I believe the main differences between voyaging across the
seas via cruise ship vs. container ship are simple. While on the container
ship, we experienced: No crowds. No all-you-can eat buffets. No happy hours. No
list of 20 activities a day. No decisions. Life on a container ship is
simple (for passengers, anyway) – embark, show up for 3 scheduled meals-a-day (set
menu) and fill in the remaining time on your own. I LOVED it.
One might think the days would drag on, but I found it to be
quite the opposite. The days flew by and I was a little regretful we chose to
disembark in Port Elizabeth, South Africa instead of carrying on to Singapore. I
don’t feel like there was enough time to fully appreciate the quiet, calm and
opportunity to write, read and learn more about the industry from our
knowledgeable crew. The first week was filled with wonder and adventure of the
ship and sea, but I could have used more time for the “newness” to wear off and
settle in to a routine. I suppose if we had faced rough seas, I may be happier
to now be on solid ground.
As for the journey itself, from the moment we arrived to
port in Santos, Brazil, the crew on board instantly made us feel welcome. We
were blessed to have a fellow passenger who was embarking upon his 19th
voyage via container ship – he was a joy to share our meals and time with and
patiently listened to and answered all of our “novice passenger” questions. Although
I did not exactly know what to expect in regards to hospitality, the crew
exceeded any and all expectations. Some of my highlights include:
Sunrise/Sunset – the internal calm felt inside while
watching the day begin and end on an infinite horizon fed my soul. It was
impossible to capture the beauty with a camera lens, so I did my best to breathe
in the beautiful gift of Mother Nature and take in the mental imagery. Standing
on the bridge, gazing out to the sea and sun, her elements enveloped me. I could
feel with warmth of the sun’s rays on my skin, coolness of the wind blowing
thru and around me, smell the salt of the sea and feel energy rising above from
the water below. The best way I can describe how I felt in those moments –
alive! The sky and sea were never the same and I enjoyed the complexity and
evolving elements that made each day’s beginning and end unique.
Accommodations – pleasantly surprised is how I can best
describe my initial reaction to our living quarters. Each of us had our own room,
which was quite nice after sharing one for the prior 3 months. The room itself
was larger than our cabin on the cruise ship and had two large windows I could
open and enjoy the view. I had my own desk, refrigerator, lounge area including
sofa, coffee table and chair, as well as a double sized bed. The bathroom was
spacious and the hot showers were the best. Our steward cleaned it daily while I
was at breakfast, so I felt a bit spoiled. We had our own passengers lounge to
enjoy reading or watching a movie from the DVD closet. While modest in form, the
ship even had an indoor pool and gym.
Logistics – as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, I was on cloud
nine. Those who know me well, know how much I respect and thrive on process –
it is how my brain works. After witnessing only a glimpse of the
loading/unloading, port management, navigation, engine maintenance, etc. – I
was blown away by the logistical requirements of transporting goods across the
globe. I kept imagining myself trying to document an end-to-end process map and
I’m not convinced Visio could handle the number of swim lanes and decision
points to capture all the suppliers, customers, moving deliverables and
dependencies.
Without going in to too much detail, for I recognize the
limitations of my knowledge based upon a short-term personal experience, I will
try to capture some of the complexity that I gained immense respect for.
Safety – people, ship, containers…in that order. It was
evident to me that the ship’s captain is never willing to risk the safety of
his crew, ship or materials on board to meet a deadline.
Navigation – wind, currents, swell size, other vessels, oil
rigs, fuel efficiency, just-in-time arrival to the port, etc. It was
interesting to see the use of maps (pencil in route, erase and reuse next time),
computers, binoculars and so forth. While technology helped, navigating the ship
was a very hands-on responsibility.
Port management – it did not occur to me that every port has
its own set of rules and way of doing things. Instead, I assumed there were
industry standards that drove the process to ensure consistency throughout the
globe. How wrong I was. I learned the head office does most of the negotiations
with the loading/unloading and container manifest long before the ship arrives
to port. Some ports charge per container, while others may contract a lump sum
for the job. It also surprised me the port workers are responsible for the
physical loading and unloading – I always thought this task was in the hands of
the crew on board the ship.
Berthing – Apparently pilots are not limited to planes. It
surprised me to learn a skilled set of pilots board the ship sometimes hours in
advance to help guide the large vessel in to the port. After witnessing first-hand
the intricacies in navigating through narrow channels with minimal clearance
below, I now understand why they get paid the big bucks. They epitomize the
phrase, “subject matter expert” and work closely with the captain, crew and tug
boat operators to ensure a safe and successful docking process.
Containers - witnessing the loading and unloading of
containers was worth the price of admission. For anyone who likes process,
puzzles or organized chaos – this was utopia. So many moving parts – trucks
lined up with containers and perfectly placed for the cranes to lift and
ever-so carefully place on the ship in designated slots. Between the people
guiding, hydraulic lifting, lowering and constant flow it felt more like a
symphony than a shipyard. The occasional crescendo of a slightly off-kilter
container was a good reminder of the massive weight the oversized Lego pieces
fitting together. One inch off caused shake and boom that reverberated across
the vessel.
Level-loading the containers was another admirable
challenge. Some considerations include weight, port of call, and type of
container (i.e. refrigeration “refer” unit or those containing hazardous
materials). All strategic factors the on-shore planner inputs in to a
sophisticated computer generated algorithm and then confirms with the Chief
Officer. The plan takes in to account the number of containers, weight, height,
strategic placement, bend of the vessel, ballast requirements, buoyancy, shear
force in between bays, fuel efficiency, safety, industry regulations…you get
the idea!
Once fully loaded, the ship had an entirely different feel.
It was as if the containers went to sleep – the only sound you could here was
the hum of the refers and slight sway of the stacked metal containers that
almost sound like a gentle snore at times. I was told this historically has been
referred to as the “singing of the containers”.
In summary, if you have ever considered this mode of
transportation – do it. I hope to board another vessel as we continue our
travels around the globe and will be forever grateful for our memorable and
safe journey.
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