|
During a few months in 1977, I worked as a trainee at the Dutch
Ministry of Transport. The department I worked for, a part of
"Rijkswaterstaat", is responsible for all shipping in the Dutch
waters.
During my internship, I have spend a week on an oilrig in the Northsea,
I have made surveying trips. measuring the depth of the entrance to the
harbour of Rotterdam on the "Christiaan Brunings" and the "Octans" and
joined on a few reconnaissance flights with a two engine airplane.
One of the most interesting trips I made was on a helicopter and a
gigantic supertanker.
On Monday September 26, I went to Hoek van Holland, parked my bike
and together with two collegues we went to Schiphol Airport to
board a Sikorsky S61N helicopter that would bring us to the Japanese
supertanker "World Admiral".
One of the Sikorsky S61N helicopters
At nine o'clock we left Schiphol Airport. The advantage of a
helicopter is that is flies low and slower then a fixedwing airplane
so there is plenty of time and opportunity to enjoy the views.
We left from Schiphol Airport
After one hour we could see the World Admiral, an enormous supertanker.
it wasan impressive sight to see that big ship in the middle of the sea.
The supertanker World Admiral
First the three pilots that would lead the ship into the harbour of
Rotterdam where hoisted to the deck. Then the helicopter had to fly around
the ship to let the engines cool down and then it was our turn to be
hoisted on deck.
I got a "harness" on, that was connected to the hoistcabel. Then I had to
sit in the open door of the helicopter, a few meters above the deck and
then I was hoisted up a litle bit to get free of the door and then I was
lowered to the deck. I liked it and would like to do it again......
Hoisted to the deck (Scanned from a "KLM Noordzee Helicopter" leaflet)
I had asked one of my collegues to take a picture of me while I was
halfway between the helicopter and the ship but he forgot to do it, so
I had to use a photo I scanned from a "KLM Noordzee Helicopter" leaflet.
When I was on the deck of the World Admiral, I made a picture of the helicopter,
before it flew back to Schiphol Airport.
"Our" helicopter
We were welcomed by the first mate and had to walk a few hundred meter from
the bow of ship to the cabins and the bridge. We left our luggage in the
officers mess and went to the bridge to introduce ourself to the captain.
From the bridge, the view was magnificent. It is hard to understand how big
a supertanker is when you have never been on one. The bridge is on the seventh
floor from the deck. It is realy huge !
Magnificent view on the deck
After we talked to the captain, we were offered a luxurious lunch in the
officers mess. This was the first time in my life that I had suchi and I
loved it.
After lunch we went back to the bridge to get to work. We had to do all kind
of measurements when the World Admiral was entering the harbour of Rotterdam.
The bridge of the World Admiral
In the Port of Rotterdam,a small pilot vessel came alongside the ship and via
the gangway, we left the World Admiral and went back to the harbour in Hoek
van Holland.
The pilot vessel that took us to Hoek van Holland
My bike was parked at the Rijkswaterstaat harbor, so an hour later, I was back
home after a very interesting day at sea and in the air.
|
