August
26, 2018 Sunday
Enroute
to Malaysia.
There
was last minute changes that happened, originally the ship was headed for
Singapore and was later changed to somewhere in Malaysia. Another last minute
change that happened was that instead of anchoring for five dance, it later
turned out to be "BERTHING UPON ARRIVAL" . So as a result every
routine work was put up in a hurry.
Like
for example the installation and removal of razor wire fence and preparation of
mooring lines. We didn’t have even enough time in laying out mooring lines in
the aft area as a result.
During
mooring , I had problems operating the winches because the lever didn’t have a
"spring" time of mechanism were the lever goes back to normal stop
position, instead it permanently stays on the angle until I pull / push it back
to stop. I got scolded by the Filipino chief mate , saying that I pull the
lever too hard , and that I'm going to get the two other O.S. killed.
I
was never bothered on his scolding maybe because probably I'm not staying in
TCC principal for long and obviously will be just hanging out with them only
for this contract., I don’t want to get too involved in this kind of
environment and just wanted to be just in the "professional level
only".
During
cargo operations , I found out from the A.B. that there will be two loading
area's for this ship before it goes back to kwinana, Perth Australia. This ship
will only stay for about roughly a day and then head off again somewhere in
Malaysia. I also did learn about what "dry checking" means , which
apparently I have never see during my days working in "EAGLE BOSTON"
ship. Basically "dry checking" is very similar to "Ballast
sounding" task. The only difference is that instead of using a sounding
tape to measure the level, he there is a specific device used for it and both
just simple determine the level of liquid left inside a container space.
In
other matters Aside from the usual routine work - Weather here in Malaysia is
absolutely hot and humid, and very uncomfortable for me. I had to take extra
precautions to avoid dehydration and cool myself often. Anyway I'm already full
aware that south east Asia region (far east ) is always in hot tropical
weather, and this will always be a problem for me until I finish my contract in
April 2019.
In
other news …
Since
I'm one of the new guys here on this company , I can't help but notice that
people here have started pushing me around. From the Indian captain, who hates
me using the elevator and thinks he owns the damn thing , all the way to my
fellow O.S. who complains that I make too much noise inside my cabin . These
things are really starting to annoy me right now., Aside from that there are
also numerous annoyances from other people here telling me to do this and do
that kind of stuff when it comes to work,.
Frankly
I don’t need there lectures , and I'm old enough to do things my way.
I
guess it's one of the bad cultures on working in a ship. The new guy always
gets bullied by the old folks.
In
other matters…..
The
recent cabin inspection (which is weekly here) was dismaying for me., turns out
that cabin inspection is not to inspect , but search the whole persons cabin.
Never occurred to me that this will be the case and they searched what inside
of my drawers and cabinets. Resulting to the discovery of my stash of coveralls
and some emergency equipment I had been hiding away in plain sight. Apparently
in this company , hiding my equipment inside the cabinet is not enough and that
they do search the whole cabin like a police. I'm not exactly sure about this
but , I think some privacy is being violated here ., The main goal of cabin
inspection is to looks for compliance with sanitation and safety - not to
search for a person's belongings ,
Even
my possession of instrically safe head light for the safety helmet is being
questioned when they found out I do possess one (actually two). Plus the safety
helmet that I got on my luggage was being questioned as well.
I
don’t even think it's even legal in any way that this Indian captain is
searching personal belongings , even if he uses the ruse the word
"safety" just to get away with it.
Anyway
what should I expect from Indian's right ? Certainly these vermin are one of
the worst things to infest the maritime industry. Once they get inside a
company. Expect that they are nothing but trouble and disaster for a Filipino
seafarer. Their very primitive in thinking and certainly backwards in almost
every aspect. I advise that if a Filipino sailor detects the presence of
Indians onboard a company, it best he should not proceed in continuing the job
offer., and look elsewhere on a company that has no Indian presence around.
Otherwise
he will be dealing with a type of people who are arrogant, interfering with
other people's business, and basically a snitch (tsimoso at sumbungero)
On
my end of the situation , I shouldn't be complacent that putting my stuff
inside those cabinets will ease my mind that things will be safe from there,
knowing that cabin inspection here are not cabin inspections at all but cabin
searches.
For
now I will be thinking of ways on how to counter this kind of tactic.
On
the wake of the recent cabin search, I successfully thrown overboard most of
the coveralls that was discovered , however despite doing what they said, I
didn’t comply fully and kept some of my coveralls not on the cabin cabinets but
inside my luggage. On there most of my "reserve working equipment"
will be safe there, unless they really wanted to go over the top and violate a
person's privacy rights, and from now on any working equipment on my cabin will
be stored inside that luggage.
Its
fortunate that I brought along a second check in luggage from start as this
will serve now as a "portable locker" for me for the time being.
Absolutely no equipment of clothes or any kind on cabinets, to avoid any kind
of suspicion on cabin searches.
Anyway
if there is one thing good that is brought about on cabin searches is that at
least complains from my pesky co-workers (O.S. "ELI" )about cabin
noise would stop since I won't be using the cabinets for good on this contract.
Funny
that they make cabin cabinets and yet, the indian captain forbids crew from
using them as storage and even conduct searches on personal belongings.
Hypocrite Indians ! , I'd be better off with Europeans than this kind of
people. In fact Europeans hate them , Australians hate them (during my land
base work several years back) , and Filipino's even find them repulsive as
well. In Russian managed ship , they rarely conduct cabin searches let alone on
cabin inspections.
I
had only been roughly three weeks here and things are really starting to go
sour because of this Indians, I'm already starting to think that this is ship
(and company) is another "Shell-Perfectionist- wannabe" , although on
a lesser extent when it comes to brutality . Definitely it's going to be a very
long contract from here on for me.
Whatever
the case, I told myself that I'd be professional this time - I won't speak
publicly about this and will just simply keep quiet and request for a transfer
at the OSM office after this contract. Whether or not they grant my transfer is
fine., I'd play along on their game until I get a U.S. visa. , then after that
I'd ditch them.
My
Primary objective here is stay until a second contract just to erase the bad
rep on my working credentials. Whether or not there is a U.S. Visa. What I'm
certain is that TCC is no longer on my list., another principal will be
replacing this soon after this contract.
Over
all TCC is another "dead" place, and barely even habitable or
desirable for a seafarer. Just finish my contract and be professional…..
