Dynamically flexible beauty..

Dynamically flexible beauty..

Friday, December 27, 2013

Priority Pass "a must" for a frequent flyer

Airlines are struggling with their economy and it is taking a toll on us travellers.
Shipping companies are also trying to cut expenses in these dire times. A big cost for companies are the travelling arrangements for all their mariners. There is a cheaper seaman's ticket, which allows for a little bit of more luggage(that often gets lost, checked in luggage rarely make it through). A cheaper seaman's ticket is also often a combination of various airlines, which limits the chance (possibility)for "online" check in all the way, or possibility to choose a preferred seat (isle, window  or cozy "in between"). And this is also creating a hassle, finding a transfer desk to attain a new boarding pass in between flights. Trying to get to this desk is also a challenge. Airlines now wants all passengers to use the "machines" in the transfer area. There are polite "bouncers" turning you away if you try to approach. They will not let you pass, and approach a "human assistant" at the desk, until they have seen you fighting "the machine" for half an hour. As a sea man, with a seaman's ticket, the proof of a seaman's book will have to be shown for the boarding pass to be issued, and most machines are not capable of reading those yet. Another minus, the standard and quality of meals served in "monkey class" is also deteriorating. Really irritating are the verbally announced, assumed choices of food, it is just annoying thinking that you are are going to be served your choice, when unfortunately "Murphy" just got the last portion so you have to make do with the vegetarian alternative.
In my opinion, Please scrap diversity that just irritates, and increase the quality of the one meal that should be served.
[Priority Pass] business is "thriving". This service sat up between airports around the world, offering hungry passengers, a decent snack/meal, drinks and WiFi (all inclusive) for 25 Euros( if you are a member for EUR 100/year ). A sort of "little brother" to business lounges, making us "foot soldiers" in our club, feel a bit like the elite first class travellers(paid out of our own pocket off course, no corporate benefits). 


Below, the dinner served on board Delta Airlines on a 9 hour flight cross the Atlantic. If the Chicken fillet had been as well cooked as the Broccoli, and vice verse it might have been edible.


The "dessert" was the drop, that got me" snapping "and deciding to
write this piece. It says "the little package with the BIG taste".
I did not know if I would laugh or cry. 


My last experience with "Star alliance member" United Airlines (same bad quality of the meal offered)revealed that further cuts have been made, not possible to get a beer or glass of wine with your "so called" meal, you have to pay with "coupon's" or "plastic"as they do not even accept cash?

Good thing my employer have acknowledge the fact, and bring me down to the port of joining my vessel a day in advance, so that I can get rehydrated and get my body's chemical balance sorted before signing on and start working.

Aaahh!! felt good to get this off my chest, a bit of primal therapy...

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Gulf of Mexico November Chilling

Half the trip, downhill from here..
Weather turned wintry, cloudy, rainy, windy and higher seas.
Only positive, is the end of Hurricane season.
Had a gale in the beginning of the week, with winds up to 44 knots at times.
Not too dramatic, but the problem was that we had planned a helicopter crew change. It was postponed for 3 days,
"Heave" at 10 meters is a bit much for the chopper to handle.
 But it was good training for some of the crew on board, longing for those "Sea Dog" legs.
 
Haelften av toernen avklarad. Nu nedfoersbacke.
Det har blivit vintervaeder(Svensk hoest). Molnigt, regnigt, blaasigt och hoeg sjoe..
Det enda positiva aer att det aer slut paa Orkan saesongen.
Hade en "Kul Styving" I boerjan paa veckan. med vindar tidvis upp till 44 knop.
Inte alltfoer dramatiskt, det traakiga var att vi hade ett sedan laenge planerat besaettningsbyte med helikopter. Det blev framflyttat tre dagar i rad, Heli deck hissande paa 10 meter aer alltfoer mycket.
Men det var vaelkommen traening foer en del av besaettningen som behoever "saltas" lite foer att faa sjoebenen att boerja vaexa.   
 
 
Finally the fourth day the weather was perfect, the crew change went ahead.. 



 Pipe Layer.. "pipe on a roll"!? Amazing
 God's watching eye.
 God's ambassadors of happiness and joy.

Another "work horse.." an "Iron" one. 
 Name protocol not followed, or maybe
"horizontal" have another meaning at sea?
 Curious visitors, on a regular basis.(passing thru on their cruise) 
 The Iron horse again.
 BBQ...
 5 star quality Galley staff
 Just South of "Miami Beach" SWL 3 T
Serious training going on.
 First sitting ebbing...
 
 Thumbs Up!!
 Second shift..

 Happy Chaps!! :-)
 Sun Set..
2nd Off, enjoying a game before dinner. 
 Proper off shore vessel, multi tasking
 Together they are preparing the "flow lines" on the bottom.
Making sure all are OK, before all gets "hooked up"
 to the Floating Production Unit (FPU)
Very competent Deep water Construction Vessel"DCV" (DP3).
Has the world record of deepest "Flow Line" installation 
at 2743 Meters depth.
One 4000 T, and one 3000 T crane.
Mooring line winch, with a 10,5 meter diameter drum.
and SWL at 275 T.  Awesome stuff.
 
 Justin, Senior Systems Mechanic.
 Ch.Off, in the new "Pump upable" FRC helmet.
And the "Mexican butcher" up to he's favourite trix,
"Spicing up". This time it is an Orange getting the "Sizzles"
 

Feeling strong!!

Feeling Hungry...
Ice cream, Elixir of life...("Doodlebuggers" favourite lubrication).  

Intervention/Prepare flow lines for the FPU.

ROV- Pit Stop.

Supply boat and provisioning.

DP- supply vessel, makes the job easier, no mooring lines.

Looking all "Naval Officer"(in the new colors of the field)

FPU Floating production Unit



 "Mother of all operations". Both vessels off course,
among the biggest in the world. [Mmurrecans laik et beeg]
 "Feeling Blue" Ukrainian Photo shoot.
 
Time for a Cigar "Gurkha Intruder"
 
 


Friday, October 11, 2013

Birds Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane season, weather shifted dramatically after 2 weeks of wonderful summer. It became choppy, windy and rainy.
Many different kind of birds this trip. They belong to the delta area, and are now out on thousands of meters depth, why? 
I was very impressed by the beautiful display of various cloud and colour formations in the mornings and evenings.
Work itself was not so complicated, no obstructions, only  a "pipe layer" doing her thing, preparing for the facility being installed at a later stage, not interfering with our operation (or rather we not interfering with her).
Much trading traffic, mainly tankers routed South to Caribbean or up North to US-Gulf .

Orkan säsong, vädret ändrades dramatiskt efter ett par veckor av underbar sommar. Det blev gropigt, blåsigt och regn.
Många olika fågelarter besökte oss denna perioden. Typiska vadarfåglar från delta områdena, undrar vad de gjorde härute på tusentals meters djup? Jag blev mycket imponerad av de vackra och färgglada molnformationerna på  mornar och kvällar. Arbetet var ej så utmanande, endast en "rör läggare" som lade ned rör för kommande installation, vilken inte påverkade oss nämnvärt, eller snarare vi störde inte hennes arbete. Mycket handelssjöfart som passerar. Mest tankers på Sydgående till Karibien, eller Nordgående till US-gulf kusten




 Provisioning Odysea valor

 Medic Griffin having a water break, between pallets in the dungeons






 Training makes you tired...




 QC-Squad

 Cable layer



 Looks suicidal...jump or not jump  ??
 Red Footed Booby






 Red footed Booby airborne
 Heron



 Heron
 Kind of like Beatles record cover, walking the zebra crossing!!


 peecabooo



 Little Siem boat need some water time as well.
 Odysea Valor bringing fuel.
 AB Pacad joining the quality control squad
 Busy deck, New ROV-skid
 Work At Height Training

 
 Supply boat. Christmas again


 Heron

MOB-training completed