This morning on arrival to Vancouver I started the 4 – 8 watch, after doing the 8-12 watch. It was amazing to see Vancouver skyline in the early hours of the morning! Last week was a busy week, I apart from my watches, I went to two cocktail parties, watched mooring line inspections, and conducted slip stop tests. This was very interesting, the mooring lines we use are 84 mm in dia, and can take up to 89 tonnes! It is important to check these lines visually as paint, wear and tear on the winches can degrade the loading strain, if strands break this can cause parting of the lines. It was good to watch the inspection to see what to look for! Forward and aft we have 8 lines normally moored in the 6 and 2 configuration.Well now its been a month since I have been onboard, time has gone way to fast and I have loads to do! Another cadet is joining so I am no longer alone! But actually this is good as it gets boring when there is only one about! A passenger asked me – what does a deck cadet do ? “Are you in charge of supervising the cleaning of deck chairs?”

Since Vancouver, I have been on the 8-12 watch! On my last ship I did both the 12-4 and 4-8, but this has to be my favourite watch. Since Vancouver, I have been doing everything from answering the phone, fixing the position every 3 mins, learning about parallel indexing techniques, adjusting the radar, putting entries into the ships log book, answering and monitoring alarms on the ships SMS system (On a cruise ship there are sensors everywhere – if there is a fire – or a space that gets to hot – a computer system will alert with a visual map showing the location, from this system you can also do heeling, monitor the engine arrangements, incinerator, fire pump pressure and many more – very impressive- tanker/container  people do you have this?) so it has been a steep learning curve! Alaska is a beautiful place to be on watch. This morning as we transited the College Fjord I saw two bears, along the beach. I certainly did not  regret getting up early for stations at Juneau, when as we were coming alongside on the jetty sat perched two magnificent eagles! What a sight- but I didn’t have my camera! The pilot tells me they are there most weeks- trying to scare off the ships! My emergency duty was changed this week I am no longer a supernumerary, in an emergency I am to assist the bridge team. Quite good in a drill- a fire was simulated in the crew galley – on the bridge I could see the alarms being triggered and emergency procedures being followed.

Time is passing very quickly! Really settling down and getting into the swing of things!  From Vancouver the 14th I shall start the 8-12 watch. This will be a very interesting watch. Looking forward to it as the scenary is beautiful! Last week in Juneau I went on a fire fighting course, was really cool as I got to wear a solotic BA set, and go in with the fire party. The set – up is similiar to Warsash, but I was luckily enough to lead the team. Having a radio communicating with the zone commander adds to the difficulty! You not only have to access the situation, make your plan, but tell the others in the party what to do, but tell the zone commander what you are doing, and where you are, then listen to his requests! In Whittier, I went to an interesting bar – the Anchor in , full of locals.80% of the population live in one block of flats,the bottom level being businesses etc! Funniest thing ever this guy says to me – I love London – Stone henge is beautiful!!!!!! A passenger asked me which deck she should go to pick up the taxi! 

1^ST Week.

After leaving  the hotel 0600 hrs in the morning we were taken to the dock,  the houses where incredible in that area! Arriving at the terminal followed the usual job of security checks. It was pretty neat watching the ship coming into dock and see how huge see was! After boarding the first surprise occurred. We were told to go the Explorers bar where I met the personnel and training manager who was the 3^RD mate was on P&O Aurora when I was on there. Luckily I got to the front of the queue signed on, and got all the admin done in no time! The deck clerk came to take me to the cabin – I asked who I was sharing with – to which he replied no one and for the moment I have been luckily enough to get a third mate’s cabin! I only get this luxury for 2 weeks!!

It is right opposite the bridge and all the other deck officers .Pretty  neat and I notice that when I page any one the reply is so swift – perhaps they think it is the third mate – then they call me!! You get a weekly bowl of fruit!

The two Canadian cadets are brilliant, they showed me around the whole ship, its so huge!! But actually the layout is logical and now I know what I am looking for – this helps alot!

After finding all the essential places, I got down to getting stuck in. I asked the Italian 1^st officer if I could just watch on the bridge the departure. What an amazing place to depart from. Vancouver is such a beautiful place and Alaska too! I cannot wait for bridge watches to start, it is so beautiful.

For the first week I have been under the Bosun doing all the maintenance tasks. Painting, sanding, varnishing.  Working with the Pilipino deck crew, they are a great laugh!

Learning a lot already. Did a MES (Marine Evacuation System) dummy drop which was pretty cool!!  Mostly learnt all the essential places, but the ship is so huge with rooms everywhere!!

Below are some particulars: Builders: Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesNagasakiJapanBuilding Number: S2180Keel Laid: 4/06/01IRO Number: 9228186Call Sign: ZCDG7MMSI Number: 310405000Official Number: 733729Classification: Lloyds Register of Shipping+ 100 A1, passenger ship+LMC with CCS, notation NAV and IWSFlag: BermudaRegistered Owner: Fairline Shipping International Co Ltd.Ship Manager: P&O Princess Cruises UK LtdRichmond HouseTerminus TerraceSouthampton SO14 3PNUnited KingdomComplement: Passengers: Max 3,100Crew: Max 1,060

Total: 4,160

Capacity: Displacement: 60,636tSummer deadweight: 14,480tLightship: 46,156tTonnage: Gross Net115,875 77,745Suez Tonnage: 110,203tService Speed: 22.1 knotsDimensionsLength overall: 288.33mLength BP: 246.00mBreadth moulded: 37.5mBreadth at bridge wings: 50.10mBreadth at deck 9: 41.5mDepth to deck 4: 11.40mDesign draught: 8.05mScantling draft: 8.55mMaximum air draught: 54.00mMaximum height: 62.05mRudders: 2Thrusters: 3 forward, 3 aft

No problems with the flight, BA online checking worked a treat! Good flight – flew over Greenland, saw many ice sheets very impressive! Hotel is ok, well free internet! People love the British accent, the girl at immigration just loved the way I said brilliant when I was allowed through! – To then wait 20 mins for my luggage! Being picked up at 0600 tomorrow! Adventure is soon about to start!

 From http://www.princess.com/find/largemap.jsp?productCode=AGG070&productDesc=Voyage%20of%20the%20Glaciers%20-%20Vancouver%20to%20Whittier

 

 On the 30th I shall embark the Sapphire Princess, still have not packed! Below is a map of the itinerary and a picture of the ship. Check out www.shipcafe.net for pics of the interior! I’m getting excited now – but so much to do!!

The following site shows a position for Sapphire Princess.

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=ZCDG7

On the 1st July I am joining my second ship in Vancouver, the Sapphire Princess. This will be cruising the beautiful Alaska.

Luckily this time the flight is only going to take about 8 hours as opposed to 23 hrs that the flight to Sydney did! Time to recap on all the rules I have learnt!!!

Check out the webcam for this ship : http://www.princess.com/bridgecams/sapphire_bridge_cam.html