Close Call with pirates

  9Feb
  A lot of buzz and activity filled the VHF channels. In stones throw distance from our scheduled meeting point with the guard boat which would escort us through pirate alley into harbour, the gb (guard boat) advised us with great urgency to turn around immediately and run for shelter to another nearby gb because right in front of us was a pirate attack happening. Naturally we made a speedy u-turn and made a beeline to safety where we waited with apprehension.

 About an hour later our guard boat gave an all clear signal and we proceeded to harbour with them on our side without any trouble. They were efficient and gave good advise. It is a great help to have effective escourt in pirate alley.
 For us it was a close call. But for 4 crew members of the attacked vessel the nightmare of being hostage started.

Atlantic Ocean - mv UAL Texas

ANCHORING DISASTER

Appearance can be extremely misleading. The ever present rust hides, spreads and creeps into everything on a boat and then devours all in its path. Sometimes with frightening speed. The

shackle of this hook used on the anchor chain looked fair. It would not budge when pounded with a hammer. This year with the wonder of TIME skipper who returned early to Mylady, could with a lot of TLC, get the pin out. Horror struck. 
We hung onto that?

Storm with mv TEXEL

We all have chosen our jobs. Therefore no complaining. It is just that some jobs are very much influenced by the weather. Therefore gives an extra dimension to the job. How does the big ships handle the bigger seas? Motor vessel Texel from Kustvaart Harlingen, where Eelco currently earns our freedom chips, seems to handle it well.

mv Avalon, where Eelco is.

Hello Family and Friends,

This newsletter I write while working as master onboard mv Avalon in order to earn some freedom chips to keep Mylady and crew going. But let me start with updating you about what happened the last few months. At the beginning of October we came back from our sail to Tonga and Fiji. This time we did not clear customs in Opua, New-Zealand as usual, but in Whangarei. While underway to New-Zealand we booked a spot on the hard at Norsand Boatyard in Whangarei. This time we want to let Mylady dry out and do a proper job on her underwater ship. From the moment she was out I

only had 10 days before I had to join the Avalon. So after a week working on Mylady I left for the Netherlands while MisAle stayed on board before she flew to Corpus Christi in Texas USA. 28 October the Avalon was moored in Dordrecht in the Netherlands and that is where I joined her. 

The Avalon was built in 2008/2009 and came in service in

2009. Her overall length is 88.90 meter and she is 12.50 meter wide. Her gross tonnage is 2545 mt and her summer deadweight 3850 mt. She has a good strong 280 Kw bow-thruster and a 1250 Kw main engine with a big pitch propeller. Her bridge is full of the most modern stuff like two good radars, two ECDIS screens etc. 

If you have a look on www.marinetraffic.com and punch in the following IMO no 9387322, you will not only find out where we are but can also see lots of pictures of the vessel. Now at this stage we have a crew of 7. Master and Chief Mate are Dutch. The Chief Engineer and one of Abs' are both from the Cape Verde Islands. The other AB is from the

Philippines and so is the cadet. The cook is originally from Cape Verde but he has a Dutch passport. Yes a real mix of nations again but we have a good team. The size of the hold is, 62 meter long, 10.12 meter wide, 8.43 meter high. Here the empty hold is being prepared for the next load.