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Tip
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Travelling
can be one of the best ways to learn more about new
places, cultures and traditions followed in different
parts of the world.
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Nature
Through the Eyes of an Ice Navigator
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The nature was, perhaps,
always beautiful with its blend of diversified geographical features
– the vast expanse of ocean, the endless chasm of seabed, the
insurmountable mountain peak, the topsy turvy valleys, chilly hot desert
or milky white ice. It is we unfortunates who can’t feel it because
either our senses have gone numb or because our brain is pre-occupied and
shielded with the electronic image of the present world transmitted
through our eyes when they are open and a photocopy of above even when
they are closed. That is why perhaps the word ‘perhaps’ serves as the
rightly used preposition. |
Having said that, blessed are those opportunes who get an opportunity to
feel the nature from the core of their heart, from the deepest of their
senses and to the wildest of their imaginations. Blessed are we seafarers.
But, no pleasure in life comes unaccompanied by the struggles.
Navigating in ice is one such example. The very first sight of ice
brings with itself entire gamut of feelings, excitement for the debutants,
warning for the experienced, romance for the lovebirds, thrill for the
flamboyant, fear for few but hope for the optimists.
Navigating a ship in ice is not easy. Conditions are tough out
there. Air temperature may range anywhere from zero to minus forty
degrees. The whole sea is covered with a thick layer of ice and no water
is seen anywhere. In such cases, continuous monitoring and care needs to
be taken for long hours. Engines have to be on continuous maneuvering.
Speed has to be adjusted depending upon the ice thickness and type – full
ahead for soupy layer of ice giving a matt appearance called grease ice,
half ahead for flat floating pieces known as ice cakes and maybe slow
ahead for circular pieces of ice with raised rims termed as pancakes. No
empirical formula, as such. It has to be the discretion of captain based
on experience and recommendations. In such situations, ice radar helps but
not all ships are equipped with such equipments.
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Moreover, additional
lookouts may have to be posted. And yet, the possibility of getting stuck
in ice more often than not can’t be neglected. If a layman were to see
this, it would be ridiculous for him to see how a small ice breaker moves
so freely in ice compared to a ten times larger vessel stranded for help.
It looks such an easy job when the icebreaker passes the ship at very
close range breaking the ice underneath and causing the ice on shipside to
drift towards the space created thus clearing the ship’s path. |
Furthermore, in temperatures below minus twenty degrees, life becomes
pathetic for the mooring gangs posted at their respective stations with a
hope that the ship berths quickly. But to their bad luck, it sometimes
takes more than an hour to close that final ten metres separation between
the vessel and the berth even after assisted by three tugs and an ice
breaker which is continuously on its toes to avoid any ice formation and
re-formation in the path of the vessel.
Among the other problems faced by seafarers are cargo and security watches
for long periods of time in unsheltered areas, sometimes uninterrupted by
a break. Conditions become even worse if it is windy. Under such
situations, while continuous walking to keep up the body heat poses a slip
and trip hazard, standing idly may decrease the body’s resistance. It
becomes very difficult to maintain the highest safety standards when the
brain becomes semi paralyzed in its thoughts, hand becomes numb and eyes
blue.
The very thought of this might seem scary to even the most intrepid
seafarer of all times. But tough, as it may seem to every other human
being, isn’t the case really for these seamen who have adapted themselves
to these conditions to the extent that they have become a part of the
natural ecological cycle. The seafarers are, indeed, one of the most
gallant and resolute brand of creature ever produced by the Mother Nature.
Contributing Author:
Rohit Lal,
2nd officer, merchant navy,
working on oil tankers, part time writer.
m08rohit@yahoo.com
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