The Marine Society & Sea Cadets

British Trader has just completed a call at Elba Island LNG terminal, Savannah, Georgia.

The day started early with 2/O Stu Goddard calling anchor aweigh at 0212. We slowly headed to the pilot station and boarded a river pilot, closely followed by the Berthing Pilot.

The Berthing Pilot introduced himself as Captain Kirk; after some good-natured “Beam me up” comments from the bridge team, we commenced our transit of the Savannah River.

A Coastguard security team boarded from a fast rib and conducted a search of the vessel, before departing as we passed the coast guard station. Throughout the transit we had a helicopter escort.

We were also escorted by a tug, the passage being timed to arrive off the berth at high tide. The tug made fast entering the river proper and we commenced our run towards the berth.

After a swing off the berth, assisted by 3 tugs, we reversed into position alongside the South Dock.

Once the gangway was landed, immigration, customs and health officials arrived and the process of clearing the ship commenced.

When the officials completed their paperwork, we waited for the arrival of the US Coast guard inspection team. All vessels visiting United States Ports must obtain a certificate of Compliance from the Coastguard. This certificate lasts for 2 years and is subject to annual inspections. As it is almost 18 months since we last visited a US port, this was a full annual inspection.

The team boarded and conducted a meeting with the ship’s management team, and then commenced inspecting and testing both the ship’s officers and crew and all our safety equipment and systems.

Amongst the checks carried out were a fire and abandon ship drill, tests of the Gas Detection Systems and Water spray deluge system. During the deluge test, which consists of spraying water all over the vessel from specially fitted spray nozzles, all the coast guard officers managed to stay dry! Unfortunately the bosun was not as lucky as he had to check one blocked nozzle.

After 6 hours the coast guard were satisfied and they signed the certificate, shook our hands and we commenced setting up for discharge.

The discharge went smoothly and the officers and crew took the chance to “go up the road” and do some shopping.

A few of the guys even managed to find a supermarket open at 0100, after they finished their watch at midnight!

Cargo operations were completed by noon the next day. Unfortunately we had to wait for the tide before we could leave; so we didn’t begin letting go the moorings until 1800.

Once clear of the berth we once again transited the river escorted by a tug. The pilot was dropped at the sea-buoy and full ahead rung on the engine. A satisfied sigh of relief was given for a job well done. During this call the Coastguard and the terminal congratulated us on the ability and work of all onboard.

So it’s back to Trinidad, having made some new friends and discharged a full cargo with the satisfaction of a job well done.

To top it all, boy, that Sub tasted good!

We have now arrived back in Trinidad and are waiting for our next cargo.

Unfortunately since we arrived the hurricane season as started. So far no hurricanes but it has rained every day! We are hoping the rain will clear and we avoid any storms.

One of our sister ships the British Merchant is here, too. We spent quite a few hours catching up on the news from all onboard. Some of the guys on the Merchant have been on the Trader previously and it is always good to catch up with old friends.

That aside we are spending our time practicing emergency procedures and training. The crew are also giving us a new coat of paint to make Trader look brand new again.

There are a couple of the officers due to go home soon, so hopefully we will get their relief’s onboard during our time in Trinidad.

We hope the sun starts to shine too also although I need a cap in the sun as the top of my head suffers!

Khaled Al Shehhi, one of our Junior engineers, who is seconded to us from NGSCO has written an article on how it feels to be on his first BP vessel. I hope you enjoy it.

We have now just been for a high speed run to keep our hull paint clean.

Trader and her sisters are fitted with a special underwater paint that needs to have a flow of seawater across it to prevent marine growth.

Barnacles and seaweed growing on the hull would slow us down and make it necessary to burn more fuel.

When we arrived back at the anchorage, our second sister ship the British Innovator was here to greet us. We now have had all three sisters here for a while, although British Merchant has taken a cargo.

We are all looking forward to the game Thursday against the Trinidad and Tobago team. There is some friendly rivalry with the guys ashore, and the excitement is building all the time.

Unfortunately it still keeps raining, but it is warm and we can to get most of the work done.

So it’s time to rig the flags and wait for the game!


Captain Dave Pegg

Master
British Trader