mv Dareen

On Thursday 8th November 2013 I boarded the livestock carrier mv Dareen at Geelong, after she arrived from Indonesia, to service the magnetic compass. On Friday 9th  I reboarded the vessel before she sailed for Tianjin, China in order to perform a compass adjustment in Port Phillip Bay. We sailed at 2350 and I disembarked the ship by pilot launch off Queenscliff at 0430 on Saturday morning.

mv Dareen at Lacelles Wharf, Geelong on 7/11/13

The ship's bridge.

 

The magnetic compass prior to servicing.

Pumping stock feed on board.

Evening, prior to departure for China.

mt Ardmore Seafarer - Crib Point

I was hired to attend the product tanker mt Ardmore Seafarer at Crib Point, Westernport, Victoria from 18/10/2013 to 20/10/2013 as the representative of Bernhard Schutle Shipmanagement (Cyprus) while management was transferred from Schulte to Univan Ship Management Ltd. This involved a full crew change with the multinational officers and Filippino crew being replaced by Indians. My main job was to remove ship's articles, logbooks and other documents for shipping back to Cyprus and ensure certain other items such as ship's stamps and emails were destroyed.

Ardmore Seafarer at the Crib Point terminal 

Looking forward from the bridge.

The bridge.

The chartroom.

The very efficient Bulgarian ship's captain.

The Captain's cabin.

The Crib Point terminal.

An obsolete RAN submarine at anchor in Westernport Bay.

mt Challenge Paradise - Port Hedland

I recently received a last minute request to fly to Port Hedland to perform a pre-purchase inspection of the product tanker mt Challenge Paradise. The ship, though somewhat spartan, was in very good condition and very clean. The Indian officers and crew were very helpful and the Indian food was great. I stayed aboard the ship for two days.
Being the first time I'd been to Port Hedland, I was fascinated to see the constant procession of large bulk ships arriving to load iron-ore, mostly bound for China.
This was a most interesting and enjoyable assignment.

Early morning activity at Perth airport

Approaching Port Hedland

The basic but clean and functional Pilot's cabin

The Officers' mess room

The very clean and tidy engine room

 Other shipping at Port Hedland

mt Torm Almena - Post 2

Photos from my second visit to the ship.

Early morning on the launch at Gem Pier, Williamstown. This launch used to be a pilot launch at Newcastle NSW

Dawn light at Williamstown

OOCL Yokohama arriving in the Yarra River

Heading out to the ship. The person on the left is a surveyor going to another ship to perform a grain survey (verify that the ship's holds are clean and the vessel is ready to load bulk grain)

Searoad Mersey, a Bass Strait cargo ferry arriving at Webb Dock from Devenport, Tasmania.

The brand new bulk carrier Bright Rainbow on her maiden voyage

The grain surveyor about to board the Bright Rainbow

The bunker ship Zemira approaching to refuel the Bright Rainbow

Later in the day, approaching the Bright Rainbow to collect the grain surveyor.