Work climate & cultural differences

In my line of work I meet many people from different countries. I also work closely with various authorities,  officials and entities, keeping the maritime industry afloat. There is a history of exchanging "tokens of appreciation" for a good job done after a completed operation. This between the stevedores of the port, and Chief Officer of a vessel. Stevedores receive a couple of Whiskey bottles, and Ch.Off receives USD50(neatly folded inside a hand, transferred during the hand shake). There are even ports where Ch.Off/Captain, have to sign a receipt for this little gift(probably enforced by port accounting). Then you get to the ports where you are expected to "bring gifts" of various values, to "Tom Dick and Harry..."this to enable a smooth operation.  Nowadays off course not in line with all companies corruption policies, but all people working internationally knows that this is the only way of getting work done since we humans are greedy by nature.

Best places in my opinion, are the ports were the agent informs you how many people will board your vessel on arrival, and how (what) amount, and type of gift are expected(like a price list).
But there are countries were officials are using their authority to gain favours in terms of products from the vessel or even plain cash(USD). Made up problems in documentation, delaying operations or services which could be quite costly for any ship owner. As a Master this is very irritating and frustrating as you have to balance the pro's and con's. You have to decide how much shafting you are willing to accept. Worst places have just a scruple less fool, with no moral, making up his "list of gifts" as he walks thru the vessel (Inspecting).
A few years back I was working West Africa and made a few stops at this particular port. Below a few pictures from the anchorage and port.On one occasion we arrived early morning and the inward clearance took 6 hours. The boarding party, men and women, seemingly relatives, but all insisting on being officials, focused on the crew sea mans books, knowing that there might be some old entry from years back, and other vessels, not being completely filled out. And sure enough a few of the sea mans books had old entries from previous vessels, were the master signature was missing. And subsequently I as Master of this vessel(myself) were at fault for hiring crew with erroneous documentation. But as always, the reason for this "made up" problem was to attain "generous gifts" from our slop chest and dry store, our stores and stock already extremely low since we just arrived from a project  in another country, and main reason for this port call was for to get provisions and stores.
They managed to get their bags filled, and cleaned our soda store out to the last case.
Later that day, in the early evening, one official returned, this time in full gala uniform, he asked if I recognised him?
I confirmed recognising him as the "head honcho" of this mornings ordeal. He then opened his bag, revealing a case of Coka cola light, and claimed that I had exposed his family for the risk of poisoning since the case had passed it's best before date(it was expired). Knowing that we now had fresh provisions and new cases of soda on board, he requested me to exchange his expired case for a fresh case. I was very tired after a long day, and suffering from a head ache. Tired of all this BS and hassle, I kindly explained that there was not to be an exchange, the demanded "gifts"of this morning was none returnable, and none exchangeable.
The "gala uniformed official" eyes turned very black and he spent the following 30 minutes explaining in detail all kinds of problems, me and my vessel could be exposed to if the exchange were not to be. Finally understanding my position with regards to the matter, he packed up his expired case of Coke, and departed with a final threat. Do I need to state, that next time I came into this port, all sea mans books old entries from previous masters and their vessels were just perfectly entered and correctly signed, what a remarkable coincidence..

Tanker at anchor

  Fishing boats at anchor

Garbage canoe, ordered a garbage collector while at anchor.

"Michael Jackson" danced during the whole operation

 Fishing vessels arrival back to port, crew doing their "morning toilet".

 No worn personal protective equipment, not much worn at all...

 Busy discharging alongside

 Lunch break, resting in the shaddow.

 Off loading heavy metal, "tally man".

 Good thing, to wear a helmet, if the load would drop on top of him?!

 Tug-master towing tug-master with truck cabins from the Netherlands.

 Ooops..flat tire!..

This Manta ray(with pilot fish) was playing around our truster wash during a day at anchor.

Dangerous US-OCS-work?

 (Google'd) Photo is not from incident described below.

A DP OSV-vessel causing a sheared wellhead in the US-Outer Continental Shelf. Attached the link below. 

I find it utterly disturbing that an oil company are hiring an operator without a certified ISM system? How is that possible? How can an operator be allowed to conduct high risk operations offshore, without properly documented system of procedures or routines? 
I would like to see the root cause on that one.
I find it worrying that US-authorities issues "recommendations" instead of properly legislate the introduction of the described measures. The recommended is, what I thought was, the only safe and proper way to conduct offshore operations. I thought that was the norm? This could be interpreted as that the industry in the US has been given "lee-way" for the sake of "oil- independence" and profit. Such a legislation would have had a negative impact on not only the oil-independence but also reduce the chances for the lobbyists arguing for the lifting of the US-oil export ban.
It seems like our company, one of a few serious operators, who are working hard and spending a lot of time, effort and money on conducting the safest operation possible, are a small "elite club".  In our effort to achieve this, we will require a slightly higher day rate than the un-serious player. 
I am sad to see the Industry and governments, biting its tail, not "walking the talk" but rather undermining the safety culture by hiring operators for lower rates and higher risks for the human lives and environment.  Striving for perfection when starting my officer career, feeling frustrated about the vast amount of rules and regulations to comply with, my wise father told me to"mellow down" since there is no way to "tick all the boxes" and maintain sanity. But I am sure he would be equally saddened to see the path taken by the industry, trading off safety for progress.. the dollar rules in a destructive way.

 
Below the link to the article in "gCaptain"
http://gcaptain.com/uscg-bsee-issue-safety-alert-following-dynamic-positioning-incident/

Pirates in Suits.

© Copyright by Jake Probelski 2003 - 2014

Picture curtesyJake Probelski 

Why do authorities allow financial institutions to keep on parasiting on the global economy. Turning a blind eye to ethics and morale, with all the "big words" of reform and changes, immediately after the last financial crisis fading into oblivion.
When will people wake up, to these corrupt bankers and politicians that are robbing us blind, we gladly accept "fees" for all kinds of transactions, but why? Please realize that the quicker we all adopt to digital currency, their stealing will stop. If A send money to B, then why should C get a % of that? Corrupt bankers and their allies governments are working hard to complicate and stop the digital currency revolution. News like this "might" dampen their efforts a bit, but we humans are fools that are easily led, and mislead, so the stealing will probably go on for a few more years..
I am so saddened about the process for global economic digitalisation taken so long time.

Greed and ignorance drives the "modern pirates" to try and have us believing that the digital currencies are "works of the devil" and darker forces which should be clamped down on.
"hey hey...wakee wakee", it is actually the US-Dollar that are financing most of the "darkness" on this planet, so why not clean up that mess?

 I am not very intelligent, just a believer in simplicity, gadgets and their developments.

Embrace the future... stop the Vulchers..

Most recent "discovered", clumsy act below, went public while the bigger scams from card companies, and banks etc. keeps harvesting every second...millions by millions...

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30016007

Harrier Owl 2D

I thought Owls lived in the forrest?!...
preying on smaller rodents etc, scouting in the darkest hour with their excellent night vision.

Surprised but quite happy to have the ship's "look-out" re inforced night time.
Unfortunately he did not stay too long...

This visitor showed up during a short 2D job, Towing a 10 km long "streamer", together with the whole package of gun arrays (6).

Amazed to find these "heaps" of plastic floating floating around. Obviously been in the water for many years, and brought together by the currents. A real threat to our operation if the plastic sheets get sucked into the cooling water intake for our engines. Engineers on stand by while we passed thru these areas so close to shore.

Niit Leonhard Sweden Import

... as he used to say.
A nation import goods that it is in great need of, as such "the import" represent something "sought after", with high value.
That was proudly reiterated frequently by my late father . After finding this box of old photo's, I will use this entry to try and document some of "his history" as he lived a colourful life.
Leo fled war strucken Estonia in the end of world war II. I was lucky to get a trip with Leo, back to his birth place, where I video'd a few hours of  his"war time stories"(that will be another blog). Leo was from an Island, (Dagö "Hiiuma")and brought up with his "feet in the water". His mother came from a family of seafarers, so as a young boy he joined his uncle, a Captain on one of their vessels, as a "potatoe peeler". Leo arrivived as a 15 year old to Sandhamn Sweden in  September 1944. This after crossing the baltic in a 7 meter long fishing boat. He arrived 3 weeks after his parents, whom at this time, had no information about that their son had managed to make this trip. In Sandhamn he was given a sandwich a a cup of chocolate, after wich he was taken to Stockholm, Lidingö skola for "de-bugging". Then he was isolated "quarranteened" under military guard for 4 weeks at Gustav Vasa Real skola. Leo's parents Helene and Johannes had managed to get news of their sons escape and travelled to assist and arrange his "release". 1946 he started working as rating on various ships, mainly under the banner of "Rederiaktiebolaget Nordstjernan" Soon he felt that he wanted greater things in life.

One of Leo's earliest "blue book" as it was called.

Looks like a Turkish guard above. And a nice dive and swim photo "just above" to the left.

Surely New York in the middle, and I think it is the skyline of Rio de Janeiro further below.

To the right, Lion Steam ship's Charlotte...

Equatorial baptism, in the old fashion way. Upon crossing the line(Equator)"King Neptune" surfaces from the deep. And with the help from experience sailors or "Shellbacks", sons of Neptune(Trusty or Honourable), they baptised any unexperienced sailor nicknamed "Pollywogs" (Slimy) to his realm (an initiation rite). This tradition meant a lot more in the old days when sailors had to be made of steel on the wooden ships(not vice versa as it is today) boosting morale when the service periods were harder and longer, as where the trips.  

Leonhard got the name "Klump fisken" or Mola mola(Sun fish).

I do not think these frames are from his baptism though.

Just have to show the blue seamans book from the old days, it was more of a "salary book" registration of when where the sailor served, and also what his various income and outlays around the world. Back of that book refers to the Swedish flag state circular on "how to protect yourself against venereal diseases", it also  recite the "Swedish Law" that entitles the sailor to treatment thereof, in any hospital free of charge...ha ha...

 Leo studied to become a Master Mariner via "Hermods correspondence".
 The Swedish language was a major problem, so he hired a student for help and to teach him proper Swedish. Company Nordstjernan assisted (financially) in letting him get his exam in the Merchant Marine Academy(Malmö). Parallel to his merchant career he attended his education in "The Swedish Royal Naval War Academy"(Kungl. Sjökrigsskolan Näsby park) where he pursued his naval carrier in the Swedish naval reserve, with focus on the submarines. There he reached the rang of "Lieutenant Commander" (Örlogs Kapten).

(Many pictures squeezed in not too high resolution, purpose is for anyone maybe able to identify someone or thing, if so contact me for a better copy with higher resolution).

Above: Submarine "Najad", training with their submarine "rescue buoy". 
Basically a buoy with a telephone cable that  in distress, at depth, would have been released by the submarine. 

Above: Weapons, Torpedoes, anti aircraft and an icy shot with his pistol Husqvarna 
"model 40" (9 mm).

Leo's "submarine force" pin that he always proudly wore on his uniform, 

even in the merchant marine. 

Above: Playing with torpedoes, Submarine recovery vessel "Belos" and her "diving bell", I believe this is the first Belos (She has two followers, present one incl.). Leo on Ski's.



Above: Looks like problem surfacing?

Above: Random pictures

Random...

Below a royal visit onboard the submarine depot-ship "Patricia", 
I do not know the year unfortunately.

Below: Pride of the Swedish navy , Torpedo boats..

Length: 20 mtr

Width: 5 mtr

Displacement: 27 ton

Weapons: 2 pcs 53 cm torpedoes, 1 pcs 40 mm gun from Bofors, 6 st depth charges

Engines: 2 pcs Isotta Fraschini IF 184, each at 1500 horse power

Speed: 53 knots

Original crew: 9 persons

Leo was also taking part in one of the many representation trips around the world with the Swedish "Älvsnabben".

Not only work ...some play as well.
Here invitation to a dinner onboard the depot-vessel Patricia 1956, and to the right the menu from the ball room dance and dinner, at the Swedish Royal Naval War Academy 1955. This was my mothers first ballroom dance (it is hand written on the back, by my mother)

At Näsby park, he met my mother, then Clary Elisabet Ledin, who were working in the canteen. After they became a couple, Clary also accompanied Leo on some of his travels on board the vessel Eva Jeanette, owned by the Swedish newly established shipping company Lion Steamship CO. A.-B.(formed 1954) a branch from the Bonnier family group. They were under charter by Cunard Line between Liverpool and NY. During this period Leo and Clary lived in Liverpool, UK where they later married in the Swedish Seaman church (New Years eve 1958).

In New York they had time to visit the training camp of Ingemar Johansson in the preparation 

for his title match in boxing against Floyd Patterson June 1959.

Leo was "head hunted"(1956) to Lion Steam Ship by Mr Erik Kekonius, a former sub marine officer, now managing Lion Steam Ship. He learned about Leo from his former contacts at Näsby park. Rederi Nordstjärnan (Johnson line) were reluctant in "releasing" Leo, especially since they had financed his studies at the Merchant Marine Academy. Mr Kekonius wrote Johnson a check for the full amount and Leo happily joined Lion, where he expected, and later also experienced a faster promotion.

5 SEK/day was deducted from Leo's pay roll, for Clary's on board stay, I also know that she

helped out a bit in the galley, doing something usefull while Leo was working 
(or working out as seen below).

Eva Jeanette crew were quite successful in rowing competitions.

Building a family, time to settle down and build a home. Leo and Clary moved to Halmstad, Leo got a job on the newly started ferry line between Halmstad and Århus(Denmark)(started August 13th 1959) Leo crossed over from "Lion Steam ship"  to "Lion Ferry".

Grandma Helene, Grandpa Johannes, Auntie Helle, Mother and Lennie, (I think) Auntie Aili visiting from Dagö Estonia?, Lennie and cousin Marie in front. Would guess photo shot in Gothenburg.

Leo bought some land in Tiarp (Halmstad) where he planned to build his house, this old "house" was included in the sale. Leo's parents Johannes and Helene lived there, and I remembered they had a few Chinchillas as well, so soft and cuddly.

He put great pride in building his own house, brick by brick, not like today's "Lego" houses that are raised in a working day. Off course he had a few friends and professionals to help him out. I remember Leo telling me about a few arguments with the "council architect" who had to put his stamp of approval on Leo's drawings.

("Kaptens villan" in Tiarp Halmstad, Leo Vanna Emma Helene and dog Zenta)

A house need water, so Leo digged his well

Us kids and Neighbour Gustav Svensson assisting 

 Safety was not a major concern in those days.

 Leo used to say, "come May(summer) and I lock away the boy's shoes".
Meaning we kids should be hardened under our feet(running bare foot) 
and our skin used to the sun. And it worked  

Leo continued his Ferry life...

Kronprins Carl Gustav

Gustav Vasa (1)

Gustav Vasa (2)

Prins Oberon

... mainly based from the port of Malmö to the German port of Travemunde.

He also worked for a period on the vessel Prince Oberon trafficing Bremerhaven(Germany) and Harwich(UK), where I as a very young lad experienced my first North Sea storm.

In his time off, Leo was busy with fishing..we kids earned our pocket money helping him out. Joining as deck hands and cleaning fishing nets "by the miles" in our garage when the weather was to cold outside...

Still can imagine the smell...

In the beginning of 1980's, I found an add in a Swedish newspaper, "Fisher men wanted for fishing in the kindom of Tonga". I showed the add to Leo and his destiny was sealed.

The originator of the add had a more "relaxed" approach to solve Tonga's lack of fishing industry. It took a few years,  investigations, meetings with investors, and not the least government officials and the king himself, to attain the fishing licence for the company.

Taufa'ahau Tupou IV

Leo's dear wife Clary suddenly and unexpectedly passed away 1982, Leo, who was soon reaching the age of retirement was not to keen on continuing working with the ferries as the company was struggling, so he managed to negotiate an early retirement. My two brothers and myself agreed together with Leo that he should pursue his challenge in the SW. Pacific. 

1983 Leo and myself started the trip to Tonga via Hawaii and American Samoa (Pago pago) and Fiji.

The few months I was with him in Tonga we initiated the registration process of the company, established contacts with fisher men around the kingdom, and arranged a nice house and office building.

Office(Leo's home), Sopu, Tonga Tapu.

Meanwhile in Sweden my two brothers Lennie and Thomas was "packing/ stuffing" the content from "Kaptens villan"(Our house) into a container, that house was now sold.

Fishing started in very small scale...  

(Picture Fa Fa Island)

Me and Mr Gibson. He was installing Solar water heaters in the kingdom. 

Busy man and not much time for basking as seen on this photo.

Fluid break on our Tongan tour of chasing fishermen

There were so much shrimps so Leo just had to make a smaller, shrimp trawl. which we tried out  a few hours one evening, running up and down the beach in front of our house. In total maybe we cought 500 grams. Strange, with so many of them, literarely flying out of the water jumping in front of the trawl-roof..bummer...1-0 to the sea life.

 Leo and helpers Fifita and Aleki 1986

Leo and Prince Ma'atu 1988

Original plan was to establish the logistcs. Leo contacted the Freedom yacht company UK, and got them to create(draw) a "sailing reefer yacht" 70 feet long. But the cost for ordering this in the initial stage of the company was too high. 

Leo had studied much material about fishing around the Polynesian Island, but it turned out that he had to revert to the "local way" of divers and harpooning the fish to start with.

He had a a few boats(owned and chartered), with a bunch of divers in each. around their waste the diver had a belt with a long line on which he "thread" the catch. Knowing the risk of shark attacks, Leo initially expressed concerns to one diver but the diver simply replied. "If the shark comes, I put him on the line as well."

On one occasion Leo saw a lot of turbulence and bloody water when a diver surfaced, Leo feared for the mans life, but the diver returned to the boat angry as a bee, cursing and banning the sharks, he said that one shark and maybe two shark would have been fine but he was attacked by three, so he had to let go of his catch.

First few years was very hard, he tried all kinds of fishing methods, the most successful one should turn out to be bait on hooks at depths of 150-350 meters. Then keep the catch in a salty water ice mixture at just below freezing, that would lower the fish metabolism and it would survive for many days, thus stay fresh until the catch is landed in the end of the week. Not only supplying the local market(which was the primary goal), a smaller but regular export to Hawaii and Japan also materialized. 

He also tried long line, but it was not sustainable.

Leo's 60th birth day and he was invited to Coffee and cake by his good friend HRH Prince Ma'atu, in the King's summer residence by the lagoon. My brother Thomas with then wife and two kids also present.

Leo was accepted and well liked by most Tongans, it became obvious that he was not there to exploit them. He made many friends, in all levels of society. He took care of his employees in terms of planning their economy, made sure their money went to where it was needed. He contributed financially to churches and other organisations.

Finally after many years of struggling with Cancer, Leo passed away in December 2003. He spent his final days at brother Lennies house (Haveluloto).

Last picture, family together, for drinking Leo's last bottle of jubileums aqvavit, going over his last will and testament. I was not with him the final days(working onboard Maria Gorthon) but managed to talk to him a few days earlier, over the phone, and say my good bye. 
What he jokingly had expressed, regarding his own funeral, "dig a hole, kick me into it, and throw a few shovels with soil on top",,,it did not quite pan out that way.. He got a proper burial, a ceremony that was televised in Tonga, and his final resting place at the royal grounds, beach of "Foa'amotu" facing East, greeting the first day light..

(Funeral pictures by curtesy of Gert, Rickard and Lennie)

Early dawn..

Ceremony begins..

Glad that it was televised so that me and my brother Thomas

(Out working), later could see it all(recorded), 

Leo did not want us to travel down to Tonga, "waste a lot of money for a few ours funeral".

 Big brother Lennie with family

Leo's coffin taken to the Beach for the final resting place.

Caravan approaching" Foa'amotu beach"

 

HRH Prince Ma'ato with wife

Local fisher men and friends all helping out to send him away...

Sarcophagus burial, not the way we do it in Sweden.

Me and Thomas travelled down later and a smaller ceremony was held by the grave.