Open ocean

Eelco has left the piracy infested and ultra corrupted coastline of West Africa and is on his way to Houston in Texas. He thoroughly enjoys the peace and 'normal' life out there in the blue yonder. Isn't this copper plate artwork a masterpiece? We came across it on a street corner in one of the villages on Cocos Keeling in the Indian Ocean during our voyage. 

freedom-chips

Once again Eelco is earning our freedom-chips along the westcoast of Africa and into the heart of pirateland - the gulf of Guinea. Hopefully time will fly.

"Persistent Danger in the Gulf of Guinea
In 2017, there were 36 reported incidents with no vessels hijacked in the Gulf of Guinea and 10 incidents of kidnapping involving 65 crewmembers in or around Nigerian waters. Globally 16 vessels reported being fired upon – including 7 in the Gulf of Guinea.
'Although the number of attacks is down this year in comparison with last year, the Gulf of Guinea and the waters around Nigeria remain a threat to seafarers. ' said Pottengal Mukundan, Director of IMB.http://www.swzonline.nl/news/8925/maritime-piracy-and-armed-robbery-reach-22-year-low

10Jan2018
  Owners lost contact with their tanker which were at anchor at Cotonou, Benin. They informed the authorities. Both the Nigerian and Benin navy searched. 16jan the owners reported the ship arrived intact in Lagos. The crew successfully negotiated with the hijackers.

Netherland

We have spent the Christmas and New Years in Netherland. According the weather bureau it was the warmest end of year in a century. The SAFARI PARK BEEKSE BERGEN was the highlight of our visit. We will definitely re-do this safari and spend more time. Eelco is currently on m/v UAL Texas earning our freedom-chips along the west coast of Africa. Misale is doing the family rounds. 

UAL TEXAS underway to Ghana

Skipper is on his way with the mv UAL TEXAS to Takoradi in Ghana, West Africa. The trip started in Houston Texas and they battled heavy seas and large swell crossing the Atlantic. Now in the lee of the African continent, they can pick-up speed again. I can follow him on marinetraffic.com

Freedom chips

Yes it's that time again. m/v UALTexas is providing the opportunity to collect the much needed freedom chips. Eelco joined ship in Brazilia and is now underway to Mexico and the USA, and from there to west Africa. Crew is multi national. 

   gold and silver not, but aluminium