Atlantic Crossing

Photos: Engine room tour, and Barbecue

Atlantic Crossing

Leaving Boston on the 7th of September, the weather was clear and calm and I was able to paint two scarves the first morning out. After that, it became obvious that I would not be able to use the resist method of drawing a design on silk with the boat rocking and rolling across the ocean. So, I enjoyed creating some abstract and impressionistic style designs and still averaged two scarves a day.

One morning, after breakfast, the Chief Engineer took us on a below-decks tour of the Engineering Spaces of the ship. We first saw the after steering room where a large hydraulic motor, powered by dual redundant pumps, turns the rudder. On the bridge, this is controlled by a small wheel, manually, or by autopilot. We also saw the three electrical power generators, one of which is sufficient to provide power for the ship. The engine control room is completely automated with computer controls and monitoring. The throttle may be activated either from the bridge or the engine control room. While underway, it is controlled on the bridge.

The single, seven cylinder Man B&W diesel engine is fueled with low grade oil which is heated and filtered before being injected into the cylinders. This engine drives a single screw, 7.8 meters in diameter, which drives the ship 20 knots at 95rpm. The output of the engine is 15,785KW at 105rpm or about 20,000 hp.

Like any engine room, there is extremely high ambient noise which we escaped from time to time such as when we walked all the way forward to the bow from the aft engine room along a passageway containing the piping for maintaining the temperature control of the holds. Also, in these after spaces are the large walk-in freezers and refrigerators for the commissary provisioning. All of this lies below the crew and passenger quarters in the aft superstructure of the ship.

The highlight of our crossing was a festive barbecue, complete with a pig roasted on a spit. Preparations began early in the day as I observed some of the crew dismantling the old barbecue grill and constructing a new one with a large oil drum cut in half and mounted on a steel frame (this was for the pig). Two other grills were set up for grilling sausages and steaks. By the time we arrived at 6 PM, there were tables set up on the aft deck, complete with checkered table cloths, and the Captain and First Officer were pouring wine. In addition to the meats, there was steamed rice, fried rice, baked potatoes, grilled tomatoes, tossed salad and fruit salad. Everything was very good - especially the roast pig. To add to the festivities, the crew had set up a TV and karioke machine and everyone was in a party mood. It was explained that the ones who would be drinking the most and staying up the latest would be those who didn’t have to work the next day. That ended up being about eight crew members (and us, of course). Martha and I assumed that we would be quite popular when the dancing started (being the only two females aboard), but it was soon apparent that they were accustomed to dancing with or without women. It wasn’t exactly our kind of music to dance to, but we did our best and had a great time. Our Captain said they often have a barbecue like this once a month (depending who the Captain is) but never in U.S. waters since there is a law against drinking aboard. It makes you wonder how we got to be this way. Is it puritanical values or litigation?

The second day underway, it was announced that we would advance our clock one hour that night. The next night the same, and the following night another hour, (so by the time we reach Hamburg we won’t have to worry about the typical jet lag symptoms). As a result, we began to sleep later and skip breakfast. Not a problem, since we are eating more than enough at other meals, and we’re always able to go to the dining room for fresh fruit and coffee and tea. It’s nice to be lazy and sleep in and spend the morning reading or going for a walk. We’ve paced it off and determined that five times around the main deck, or twenty times around the pilot deck, is a mile. There are also movies to watch and games to play. It’s amazing how the time goes by and before you know it, it’s time to shower and change for dinner. Ahhh, life at sea.

Seeing land, after seven days at sea, was pretty exciting. First we began seeing some birds and then some sail boats and small fishing boats and finally in the distance we could make out a little strip of land. We left the Atlantic and entered the English channel and made out way to the North Sea. Around four in the afternoon of the 14th, we were at the mouth of the Elbe River and the local pilot boat came along side to deliver our pilot who would remain aboard until we docked in Hamburg. He was actually scheduled to arrive earlier but there was a mis-communication and we were left in a holding pattern, doing donuts out there, until he arrived After dinner, Doug, Martha and I went to the bridge to get a better view of where we were and observe the Captain and officers working with the local pilot to maneuver our way up the Elbe. Later that night, after a rousing game of Scrabble, I stayed up a little later and watched from our stateroom window as we slowly cruised up the river, passing many other ships and lots of bright lights from the land on either side of us. It was so perfectly calm, after being at sea, that it was like gliding over a sheet of ice - and so amazingly quiet.

Because of the time spent waiting for the pilot this afternoon, we arrived Hamburg at 2:00 AM instead of midnight, as scheduled, so I slept right through our arrival.

We’ll be in Hamburg three or four days, so hope to take in all the sights, have some good German food and drink, and enjoy a little of the nightlife. We’ll pick up two more passengers, a Swedish couple, and we’re looking forward to meeting them. We’re also getting a new Captain (who we learned is bringing his wife to cruise with him for a few months). So, our little shipboard family is expanding. Stay tuned and we’ll introduce all the new players.