So, that’s it, back in my room at the hotel showered and in me PJ’s and slippers, OK, tracksuit and T shirt but they feel like jamies and it’s still only 17:30. Sure it’s 18:30 really so my stomach’s complaining noisily as it always does at this time of year. I hate all this messing about with clocks, my internal one is uncannily accurate and this BST/GMT carry on really screws it up for weeks. Luckily the hangover I earned on Friday night seemed to confuse my clock and I had the best night’s sleep in weeks last night.
Anyway’s we were at the dock gate early this morning with a long list of tasks to get on with now the yard was very quiet.
The Turkish recue boat davit got a lick of paint whilst the rescue boat itself was away for its annual service. I’m sure the Turks make many fine things but davit’s and semi automatic shotguns are not two of them.
That’ll be my Hatsan semi auto 12bore after just 50 shots!!! https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/the-flat-battery-exploding-gun-and-minor-fire/ Just like the Gurdesan http://www.gurdesan.com.tr/index.php/en/products/rescue-boat-life-raft-provision-crane davit, it tried to kill me once, Luckily it didn’t and I saw the funny side of it. The shotgun fell apart as I shot at a pigeon, the davit was so fast at slewing when we first got it that would almost throw you out of the boat on deployment. Just as the davit is a copy of quality UK built one the shotgun is copy of a Beretta that actually works. Both of them require constant cleaning and adjustments to make them work properly.
Whilst the Hallaig’s crew were busy topsides Bogdan’s men were doing the hull
which even after three years in service is looking remarkably fresh thanks to its International 990 paint scheme. The white being just a clean and touch up.
MV Bute
The dock can take vessels of up to 200m in length and even with the Bute in still looks empty, well almost
Here’s a few of the Bute
Bute minus bow visor
Bute’s bow visor on the dock side
Bute’s stern taken from the dock gates.
Gosh, 20:30 now and that’s me stuffed and ready for bed, the old body clock thinking my bedtime is fast approaching and the two pints of Peroni making my eyelids heavy. So, I’ll just leave you with a couple of pictures and turn in.
Cleaning the Voith Schneider propulsion blades.
How many men does it take to change a light bulb