CALETA COLOSO,CHILE

CALETA COLOSO, CHILE- NOVEMBER 23, 2006

From Salaverry, Peru underway to Caleta Coloso, Chile we washed the empty cargo holds using high pressure hoses in preparation for the next loading. This time no scraping of rust and painting inside cargo compartment because the next cargo would be a mineral ore, copper concentrate. After 6 months, our ship has returned to its previous voyage itinerary.

November 23, we dropped anchor upon arrival because there’s a vessel still loading at berth. Thereafter, Chilean port authorities and agent came on board. They transact their businesses with the Master. When pratique granted, the authorities left. They informed us it would take two days at anchorage because no cargo available. The agent left his cellular phone to Master for convenient calling of the crew. We were very thankful that even at the anchorage; we could still contact our loved ones. The cell operates 24 hours, passed on from one crew to another. The list of call got longer every hour. Instant communication with our loved ones made us happy and inspired. However, if we hear some sad stories and bad news especially on family matters, it only adds worries and stress on board which often results in a declining work performance and poor concentration in doing the daily tasks which could compromise the safety at workplace or endanger the ship operation.

The following day, we did maintenance work. All deck hands even my senior deck officers got involved. The job order is to paint the four ship’s crane high aloft. Chief Officer decided to paint those cranes because the weather in the Pacific Ocean is sometimes unpredictable. The ship is bound for to Japan after Chile. The ship-owners and managers would be glad that the crew has done maintenance work. With my partner, an Able seaman, we ascended on top of the crane. High above was a panoramic backdrop overlooking the city of Antofagasta in a distance and the mountainside town of Caleta, Coloso. We fastened safety harness and lifeline before doing anything. Working aloft is one of the risk-involved special ship board operation. In every move, safety measure is a primary concern. The ocean swell causes a minor disturbance to the ship. The sun scattered its brilliant rays and scorching heat which causes sweat ooze into my eyes. Its time to conquer the acrophobia. No excuses, no alibis. Face your fears, live your dreams as what the clothing ad says. We hanged on the crane like Spiderman did in his movies. Any uncertain move would mean death by falling from a height equal to a four storey building. We carefully painted the upper part of the crane. Then my mates called me for a 30 minute break. We returned to our workplace again after the break but not too high at this time, on the middle part of the crane, but still aloft a few meters above deck.

On the 3rd day at anchorage, the Caleta Coloso port services delivered their mooring ropes via service boat. Eight mooring ropes at poop deck and six at forward to be used in docking. The terminal has their ropes and line men who attend and assist during docking, undocking, or when a vessel shift backward or forward during loading. We need not worry handling the ropes anymore. Our own mooring ropes have been secured and kept before we arrived in Chile. The only task we have to do during berthing is to handle the control lever for tightening or slackening their rope thru a signal from their chief line man. Ship security is also very strict because the port is privately owned.

The same day the harbor pilot and line men boarded. We pulled up the anchor and maneuvered to berth. The lines have been made fast one by one and also the anchor to keep the ship immovable in the ocean swells. After berthing, the marine surveyor boarded for inspection of the compartments prior to loading. Then the loading of copper concentrate began. Caleta Coloso is a private port and strictly implements the port regulations especially concerning safety. Every person particularly those engaged in operations are obliged to wear helmet, safety shoes, life vest, and goggles. Crewmembers, of the ship are not exempted. The must wear those protective equipments when going on a shore leave and keep it in a designated lockers near the gate.

The town of Caleta Coloso is accessible by walking. It lies on a side of a rocky mountain, without trees and vegetation because of the barren land in the Atacama Desert. Rainfall is less in the Antofagasta region of Chile.The same also with the neighbor country Peru. Residents said they seldom experienced rain shower within three decades. Boulder slopes are arid and not suited for agriculture. A fifteen minute taxi ride from the port is the city of Antofagasta, a big and progressive city in Chile. My shipmates, especially the engine crew have gone to the city after we docked. However, we the deck hands were obliged to remain on board and assist the line men during vessel shifting. The loading conveyor is fixed. The ship must shift backward or forward after one compartment is completely loaded and transfer the loading to another compartment. Shifting occurs after ten hours. Sometimes it happens on midnight or early morning. A total of four shifting took place during the loading operations.

Being restrained from shore liberty, the deck crew stayed on board. We spent our time on long distance calls. Meanwhile, a shipmate improvised a scooping net with a chicken as bait and lowered into the water. Every two hours, we caught bucket full of huge crabs or alimango. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are always crabs cooked as ginataan, paella, or simply steamed. Chief cook’s menu was left unconsumed because the crew feasts on crab everyday. On board we seldom eat fresh food. Always frozen and refrigerated items for a very long time. Sometimes my mates make fishing tackles to catch fish and delightfully taste fresh catch from the sea. It happens when a ship anchors near to a fishing ground particularly in the waters of Canada, Australia, and Japan where variety of fishes can be found.

The Chileans are very friendly and fun loving people. During my watch I talked to a group of loading personnel. I said “tengo esposa aqui en Chile” which means “I have wife here in Chile”. They asked me if what her name is. I told them that she was Michelle Bachelet, referring to the woman president of their republic. The Chileans laughed at my joke.

On the afternoon of 25th November, loading was finished. We secured the cargo compartment and also the cranes in preparation for the open sea. The ETD or estimated time of departure was scheduled at 7 in the evening. The pilot and linemen boarded again for un berthing. Not far from the terminal, we dropped anchor again to return all mooring ropes they lent to us. The ropes have been completely returned by midnight. We heaved up the anchor and secured everything forward and aft. From Caleta Coloso we steered in a single and straight course line, 293 degrees West North West bound to our home port: Onahama, Japan.

SALAVERRY,PERU

SALAVERRY, PERU- NOVEMBER 13, 2006


One day and a half of sailing from Callao, we arrived at Salaverry, Peru. Arrangements had been made to the pilot station thru VHF radio regarding the schedule of berthing. They ordered to drop anchor first for clearance from port authorities before entering port. We dropped anchor at 8 in the morning then by 10 am, the ship was pratique granted. Berthing was scheduled at noontime.

From the anchorage we maneuvered for docking. The ship was secured to its position. The two remaining cargo holds were opened then unloading commenced at 3 pm. The port of Salaverry, like other ports in Peru is situated on the Pacific Ocean. It has no breakwater, thus our ship does not behave and kept on riding the rise and fall of the ocean swell. We kept on greasing the mooring ropes every change of watch to prevent abrasions and breakage of the ships mooring lines. The port only accommodates few ships on its two piers. On the same day, a vessel MV Century Seymour owned by my previous company berthed on the other side of the pier. They load bulk sugar bound for Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A. Ships of my former company frequently call a port in Peru and other South American countries. After my duty, I visited the ship expecting to meet my shipmates before when I was still a deck cadet. I found no acquaintance in their crew list but I read the names of my former Captains and senior deck officers in the list of their fleet. I talked with the crew on duty and told them about my first sea service in their company. Most of the crew has gone to shore just like my other shipmates who enjoyed their shore leave right after our ship berthed. After the visit, I came back to ship.

On the last day, I was granted a chance to visit the town of Salaverry because our Chief Officer asked me to pick up the 6 packs of cigarette he left in a bar owned by a Filipino. I got my shore pass and walked. Salaverry is a less populated town. No high rise buildings I have seen. Only colorful houses and small business establishments occupy the area. The town is tranquil, without traffic jams because of few cars in the streets. Adjacent to the town is the city of Trujillo, one of progressive cities in Peru. It is accessible via 15 minute taxi ride. I spent an hour at shore then immediately returned to ship after I’ve got the cigarettes.

November 15, 2006, the unloading at Salaverry was completed. The five cargo compartments of the ship had been emptied. The ship is under ballast condition, which means ballast tanks had been filled with seawater for ship stability to keep the vessel upright when sailing without cargo. We departed Salaverry and headed to the open sea. The engine had rung up when the harbor pilot disembarked. We altered course to south, bound to our loading port in Caleta Coloso, Republic of Chile.

CALLAO,PERU

CALLAO, PERU- NOVEMBER 10, 2006


Two days of navigation from Ilo, we arrived at Callao. At 10 in the evening, the anchor was dropped at the anchorage area, thereafter our agent and Peruvian authorities embarked. They off boarded when their transactions with Master had been settled. The agent informed us that docking alongside would be on the next day, and the cargo surveyors expected to arrive in the morning for cargo inspection.


Meanwhile, the ship’s crew has been ordered again to implement anti-piracy watches just like we did in the Malacca straits a few months ago. Callao is also a piracy-risk port according to IMB piracy watch list. We conducted safety rounds on board at time intervals while the engine department was having bunkering operations through a supply barge. We were sleepless until 5 in the morning due to piracy duties and on stand by while refueling in case of accidental oil pollution. After the bunkering operations, we took a nap until 9 in the morning then woke up again and assisted the surveyors for the cargo inspection. The surveyors have found wet cargo of maize at hold number 1 and wet Soya beans at hold number 2. The bad weather we have encountered after passing Magellan strait might have caused the damage to the cargoes. Captain ordered to remove the damaged cargo. We shoveled it off, hoisted and collected in an empty container. After the surveys, we laid out mooring ropes for the scheduled berthing at 1 pm.

We heaved up the anchor; the harbor pilot boarded and finally docked the ship in Puerto Callao. Immediately after berthing, cargo holds were opened and unloading commenced. Timely on my duty, ships supplies and requisitions arrived. All crew helped carry engine and deck stores on board. After my duty, I was relieved and turned over my watch to the next OS.

Callao is more populous city compared to Ilo because it is near to Lima, the capital city of Peru. The port has complete facilities to handle any types of vessel. Every day, many ships arrive and depart in the port. The harbor, sheltered by the island of San Lorenzo, is one of the most spacious in South America, equipped with all necessary facilities, including an extensive dry dock, with wharves, steam cranes, modern warehouses, and cold-storage plants. Callao’s chief exports are minerals, cotton, foodstuffs, wool, and hides. Imports include textiles, grain, machinery, paper, coal, and foodstuffs. Callao has manufacturing industries too, including sawmills, a sugar refinery, brewery, and an iron foundry. The National Technical University (1966) is also located in Callao.

Callao was founded by the Spanish in 1537, and thereafter it developed as one of the most active ports on the west coast of South America. Frequently raided by British buccaneers, the town was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 1746, with the loss of 6,000 lives. It was later rebuilt, and remained in Spanish possession until 1821, when Peru achieved independence from Spain.

It took 3 days of discharging at Callao. I haven’t had a shore leave to the city. I’ve decided to stay on board because of too much work. However on the last day, my shipmates and I visited a souvenir shop located inside the port premises, a walking distance from our ship. The shop has complete souvenir items from Inca line, Peruvian handcrafts, alpaca and cotton clothing, wooden sculpted figurine, and knick-knacks of the Inca culture. I bought 3 shirts for my girlfriend while my buddies bought lot of souvenir items. We returned to the ship at noontime, had a lunch and rest. By 5 pm, the unloading at Callao ended. The harbor pilot boarded again together with the Autoridad Maritima Portuaria del Callao. After half an hour, port authorities disembarked. The pilot ordered to let go all mooring lines. We maneuvered out of the harbor then the pilot gave the command to Captain. From Callao, we sailed north to our last unloading port of Salaverry, also in Peru.

ILO, PERU

ILO, PERU- NOVEMBER 6, 2006

We dropped anchor at Puerto Ilo pilot station. Peruvian maritime authorities boarded at 9 am. Cargo holds were opened for inspection by the agriculture inspectors. Berthing had been scheduled at 1 pm. Port authorities descended and we laid out mooring ropes for berthing. At 3 pm, the ship was finally docked. Swells and tidal fluctuations of the Pacific Ocean caused minor disturbances because the port has no breakwater. Only two ships docked on the other berth, a container ship and a bulk carrier loading fishmeal. On the time of my duty, unloading operations commenced. My shipmates without duty have already gone to shore. They wander around the city of Ilo, only several hundred meters away from the ship and a five minute walk. Our Chief Mate asked me to buy a local sim card in the city. I got my shore pass and left. I was still wearing my cover all company uniform and my mates outside easily recognized me. They made telephone calls, bought grocery items, and ate hamburguesa. I went to a money changer and exchanged dollars for Peruvian Soles, their local currency. I’ve got the sim card and immediately returned to ship. After my duty an 8 pm, we went to the city again together with my 2 off duty mates. We had long distance calls and roamed in the city streets of Ilo. The city is very peaceful. Peruvians are friendly to foreigners. The city streets criss-crossed on a hill slope overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Up on a hilltop, our ship is visible at a distance. We got tired of walking and finally returned to ship because all businesses have already closed.

On the next day at Ilo, the Second Mate asked me to go out again. We went out together with a fellow OS, got a taxi and headed to the supermarket. We bought variety of fruits, snacks, biscuits, cookies, and cigarettes. Then we took taxi again back to ship to catch up with the time of duty. On the same day, the unloading operation was completed. We spent 2 days at Puerto Ilo and sailed again to the next port of Callao, Peru.