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Day 130 ?

yes i am still out to sea, im getting close to being on here for about
130 days or so.
I will finally be getting off and going on vacation in about another
week or so!
We are currently in the middle of the Ocean, and i don't remember the
last time i updated the blog, but i know its been a while.
Anyway, we made it through the pirate waters without incident, arrived
in Kuwait and sat there for almost one full week due to a sand storm and
high winds which had the port closed.
Went through the Suez canal...again...and we are now making our way back
to the states.
Once i finally get off, i will have been on here close to 5 months. so
thats 5 months working every day, not one day off! i think its time for
a vacation

--tim

Day 98 - Suez Canal

Well today is my 98th day onboard the ship...wow. So thats 98 days with
not one day off, I'd say im about ready to get to kuwait so we can turn
around and head home! We made our transit throught the Suez canal, and
then the gulf of suez, and we are now in the Red Sea. Today was nice and
sunny, in the mid to upper 80's.! A few more days and we'll be back in
pirate waters. Thats all for now.

--Tim

Where in the world is Tim?

ok ok, i know its been a few weeks since the last update, but not to
much has changed. We arrived in Beaumont, Tx discharged cargo and
reloaded cargo and also did a huge crew change. About 75% of the crew
got off. As for me, I am staying for another trip. Today is day 90 on
board. So thats 90 days of straight work, 12 hr days, except Sunday,
which there is no OT so it becomes a 8hr day. It was a very nice
crossing for the most part, we stayed more to the south to avoid the
rough seas. The past few days its been rainy and gloomy. We passed the
Island of Madeira  yesterday morning, and we will be going through the
straights of Gibraltar into the Med. Sea tonight around midnight. So 90
days down, about another 45 or so to go!

--Tim

Med - Gulf of Mexico

It's been a while since the last update..so let me recap. We had some
rough weather the last few days before exiting the Mediterranean, then
it cleared up for a few days after we passed through the Straights of
Gibraltar. Then about smack in the middle of the ocean, a storm brewed
up and we got tossed around pretty good for about 3 days. The swells
reached about 6meters and we were rolling pretty heavy. Its really not
fun being in rough seas, everything is sliding all over the place,
computer monitors, chairs, eating is quite a work out, when you have to
hold on to your plate, glass, and chair!. And then standing a 4hr watch
on the bridge, staring out the window at the ocean as we bounce up and
down and up and down, doesn't make the best day. Any ways, we made it
through, we altered course to come down more south to try and pass it.
We then headed west for "The Hole in the Wall". The Hole in the Wall is
a channel that runs through the Bahama Islands allowing ships to enter
the Straights of Florida without having to go up North, just to come
back down south.  So passing through there was nice, weather was warm
and sunny for the most part. we then made our turn and hugged the coast
of Florida, thinking i would be able to get some cell phone service, but
thanks to Verizon that didn't happen. We are now making our way through
the Gulf of Mexico headed to Beaumont, Tx. We will be arriving at the
pilot station sometime tomorrow night. Big crew change coming up, but
looks like ill be staying on and making one more trip! So i wont be
seeing Jersey for another 2 months our so.
Thats the update, more soon!
--Tim

Suez canal - Straights of Gibraltar

Well its been a week or two since the last update. We made our transit
through the Suez canal and into the med. We made it through the Suez in
about 8hrs, a quick and painless transit. The weather in the med. was
pretty crappy. Strong winds, rainy squalls, rough seas. Yes the med.
does get nasty! We passed through the straights of Gibraltar just about
an hour ago around 11pm. Traffic was steady but not to much excitement.
The wind has died down and the seas have also calmed down. It looks for
a nice crossing so far. We have an eta of Feb 11th in Beaumont, Texas.
Hopefully ill be getting word this week if ill be making another trip,
or heading home. Id say about 75% of the crew will be getting off once
we get to Texas. A suit case parade as we call it! hah.
Thats about it, time for bed.

--tim

Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

So the past week has been nothing but a blur. We left Kuwait, and about
24hrs later arrived outside of Fujairah. We anchored for the night, and
fueled the ship up. We were called to dock early the next morning, and
started cargo around 9am. We loaded a full load to bring back to the
states. I got a chance to go ashore in Fujairah which was really nice. A
lot of duty free shops and seamen clubs right on the dock. Even got to
make a few phone calls home! We now are back in the pirate territory for
the next few days, and will be arriving at the Suez canal sometime
Monday. Thats all for now, my bed is calling me !

--Tim

Shuaiybah, Kuwait

Well after 3 days of sitting at anchorage outside of Kuwait, we finally
got to the dock. We docked on sat. around 1230pm and immediately started
the discharge of cargo. Once we finished the discharge we had a huge
back load of cargo for the u.s. Cargo is worked 24hrs in the middle east
so theres not to much time for sleep. We finished loading around 9pm
Sunday night. We will be leaving Kuwait 8am Monday morning headed to
Fujairah, UAE. Its only about a 24hr transit. The weather has been nice,
mid 70's low 80's. A lot better then the last time i was here, in the
summer. The temps were over 100 and it was in the middle of a sand
storm. After Fujairah, we will be headed back home. We should be on the
east coast somewhere around Feb 15th. See you all soon.

-Tim

Karachi, Pakistan

Quick update before i get some sleep!
We arrived in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday around 6am. There wasn't a lot
to discharge so cargo ops when really quick. We left Karachi around 6pm
the same day! I got a chance to go ashore for about an hour, I didn't
venture to far because Pakistan isn't quite a safe place, hah. They had
a small shop right on the dock, so thats where i went. I got some cool
nick nacks to bring home. The past two nights have been very busy with
crazy amounts of fishing boats, ohhh how i love the Persian gulf :/ We
will be arriving in Kuwait tomorrow around 8am, discharging cargo and
doing a big back load. We should be there probably for the day and
possibly over night. Then its about a day and a half trip out of the
Persian gulf to the east side of the United Arab Emerits, Fujairah!
Fujairah is supposed to be a good port, with duty free shops, a seamens
center, and a bar!! Hopefully well have an overnight stay there!
Thats all for now, updates in a few days.

--tim

Gulf of Aden - Pirate Waters

Well we entered the pirate infested waters early this morning. It will
be about a 2-3 day transit through. So far not to much excitement, which
is a good thing! Iv seen a lot more warships patrolling the area then
the last time i came through, which was only a few months ago. We have
been using night vision goggles to help detect any small suspicious
boats. We should be in Pakistan sometime on the 10th. I got to talk to a
classmate of mine yesterday via the vhf radio. He is on a cable laying
ship and was in the red sea at the same time we where going through.
Other then that, its been smooth sailing. we are advancing clocks once
again tonight so I am now 9hrs ahead of east coast time.
More updates soon

--Tim

Volos, Greece -- New Years Eve -- Suez Canal

Well i have been quite busy the past couple of days, so here is a recap.
We made our way North in the Agean sea through all of the Greek islands
to Volos, Greece. It was quite a pretty site going in, with mountains
and islands all over on both sides. We docked in Volos around 12 noon on
Dec. 31st. The original plan was to be there overnight so everyone
was super excited about spending new years in Greece. The port of Volos
is quite small, but everything is a 10 min walk from the ship. I got the
chance to go ashore for about 3 hours to walk around and explore. Tons
of cafes and shops all on the water front. Everyone was getting ready to
celebrate the new year. So i went back to the ship to start my
6pm-midnight shift and got the word that we would be finish with cargo
around 9pm and were going to be setting sail at midnight! A total
bummer. There was only one problem, half of our engine department was
already ashore enjoying the time off, and they were unaware of us
leaving at midnight! So, long story short, the Chief Engineer went
looking for the crew. Somehow he found them all and got them back to the
ship before midnight. 1145pm Last line and we were headed back out to
sea. Midnight and year 2010! the pilot was just getting off the ship,
and alls you saw were tons and tons of fireworks coming from all over
the place. All the ships in the area were blasting their fog horns. We
all said happy new year, and headed to bed! haha.
It was about a 36hr transit to Port Said, Egypt where we anchored for
the night. We started the 12hr transit of the Suez canal last night
around 130am and finished around 1pm today. It was a quick transit
through. We are now Southbound in the Red Sea, headed to Pakistan.
Should arrive there around the 9 of Jan.
Time for some sleep, more updates soon, Pirate waters in a few days!

--Tim

Gibraltar - Med. - Greek Islands - Blue Moon

been a while since the last update, so here is a catch up! we passed
through the straights of Gibraltar on Sunday, making our way east in the
med.
the weather has been the nicest its been all trip so far. Made the turn
by Tunisia, plenty of fishing boats in the area, good thing it was
during the day time. We then made our way east, past Sicily and Malta.
Tons of anchored ships off the coast of Malta. We are now making our way
north in the Agean sea, towards Volos, Greece. We are scheduled to
arrive there tomorrow, 12/31 around 10am. We are currently making our
way through the Greek Islands. To bad it is night time, so we cant see
to much. Many cruise ships all lit up all around in between the islands.
New years eve in Greece, sounds like a blast, hopefully ill get some
time to go ashore, im ready for some good Greek food! Tomorrow night is
also a 'Blue Moon" -not the beer. a blue moon is two full moons in the
same month, very very rare. That means all the crazy s will be out
tomorrow night!
More updates soon

-Tim

Merry Christmas!!

Well its another Christmas, spent away from home, on a ship. I guess
thats what happens when you live the life of a sailor. Some holidays
your home, some your not. Sometimes you know where your going, and
sometimes you don't. Sometimes, you don't know when you'll be back, or
for how long you'll be gone. Holiday or not, its just another day at work.

Santa must have landed on the ship last night, because after i went down
to my room around 1215am, all the doors had stockings hanging from them.
Each one filled with little goodies! Some candy and chocolate, a knitted
wool hat from the Seamens Church of NY/NJ and a company tee shirt.

The stewards department did a very good job today with preparing a huge
meal! Turkey, ham, ribs, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac and
cheese, stuffing, deserts. There was a lot of food to choose from!
Since it being a holiday we got the day off. A day off for me is not the
same as a day off for most of you. my day off means i work only an 8hr
day, and not a 12hr day! haha, (someone has to drive the ship!)So yes, i
stood my 8am-12noon watch totally stuffed myself to sleep, and took a
nap, my next shift is from 8pm-12 midnight.

We have about 2 more days left of crossing the ocean, then we will be
entering the straights of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
Hope everyone at home is enjoying the holidays. More updates to come!

--Tim

107mph winds!

well day one after leaving Charleston was a bit of a bumpy ride!
wind was a steady 30-40 and we had a gust up to 107mph, 93.7knts!
thats the strongest wind iv seen so far. needless to say i didn't sleep
well that night, we were pitching and rolling quite a bit.
We changed course and are headed a bit south to try and pass the
weather. So far so good! the seas have calmed down now, and it is a
pleasant rock and roll. Good sleeping conditions!!
our eta for volos, greece is still around dinner time on the 31st. so as
long as the weather holds out and we keep our speed, we will be there
just in time to celebrate the new year! Thats all for now

-tim