Crane Wire Greasing

The Prelude

After redoing the shore gang’s lime washing on the vessel’s tank top, the crew connected the grabs to the cranes’ hooks This was done around 06 Feb 2016 0200 Hr as per charterer’s email information that loading will commenced early morning.

Loading commenced at 1230 Hr. (The information I received late night of 05 February 2016 stated that loading will commence early morning of 06 February but the actual loading commenced past noon! I have my people connecting the grabs to the cranes’ hooks at 2 am!!! In case that the barges arrive and the ship’s gears are not yet ready, the shipper will charge the ship owners with delay; which of course, I have a lot of explaining to do to the owners. I hope charterer and agent should be more considerate with seafarers work and rest hour period. Giving accurate information will not hurt anybody’s interest. Hugot ba yun?

Vessel left Jakhau, India after loading Marine Salt last 10 February 2016 and now bound for Yeosu, South Korea via Singapore. Yesterday during the Senior Management Meeting which is usually done around dinner time (1730 Hr Local Time, non-seafarers  would usually ask me why I am having dinner that early, 5:30pm, but that is another story to tell); it was agreed that deck crew will be doing crane wire greasing today, 12 February 2016, weather permitting. The vessel used the ship’s gears (cranes and grabs) when we loaded in Jakhau anchorage.

The weather is cloudy to overcast, the wind is Beaufort Scale Force 3 (around 7-10 knots) and the sea is slight. Vessel is on steady course without any traffic in sight and not rolling. It is a perfect day for working aloft!

After the Risk Assessment was done, Working Aloft Permit signed and Tool Box Meeting held at site, the deck crew started preparing and checking the materials and equipment, and in no time started the precarious job.

I was on the main deck and I heard one of the Able-Bodied Seamen making hugot, singing “Hindi ka ba napapagod, o di kaya’y nagsasawa, sa ating mga tampuhan walang hanggang katapusan” while hanging on mid-air. It made me smile, of all the catchy Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs, why did he chose that one? I wonder if that was unconsciously chosen or if he is doing it perhaps to deal  with his nervousness or perhaps some relationship issue (with the person or with the task). He was up so I just let him finished singing while he continuously greases the wires. In case there are seafarers’ wives or girlfriends reading this article, my unsolicited advice, please give your seafaring partner some peace of mind. Huwag masyadong jelly-jelly. Mababait po kaming mga seamen.

Multi-tasking Able-Bodied Seaman- Singing while doing crane wire greasing.

The real spider man- Able-Bodied Seaman Leicester Cu on the wires and Ordinary Seaman Jan Kenneth Mendoza cleaning the cranes’ cabins.

This guy is ripe for promotion. He can do the work of Able-Bodied Seaman. Ordinary Seaman Omar Pecajas can operate the crane, can steer the vessel, etc. He is all-around deck hand with good attitude and positive disposition in life..

Grasa Boys- Bosun Arnold Pañe and Able-Bodied Seaman Jonar Carido on top. For those contemplating to work on deck on a bulk carrier, do you have what it takes to climb and hang this high? 

View from the Captain’s chair, deck crew doing crane wire greasing in a clear blue sky in the deep blue sea. I wonder if this qualifies for extra payment. Sa inyo kabayan, may bayad ba yang crane wire greasing?

I hope for fair weather so that the grease will stay there for a while. The grease on the crane wires is usually wash out during bad weather. Just imagine watching how high the seawater can reach! During those bad weather moments, we don’t care for if we have to redo the crane wire greasing, as long as we arrive safely back home to our loved ones’ arms.

Greasing completed without any incident. Thank you guys for the job well done; let’s have a party on Valentine’s Day!