Post #200 On Memorial Day

Yesterday, I received the following email from my father.

Henry:

This Memorial Day, I want you to know that I appreciate
the fact that you are serving in probably the most under-appreciated
service. It was just two years ago that I attended the funeral of my Uncle
Jim Burke, who served as a Merchant Marine Officer during the Second World
War. He, like you, traveled the globe in support of the military's mission
in that war, including supporting the invasion of Europe on D-Day. It
wasn't until many years after the war that the Merchant Marine members of WWII
received the proper recognition and veteran status they
earned.

When I was in the Navy, all of the non-combatant ships were
part of the Navy, as you know. In fact, your grandfather, CDR Mike
Trens' last command was as skipper of the USS Rehoboth (AGS 50), an
intelligence gathering ship. I've attached a copy of the ship's
seal. Service in the fleet auxiliary is by it's nature dangerous, because
our enemies know the fleet can't do its job without logistics
support.



Yes, you are a Civilian, but you are doing a job that in past wars was
done by members of the military.

Thank you. I love
you very much, and am very proud of you.

Dad

Fun times in Fujairah

Well we pulled into Fujairah, U.A.E. to load on fuel and stores yesterday, and we just pulled out a little earlier today. Whenever we pull into Fujairah, we're usually restricted to the port. It's alright, though, because there are 3 duty-free shops and 2 seaman's club "bars". I enjoy Fujairah because its simple. Go ashore, grab a few things from the duty-free stores and then have a few beers and some good food. Enjoy some Filipina entertainers even.

Last night, though, is what demonstrated what being out to sea with your shipmates is all about. Most of the people who had free time ended up at the one bar at the very end with the "Filipina cover band", air conditioning and is above the duty free store at the end of the run. So pretty much we were all there from the Kanawha, enjoying ourselves, the Captain was getting relieved to go on vacation, and he was buying drinks left and right, a few people were leaving, a few people were coming, all swapping stories, getting drunk and enjoying themselves. Eventually the entertainers were pushed aside as a few of our shipmates got on stage as if it were a karaoke bar!

It was one crazy night, and we all made sure that we all made it back to the ship safely, no matter who you were, a shipmate was there to help you up the gangway and into your bed. So that next morning, when it came time to get underway, everyone made muster.

Delivering Cargo to USS Bulkley

Photo progression, from loading cargo to the flight deck, the Bulkley approaching, and their helicopter airlifting their cargo away.

Fueling up the HMCS Charlottetown

Charlottetown coming up alongside us

Our twin prop trails (how's that for a carbon footprint?)

Big wigs on the Bridge Wing

Canadian dude doing laps on their flight deck

Hose is across, started pumping!

Another shot, from the fantail

Picture Post 4

More California Maritime Training Cruise 2004 Pictures

Still in Mokpo, South Korea





Instructors managed to arrange a tour of the Hyundai Samho Shipyard in Mokpo, these are just a few of the pictures I have. One reason shipbuilding moved overseas (and stayed overseas), is that these yards have a turnaround time of just months, instead of a few years, not to mention less regulations, less overall costs. Unluckily, this yard did not manufacture any of the main engines or crankshafts, so it was just a cookie-cutter style of assembly. They had "models" inside their office, and the second model, notice, is one of the newer style of LNG Tankers (easier to manufacture than the older "sphere" style).



Later on the same tour, we stopped by the Maritime Museum that was in Mokpo. They were assembling a VERY recent excavation in the nearby ocean, apparently one of the biggest finds of recent history (I forget what it was though).

Picture Post 3

More California Maritime Academy Training Cruise 2004 pics




We did a "cultural exchange" with Mokpo Maritime Academy in Mokpo, South Korea. Played a few sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball). We ended up tying them in Soccer, which was interesting because our score (1-1) was the exact same as the US-South Korea score in the World Cup just previously (1-1). I'm in the last picture (wearing sunglasses, in the very middle).


As we were arriving, we rode past the Mokpo Maritime Academy Training ships


I'm dancing with one of the girls on the ship (a Cal Poly San Louis Obispo "Summer Sea Term" Student who rode with us)....havin fun at a bar in Mokpo.

Picture Post 2

More California Maritime Academy Training Cruise 2004 pictures

I happened to be the Midshipman Engineering Officer of the Day (training to be a "Duty Engineer", preparing for the daily fuel transfer, I was taking around a freshman cadet helping me, and a senior deck cadet who was seeing what exactly we did). I'm the guy in the middle.


Senior Deck cadets getting another of their requirement of "fixes" for their Senior Cruise.


The lovely harbor in Vladivostok, Russia.


Another sights that are just better at sea....Sunsets

Picture Post 1

Here's some Pictures that I've found on my external hard drive.

California Maritime Academy Training Cruise 2004




Dutch Harbor


Somewhere in North Pacific, one of those views you can only see from the ocean....




A few brief shots from the small deserted island of Kiska, one of the Aleutians (Alaska's "beard").
On the island of Kiska was a small post during WWII that we let the Japanese "conquer" so that we could destroy their fleet elsewhere (if I remember correctly, please correct me if I'm wrong).

Hence the plaque placed in the last picture.

Long time no Post

Hey folks, apologies for the lack of posting. Hello to the Lizards from LGF. So here we are way out on station...its amazing how much a ship needs to function. We've been a busy beaver so far in the Indian Ocean for the small boys out here, fighting them pirates (we don't do any of the fighting or patrolling, we get called over to give supplies and fuel to the ones that do, though).

I've recently run across some old pictures so in a few following posts, I'll have up some old pictures from my past, either Training Cruises with California Maritime (my alma mater), or SUNY Maritime (my first job as a 3rd A/E, as one of their licensed watch training officers).

Getting Ready for deployment

Hey folks, extremely long time without an update, I know. Currently the USNS Kanawha is getting ready for its deployment to the Persian Gulf. We're set to leave within the next week, the crew is almost all gone this weekend (the last weekend before deployment).

Lots of last-minute contract work is getting done, too, all in preparation for the upcoming deployment, last minute crew changes and additional crew members. We even have 2 deck cadets (both from Kings Point, United States Merchant Marine Academy), and one engine cadet, from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

I hope I'll be a little bit more frequent with updates while we're underway. Obviously I cannot divulge schedules, locations (maybe port visits), due to the "Operational Security" nature of where we go and what we do, but I'll try to keep writing.

Fair winds and following seas,
-Henry

Back @ Norfolk Naval Base

The USNS Kanawha is now back at Norfolk Naval Base.

We've been busy lately going through "ATT", or "Afloat Team Training". Any time there is a major change in crew (such as post-shipyard, or pre-deployment), we get these people from "the base" that apparently have to train us on how to properly respond to Fire, Emergencies, and Abandon Ship (because apparently none of us know anything). It's funny, we get these people who haven't sailed in years (sometimes over a decade), and they're telling us how to respond to fires on board our ship. One more instance of people trying to justify their paycheck I guess.

What's really amusing about it, is they have no power to beach the ship, and we're currently going through the basic annual "COI" with the Coast Guard (continuing tomorrow). We just did a Fire drill (fire in demac shop!), and an abandon ship drill. The ATT idiots wanted us to do a Collision drill, but so far we've been too busy as it is taking care of the COI. Sorry Federal Government Cheese workers, but Coasties come first. Once we get certified to sail, THEN you can continue your useless training.

More Shipyard pics!

Shot of me at bottom of drydock with propellors (before removal and cleaning)


Inside Port Main Engine crankcase, I was down inside when pistons/connecting rods were lowered to put up the ConRod bearing caps, new bearing inserts, and bolts w/ nuts


A buddy took these shots of me


Before I go in (are you sure you know how to work my camera?)


Dry as ever, stern shot of ship in drydock



Sea growth inside removable section of pipe



Port Engine put back together, heads down, and plastic covering valves and what not (before valve covers and rocker arms were put in place)


Ah, on the day of leaving the drydock, they started before bulk of ship's force arrived (Captain and Chief were onboard, of course)


People waiting to climb onboard the drydock via ladder (right in picture)

Visit to historical stuff in Hampton Roads

Last commissioned battleship, USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is currently tied up in Norfolk, VA, and is being used by the "Nauticus", a Naval Museum in downtown Norfolk.

Here are a few shots of and around the currently commissioned, but inactive, battleship (and around the museum):

Tied up next to her, a tall ship (too lazy to go look @ it)

Memorial for the State of Virginia, of those loved and lost (idea of letters home scattered in the wind)

Battleship (of course), view from the parking garage across the street.

Bearing down on us!

Main Engine Work

Pulling cylinder liners (replaceable liner that the rings seal against, and cooling water runs over). It is showing lots of rust or corrosion...(all the orangeish reddish color), apparently cooling water treatment wasn't doing its job.


Rocker arm assemblies from the cylinders we pulled


Cylinder head resting on deck, note the valve stems sticking up.



Inside port main engine reduction gear (single reduction, single helical).



After pulling cylinder head, jacking engine over to pull this piston (note all the carbon @ top of piston!)



Port Main Engine turbocharger (Left Bank)


Just after a head was pulled, a shot showing some indications of "blow by" past the piston rings.


Flying pistons! Piston has been pulled and is being moved by the overhead crane into our piston stand so we can remove the wrist pin, separating the piston and the connecting rod.



Ride em cow-engineer ;)

Right vs Left according to the Bible

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." --Ecclesiastes 10:2 NIV

Saw this on a facebook group I'm a member of....I laughed my ass off.