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

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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).

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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.

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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

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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!