SAN NICOLAS,ARGENTINA
SAN NICOLAS, ARGENTINA- OCTOBER 10, 2006
Bienvenida Argentina!!
On the morning of Oct. 10th, we laid out all the mooring ropes. Our estimated time of arrival at San Nicolas is at 1 pm. Our ship still navigates the Rio Parana River. Around was a vast plain land I have ever seen. Grain products like wheat, maize, and soya beans are extensively cultivated in the agricultural land. Herds of cattle and horses roam free along the river bank. Argentina is one of the world’s leading cattle and grain producing country. Agricultural products and raising of livestock are important to the economy. I’ve got an idea why there’s a local corned beef named “Argentina”.
The berthing place at Porto Nuevo, San Nicolas appeared. The river pilot cautiously maneuvered the ship to berth. We dropped anchor due to steadily flowing current in the river. The mooring ropes were fastened on to the pier. The ship has found a safe haven once again. The Autoridad Maritima de Argentina cleared the vessel. The cargo compartments were opened. We accompanied the surveyors for the visual inspection of the cargo hold. They meticulously inspected every corner, touched the surface with bare hands if there’s rust particles, residue of cargo, and dusts. When the survey was through, they talked with the Master and Chief Mate about the results. The compartments were approved for loading. The loading of wheat and maize began at 5 pm in the time of my duty. After working hours, I rest.
The next day in Port, I decided to have a visit in the city of San Nicolas to call and buy sim card for my officers. After my duty at 8am, I took breakfast, had a shower and dressed up. My buddy, an able seaman went with me. The city is accessible thru a 15 minute bus ride in a fare of two peso each person. Its time to review Spanish language once again. The local folks are friendly as they knew we are foreigners. I told the bus driver to drop us at a department store and he agreed. He stopped at the corner and pointed us the direction of the dept. store. We left the bus and walked. We had gone astray. I asked a senorita named Gisella, a policewoman. She hardly speaks English. We talked in Spanish for a few minutes in the streets of San Nicolas. I thanked her for kindness and headed to the department store named El Norte. I looked around if there’s a movistar chip available. The sales lady pointed us to the movistar cell phone center. I bought 2 pieces sim card for ten pesos each. There after, I made long distance calls to my love ones.
We kept walking along the city streets until we got tired and hungry. My buddy has found a very relaxing ambience at the park called Plaza Mitre. We sat down at a sidewalk café full of umbrellas and empty tables and chairs. The waitress gave us menu. I ordered meaty family pan pizza, steak, and four bottles of Brahma beer. It was already 1 in the afternoon and we must enjoy the remaining hours before we return to the ship at 3 pm to have a duty again. At the café, we met our 4 shipmates the “ocho-dose boys” whose duty is from 8-12. They had gone ashore after their work, attended a mass at Cathedral de San Nicolas and got a holy water from the famous miraculous apparition of Gladys Mota. We left them at the café because our time for shore liberty is about to expire. We finally returned to the ship and worked again.
Friday the 13th, loading at San Nicolas for wheat and corn was completed. We stationed forward for unberthing. At 5pm the pilot ordered to let go headlines except the two spring lines. While heaving up the anchor, the mooring line I was attending suddenly slipped away from the gypsy due to extreme force. I was lucky enough to have a safe distance from it. It could have resulted to injury and fatal accident.
Many accidents occurred in the past while handling mooring ropes during docking and undocking. Some sailors had fractured arm, broken legs, twisted neck, crushed skull, and oftentimes resulted to death. Mooring ropes sometimes breaks due to excessive force and could smash a person with tremendous strength. Safety awareness and attentive mind is a priority concern when attending mooring ropes. On board, life is always at risk. However, you have to take the risk and exercise control.
Meanwhile, Captain and the Pilot had an argument at the bridge regarding the maneuvering, heaving up an anchor while still two mooring ropes made fast to a pier. The pilot should have ordered to clear all mooring ropes first before heaving up the anchor. The ship turned 360 degrees into the river. Engine orders have been executed for maneuvering speed. We sailed further inland to our second loading port of San Lorenzo. The travel time is approximately 5 hours with a distance to go of 60 nautical miles.
Bienvenida Argentina!!
On the morning of Oct. 10th, we laid out all the mooring ropes. Our estimated time of arrival at San Nicolas is at 1 pm. Our ship still navigates the Rio Parana River. Around was a vast plain land I have ever seen. Grain products like wheat, maize, and soya beans are extensively cultivated in the agricultural land. Herds of cattle and horses roam free along the river bank. Argentina is one of the world’s leading cattle and grain producing country. Agricultural products and raising of livestock are important to the economy. I’ve got an idea why there’s a local corned beef named “Argentina”.
The berthing place at Porto Nuevo, San Nicolas appeared. The river pilot cautiously maneuvered the ship to berth. We dropped anchor due to steadily flowing current in the river. The mooring ropes were fastened on to the pier. The ship has found a safe haven once again. The Autoridad Maritima de Argentina cleared the vessel. The cargo compartments were opened. We accompanied the surveyors for the visual inspection of the cargo hold. They meticulously inspected every corner, touched the surface with bare hands if there’s rust particles, residue of cargo, and dusts. When the survey was through, they talked with the Master and Chief Mate about the results. The compartments were approved for loading. The loading of wheat and maize began at 5 pm in the time of my duty. After working hours, I rest.
The next day in Port, I decided to have a visit in the city of San Nicolas to call and buy sim card for my officers. After my duty at 8am, I took breakfast, had a shower and dressed up. My buddy, an able seaman went with me. The city is accessible thru a 15 minute bus ride in a fare of two peso each person. Its time to review Spanish language once again. The local folks are friendly as they knew we are foreigners. I told the bus driver to drop us at a department store and he agreed. He stopped at the corner and pointed us the direction of the dept. store. We left the bus and walked. We had gone astray. I asked a senorita named Gisella, a policewoman. She hardly speaks English. We talked in Spanish for a few minutes in the streets of San Nicolas. I thanked her for kindness and headed to the department store named El Norte. I looked around if there’s a movistar chip available. The sales lady pointed us to the movistar cell phone center. I bought 2 pieces sim card for ten pesos each. There after, I made long distance calls to my love ones.
We kept walking along the city streets until we got tired and hungry. My buddy has found a very relaxing ambience at the park called Plaza Mitre. We sat down at a sidewalk café full of umbrellas and empty tables and chairs. The waitress gave us menu. I ordered meaty family pan pizza, steak, and four bottles of Brahma beer. It was already 1 in the afternoon and we must enjoy the remaining hours before we return to the ship at 3 pm to have a duty again. At the café, we met our 4 shipmates the “ocho-dose boys” whose duty is from 8-12. They had gone ashore after their work, attended a mass at Cathedral de San Nicolas and got a holy water from the famous miraculous apparition of Gladys Mota. We left them at the café because our time for shore liberty is about to expire. We finally returned to the ship and worked again.
Friday the 13th, loading at San Nicolas for wheat and corn was completed. We stationed forward for unberthing. At 5pm the pilot ordered to let go headlines except the two spring lines. While heaving up the anchor, the mooring line I was attending suddenly slipped away from the gypsy due to extreme force. I was lucky enough to have a safe distance from it. It could have resulted to injury and fatal accident.
Many accidents occurred in the past while handling mooring ropes during docking and undocking. Some sailors had fractured arm, broken legs, twisted neck, crushed skull, and oftentimes resulted to death. Mooring ropes sometimes breaks due to excessive force and could smash a person with tremendous strength. Safety awareness and attentive mind is a priority concern when attending mooring ropes. On board, life is always at risk. However, you have to take the risk and exercise control.
Meanwhile, Captain and the Pilot had an argument at the bridge regarding the maneuvering, heaving up an anchor while still two mooring ropes made fast to a pier. The pilot should have ordered to clear all mooring ropes first before heaving up the anchor. The ship turned 360 degrees into the river. Engine orders have been executed for maneuvering speed. We sailed further inland to our second loading port of San Lorenzo. The travel time is approximately 5 hours with a distance to go of 60 nautical miles.
posted by Arez at 8:48 PM
<< Home