We got to Damietta on schedule, it was a busy 18 hours in port, no sleep for
the black gang, first we pumped sludge, but the third had forgot to heat the
sludge so it pumped slow, from 8PM till 3AM we only moved 7 tons, we had to
have the electrician stand by the deck riser because everyone else was busy,
the refer was doing cargo of course, and we hired 15 cleaners, for the
engine room, but the big job was a main engine F/O pump, it only took an
hour to get it off the number ten cylinder, but the plunger stay was jammed,
we had to sledge hammer the collar to get it to thread off, that took 9
hours, with each of us taking turns swinging the sledge, even the Old Man
(Captain) came down to take a turn, but we got it done, and reinstalled at
6AM, we sent everyone to bed and me the second and the C/E got the ship out
to anchor (the deck gang and mates were of course not part of E/R work)
We got to the port Suez anchorage at 7PM that night, but there were gale
force winds preventing us from dropping the hook, the chief mate and the
deck gang tried, but the winds just kept pushing the ship before they could
get the anchor set, we just steamed in a circle until it was time to form
our line to transit the canal.
We started forming up at 3AM and made the ditch at 6AM. The second couldn’t
stay awake so we sent him to bed and called the third, the cadet came down
on his own and promptly made coffee, and helped the maneuver, as I said he
is becoming a fine ships’ engineer.
We exited the Suez at 5PM I took a shower and went to bed, but as I woke up
at midnight I thought I would write you.
So here we are, back in the Red Sea, back in pirate waters.
The weather is strangely cold, not freezing by Seattle standards but cold,
enough to wear a jacket on deck, very strange for this part of the world,
and the sea temperature is fairly cool as well, so if nothing else the next
few days will be more pleasant than anticipated.
Well that’s about all I have for now, I hope that you have a great week.