only Swedish speaking school in my hometown and all with Swedish as mother tongue was attending this school. Even some Finnish speaking parents opted to put their kids through Swedish school so they would learn the language. Anyway, towards the last semester the study coordinator started briefing us kids of where to go and start higher studies.

Åbo Navigations Institut

Lita

Having been attending to Bore King and Borea for works we were then sent to m/v Lita, managed by Henry Nielsen LLC, a company originally founded in 1923 by Nielsen who was from Denmark and a Swedish partner Gustaf Thorden. Eventually the partners separated but Nielsen continued with the management and chartering business. He successfully continued to manage ships for different companies but in the end of 70's the market conjunctures went south for bulk and cargoes so in the beginning of the 80's the ships were sold off and flagged out in short order. It was at this time I went to school deciding for a career in an industry that was flailing.

 

m/v Lita at Long Beach Roads 1983, photo by Raimo Mäkinen

s/s Borea

As I was attending rating school at Åbo Navigationsinstitut 1984-1985 (today Aboa Mare) we were also arranged to go work on an old steamship "Borea" operated by Aura Line in order to get a feel for ships and conditions working onboard + of course to help the crew there with maintenance.

s/s Borea (courtesy Ålands sjofart magazine)

Bore King

When I was doing my General rating school back in 1984-1985 we were sent as apprentices for one trip on various Finnish cargo ships, usually a roundtrip lasted for a week or so. I was with another 3 guys sent to Bore King and as I remember we embarked in Helsinki and sailed for Kotka - Gothenburg - Helsingborg and back to Helsinki. 

Bore King (by unknown)