Damned Voyage. В. Волмир

was called «Anna». They explained this to the driver, but he just slyly smiled.

      – This is your ship. Don't be fooled.

      We took our suitcases and climbed the steep ladder aboard the ship. We were met by an assistant captain and a Filipino watch sailor. Yes, the driver was right, this is our ship and we were waiting. And the name was changed because when we have to go back through the Suez Canal, we may have problems if the Arabs know that the ship is leaving the port of Israel. Such a small conspiracy. So «Ivannis» became «Anna» for a while. After going to sea, the name will be restored and the ship will enter the canal as «Ivannis» with cargo from Greece. Visit to the captain. Called. Then gave the papers.

      – All right. Arrived on the time. Now occupied the cabins and tomorrow to work. Go.

      Very concise reception, very typical in such situations. The captain was a man two meters tall, had a proportionate body structure. He had a powerful voice. This was felt even in ordinary conversation. The face typical of the island Greeks was adorned with a large hooked nose – a sure sign that there is a portion of Turkish blood in his body. Next visit to a senior engineer. It was a below-average man with a straight sharp gaze. A sarcastic or contemptuous smile on his face. He did not offer to sit down.

      – Did you have to work on the ships?

      A very silly question in my opinion.

      – This is my profession.

      – How long did you work on the ship as an electrician?

      – All my life.

      – I do not like your answers.

      – I'm telling the truth.

      – We have very complex equipment. You need to have good training to service it. Are you sure you are ready to do this?

      – So far there have been no problems. Time will tell.

      – What? Ah, yes, time will tell.

      His smile became even more contemptuous.

      – Go to the second engineer. He is also from Ukraine. Ask him

      to give you work clothes and shoes. Go.

      It was obvious that this man wanted to seem bigger and more significant than he really is. I go to the cabin of the second engineer. Let's meet. The name Serg from Odessa. Forty-two years. On the ship for two months. The previous second engineer was «eaten» by the current senior engineer. We talked about all sorts of things, about life, about work. Especially about situation in the crew.

      – In no case do not show that you know the job better than a senior engineer. He believes that there are only one «right» people in the world – the Greeks, and all the other pure idiots. Be sure to schedule and work with the Union and sign it. He had never seen such a thing. He will be happy. When he tells you to do something off schedule, go do it in silence. Sometimes ask how to do some simple work. You will get a lot of pleasure from his explanations. The previous electrician was careless in making remarks to him and proved to him that he did not understand what he was talking about. That was enough to write off the electrician. I warned him, but he arrived on the ship earlier and worked with this senior engineer longer, so he did not heed my words. And keep that in mind. He comes to the engine room only twice a day – at eight o'clock in the morning and at eighteen o'clock in the evening.

      During these times, do some work in the workshop so that he can see you. From morning till noon he and the captain are on the bridge, so in these times to go on deck unnecessarily is not necessary. In the afternoon they have a siesta – sleep up to three hours. Then you can take a walk. And be vigilant in conversations with our navigators. They are also all from Odessa. Everything they hear from you, they will tell the captain and he will draw conclusions. So there is a possibility of unnecessary trouble due to some careless statement. The captain trained them that way. In addition, they themselves have too high an opinion of themselves.

      One more addition. We have another doctor who heave the sailor sertifikate and works as a sailor. He also considers himself great and more drawn to navigators. There are no problems with Filipinos.

      They do their job in silence. They live in their community. They have a chef cook for the senior, so you must tomorrow meet him. You also need this contact because all the control devices for the operation of the refrigeration machines of the provisions are in the dry provisions chamber and you will need them all the time. Take the keys to monitor the operation of refrigeration machines. Well, everything else as everyone else. When working on the main engine, your place on the crane, when ready – in the central post. Read the alarm schedule in the cabin. Guide to choose work clothes.

      We went down to the engine room, where one of the platforms had a pantry for second engineer. I chose black pants and a jacket, as well as «shoos» – work shoes. With this property I came to my cabin. The cabin was located on the second (from top) tier of the ship's living quarters. Machine team deck. To the right is the cabin of the fourth engineer (Filipino), to the left is the cabin of the third engineer, also a Filipino. The cabin was three by three meters plus sanitary facilities. By Union standards, this is a room in a dormitory where the family lived.

      I go down to the cabin company. There I find a senior navigator who explains to me everything about food. Fortunately, in this crew, the Greeks keep the brand: in the refrigerator at night every day put hard cheese, sausages, canned fish or bacon. I'm having dinner right away. Tea can always be made because there is always boiling water – the electric stove keeps the water temperature in the kettle at 95 degrees constantly.

      The next day acquaintance with the ship and crew. No one specifically assembles the crew, so I go by myself, inspect the room, the installed equipment and introduce myself to the staff which are in the room.

      The ship is designed to transport bulk cargo (ore, coal, grain) class «Panamax» was built fourteen years ago in Japan. Automation class A1. The customer company saved a little, because the main engine from Europe, the company «Sulzer» with a capacity of ten thousand kilowatts at one hundred and sixteen revolutions per minute. Swedish alarm system – «Autronics». Everything else is Japan. Scheme of work in progress: everyone works from eight o'clock to nineteen. Lunch break for one hour and supper for one hour. Two coffee time of thirty minutes each – at ten and at fifteen. In the engine room the general management of works is carried out by the second engineer Serg therefore with it I need to coordinate all actions. Beginning as always: which room is where, where it is turned on, what signals, who is responsible. A separate day to study the Main Switchboard, because it all starts here. In the morning I climbed the gangway and found the second navigator in the wheelhouse, who was engaged in navigation maps. Today we leave Haifa for the port of Kalamata, Greece. From the height of the bridge I inspect the port. Twenty miles away, an American squadron, an aircraft carrier and escort ships, can be seen.

      Then I inspected the navigation devices and the lighting of the bridge and the wheelhouse. The second navigator is also called Vlad, he is twenty-five years old and has been on the ships of this company for four years. Originally from Odessa. A senior navigator named Jan is also from Odessa. Vlad said that the captain is very strict and does not tolerate laxity. And what captain tolerates this? I get down to the engine room, to the central post. There are already senior and second engineers who are discussing the preparation of the main engine for access to the sea. Release time – sixteen o'clock. Time passes quickly in the hustle and bustle and one hour ready heave been announced. I go around the diesel generators, boiler, pumps and go to my place in the central post. From now until the sea, the senior engineer, the second engineer and I will be in this room. From here control all mechanisms and the main engine.

      We do a test run of the main engine – good. We do the reverse – well.

      We report on the bridge about the readiness of the main engine. The voice control on the steering wheel is on, so we can hear all the conversations.

      – Pilot on the board.

      – The tugs are ready.

      – Request «good» to go to the sea.

      – Give out the mooring ropes!

      The machine telegraph came to life, the main engine started