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.
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.
posted by Arez at 9:03 PM
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