Tuesday, December 19, 2006
What a long live rain. All thanks to it, my first-ever actual duty onboard the ship has been such an unforgettable one.
Throughout the stormy night, so many ropes have snapped.
[Fact #1: Ships are berthed with many ropes holding them. These berthing ropes prevent them from drifting to nowhere. When the sea is choppy (i.e. rough), the ship swings from side to side and front and back drastically, such that these ropes break. This is very dangerous, not just because the snapping force of the thick ropes can KILL or cause AMPUTATION, but also IF the ship gets totally drifted off without anyone onboard, its beyond imagination what follows.]
And so, as part of my duty, i had to splice the ropes, so as to mend the broken ropes. With the torrential rains non-stop, and with the ropes totally wet and heavy, it was a massive challenge to just complete one simple splice. And it gets really uncomfortable when you r totally drenched, and no one else can help you, cos you are the only person on duty at each time.
As if the trouble with the ropes aren't enough, 1 of the ship's gangway hanged in midair, while another collapsed.
[Fact #2: Gangway refers to the walkway linking the land to the ship. Gangways are very heavy. What happened last night was, one of the ship's gangway was hanging, almost falling completely into the waters. And it took 13 people, in a more than 1-hour-effort, using about 5 different methods, to save it, and pull it back up.]
Well, it really doesnt matter if most of you don't understand what i've been through.
Because what i'm trying to say is:
MY overnight duties are tougher than you ARMY people. Especially during the current monsoon season...
But hey, I wasn't complaining.
人生是黑白的.
4:31 PM <3
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