Ship Simulator

English forum => Small talk => The Chat Lounge => Topic started by: IRI5HJ4CK on September 10, 2011, 19:55:46

Title: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on September 10, 2011, 19:55:46: Hi all,

I'm heading off to Nautical College tomorrow (finally!) to join the Merchant Navy as a deck cadet.

I just wanted to say thankyou to everyone here - my passion/interest in the Merchant Navy has been strengthened greatly by the people here who have been of great inspiration to me as seafarers, or as aspiring cadets like me.

I have met some great people here, many of whom I intend to stay in touch with for a long time, and maybe one day cross paths with at sea :). 1 person here who I have been great friends with is also joining me tomorrow at Fleetwood (it's a small world!).

I'll be living in at college for my 3 years training, and so I will have little time for Ship Simulator anymore. However, I'll certainly keep you all updated now and then with how things are going :2thumbs:...my first ship is on the 28th of January, which will be an 8 month sea phase, and I'll certainly try my best to get some pictures on here for you all.

Anyway, thankyou everyone, Ship Simulator has been great fun. I hope that all the other people here who aspire to go to sea also achieve their goal.

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Captain Cadet on September 10, 2011, 19:58:35: enjoy :captain:
just be glad your doing deck captain
not captain cadet :doh:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on September 10, 2011, 19:59:33: Good luck Jack :thumbs:

Hope it all goes well for you :)

What ship *cough Seatruck Ferries* are you on?
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Ralphy on September 10, 2011, 20:02:14: Jack,

I wish you luck with your career, If you ever get time make sure to pop onto Skype and give us an update :thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: VirtualSkipper on September 10, 2011, 20:08:27: Lots of luck and have fun with your new carrier, Jack! :thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: danny on September 10, 2011, 20:09:51: Good luck jack!
You never know, I might end up being a cadet under your command at some point :doh:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on September 10, 2011, 20:14:48: Thanks a lot CD, I'll certainly enjoy it! :2thumbs:

TFM; Thanks very much, I hope it goes well as well! :lol:. As yet I don't know what ship I'm going to be on, BUT, Seatruck are bringing in 4 brand new ships and it's been indicated that the cadets will be on the new ones for the first sea phase. The 'Seatruck Progress' was launched a few weeks ago, the last is expected to arrive in June next year :thumbs:

(http://www.motorship.com/__data/assets/image/0007/669220/FSG-SeatruckProgress-01.jpg)

Ralph; Thanks a lot! I'll certainly try let you all know how things go. I won't be bringing the laptop to college, but I will no doubt get the odd occasion off here and there where I'll be able to post the odd update :)

VS: Thanks a lot! fingers crossed it all goes well :)

Danny: Thanks! And Oooooooh...just hope you don't eh :evil: :lol:. Good luck with it! Keep me informed on how you get on.

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on September 10, 2011, 20:15:26: Nice :)

Well hope it all goes well :)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Wave Music on September 10, 2011, 20:20:25: Hopefully you stay safe at sea... Remember the story I told.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on September 10, 2011, 20:58:57: Fingers crossed :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: rjwhyte09 on September 11, 2011, 00:20:32: good luck IRI5HJ4CK

hope everything goes well for you :2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Ballast on September 11, 2011, 09:15:00: Sea you Jack and all the others that are joining today :)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: clanky on September 11, 2011, 12:05:43: Best of luck Jack, welcome to the start of a fantastic career.

I can just about remember back to the days of being a cadet, so if you ever need any help, advise or even just a chat, PM me.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Viking28 on September 11, 2011, 12:17:10: Good luck with your career. I hope to work at sea one day to :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on September 17, 2011, 10:07:28: rjwhyte09: Thanks a lot! ;D
MJ: Thanks, although it's only been a week it feels like I've been a cadet for years now :doh:
Clanky: Thanks very much, it's always nice to know someone who has been through the same experience and knows what to expect :)

I came back from camping yesterday with the college :lol:. Although it really was a case of drilling discipline into us, and at the time it was seriously tiring, it certainly puts a massive rubber stamp on your brain as to what discipline and order really is, and I'm pleased that Fleetwood still does that to their cadets...I get the impression that some colleges have become a bit lazy with discipline from what some people have said.

Anyway, I'm at home over the weekend (had a great sleep last night :lol:), but I'm not sure when the college are going to sort their WiFi out; so I'll speak to you all at some point again soon :)

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: danny on September 17, 2011, 12:30:24: Glad to here your having a good time! do you know if liverpool john moores does the camping still?
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Ballast on September 17, 2011, 12:42:55: The nautical college where i went for my A/B license has the same policy. The accomodation was devided in several 'wings' and each had it's own supervisor which were called bosun's. They woke you up at 07:00 and if you weren't out of bed by 07:15, you would find yourself cleaning the hallways after 21:30. If you were late for anything or fooling around you'd face the same thing. Everyone went home on friday 12:00 but if you really made a mess of it, the bosun would give you detention on friday afternoon and you could go home with the last train.

Rooms were shared with 2 other persons and the toilet/shower was shared with another room. Once every 3 week is was your turn to make sure the cabin was clean and tidy for a week. Once every 6 weeks it was your duty to keep the toilet/shower clean. Once every 12 weeks or so it was also your duty to assist in the gally where 3 meals a day were prepared for about 200 persons. Our school wasn't that big, mind you that the flow of cadets isn't that high in Holland.

Every night it was study hour from 18:45 to 19:45 where it was mandatory to study with the bosun patroling down the hallway. He didn't cared if you already finished your homework or not, there was always something to revise ofcourse. The teachers would note everything in the class logbook which had to be delivered back to the bosun after the last class, so he could also see what everyone had to do.

It really prepared people for the life on board a ship. It really gave me a work ethic and self disipline that still comes in handy on daily basis.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: onllshan on September 17, 2011, 18:52:58: good luck jack all the best with your career
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Tomaten on September 17, 2011, 21:44:29: Good luck Jack!!! :)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Stuart2007 on September 18, 2011, 10:47:21: Ballast, sorry, I thought you started off your career as a powder monkey before learning to climb the sails before steam ships came in.

;D
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on September 18, 2011, 22:44:36: Danny: To be honest I'm not sure, I'll ask about!

MJ: It's great to hear that the discipline was strong. Personally I totally agree with it, and as you say, it all goes towards your making as a qualified officer when you finish your cadetship.

Onllshan: Thanks a lot!

Here's a pic of my cell for you all ;D :lol:

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302995_287481284610873_100000470103653_1198947_1521970781_n.jpg)

I'm very pleased with it - it's like luxury compared to what the accommodation was like before they started tearing the college down and building it up again!

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: danny on September 19, 2011, 12:59:55: Oooooo..... its has carpet, and a swivel chair!!
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: vin_sun on September 19, 2011, 15:45:08: Hi Jack,

Your cabin on a ship may even be like this one ...... ;)

(http://justinsomnia.org/images/cap-cleveland-owners-cabin-from-door-big.jpg)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on September 19, 2011, 15:47:14: The cabin looks better then the room Jacks in :doh:

I mean the walls look... like brick walls... :doh:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on October 16, 2011, 13:16:08: Vin_Sun: If my cabin is like that onboard ship, I'll be beaming!

TFM: In all honesty, I'm very pleased with it. It grows on you very quickly! :lol:

Overall the past few weeks have been great, I love being in this career...and I've not even set foot on my first ship yet :o. The other cadets seem to enjoy me playing the accordion as well, and I really enjoy it.

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/308818_293831807309154_100000470103653_1224818_226381933_n.jpg)
The ensign goes up every morning at 8; all of the cadets are on a rota. Thankfully that day the wind stayed away for us...great fun putting it up when it's blowing a gale :lol: :doh:

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298553_297947433564258_100000470103653_1241371_99543439_n.jpg)
Me :angel: :doh:

Will keep you all updated on the next few weeks. We start the short courses soon, Ie Fire fighting, sea survival etc.

Kind Regards,
Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Cat320DL on October 16, 2011, 16:30:09: Good luck Jack :thumbs:
Keep us updated when you can :)
And have fun ! The new ship look's nice.

Kyle
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Rbsanford on October 16, 2011, 17:23:14: Quote from: vin_sun on September 19, 2011, 15:45:08
Hi Jack,

Your cabin on a ship may even be like this one ...... ;)

(http://justinsomnia.org/images/cap-cleveland-owners-cabin-from-door-big.jpg)

fancy! ;D
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on October 16, 2011, 17:42:58: Quote from: IRI5HJ4CK on October 16, 2011, 13:16:08
TFM: In all honesty, I'm very pleased with it. It grows on you very quickly! :lol:

Overall the past few weeks have been great, I love being in this career...and I've not even set foot on my first ship yet :o. The other cadets seem to enjoy me playing the accordion as well, and I really enjoy it.

Thats OK then :thumbs:

Hope its all going well and good luck :)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: clanky on October 16, 2011, 21:55:27: Great to hear that you are enjoying yourself Jack, the short courses are great fun.

Hope it all keeps going well for you.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on October 25, 2011, 22:35:16: Thanks everyone ;D

Been an interesting week so far; we've been learning how to launch the lifeboat etc, and we'll be examined orally on that and the rest of the course on Friday.

On Saturday we had the raft race on the lake, then in the afternoon we had 'Fleetwood's got Talent' :lol:

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302113_305086766183658_100000470103653_1267343_1248403291_n.jpg)

Will keep you all informed on how everything goes.

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on December 03, 2011, 13:31:39: Hi all,

I found out what my first ship is going to be yesterday - the Seatruck Progress, one of Seatruck's 4 new ships that are due to go into service over the coming year. She'll be operating on the Liverpool - Dublin route, and I join her on Monday 13th of February :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on December 03, 2011, 13:34:27: Nice :thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: sadsid (â€ 2016) on December 03, 2011, 14:28:53: Hi Jack
Best of luck hope you get a good bunch of lads on her :2thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: clanky on December 04, 2011, 10:24:16: Calm seas and cold gin.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: CaptainMike1 on December 04, 2011, 12:44:50: Jack

Only just found this thread, best of luck to you and hope all goes well, enjoy your new life. I only did 40 years at sea - way to go!!

Mike
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Wolfram_Jenrich on December 14, 2011, 00:06:20: Long time ago I've been in the forum. Even so: GOOD LUCK to you. And by the way it is not important how the cell looks like but how the weather will be :-)
Greetings Wolfram
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on January 29, 2012, 12:45:45: Thanks everyone :)

2 weeks until I go now. I've finished phase 1 at college, so I'm at home waiting (It's killing me :doh:).

Here's a picture of the bridge of the Seatruck Panorama; she'll be my last ship for this phase.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: jim.smith on January 29, 2012, 19:40:30: Best of luck Jack,happy sailing. :2thumbs: :captain:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on January 29, 2012, 20:09:42: Thanks Jim :).
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Wolfram_Jenrich on January 29, 2012, 20:44:11: Be carefull and watch the captain :-)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: CaptainMike1 on January 31, 2012, 14:10:57: Bon voyage!
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Sunseekeringo on January 31, 2012, 18:13:14: Hi,

I also just found your threat, which is quite nice to read...enjoy the time...would be interesting to know how many people you are. I sometimes regret not went to sea and so I wish you a lot of fun. Instead of sailing I now steer the vessels from ashore ;-) (and I donÂ´t mean only the SSE but I also joined the world of shipping ashore some years ago and I see everyday that it is really a passion working in that environment...otherwise I probably couldnÂ´t work here ;-))

cheers
Ingo
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on February 10, 2012, 22:52:43: Thankyou Wolfram, Mike and Ingo. I'll keep you all updated as to how I get on :).

Kind Regards,
Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on February 13, 2012, 09:32:49: Good morning all,

I'm joining the Seatruck Progress at mid-day today ;D; we sail at 22:00.

See you all in 6 weeks,

Kind Regards,
Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: saltydog on February 13, 2012, 10:41:59: Happy sailing, Jack.. ;)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Cat320DL on February 13, 2012, 18:45:31: Good luck Jack !! :)

Kyle
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on February 13, 2012, 22:09:42: Sounds good :thumbs:

good luck Jack :)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: w_de_falco on February 13, 2012, 23:33:23: Don't act like Captain Schettino, stay away of shoals...
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: CaptainMike1 on February 15, 2012, 18:50:34: Quote from: w_de_falco on February 13, 2012, 23:33:23
Don't act like Captain Schettino, stay away of shoals...

Unsuitable post in my mind
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on March 26, 2012, 15:38:49: Good afternoon all,

I left the ship yesterday for my 2 week break. I'll get some photo's on here ASAP. :thumbs:

Kind Regards,
Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on March 26, 2012, 16:02:24: had a good time Jack?
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on March 26, 2012, 18:17:28: It was a fantastic experience - I learned so much in 6 weeks. The officer's were brilliant, and I'm going to miss the ship to be honest. One of the things I noticed most was how difficult it was to relax when I got home - Onboard, you're constantly working, looking at deadlines/times, being given orders, and when you come home it's the complete opposite.

I think probably the best thing to have come out of the first trip was that it was so constant, that I learned so much in quite a short time. Eventually, the 2nd/3rd Officer would just let me do the watch whilst they were at the back of the bridge filling out paperwork, so it was nice that they felt they could trust me with the ship.

I also completed my steering ticket, which is 10 hours, and brought her in/out of Dublin and Liverpool. It was fantastic.

I've got some photo's on the way soon.

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: jim.smith on March 26, 2012, 18:19:47: Welcome home Sailor. :captain:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on March 26, 2012, 22:22:10: Thanks Jim :).

Some pictures for you all:

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/462594_417553424936991_100000470103653_1605959_1285621502_o.jpg)
Bridge Watch.

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/467325_417545964937737_100000470103653_1605904_1017429496_o.jpg)
Priming the weather deck ;D

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/468901_417549611604039_100000470103653_1605933_1146905817_o.jpg)
The final product after painting it for a week :lol:

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/462686_417546908270976_100000470103653_1605907_700861132_o.jpg)
Taking on stores.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/464892_417547038270963_100000470103653_1605909_1321740603_o.jpg)

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/479329_417547181604282_100000470103653_1605910_1381968756_o.jpg)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/471471_417547294937604_1428651569_o.jpg)

Painting one of the ballast tanks that had some welding work carried out.

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/471355_417548568270810_100000470103653_1605920_2110808578_o.jpg)

Aft mooring station.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/416567_417549354937398_100000470103653_1605930_384215559_o.jpg)

Briefly going ashore to let go some lines.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/478720_417549771604023_100000470103653_1605935_1511525947_o.jpg)

Getting ready to leave Langton Lock.

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/415351_417550011603999_100000470103653_1605937_73347431_o.jpg)

Fwd Mooring Station

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/475877_417550648270602_100000470103653_1605941_420599284_o.jpg)

At sea.

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/479196_417550818270585_650539190_o.jpg)
The Bridge.

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/465240_417551031603897_100000470103653_1605943_2073699312_o.jpg)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/545077_417551214937212_100000470103653_1605944_762354780_n.jpg)

Strb Bridge Wing.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/471224_417551358270531_100000470103653_1605945_385488548_o.jpg)

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/462030_417551538270513_100000470103653_1605947_1894501100_o.jpg)

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/457894_417551664937167_100000470103653_1605948_850161480_o.jpg)

The Bridge.

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/469016_417552088270458_100000470103653_1605953_355151206_o.jpg)

Dublin.

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/476630_417552804937053_100000470103653_1605957_1468716445_o.jpg)

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/414093_417553224937011_100000470103653_1605958_231742804_o.jpg)

Chart Table - Filling in logs.

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/414739_417553508270316_100000470103653_1605960_1941314204_o.jpg)

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/469598_417553651603635_100000470103653_1605961_1954544042_o.jpg)

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/473059_417554101603590_100000470103653_1605966_1111427424_o.jpg)

Force 6/7. We had a 9 the next day.

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/470954_417553958270271_100000470103653_1605965_481400209_o.jpg)

The not particularly clever officers who went to anchor at the entrance to the channel ::)

(http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/473368_417554254936908_100000470103653_1605967_2005452636_o.jpg)

The Smit Barbados assisting us after losing our Strb Engine and Bow Thruster into Langton Lock.

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/468173_417554891603511_100000470103653_1605974_231808907_o.jpg)

Langton Lock again.

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/461951_417555181603482_100000470103653_1605976_773831430_o.jpg)

Running into one of my college friends onboard the Clipper Pace.

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/478429_417556258270041_100000470103653_1605984_1121577050_o.jpg)

The initially mysterious helicopter that turned out to be practicing their pacing.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/475610_417556931603307_100000470103653_1605989_2010568366_o.jpg)

Pilot Onboard.

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/474639_416225291736471_100000470103653_1602130_1079143255_o.jpg)

Running into another college friend - overtaking him as he went to anchor (Cumbrian Fisher). Had a nice chat with him on the radio and carried on to 12 quays berth in Liverpool, after covering the Stena Feronia which had a run in with a container ship. She's out of dry dock on the 29th.

(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423111_398905270135140_100000470103653_1551268_2107343091_n.jpg)

Me...steering :lol:.

(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/331882_394466823912318_100000470103653_1537269_435656619_o.jpg)

My Cabin.

Kind Regards,

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: The Ferry Man on March 26, 2012, 22:26:13: Excellent pics - looks like you had a good time/trip :thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: danny on March 26, 2012, 22:48:32: very nice pictures Jack - although from the looks of it you practiced painting, steering and nothing else :doh:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Rbsanford on March 26, 2012, 23:13:57: really nice pics. ;D

but a quick question: why were you painting the insides of the ballast tanks? :doh:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Captain Darling on March 27, 2012, 00:14:02: Quote from: Rbsanford on March 26, 2012, 23:13:57
really nice pics. ;D

but a quick question: why were you painting the insides of the ballast tanks? :doh:
Seawater and bare metal? (after welding) I don't think that's a good combination ;)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: CaptainMike1 on March 27, 2012, 09:53:26: Great Jack!
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: ci on March 27, 2012, 15:45:10: Nice photos jack :thumbs:
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Cat320DL on March 27, 2012, 16:41:15: Great pic's Jack. look's like you had a great time.

Kyle
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: clanky on March 28, 2012, 07:21:28: Jack,

Really pleased that you enjoyed your first trip, hope your next ones go just as well, are they putting you on a different ship?
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: saltydog on March 28, 2012, 13:13:18: Nice pics Jack.. It seems your new camera is performing satisfactorily.. ;)
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on July 02, 2012, 03:24:14: Hi all,

Hope you're all well.

Sorry I've not been posting regularly; finding the time to sit down for any length of time is quite rare these days :lol:.

Anyway, to sum up the past few months, it's been fantastic. I'm currently on the Clipper Ranger (2nd term now), and out of the ships I've been on so far it's been the best. I've had a massive amount of bridge watchkeeping time, which has been a great benefit, rather than being stuck on deck all day. I load cargo with the Chief Officer in the morning at Belfast (At ungodly hours :doh:), fiddling with the stability and filling out the stowage plan, whilst he directs the wagons on (I think this should be the other way round, but I'm not complaining :lol:).

Probably the best bit about the ship has been maneuvering - I was given the opportunity in April and since then I do it regularly. Eventually I was allowed to take her out of Heysham as well, which as some of you might know has an entrance, rather than just gliding straight down the channel as we do in Belfast, so for the first time it was quite daunting :lol:...it's not like Ship Simulator where you can hit Esc on your keyboard when it goes to pot unfortunately, but so far it's gone well every time, so fingers crossed :doh:. The Captain tends to take a back seat now and just watches me; I take her down the channel as well and then hand over to the 3rd Mate at the start of the sea passage.

(http://www.peelports.co.uk/assets/images/photos/heysham02big.jpg)

Mark posted a few pictures of me taking her out of Larne for those who want a nosey: http://80.95.161.114/shipsim/forum/index.php/topic,28285.0.html :thumbs:.

Anyway, take care, see you all soon.

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: jim.smith on July 02, 2012, 10:42:38: Hi Jack.You will be a master mariner before you know it.Best of luck. :2thumbs: :captain:
Ps,I'm jealous.
Regards Jim.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on July 04, 2012, 09:01:26: Thanks Jim! One day, one day... :lol:

All the best,

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on July 09, 2012, 19:07:05: Hi all,

Left the Ranger today for the last time, joining a new ship in a week's time, but here are a couple of pictures of me taking her out of Heysham a few days ago :) -

(http://static3.myship.com/photos/115162_1.jpg)

(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/177706_492875610738105_1127464986_o.jpg)

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: Rbsanford on July 09, 2012, 21:53:03: in the second pic, what's that white/grey tube coming down from the ceiling with the knobs in it? because the same thing is in SSE's Agile Solution, and i'm starting to wonder what it is.

also, nice pics. ;D
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on July 10, 2012, 14:47:32: It's a Magnetic Compass - For navigation though we use the gyro :thumbs:.

I'll see if I can dig out a few decent power points from college for you to have a gander at.

Jack.
Title: Re: Off to sea
Post by: IRI5HJ4CK on July 15, 2012, 23:11:55: Hi all,

Off to join the Seatruck Panorama tomorrow - Will keep you all updated when I can :).

Be good! :evil:

Jack.