1st December 2014 – The boat was craned out today. The welder had some metal chairs to put underneath the ship and four heavy profiles to keep the ship stable on the chairs. Craning took some time. We needed a big crane and they always come in two parts, the crane and a deeploader with the ballast and the remaining accessories for the crane.
24th November 2014 – The owner called me there was some water in the boat. He wanted me to find a welder and an option to drydock the ship, but the cheapest possible option.
Together with a welder we visited the ship in Izegem. We didn’t come to early! The bilges were filled with water, not a bucket or two, but much more. We suggested drydocking the ship on the spot and doing some repairs. The ship is moored next to an empty piece of land and the quay is big enough. There was shore power and and a crane will likely be the most expensive part of the job. We talked several ideas through and went home to calculate a price for this project.
15th December 2007 – Very early we left for Sluiskil to go and get the little boat at the scrapyard. I mainly joined as a spare crew member and photographer, a job I’ve don well. The other job, a crew member seemed necessary as well, but that’s another story!
When we arrived, the engine of the ship (Dolfijn, a kempenaar from 1957 and sister ship of the Libra) was already running. Undoing the ropes and we set sail to Ghent. In 1,5 hours we were at the scrapyard. I felt bad seeing so many ships I knew, like the trawler from Sluiskil, the Sabrina, my first ship I visited for buying, a commercial Kempenaar, a spits barge from Ghent and the boat we had to take. Behind us, a big pile of wood, once 6 MSO-minesweepers.
We pulled the little ship out by hand, then had to open the gate, which hold oil and rubbish from floating in the canal, and pull her alongside the Dolfijn. After this job was finished, they gave me a little time to take some more pictures.
15 minutes later, we sailed back and now to Terneuzen. Since I’m planning to go on course to learn to sail, I sailed with the Dolfijn and other boat. I’m used to a wheel steering, but working with this ship was hard, not on pilot, but when he switched off the pilot it became to difficult.
After mooring the little boat in Terneuzen, we sailed back to Sluiskil and took a break. Both of us were broken. We drove the car to Terneuzen, moored the little ship properly and went home.
Once arrived at the barge, I had to refill the fire with petrol, fill the water tanks, and did some other jobs. I believe I will sleep good this night, part of a great day that has passed!