British Trader in the Caribbean
by Captain Dave Edgeworth; 2 October 2006.
Captain Dave Edgeworth
As I write we are once again at anchor here at Trinidad awaiting loading instructions.
In my last report we were on our way up to Cove Point after narrowly avoiding hurricane Ernesto. Well, anyone who understands anything about hurricanes and the paths they follow will know that they draw their energy from the warm water currents. Therefore in this region of the world the Gulf Stream is the predominant current which hurricanes tend to follow. I say 'tend' because hurricanes can also be most unreliable is following what is expected of them.
Anyway, my point in all this is that our discharge date in Cove Point was brought forward by 3 days due to the anticipated arrival of hurricane Ernesto as it swept along the east coast of the US.
After a very busy morning of phone calls and emails, all the necessary paperwork was completed for our arrival in the US. Entry procedures into the country now involve a visit by the US Coast Guard usually before any pilot has boarded.
In our case we were expecting them to board at 0600 as we entered US waters. However, due to a mechanical fault on their launch they actually arrived onboard at 1100. As we have been to the US on many previous occasions, the inspection was quite cursory and we soon continued our passage up to Cove Point via Chesapeake Bay.
British Trader
We completed the discharge the following day and headed back down the Bay and back to Trinidad. During our transit down the Bay the weather steadily deteriorated as local weather reports indicated that Ernesto was slowly tracking north along the coastline. By the time we dropped the pilot that night and headed out into the Atlantic the wind was blowing at gale force from the south.
We headed out on an easterly course to get as far away from the expected track of the hurricane and thereby try to avoid the worst of the weather. By the following morning the wind had dropped, although the sea was rough with a short high swell. With that we altered our course and headed south to Trinidad.
We arrived here at our old parking in the anchorage over 2 weeks ago and have used that time to perform some onboard training for the crew involving breathing aparatus work, hose handling and general seamanship tasks with a company safety trainer.
Although all these areas are well covered in shore based courses and onboard drills, any opportunity to further hone these skills is well worthwhile.
Currently we are still waiting to hear if we have any loading orders, but in the meantime are preparing to go on a ‘paint run’. This involves steaming at full speed for about 5 hours to try and remove any growth that has attached itself to the ship’s hull.
It seems that Trinidad is one area in the world where this is especially prevalent and this has a marked effect on the ship’s performance through the water and consequently our fuel consumption.
That’s about all for now. Hopefully in my next update I will be able to tell you about our loaded voyage and even some stories on the crew’s shore leave.
Captain Dave Edgeworth