A job had to be done.
Every body thought Somebody would do.
Somebody thought Anybody could do.
Nobody did the job thinking that Somebody would do.
Finally Nobody did a job which Anybody could do.

The Master and the Chief Officer took extra care in loading the maximum amount of cargo on board; they calculated and re-calculated the departure conditions to ensure that they load the maximum amount of cargo. Every extra grain loaded would be of great help in feeding the hungry citizens of Somalia. 
The loading completed at about 0500 hrs one fine day, the Master, Chief Officer, Surveyor of the National Grain Board of USA and the Draft Surveyor were very contented with the loading and they proceeded to sign the documents for draft survey, Statement of Facts, the Mate’s Receipts and the Bills of Lading.
 At about the same time the Second Officer handed over the cargo watch to the Third   Officer and informed him that the cargo work was completed and that he may shut the hatches, soon after the completion of fumigation.
The Third Officer then called the Bosun and directed him to shut the hatches soon after completion of fumigation and informed him that he was going to the bridge for control testing and preparing the bridge for the sea passage, prior arrival of the Pilot.
That fine morning the Bosun remembered that his daughter’s birthday was on the same day and he informed the Duty AB to shut the hatches soon after fumigation and he proceeded to the jetty to make a phone call to his little daughter.

The Duty AB saw the Training Seamen loitering on deck and informed him to manage the gangway and also shut the hatches soon after completion of fumigation; as he had to go to the bridge for cleaning the bridge and the bridge wings before the Pilot comes on board.
The Training Seaman started cleaning the remnants of the wheat from the track ways of the No 2 hatch with deck air, when he realized that the Agent and other people were coming on board. He left the job in-between as ISPS was of top priority in US waters; he completed the formality of checking the passes and directed the Cadet to escort them to the Captain’s Cabin.
The Training Seaman remained at the gangway to remove the gangway net and he directed the Cadet to shut No 2 and 6 hatches soon after completion of fumigation.
The fumigators completed their job of fumigation and covered the all the drains of the hatches with a transparent plastic sheet and put a rubber band to prevent the fumes from escaping from the holds. The Cadet then shut hatches No 2 and 6. The Foreman then sealed all the hatches and the booby hatches and the details of the serial numbers of the sealed hatches were handed over to the Chief Officer.
“MV Sea Angel” sailed on its important voyage to deliver wheat to the needy people of Somalia. During the voyage to Somalia the Atlantic Ocean was very rough, waves were continuously breaking on deck and the vessel experienced incessant rains throughout the passage.

To be continued…

BY P Kondal Rao, Chief Officer, MV MELODIA