Cape Town to Durban
16 February 2015
I boarded the vessel at Waterfront Quay no.7 at 10h: 30am. Captain Mike introduced me to the crew and the guests. Chief Fernando familiarized me around the ship to get a general idea of the ship before we leave. Chief then gave me a cabin. I went up the radio officer Joni to give him my passport and I gave captain my seamen’s book. I was then given work clothes to start with duties of the day.
At 12h: 00pm we had lunch then after lunch we were ready to set sails. We waited for the port pilot to board our vessel so we can go to Duncan Dock quay no.6 to finish with customs paper work. At 13h: 00pm the pilot was onboard and captain ordered we lift the gangway and let loose the moorings. I assisted with the stern moorings and we were ready to set sail. After the paper work was done, we waited for the engineers while they were fixing something. At 17h: 00pm the engineers were done and we set sails.
We made a 360 degrees turn to starboard two times at the entrance of the harbor after the pilot was off and we set sail. We had dinner at 18h: 00pm and after dinner captain gave me a daily routine work as a volunteer. He then told me as a volunteer I will get 4 euros a day = 85 euros a month (R300 a month as a volunteer). I was then given a daily shift from 08h: 00am – 17h: 00pm doing maintenance around the ship. I worked a total of 9 hours a day R1, 70c per hour. I went to the laundry at 20h: 00pm to do laundry and went to sleep.
17 February 2015
I woke up and took a shower, had breakfast and was ready to start the day. Bosun Jauno mentioned we start with morning cleaning. I was on mess room cleaning duty. After cleaning he then mentioned that I will clean the railings and then paint them white. He showed me the paint store at the port side and the procedure to follow when mixing paints.
During the day I cleaned the railings and painted them with the mixed paint. We have three breaks a day 10h: 00pm (30 minutes) 12h: 00pm (1 hour) and 15h: 00pm (30 minutes). I had dinner and went to the bridge. 3nd mate Angelo showed me how the bridge equipment work. I filled a report on the chief’s log book and went to the mess room to celebrate Fernando’s birthday and after I went to sleep.
18 February 2015
Today I worked with the grinder to smoothen some rough surfaces on bow deck. I then mixed prime and painted the areas. I then cleaned the magnetic campus and painted it green and red. I then assisted for washing the deck. At 16h: 00pm we had a fire drill and I was the BA dresser at FL2 starboard side. After the alarm was sounded we started the drill and everything was a success. We all rushed for the muster station get the fire pumps ready and finished the drill. We then had a small party at the bow because it was Catarina’s birthday. I was so tired and went to sleep very early.
19 February 2015
At 06h: 00pm we were already at the anchorage position at Cape St. Francis near Jeffrey’s Bay. We lowered the anchor after communicating with port control. The fast rescue boats we lowered so we can have a training session on driving the boats. At 17h: 00pm we were surrounded by a lot of boats and helicopters flying above us and taking pictures while we had the banner on the helideck. The banner read “the time for renewable energy is now”. I received a call from SAMSA MRCC Cape Town offering me a permanent job for R15 000 a month. I left my permanent job at Offshore Maritime earning R5000 a month and my boss told me if I come back there’ll be no place for me if I chose Greenpeace. I chose Greenpeace. I hope I won’t leave to regret this choice. The next morning at 08h: 00am we lifted the anchor and were ready to sail towards Port Elizabeth.
