CONVERSATION ON MERCHANT SHIP

Meeting with an Agent: Situation2 Agent Arrives Late Chapter 2 On Board a Tanker 11.Self-Introduction – The Captain’s Cabin 12.the COC Room of the Tanker 13.Self-Introduction on a Passa

Conversation on Merchant Ship

Contents

Chapter 1 Arrival in Japan and Embarkation

1 On the plane – The Customs Declaration Form

2 Talking with Other Passengers

3 Customs Inspection

4 Meeting with an Agent: Situation(1) Agent Found Easily

5 Meeting with an Agent: Situation(2) Agent Arrives Late

Chapter 2 On Board a Tanker

11.Self-Introduction – The Captain’s Cabin

12.the COC Room of the Tanker

13.Self-Introduction on a Passage

14.Being Taken to a Cabin

15.Getting to Know the Ship- The Bridge

16.Getting to Know the Ship- Communication Facilities

17.Getting to Know the Ship- A Cabin

18.Getting to Know the Ship- The dining Hall

19.Getting to Know the Ship- The Upper Deck

20.Getting to Know the Ship- The Poop Deck

21.Getting to Know the Ship- The Engine Room

22.Getting to Know the Ship- The Engine Control Room

23.Getting to Know the Ship- The galley

24.Getting to Know the Ship- The Toilet

25.Getting to Know the Ship- The Chamber

26.Getting to Know the Ship- The Deck Tool Store

27.Getting to Know the Ship- The Engine Store

28.Conversation During a Meal

29.Welcome Party

30.The Gymnasium

31.The Recreation Room

Chapter 3 Safety Training on Board

32.Safety Training – On Deck

33.On the Deck of a Bulk Carrier in Port

34.Dangers on a Tanker

35.tanker Fires and Explosions

36.Toxicity Hazards on a Tanker

37.Oxygen Deficiency on a Coal-Ore Carrier

38.Safety Training on the Forecastle

39.Using the Accommodation Ladder

40.Safety on the Stairway

41.Safety in the Galley

42.Safety in the Cabin

Chapter 4 Health and Hygiene

43.Making a Habit of Washing Your Hands

44.Sanitation and Cleaning

45.Deck Cleaning

46.Keeping Your Cabin Tidy

47.Garbage Disposal

48.Washing Clothes

49.The Importance of a Balanced Diet

50.First Aid – Abdominal Pains

51.First Aid – Headaches

52.First Aid – Fingers Caught in Doors and Other Injuries

53.First Aid – A Foreign Object in the Eye

54.First Aid – Removing a Fishhook Caught in a Finger

55.Going to the Hospital

56.Preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Chapter 5 KYT – Kiken Yochi Training

57.What is KYT?

58.KYT – Four Rounds Method

59.KYT - Morning Meeting in the General Office

60.KYT – Tool Box Meeting in the Engine Control Room

61.A Meeting in the Engine Control Room

62.A Meeting in the Galley

Chapter 6 Navigation

63.Navigating a Narrow Channel

64.Bad Visibility

65.An Engine Problem

66.Talking on the VHF Radio with Another Ship(1)

67.Talking on the VHF Radio with Another Ship(2)

68.Talking on the VHF Radio Before Entering Port

69.Entering Port(1)

70.Entering Port(2)

71.Preparing the Mooring Lines

72.Discussing the Navigation Schedule

73.Taking Over the Navigation Watch

74.Taking Over at the Engine Room

Chapter 7 General Duties on Board

75.The Ship’s Safety and Sanitation Meeting

76.Conversation with an Agent at the General Office

77.Conversation with the Authorities

78.Discipline on Board

79.Working Conditions

80.Union Meeting on Board

81.Supplying the Ship’s Stores

82.Supplying Provisions

Chapter 8 Cargo Handling

83.Foreman’s Request

84.Talking with the Foreman on Deck

85.Complaining to the Driver of the Cargo Loader

86.Lashing Down the Cargo on a Container Ship

87.Lowering the Gangway

88.Connecting a Hose

89.Meeting with the Berth Master in the COC

90.Starting to Discharge Crude Oil

91.Washing Crude Oil

Chapter 9 Preparations for Departure

92.Station on the Bridge for Leaving Port(1)

93.Station on the Bridge for Leaving Port(2)

94.Preparing to Leave Port in E.C.R

95.Warning Up the Main Engine

96.Testing the Main Engine

97.Increasing the Main Engine Speed

Chapter 10 Bunkering

98.Meeting for Receiving Fuel Oil

99.Receiving Fuel Oil at the Starboard Manifold

100 Receiving Fuel Oil

Chapter 11 Maintenance

101 Work Schedule Meeting at the General Office

102 Maintenance of the Chambers

103 Removing Old Paint

104 Painting

105 Greasing Up

106 Overhauling the Fuel Oil Purifier

107 The Diesel Generator

108 Removing a Motor

Chapter 12 Muster drills

109 The Drill for Abandoning Ship

110 Fire-fighting Drill

Chapter 13 Docking

111 Meeting with the Shipyard – Deck Schedule

112 Supervising a Job in the Shipyard

113 Meeting Before Proceeding to the Shipyard

114 Working in the Engine Room at Dry Dock(1)

115 Working in the Engine Room at Dry Dock(2)

Special Features of the Book

To All the Seamen about to Embark on the World Voyage!

Welcome on Board! Conversations on Merchant Vessels recreates various situations that seamen

often encounter on board merchant ships, plus some scenes that take place on shore Each situation

is selected for the purpose of familiarizing seamen with the realities of their life, while learning English, which is the universal language of navigation By practicing the conversations, notes and keywords, you can experience, first hand, realistic developments that occur on board merchant vessels The conversations also include some practical advise on seamen’s life, actual navigational operations, realistic descriptions of ship-bound equipment and navigation techniques

The level of English increases gradually as the story unfolds In the first few chapters, conversations are general with simple vocabulary and grammatical structure These language elements become slightly more difficult as you progress However, you needn’t worry Most of the difficult words and technical terms are explained in simple English in the <Notes> that appear below each conversation These terms, or keywords, are clearly marked with red ink in the text Now you need not consult a dictionary each time you encounter an unknown word!

In order to help you learn the accurate pronunciation, intonation and rhythm, which are all important aspects of language learning, four compact disks (CDs) are provided for you Close-to-real depiction and enactment of each scene has been created through the voice talents of Bianca Allen, Dennis Falt, Michael Naishtut, Greg Irwin and other professional voice actors and narrators

So just sit back and enjoy the 115 dramatized scenes that you are likely to encounter on board a merchant ship Now, listen to the CDs first and read the textbook later Of, if you prefer, listen as your eyes trail on the text However you study, remember that the best way of mastering a language

is by hearing and repeating Just like a baby picking up its mother tongue, listen to the sounds of English over and over and repeat them Then study with the textbook and review the Notes

Lastly, all the members of the editorial staff wish each one of you the best of luck in sailing across the world while learning English Have a safe and enjoyable journey!

Bon voyage!

Editors

Chapter 1 Arrival in Japan and Embarkation

(Announcement)

Ladies and Gentlemen, we will soon be distributing immigration forms and customs declaration forms Please fill them out and ask the cabin attendants if you require any help

Santos: What does “Occupation” mean on this Immigration Form?

Cruz: It means the kind of business we are in I guess we can write “seaman.”

Santos: Ok

Cruz: I brought 400 Lucky Strike cigarettes and 200 Seven Stars cigarettes with me I wonder if I

have to declare them

Santos: I’m not sure Let’s ask the cabin attendant Excuse me, may we ask you a question? Ca: Sure

Cruz: I brought a total of 600 cigarettes with me Do I have to pay tax on them?

Ca: Tax exemption for non-Japanese citizens is up to 400 Japanese cigarettes and 400

non-Japanese ones

Cruz: I see I have 400 non-Japanese cigarettes and 200 Japanese ones, so I don’t have to pay

any tax, right?

Ca: That’s right You don’t have to declare them on the Declaration Form

Santos: I brought a camera with me Should I declare it?

Ca: If your camera is new and its price is over ¥100,000, then it is a taxable item But if you do

not have any other article worth more than ¥100,000, then a camera is taxable only if it cost you more than ¥20,000

Santos: My camera isn’t new

Ca: OK Then you don’t need to declare it as long as it clearly looks used

Santos: I see Thank you for your help

Cruz: Yes, thanks a lot

Ca: You’re welcome

Immigration form: personal information required before entering a country

Customs Declaration Form: information about the items you are carrying when entering a country cabin attendant(s): flight (or ship or train) crew who takes care of the passengers

occupation: job, profession, line of work

declare: officially announce ->declaration: official announcement

tax exemption: not required to pay tax ->to exempt….from = to free a person from obligation taxable: will be required to pay tax

Cruz: I’m bored with the scenery All I can see are clouds (Pointing at a mountain) Wow!

Look! That must be Mr Fuji! It’s exactly like in the picture I saw

Santos: It’s really beautiful! Is the white stuff on top snow?

Pass: Yes, it’s snow You’re lucky to see it so clearly It’s quite beautiful Is this your first time in

Pass.: You’re seamen? It’s the first time I’ve ever met any seamen Nice to meet you Working at

sea seems like a tough job, Where are you from?

Santos: I’m from Manila in the Philippines

Pass.: I’ve never been to Manila, but I saw on TV that it’s quite a modern city

Cruz: It sure is Is Mt Fuji covered with snow throughout the year?

Pass.: No, it isn’t during the summer months, from June to august, the snow is gone completely

After that, it is the fall season until the end of November During the winter, from November to around April, Mt Fuji is covered with snow

Cruz: I see

Pass.: Well, enjoy your view and have a good trip

Pass.: Passenger a person traveling on e.g a boat or train

scenery: the view of the landscape

Mt Fuji: also called Fuji-san The highest mountain in Japan and often the symbol of the country first time in….: the first experience or the first visit to the place in question

going to board a ship: going to ride on a ship – go on board = to get on a train, plane, or boat

throughout the year: all through the year, always, January through December

completely: fully 100%, to the fullest extent, all the way

have a good trip: enjoy your trip

C.o.: You’re seamen, aren’t you? Will you please open your suitcases?

Santos: OK There you go

C.o.: Are you carrying any liquor or cigarettes?

Cruz: I have two cartons of cigarettes

C.o.: May I see them?

Cruz: (taking one carton from his carry-on and the other from his suitcase) Here they are

C.o.: (Carefully inspecting them for concealed items) Thank you That’s OK May I check the

contents of your suitcase?

Santos: No problem Go right ahead

C.o.: (Looking at each item one by one) What’s this?

Santos: It’s some medicine I bought in the Philippines

C.o.: Let me have a look inside (Taking out some packages) What’s this medicine for?

Santos: It’s for the stomach

C.o.: OK Thank you Please go ahead Next, please

Santos: He really took his time I was starting to lose my patience!

Cruz: You said it! I’d heard that they were very strict with drugs I hear there’s a lot of

smuggling from Southeast Asian countries That’s why they are so thorough

C.O.: Customs Officer a public servant working at Customs

liquor: a strong alcoholic drink, alcoholic drinks / beverages

carry-on: a piece of luggage a passenger is allowed to take inside an airplane; carry-on-board

luggage

concealed items: hidden objects - to conceal = to hide, to obstruct from view

Go right ahead: continue – “Feel free to do what you want.”

medicine: medication, pharmaceutical drugs, medicinal drugs

lose my patience: to become angry (after waiting for a long time in this case)

You said it!: Exactly! You can say that again! Yes, I agree

strict: following the rules very closely Enforcing the law

drugs: illegal chemical substances, narcotics

smuggling: carrying something into or out of a country illegally (against the law) – smuggle

thorough: complete, full

4 Meeting with an Agent: Situation (1) agent Found Easily

Santos: (At Narita Airport’s Arrival Lobby) Wow! There are so many people! Where’s Mr

Yamada, our agent?

Cruz: He must be waiting for us, holding a placard with our names on it Look! This might be

him

Santos: Excuse me Are you Mr Yamada from International Marine? We’re Cruz and Santos from

the Philippines We’re supposed to board The Persian Adventure

Yamada: Oh, hello, Mr Cruz and Mr Santos Welcome to Japan My name is Yamada, and I work

for International Marine

Cruz: Nice to meet you, Mr Yamada My name is Conrad Cruz, Third mate

Santos: Nice to meet you My name is Manuel Santos I’m third engineer

Yamada: How was your trip?

Cruz: It was great! We saw Mt Fuji from the plane It was beautiful

Yamada: I’m glad to hear that Did you have any problems with Customs?

Santos: No, we didn’t, but we were searched quite thoroughly

Yamada: That’s understandable Customs officers are now very strict Drug smuggling from

Southeast Asia has been increasing

Cruz: They looked through our luggage Is it that easy to find drugs?

Yamada: According to the news, they often find drugs that way There is a minibus waiting for us,

so let’s get going

placard: a sign (a piece of card with people’s names written on it)

Third Mate: a member of a ship’s crew who helps to steer the ship

Third Engineer: a member of a ship’s crew who works in the ship’s Engine Room

…we were searched: A customs official examined us and our suitcases

luggage: suitcases, trunks, etc usually carried for traveling, large bags containing clothes

according to : from what I’ve heard or read…

…let’s get going: …let’s go, let’s move

5 Meeting with an Agent: Situation (2) agent Found Easily

(Cruz and Santos exit into the Arrival Lobby Suddenly, a Japanese woman calls them over.)

Stranger: Excuse me, are you Mr Vincent from the Philippines ABC Company?

Cruz: No, I’m not I’m not with the Philippines ABC Company

Stranger: Oh, wrong person I’m sorry

Santos: It’s difficult to find people in this crowd

Cruz: I think our agent has a placard with our names on it Let’s try to find him

(Ten minutes later)

Santos: He doesn’t seem to be here Have we got the meeting place wrong? There are two

terminals at Narita Airport This is Terminal 1, isn’t it?

Cruz: Well, let’s wait for a few more minutes We don’t know the agent’s phone number anyway

Let’s go sit on that bench over there

(Ten more minutes later)

Santos: Look! That man seems to have a placard with our names on it Excuse me Are you Mr Yamada? We’re Santos and Cruz from the Philippines

Yamada: Oh, thank goodness! I’m glad we were able to meet up We were delayed by the traffic

There was a big accident on our way to the airport I’m sorry to have kept you waiting

suddenly: without warning An unexpected surprise

wrong person: a different person, not the right person, not the person one is looking for

crowd: a large number of people

… seem to be …: appear to be… - “he doesn’t seem to be here.” = “I don’t think he is here”

thank goodness: “How lucky!” an expression of relief = Thank God

We were delayed…: we were held up and therefore could not come on time…

traffic: cars on a highway or a road

I’m sorry to have kept you waiting: I’m sorry I kept you waiting (a frequently used apology when arriving late)

6 At Tokyo Station

(Transferring from the Yamanote Line to the Tokaido Shinkansen)

Cruz: I think this is the right way, but with all these people, I’m not sure! It must be rush hour

now commuting always seems to be bad

Santos: Let’s ask someone (He stops a passerby.) Excuse me, is this the way to the Shinkansen? Passerby: There are several Shinkansens Which one are you looking for?

Santos: The Tokaido Shinkansen We are going to Shin-Kobe

Passerby: OK Then go straight ahead, and you’ll see the ticket gates for the Tokaido Shinkansen

Ask the station staff for more information

Santos: Straight ahead? OK Thank you very much

Cruz: Let’s go

(At the ticket gate)

Stat staff: Ah, just put your tickets in the slot over here This is an automatic gate

Santos: Thank you Which platform does the train leave from?

Stat Staff: Platform 16

Santos: Platform 16? Thank you

Cruz: We should eat on the train Let’s buy some food

Santos: That’s a good idea I’d like to have some typical Japanese food

(At a stall nearby)

Cruz: “Makunouchi-bentou.” This looks like a Japanese packed lunch I’ll have that

Santos: OK I’m going to try this one here

transferring: changing trains – transfer = change over, move over

Shinkansen: Japanese bullet train, super-express train

Tokaido Shinkansen: the super-express trains serving mainly the Pacific coast of Japan’s mainland commuting: traveling back and forth, i.e to and from work

passerby: a bystander; person on the street

straight ahead: forward without turning

slot: long hole or groove

platform: waiting place for a train

typical: most common, representative

stall: small stand or shop

Makunouchi-bentou: Japanese-style boxed lunch with rice and assortment of cooked meats, fish, and vegetables

7 At the Mizushima Port Service Boat Station

Santos: (To the female staff at the Service Boat Station) Excuse me We want to board The

Persian Adventure When does the service boat leave?

Staff: Marine No.1 leaves at 1 pm She’s over there

Santos: Thanks By the way, has The Persian Adventure come into berth yet?

Staff: Well, she was supposed to be here at 12 o’clock, so I suppose she has Look You can see

her there

Cruz: Oh, is it the one with the reddish funnel?

Staff: Yes, that’s the one

Cruz: Do you know the schedule?

Staff: I heard that the ETD is the day after tomorrow, but I don’t know the details

Santos: That’s way too short, isn’t it?

Staff: All specialized carriers do the same

Cruz: I’d like to buy some snack Is there a shop around here?

Staff: There is a convenience store further down the street Go out here, turn left at the corner,

and then go straight for about 200 meters You’ll find it on your right

Cruz: Thank you

Staff: Be sure not to miss the service boat

Santos: Don’t worry We still have 30 minutes until it leaves Let’s go!

Mizushima: a port city in Okayama, located in southwestern Japan

service boat: water taxi

berth: mooring place, to moor (a ship/boat)

was supposed to …: should have been, is scheduled to be…

funnel: the chimney for a ship’s steamer

ETD(Estimated Time of Departure): the scheduled time when ship will leave port

details: the facts, detailed information

specialized carrier: type of ship, i.e tanker, container ship, etc

convenience store: a small corner store selling all kinds of goods which is open longer than most other store – convenient: easy to use

on your right: on the right-hand side of a person

miss: fail to catch

8 Getting Lost

Santos: I thought it would be easy to find the shop, but I don’t see it anywhere

Cruz: Gee, we must have lost our way Maybe we turned at the wrong corner Everything’s

written in Japanese with kanji everywhere! I can’t understand a thing

Santos: We’ll have to turn back Let’s go back to that corner

Cruz: We don’t have enough time Let’s ask someone

Santos: Do they speak English? I’ve heard that ordinary Japanese people are not very good at

speaking English

Cruz: Let’s ask that student Excuse me, do you speak English?

Student: Yes, I’m studying English at school Can I help you?

Cruz: Oh, great! We want to go to the convenience store nearby but we’re a little lost

Student: There’s a Seven-Eleven store that way Turn right over there Go straight for about 100

meters You’ll see some traffic lights Turn left there, and you’ll find it

Cruz: Thank you very much

Student: You’re welcome Are you seamen?

Cruz: Yes, we are We’re boarding a tanker in Mizushima

Student: It takes five minutes from the shop to the boat station Will you know how to get there? Cruz: Yes, we will We just came from the station so we’ll be able to get back

Student: That’s good Take care of yourselves Bon voyage!

Cruz: Hey, thank you very much

must have lost our way…: got lost or went the wrong way, took the wrong way

I can’t understand a thing…: I cannot (do not) understand anything

ordinary: plain, simple, or usual – extraordinary: special, unusual

nearby: close to - the station nearby: the station that is close

traffic lights: a set of lights used to control traffic also called “traffic signs”

Take care of yourselves.: be safe, be OK, and look after yourselves – “Take care of yourself.” when addressing a single person

Bon voyage!: Have a nice trip! Have a safe journey!

S Clerk: May I help you?

Santos: Yes I’d like to buy some cookies

S Clerk: They are on that shelf over there

Santos: These are chocolate-flavored cookies Excuse me, how much are these? I can’t see the

price

S Clerk: I’m sorry, but all the prices are bar-coded only Those are 400 yen

Santos: Thanks

Cruz: Four-hundred yen is a bit expensive Let’s look for cheaper ones How about these? It

says “Potato Chips” on the packet They’re only 230 yen

Santos: It’s quite light for such a big packet but it looks good OK, I’ll buy two of these

Cruz: I’ll get two bags, too

S Clerk: Do you want to pay for these separately or together?

Santos: Together, please

S Clerk: That comes to 966 yen

Cruz: Ah, isn’t it supposed to be 920 yen since they are 230 yen each?

S Clerk: You need to add the 5% consumption tax, which comes to 46 yen

Cruz: We have to pay tax on everything?

S Clerk: I’m afraid so Will that be all?

Cruz: Yes Here’s a thousand yen

S Clerk: Thank you Here’s your change: 34 yen

Santos: Thank you (They go out of the shop.) Wow! That young girl was looking after such a big shop all by herself!

Cruz: I heard that Japanese people are pretty honest and there isn’t much shoplifting

S Clerk: sales clerk

chocolate-flavored: taste like chocolate

price: cost

bar-coded: price on package read by a computer scanner

a bit expensive: a little expensive, not cheap – a bit = a little

look for …: try to find

cheaper: cost less, priced lower

separately: one at a time, not together

consumption tax: 5% tax on things bought at stores (in Japan)

a thousand yen: 1,000 yen

change: money left after a purchase, money you get back after paying for something

shoplifting: stealing, taking something without paying, especially from a shop

10 In a Taxi

Cruz: We should get going We don’t have much time left Shall we take a taxi?

Santos: Yes But can we catch one easily? Ah, here comes one now! flag it down! Oh, there’s

already a passenger in ti That’s no good

Cruz: Here comes another one! It’s stopping The red lamp at the front seems to mean that it’s

free

Santos: Wow! The door opens automatically! Japanese taxis are amazing!

(They get in the taxi)

Driver: Hell Where to, sir?

Santos: To the Service Boat Station at Mizushima Port, please How much will that be?

Driver: Mizushima Port, Service Boat Station All right The basic fare is 56 yen for the initial

two kilometers There’s an additional charge of 80 yen per 200 meters So it will cost about 640 yen from here

Cruz: Do you have the same taxi fares everywhere in Japan?

Driver: No generally speaking, it costs more in urban areas than in rural areas

Santos: Is it a difficult job?

Driver: Not really It’s a good way to earn a living Here we are at the Service Boat Station Santos: Oh, great! We’re back just in time

Driver: Just a moment I’ll pull over

Santos: How much is it?

Driver: (Checking the meter) It’s 640 yen

catch: take, take hold of…

flag it down : hail or wave to taxi driver

free: not in use, available

automatically: by itself, without having to do anything

amazing: wonderful, great

initial: first

an additional charge: extra cost additional –add (to increase)

Generally speaking,… : speaking in a general manner, without giving specifics; usually, regularly urban area : city

rural area : country, farmland

earn a living : work, have a job to make money

just in time: in time, not late – I was just in time … (I was not late I came on time)

Chapter 2 On Board a Tanker

11 Self-Introduction – The Captain’s Cabin

(After knocking at the door of the Captain’s cabin)

C/off: Captain, Third Mate Conrad Cruz and Third Engineer Manuel Santos are here, sir

Capt: Come in I’ve been expecting you

C/off: Let’s go in captain, I’d like to introduce you to Third Mate, Mr Conrad Cruz and Third

Engineer, Mr Manuel Santos

Cruz: Nice to meet you, Captain I’m Third Mate Conrad Cruz from Manila I am 22 years old

and I am determined to do my best

Santos: Nice to meet you, sir I’m Third Engineer Manuel Santos I’m also from Manila I am 23 years old and I hope to do my best, too

Capt: (Shaking hands) Nice to meet you both I’m Captain Shimoda Welcome aboard The

Perian Adventure Please have a seat

Cruz / Santos: Thank you, sir

Capt: Is this your first time on a Japanese ship?

Cruz: Yes, it is, and I’m a little nervous I’ve never been on such a large ship

Capt: Oh, don’t worry Everyone is nervous the first time Just watch your step and don’t get

into any trouble I expect everyone to work hard, but if you don’t understand something, just ask one of us In Japan, we have a saying: “Asking for help is a momentary shame, but never asking for help is a lifetime shame” The worst situation is when you pretend that you understand when you really don’t, and then you fail to do your work right

Cruz/Santos: We’ll keep that in mind, sir

C/off: chief officer

expect: wait for …., to look forward to something

… determined to do my best: will try hard to do the best I can

nervous: worried, uneasy

watch your step: be careful, look where you are going

get into trouble: have or cause problems

saying: proverb, adage, motto

momentary: short, brief, temporary

shame: disgrace, loss of honor

lifetime: for your whole life, until you die, throughout your life

pretend: act as if, make believe

fail: not succeed, be unable to accomplish something

12 The COC Room of the Tanker

2/off: Hi, you’re the Third Mate, Mr Cruz, aren’t you? Welcome on board I’m the Second

Mate and my name is Tanaka Nice to have you with us

Cruz: Nice to meet you My name is Conrad Cruz I’m 22 years old and I’m from Manila 2/off: Is this your first time on a tanker?

Cruz: Yes, it is I’ve been on 1 200,00-ton bulk carrier before, and I received tanker training in

the Philippines, which was mainly lectures I also trained using a tanker simulator at one

of the Japanese shipping company’s training centers It was quite helpful

2/off: I did that simulator training, too Training is different from the real job, but it’s quite

helpful By the way, I’m from Hiroshima I have a wife and three children The eldest one

is 13 he is a junior high school student My family comes to see me whenever my ship arrives in Japan They have already been to my cabin and made a big fuss

Cruz: That’s great I’m single and my parents live with my elder brothers Both of my brothers

work for Japanese companies in the Philippines There are a lot of differences in culture and in social structure between Japan and the Philippines I’m dying to learn about Japan 2/off: That’s a great attitude Learning about each other’s culture helps us understand each other

better That’s the first step towards having a pleasant and peaceful time on board

COC: Cargo oil control

2/off: second officer, also called second mate (the rank that comes after first mate)

second mate: a friendly way of addressing the second officer

bulk carrier: large ship that carriers raw goods in its hold

simulator: machine for practice

shipping company: large company that owns and operates boats

Hiroshima: large port city in Western Japan

… made a big fuss: made a big issue about something

single: unmarried

elder brother(s): older brother(s)

difference(s): things that are not the same or similar

culture: arts, philosophies, products of any society

social structure: organization of a society

I’m dying to …: want to do something very much

attitude: way of thinking, behavior and manners

13 Self-Introduction on a Passage

Santos: (To a Japanese crewmember passing by) Hello! I’m Third Engineer, Manuel Santos I just

came on board

2/Eng: Hi Nice to meet you I’m Second Engineer, Suzuki I was checking a pump so I couldn’t

come to the Engine Control Room when the Chief Engineer introduced you

Santos: Boy, I was surprised by the size of the engine It’s the first time that I’ve seen such a big

one!

2/Eng: This ship keeps us busy and she’s a good one to learn many different jobs on

Santos: I’m sure I’ll learn a lot The small number of crew also surprised me

2/Eng: Well, it means that each crewmember takes on a lot of responsibility I do hop you’ll

become familiar with the ship quickly, and do your job well We all count on each other I’ll help you whenever there’s something that you don’t understand Your hands, feet, and body You know, hands-on experience That’s the way Japanese people work

Santos: I see I was told the same back home

2/Eng: It’s important to work hard Doing a good job helps you gain confidence Oh, by the way,

I should tell you more about myself I’m 30 years old I’m single and I come form Yamaguchi I like fishing Pretty handy when you work on a boat, don’t you think?

Santos: Sure I’m 23 years old and I come form Manila I don’t have any hobby I just like

reading

crewmember: a member of a crew (all the people working on a boat, airplane, train, etc.)

2/eng: second engineer

Chief Engineer: the highest-ranking engineer on a ship

responsibility: duty, work a person has to do

become familiar with… : to come to know something well

count on: depend on, rely on, expect somebody else’s help

instruction book(s): a book that shows or teaches things, procedures, etc

hesitate: be slow to act, speak or decide, for example, as a sign of uncertainty

hands-on experience: learning by doing or through active participation

confidence: trust, feeling sure, feeling of assurance

handy: convenient, easy to use or apply

14 Being Taken to a Cabin

2/off: OK, I’ll take you up to your cabin Just follow me We are on D-Deck now your cabin is

on B-Deck, two floors above Let’s take the elevator

Cruz: Is the elevator in service all the time?

2/off: Except during an emergency And you should always use good manners Shut the door

quietly but trimly, that sort of thing Here we are This is your cabin

Cruz: Thank you

2/off: The next cabin is the Chief Mate’s and the first Engineer, Second Engineer, and Third

Engineer’ cabins are also on this floor

Cruz: Is the Chief Engineer on the same deck as the Captain?

2/off: That’s right There’s a water fountain over there for when you are thirsty Next to it is the

laundry room There are two washing machines One is for underwear and slightly dirty clothes The other is for heavily-stained clothing such as oily coveralls Please tell the Chief Officer if they go out of order

Cruz: OK By the way, your English is very good

2/off: Thank you I’m very glad to hear that I often read English newspapers and try to brush up

on my English all the time Here, why don’t you settle down in your cabin?

Cruz: Thank you

in service: working, in operation

emergency: a sudden, urgent development of a serious matter

First Engineer: a ship’s crew in charge of the engines

water fountain: a device for supplying fresh drinking water

washing machine(s): a machine which washes clothes automatically

underwear: undergarment, clothes worn directly on a person’s body

heavily-stained: badly soiled, very dirty

coverall(s): loose, one-piece garment worn by workmen (to protect clothes)

out of order: not working, broken

brush up: to improve, to polish up

settle down: to live in an ordinary way, to feel relaxed, to become less nervous

15 Getting to Know the Ship – The Bridge

Cruz: The eye altitude on the VLCC seems very high How high is it?

2/off: It is 26 meters when fully loaded and 37 meters at ballast level The ship is now half loaded

so it is about 32 meters

Cruz: The steering stand looks like a car’s steering wheel It doesn’t look like a ship’s wheel at all

This is the engine control panel This must be the engine telegraph And this is the telephone that connects you to the Engine Room, isn’t it?

2/off: Yes, it is All you have to do is pick up the receiver and speak The rest are all meters related

to the engine This is the Doppler Sonar It’s more accurate than the electric-magnetic log It

is especially helpful when coming into berth

Cruz: Oh, this is the radar, and it hs ARPA!

2/off: ARPA is very useful Make sure to remember that using your own eyes is essential You

should never rely solely on the radar Don’t depend on the radar picture for information Always confirm with the naked eye, even if visibility is bad

Cruz: Yes, I understand

2/off: The ship is equipped with an electrical charting system It shows the position of the ship by

receiving signals from the GPS But observing the position with your own eyes, especially for cross bearing, is one of the basics for a deck officer

Cruz: I will learn cross bearing properly Is this the GMDSS?

2/off: Yes, I’ll tell you about it later

eye altitude: eye level (altitude = height, distance from sea level)

VLCC: Very Large Crude Carrier

fully loaded: a ship’s holds are filled to capacity

ballast: a heavy material (usu Seawater) placed in a ship’s tank for greater stability – at ballast level

(sailing with no cargo)

steering wheel: a wheel used for steering, such as a rudder

telegraph: a communication system over directly connected wires

receiver: a part of a telephone, television, etc which receives incoming signals

Doppler Sonar: a sonar working on the Doppler principle which is used to measure a ship’s speed electric-magnetic log: a ship’s speed measuring mechanism operating on an electromagnetic system ARPA: Automatic Radar Plotting Aids

naked eye: unaided eye, seeing things with one’s own eyes

visibility: the distance that can be seen without using instruments

electrical charting system: electrical display of navigational charts

GPS: Global Position Satellite System

cross bearing: a method of finding out a ship’s location

GMDSS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

16 Getting to Know the Ship – Communication Facilities

Santos: Excuse me May I come in?

Capt: Sure Come in

Santos: I brought my passport, my mariner’s license, and my seamen’s book

Capt: Thank you The expiration date of your passport is in 2010, so you have ten more years

Is this seamen’s license Filipino? This ship’s Panamanian, so we need a Panamanian license Do you have one?

Santos: Yes, I do, but I left it in my cabin

Capt: I need to see it Will you bring the license and the seamen’s book later, please? Do you

have vaccination certificates?

Santos: I have a cholera certificate I’ll bring it later, too

Capt: Oh, we don’t need the cholera certificate Do you have a yellow fever certificate?

Santos: No, I don’t

Capt: That’s not good You won’t need it for this voyage, but you might need it for the next one

You should get your yellow-fever vaccination done next time you are in Japan It is too late to get it now

Santos: I’m sorry I wasn’t told about it By the way, the radio equipment seems completely

different

Capt: It was changed when we started using the GMDSS

Santos: So all information is exchanged with the GMDSS?

Capt: Yes, you can say that Most messages sent between the ship and headquarters are done by

INMARSAT In the waters around Japan, we use the coastal telephone system, which covers a wide area since it also recently started using the satellite system Another communications system we use is the VHF telephone for contacting pilots and other vessels You can use INMARSAT for private telephone calls, too

mariner’s license: a license issued to seamen

expiration: coming to a close or end or termination

Filipino: of or native of the Philippines

Panamanian: of or native of Panama

vaccination: immunization using vaccines

certificate: a paper proving or certifying something

cholera: an acute infection with watery diarrhea, vomiting, cramps (often fatal)

yellow fever: an acute disease transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by the body turning yellow

(jaundice)

headquarters: main office, head office

INMARSAT: International Maritime Satellite

satellite: man-made flying object on the Earth’s orbit serving various purposes

17 Getting to Know the Ship – A Cabin

Cruz: This is quite a big room, with a big window, a shower and a toilet

2/off: The ship’s accommodations were built by the Japanese ship owners They used to be much

less attractive than the accommodations on European ships Conditions have improved lately, though

Cruz: Is this telephone used only on board?

2/off: Yes, it is It’s mostly used by the Quartermaster to call you 15 minutes before your watch

There is a coastal telephone system at the Bridge and in the General Office It covers the Japanese coastal area and also the Bashi Channel area We use it to communicate with the head office

Cruz: Can I drink the water from the tap?

2/off: No, you shouldn’t it’s only for washing and rinsing We call it “fresh water.” It is distilled

seawater that comes from an evaporator in the Engine Room It may contain unwanted bacteria You should drink the water only from the water fountains

Cruz: Do I have to clean my cabin myself?

2/off: Basically, yes But the Mess Boy sweeps the ship once a week He also changes the bed

sheets every two weeds

Cruz: The word “antenna” is written on this box by the wall What is this antenna for?

2/off: This is a radio antenna When you connect your radio to it, you can hear short-wave

broadcast in your cabin Take a single electrical wire and wind it 10 to 20 times into a coil with a diameter of about 10 cm Then connect one end of the coil to this antenna terminal and the other to the ground terminal Put the coil close to the radio You can hear short-wave clearly that way

accommodation(s): living quarters, living areas

ship owner(s): people or companies which own a ship

less attractive: not favorable, not likeable, not appealing

Conditions have improved…: conditions have become better…

quartermaster: a crew to take her steering

Bashi Channel: a channel found between Taiwan and the Philippines

tap: faucet (tap water = water running from a faucet)

distilled: obtaining a liquid by condensing vapor

evaporator: a machine used to heat and make vapor of a liquid

unwanted bacteria: harmful microorganisms which may cause illnesses

short-wave broadcast: radio broadcasts sent via waves of short wave lengths

diameter: a straight line passing through the center of a circle

18 Getting to Know the Ship – The Dining Hall

C Stew: Here’s the Third Mate table, and there is the Third Engineer’s table

Cruz: Thank you Breakfast is served at seven o’clock, lunch at twelve o’clock, and dinner’s

served at five-thirty?

C Stew: That’s right But the Third Mate’s dinner is served at five o’clock because you have to

relieve the Chief Mate when he eats dinner It is a self-serve dining room, so make sure that you return your dirty dishes to the basin in the galley after you finish your meal Cruz: I will What kind of food do you serve here?

C Stew: Mainly Japanese food for the Japanese, and Filipino food for the Filipinos But

sometimes, we serve the same meal for everyone, such as when we have steak Can you

eat Japanese sashimi or sushi?

Cruz: No problem I like sukiyaki I’m interested in Japanese food, so I cut some Japanese

recipes out of a newspaper and brought them with me

C Stew: That’s good! I’ll prepare something special for you someday I think that we will serve

sukiyaki for the welcome party after we’re off at sea

Cruz: That’s splendid! Will we be able to drink beer?

C Stew: We have a company policy about alcohol You can drink, but there’s a limit In any case,

just enjoy yourself and don’t get drunk

C Stew: Chief steward

is served: (meals are) offered or presented

relieve: to release a person from duty

galley: the kitchen of a ship or an airplane

sashimi: a typical Japanese dish of sliced fresh, raw fish

sushi: a typical Japanese dish of sliced raw fish placed on balls of seasoned rice

sukiyaki: a typical Japanese dish cooked with sliced beef and vegetable

recipe(s): a list of ingredients and procedures for preparing food, medicine Etc

off at sea: sailing in high waters not moored in a port

drunk: physical and mental weakness caused by taking too much alcohol

19 Getting to Know the Ship – The Upper Deck

C/off: Let me show you the deck Be sure to wear your helmet whenever you work on deck There’s one that has “THIRD OFFICER” written on it

Cruz: Oh, I found it

C/off: We must go up one floor above the Upper Deck to D-Deck The entrance used should be

the one opposite this one Exit from the starboard side Both doors on the Upper Deck should be shut firmly like this Don’t use this door unless there’s an emergency

Cruz: Is this the Deck Seal Tank of the Inert Gas System?

C/off: Inert gas is sent to this deck seal tank through that big pipe after it is generated by the Inert

Fan Room on top of the Engine Room From here, it provides inert gas to each tank through the deck pipeline The Deck Seal Tank is the most basic safety device Seawater is continuously supplied from the Engine Room

Cruz: Is it sent through a special pump:

C/off: It’s sent through the GS pump, the fire pump, and any other specialized deck seal seawater

pump If one pump breaks down, another one takes its place

Cruz: This mooring winch looks like it’s hydraulically operated

C/off: Yes, there’s one hydraulic pump in the Steering Engine Room for the aft winch Another is

in the Center Store for the mid-ship winch, and the third one is in the Bosun Store for the fore winch Inform the Engine Room before you turn them on or off

Cruz: Are these the main pipelines: No 1, No 2, No 3, the inert line, and the COW line?

C/off: The pipelines are color-coded for easy identification This is a small line This is a bunker

line This is a fire line This is a foam line for the fire line

opposite: the other side, the side facing you

starboard side: the right-hand side of a ship or aircraft

Deck Seal Tank: a tank used for collecting inert gas to seal off the deck in case of fire

Inert Gas System: a system of a network of pipelines for supplying inert gas

safety device: equipment used to enhance safety

GS pump (general service pump): a pump used for general purposes, such as supplying fresh water mooring winch: a winch used for taking up a rope or chain used for mooring a ship

hydraulically operated: something working by means of a fluid under pressure

aft: toward the rear of a ship

identification: a proof of a person’s identity

bunker line: a pipeline used to supply fuel to a ship’s bunker, or a fuel storage

20 Getting to Know the Ship – The Poop Deck

2/off: I stand on the Poop Deck when berthing except when berthing SBM or anchoring You

have to let me know whenever we do a trial run of the engine We do it every time we leave port I then check if aft is normal, and then I check for fishing boats or small boats or if the crew has left any fishing tackle outboard As for the accommodation ladder, we heave it up a little when the ship moves After that, we do an engine test by contacting the Engine Room Santos: I see How about checking the steering gears?

2/off: We do it before or after the engine test You should do it after I enter the Steering Engine

Room I check the movement of the rudder and see if the hydraulic system works well Cruz: Communication between us is done only by transceiver?

2/off: Basically yes, but we can also use the one in the Steering Engine Room

Cruz: What’s this wire?

2/off: It is a fire wire A tugboat uses this wire to pull the ship from the berth when she can’t

move on her own, or in case of a fire during cargo loading and unloading Regulations about setting this wire in port are very strict, so you have to follow the rules This should be set whenever the ship enters the Maritime Traffic Safety Law areas in Japan

Cruz: Is the Emergency Fire Pump Room under this deck?

2/off: Yes, it is It’s just as described on the side of this door It’s under the Steering Room Ask

one of the engineers how to operate it later

Poop Deck: a partial deck on the stern superstructure of a ship

SBM(single buoy for mooring): a method of mooring a ship

anchoring: preventing a ship’s free movement with a heavy object cast overboard

trial run: a test run

fishing tackle: fishing gear

accommodation ladder: a ladder used to help people board a ship

rudder: a plate secured to the stern of a ship used to direct its course

hydraulic system: a mechanical system which is powered by pressurized liquid

transceiver: a portable transmitter and receiver in one unit

Maritime Traffic safety Law: a set of rules for navigating specified traffic routes in Japan

as described…: as specified, as stated, as written in…

21 Getting to Know the Ship – The Engine Room

1/eng: Here’s your new workplace, The Persian Adventure’s Engine Room

Santos: Oh, the engine is huge! The room is bigger, brighter, and quieter than I thought

1/eng: It isn’t very noisy at port, but it become quite noisy at sea So be sure to wear

earplugs when you work in here It is important to keep the lighting equipment well

maintained for safety reasons Since you are in charge of electricity ,you are also

responsible for the safety of the workplace

Santos: My job seems challenging and I’m excited By the way, did you change the main

Engine fuel oil from heavy fuel oil to diesel oil before entering port?

1/eng: We used to do that, but FO valves have improved recently We can now use heavy

fuel oil even while in port Remember to always keep the FO pump working

Santos: Where are the cargo pumps? I don’t see them

1/eng: For safety reasons, they are in the Pump Room in another section All lights in the Pump

Room are gas tight

Santos: How do you switch pumps?

1/eng: We use the No 1 Group when outbound, and the No 2 Group when inbound We switch

pumps while warming up the engine before we leave port

Santos: Do the two diesel generators run the same way?

1/eng: The Second Engineer, who is in charge of the diesel generators Adjusts their operating

times according to his work plan

Santos: Does the maintenance plan apply to the main engine and to all of the important auxiliary

machines such as the generators, the air compressors, and the boilers?

1/eng: You got it! Proper maintenance is essential for safe and economical navigation

1/eng: first engineer

workplace: a place where a person works

earplug(s): a set of plugs inserted in the ear to cut off noise

well maintained: well taken care of…

for safety reasons: to enhance safety, to avoid danger

challenging: difficult

heavy fuel oil: a grade of fuel oil used to power a vehicle

FO valves: fuel oil valve

FO pump: fuel oil pump

gas-tight: equipped with a mechanism for shutting off gas

diesel generator(s): a power generator powered by diesel oil

economical navigation: sailing at low cost

22 Getting to Know the Ship – The Engine Control Room

1/eng: Let me briefly show you the Control Room equipment This ship is a so-called M0 ship

The main engine can be operated from three places: the Bridge, here in the Control Room, and locally

Santos: What situations require the main engine to be operated from the Bridge or locally?

1/eng: We usually operate the main engine from the Bridge while at sea We have to operate

locally when the remote-control system breaks down But special skills are required for that We check and practice local operation before entering and leaving port Will you be training soon?

Santos: Yes, but I’m not sure about the schedule

1/eng: The main engine is a Hitachi B&W 8S80MCE Its CSO is 18,071 kilowatts at 69.7 RPMs

The diameter of the cylinders is 800 mm, and the piston stroke is 2,592 mm

Santos: That’s huge! A cylinder is big enough for an adult to work inside it

1/eng: Exactly We can go and see a cylinder when we are changing an exhaust valve

Santos: I’ll look forward to that

1/eng: The main engine and most auxiliary machines are operated and turned on and off here in

the Control Room We can check their condition, too

Santos: Do you mean that no one needs to stay in the Engine Room?

1/eng: Not exactly As I said before, we use the M0 system so we don’t need to check it while at

sea All of the Engine Room crewmembers engage in maintenance work An engineer and

an oiler assigned to an M0 watch have to check and maintain the main engine and the equipment in the Engine Room Whenever the M0 alarm rings, they have to respond to it

briefly: using just a few words, shortly

M0: man in machinery space zero

remote-control system: a way of controlling the operation of equipment from a faraway location practice: to do as a habit

CSO: continuous service output(连续输出功率)

RPM(revolution per minute): a unit indicating the rotating speed of a turning object

diameter: the straight line passing through the center of a circle

cylinder: a chamber housing a reciprocating piston

piston stroke: a single movement of a piston

exhaust valve: a valve through which exhaust gas or liquid is discharged

auxiliary: subsidiary, supplementary, being related to

assigned to … : given the task of doing something

23 Getting to Know the Ship – The Galley

Santos: Is it OK if I put the dirty dishes here?

C stew: Sure How was your meal?

Santos: It was very tasty I really liked the juicy steak and the big lobster How much are your

food expenses for us all?

C stew: They are now 1,500 yen a day per person This is in accordance with the contract

between the shipping companies and the All Japan Seamen’s Union This budget allows

us to buy good food that is supplied in Singapore

Santos: Do we stop in Singapore?

C stew: No, we don’t we get the food from Singapore from a supply boat It comes on several

slings, and unloading it is hard work Will you help us next time because we need all the arms we can find?

Santos: I will By the way, may I use the refrigerator in the galley?

C stew: No problem You have to write your name on your food, and make sure to keep the

refrigerator clean You may also use the microwave oven

Santos: I usually have snacks during the night navigation watches, so I brought cup-of-noodle

soups along Can I boil water in the microwave oven?

C stew: No, you shouldn’t use the microwave for that You can use the water boiler in the galley

After you finish eating, remember to rinse the container before disposing of it

expense(s): the amount of money spent

in accordance with … : conforming to … following…

budget: a pre-set amount of money one can use

sling(s): looped ropes or straps used for lifting something

microwave oven: an oven which use microwaves to cook food

night navigation watch(es): a night duty usu, on the Bridge and Engine Control Room

container: a can, bag, or box, etc which can hold things inside

disposing of … : throwing away, getting rid of

24 Getting to Know the Ship – The Toilet

2/off: Let me show you the toilet

Cruz: Are there common toilets only in front of the COC?

2/off: No there are some in front of the workers’ room on the Upper Deck, and others in the

crew quarters on C-Deck The deck crew does the cleaning, but we must also make an effort

to keep them clean

Cruz: Is the flush water seawater?

2/off: Yes, it is provided by the GS pump in the Engine Room You must immediately report any

problem to the Chief Officer, for example, if the toilet clogs up or if the water doesn’t stop running That way repairs can be done quickly We are all responsible for the maintenance of the ship

Cruz: Yes, sir What should I do if I flush and water doesn’t come out?

2/off: In that case, you can wash up using tap water by connecting the hose to the fresh water

faucet If that doesn’t work, use the bucket to pour water in the toilet It usually works that way

Cruz: I hope it never happens to me

2/off: This ship is OK When you are on an old ship, there are many problems with pipes and

filters getting clogged, and it makes flushing difficult, it not impossible

Cruz: I heard that the toilet paper is stored in the Deck Store When may I take some?

2/off: There are rolls in that locker When they run out, ask the Assistant Officer for more You

may take some to your cabin, too

COC: Crude Oil Control

crew quarter(s): living areas spaces for members of the crew

make and effort to … : try to do something

flush: to wash away with water as in flush toilet

immediately: right away, promptly

clogs up: obstruct the movement of something

faucet: tap, a device for regulating the flow of liquid, such as water

impossible: not possible, something that cannot be done

run out: to completely use up and have nothing more left

25 Getting to Know the Ship – The Chamber

C stew: Here are the goods that you ordered Please take the ones with your name or rank writhen

on them

Cruz: These are mine Three cartons of cigarettes and three cases of cola

Santos: These three cases of juice and the case of cup-of-noodles are mine Do you always

deliver the goods after leaving port?

C stew: Sure I usually take orders before entering port, and then I send them by telex to a ship

chandler The ship advances the payments, and then we withdraw what you owe from your salary

Santos: Can we buy anything?

C stew: In general, yes Groceries, cigarettes, and soap are the most common items You can also

buy electrical appliances if you don’t mind paying high prices

Cruz: I did not order any this time But next time, can I buy fresh foods such as milk, eggs, or

vegetables?

C stew: Sure You can make special orders But we serve such food almost everyday We keep

them in the Chamber, so you can ask the steward to give you some, and you can store them for a few days in the refrigerator

Santos: Is the Chamber partitioned?

C stew: Yes, it’s partitioned into four rooms You have the Lobby, the meat section, the Fish

section, and the vegetable section

goods: products, merchandise

deliver: to bring to a destination

ship chandler: a retailed dealer of goods and equipment, especially supplying ships

withdraw: to take out (take out money in this case)

owe: money being borrowed from someone

groceries: foodstuff, household supplies

electrical appliance(s): a device which is powered by electricity

partitioned: divided into different sections

26 Getting to Know the Ship – The Deck Tool Store

A/off: First, here is the Carpenter’s Shop Tools for the deck are stowed here and in the Deck

Tool Store We keep the small tools, the screw drivers, the wrenches, the Japanese carpenter tools, and the special purpose maintenance tools in this area

Cruz: Do you repair the pneumatic motor for the accommodation ladder here?

A/off: Yes, we do The digital gauge used to observe the ullage of the cargo is stowed and

overhauled here, too As you might know, you must return each tool to its original place

Cruz: The tools are stored very neatly

A/off: Here’s the Deck Tool Store Large tools are stowed here, you know, the chipping tools and

the hoses We also have the shock spanners used for loosening or tightening the cargo-valve bolts, claw bars, chain hoists and grease pumps

Cruz: Do you also have the Paint Store and the Consumable Goods Store?

A/off: Yes I keep the key to the Consumable Goods Store You will get working gloves every

month The Paint Store is outside

Cruz: (Out in the Paint Store) Here it is There seems to be various kinds of paint

A/off: Most of it is deck paint called Denatured-tar Epoxy You mix the base with the hardener

Make sure to clean the brushes after you use them Rinse them in thinner and then soak them in water If you don’t do this, the brushes will be ruined, and we’ll have to throw them away

A/off: Assistant Officer

carpenter’s shop: workshop where carpentry is done

Deck tool store: tool storage located on the deck

screwdriver(s): a tool used for turning screws

wrench(es): a hand tool with adjustable jaws for gripping things

special purpose maintenance tool(s): tools used to carry out special maintenance(repair) work pneumatic: working with air pressure

ullage: amount of liquid in a cask or barrel or oil tanker

overhauled: opened up to clean the inside of something

chipping tool(s): a tool used to remove things

claw bar(s): iron bar with a bent and forked end

consumable goods: materials that can be used up

working gloves: heavy cotton gloves used for handwork

Denatured-tar epoxy: thermosetting resin of a changed quality

hardener: a substance used to make other things solid or harden up

thinner: a liquid used to dilute paint, etc.(turpentine)

soak: to dip in a liquid such as water

27 Getting to Know the Ship – The Engine Store

2/eng: Here is the Consumable Goods Store Whenever you take something out, you should

write down the date, the name and number of the article, and your name in this notebook The First Engineer has the key to this room

Santos: You mean this notebook hanging on the wall? There are so many articles How can I

remember each one?

2/eng: Consumable goods are separated into three departments: the Deck, the Engine, and the

purser The Spare Parts Store is in the Engine Room Let’s go down there now so I can show you

Santos: Are the spare parts of all the machines stowed in the Spare Parts Store?

2/eng: Not all, but most of them For example, the spare parts for the conditioning refrigerator

plant or for the provision refrigerator plant are stowed near them, and some parts for the main engine are in the workshop

Santo: Hmm, supplying seems rather hard work How do you manage that?

2/eng: To control the supply properly, we must note the date and the number of the part in the

spare parts list in the Engine Control Room We have been thinking of introducing a system to enter all of the data into a computer It would control the spare parts inventory

on the ship or on shore

purser: officer in charge of money matters

spare part(s): extra components

conditioning refrigerator plant: cooling unit to air condition rooms

provision refrigerator plant: cooling unit to chill foodstuffs

inventory: a record of things a person (or a ship) has

28 Conversation During a Meal

Santos: I feel better now that we’ve left port

Cruz: Well, we sure have a lot to learn from now on Everyone on board is kind and willing to

help when we ask them It’s tough work but well worth doing

Santos: It sure is I an really determined to work hard

C stew: Hi! Have you learned the ways with the ship yet?

Cruz: Yes, thank you for your help The food’s delicious, and we’ll manage with our new jobs

By the way, where are you from?

C stew: I’m from Nagasaki Many seamen come from there But over the last two decades, the

number of seamen there has dropped, and there aren’t any more young seamen

Santos: I’m sorry to hear that Isn’t Nagasaki the place where the Americans dropped an atomic

bomb during World War II?

C stew: Yes, it is, but that happed long before I was born

Cruz: Tell me more about Nagasaki

C stew: The city has an interesting history During the Tokugawa Era, it was the only port open to

foreign trade Dutch sailors and traders used to come here

Santos: Oh, I’ve heard about some exotic mansion in the city

C stew: That’s the Glover Mansion Holland Slope is also famous There is a Dutch-style theme

park nearby

Cruz: I’d love to go there

willing to …: be ready to do something

well worth doing …: important enough to spend the time and energy

delicious: tasty, yummy, good to eat

Nagasaki: a port city located in the western part of Kyushu

two decade(s): 20 years

atomic bomb: a bomb with destructive power from the release of nuclear energy

World War II: second world war

Tokugawa era: the time of the longest military government in Japan, ruled by Tokugawa shoguns foreign trade: exchanging of goods with a foreign country

Dutch: of or the people of Holland

exotic: foreign, strange, and attractive

mansion: a large house

Glover mansion: old mansion of the glover family in Nagasaki, known for the beautiful gardens and

as a model for the opera Madame Butterfly

Holland slope: a famous tourist spot in Nagasaki

theme park: an amusement park laid out with a special plan

29 Welcome Party

C/off: Everyone, we’re hosting a welcome party for the new members on board First, I would

like to ask Captain Shimoda for a welcome address on behalf of the crew

Captain: Gentlemen, let me say a few words to welcome you aboard The Persian Adventure This

ship sails between Japan and the Persian Gulf Loading ports for this voyage are Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia and Kharg Island in Iran Our ETA is May 30th It will take a total

of six days to load the cargo in the Persian Gulf, so the arrival date at Kawasaki, the discharging port, will be around June 23rd we can expect moderate weather throughout the voyage However, we might have poor visibility due to rain or monsoons in the Indian Ocean Safe navigation is most important Also keep yourselves in good health The steward crew has prepared a wonderful dinner, so have fun and enjoy the party Thank

you (applause)

C/off: Thank you very much, Captain Now, we will ask our Chief Engineer to make a toast

Does everyone have a glass?

C/eng: Gentlemen, welcome to the great and beautiful VLCC, The Persian Adventure! I’m Chief

Engineer Sato First, I’d like to turn your attention to the gorgeous sunset outside How lucky we are! I would like to make a toast to our health, our families, and to the safe navigation of this ship Cheers!

All: Cheers! (Applause)

C/off: thank you very much Enjoy the feast before you: sukiyaki, sashimi, and much more Later

on, we will have karaoke Everyone is welcome, even the ones who can’t carry a tune!

hosting a welcome party: to hold a party (a merry gathering)

address: to speak to, make a formal speech

on behalf of …: on the part of, representing someone else

Persian Gulf: a body of water in the Arabian Sea between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran

Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia: port city of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf

Kharg Island in Iran: islands located off the southwestern coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf

ETA: estimated time of arrival

discharging port: a port where the cargo is unloaded

moderate weather: mild and favorable weather

monsoons: seasonal strong winds and heavy rain

Indian ocean: large body of water stretching from Asia to Australia and A`frica

make a toast: raise a glass and drink to honor something

Cheers!: interjection used when making a toast

feast: large specially prepared meal usually to celebrate something

can’t carry a tune: be a poor singer, cannot sing well

2/Off: Hey, did you say you would be exercising?

Cruz: I sure did We want to sweat it out a bit What kind of exercise do you do, Second

Officer?

2/Off: I always lift weights and do push-ups, and then I run around the deck three times I’m

starting to get flabby What kind of sports is popular in your country?

Santos: We used to swim, bowl, and box at school But there are few facilities, so we can’t

always enjoy sports How about in Japan? I know that many sports are very popular there 2/Off: As far as children are concerned, the most popular sports are baseball, basketball, and

recently, soccer And there are many schools that specialize in all kinds of sports, from swimming to Japanese fencing Parents encourage their kids to take part in sports At traditional festival, we have children’s sumo tournaments at shrines As for professional sports, sumo is the national sport, but we also enjoy baseball, football, and golf

Cruz: I have watched Japanese sumo tournaments on TV Foreign sumo wrestlers seem to be

doing well recently

2/Off: Oh, yes Some sumo wrestlers come from Hawaii OK I will go for a jog now You

should wear good jogging shoes so that you won’t hurt your knees

poured his heart out: showed his emotion or feeling

stay in shape: not to put on weight, to stay slim

exercise regularly: to engage in sport or exercise on a regular basis

sweat it out: to exercise until sweat comes out

lift weights: pick up and raise heavy items in an effort to build muscles

flabby: loose, lacking force or stamina

few facilities: there are not many facilities

As far as children are concerned… : talking about children

specialize in: to become particularly good at

sumo tournaments: a tournament of a traditional sport of Japan

go for a jog: go to run lightly

31 The Recreation Room

Santos: Let’s go watch a video

Cruz: That’s good idea since we can’t watch TV in here What kind of videos do they have? Santos: There are quite a few American movies and many Japanese movies But we don’t

understand Japanese

Cruz: American movies are fun Let’s watch light, entertaining ones rather than serious

movies

Santos: How about “Back to the future”? It’s about a young boy’s adventure He travels in time

into the past and the future

Cruz: This one here is pretty good It’s “Home Alone” It’s about a little boy who outwits

thieves

2/Eng: Hi Will you be watching a video? May I join you?

Santos: Sure Come right in We were trying to decide what to watch

2/Eng: There are many good Japanese videos The best one is “Otoko wa Tsuraiyo” You can

translate that as “Men Have It Hard.”

Cruz: What’s it about?

2/Eng: The main character is a man who was born in an old part of Tokyo He seems to be a

good-for-nothing man He has no money, but he has a good, caring heart He always tries to help people, especially “ladies in distress.” The movie includes many rural scenes, and it depicts the lives of country people

Santos: I wish there were an English version

2/Eng: Most of Tora-san’s language is hard to put into English

Santos: You have such a large video collection here Did someone copy the movies?

2/Eng: Of course not! That would be against the Copyright Law Our company gives us a

small budget for entertainment, so we use that money to buy some of the most popular videos

entertaining: amusing, enjoyable

serious: grave, in earnest

adventure: exciting experience often filled with danger

outwits: to be smarter than the other

thieves: people who steal other people’s possessions

good-for-nothing: not useful

ladies in distress: women who are in trouble and needing help

depicts: show something using graphic images or words

Copyright Law: a law that protects the legal rights of the originator

Chapter 3 Safety Training on Board

32 Safety Training – On Deck

A/off: OK Now you must wear a safety helmet and safety shoes

Avarro: But the safety helmet makes me hot, and the safety shoes are too heavy I think that we

can still work safety with lighter fittings

A/off: I know it’s more comfortable with lighter gear, but don’t forget it can be pretty dangerous

working here For example, you might slip while painting and hit you head on the pipeline Or the radio antenna may break and fall on the deck These accidents have happened before We never know what may happen

Ramos: I think we should always wear protective gear When we are performing emergency tasks,

we won’t have time to get our safety helmets or shoes in an emergency I’d rather be always ready for an emergency

A/off: That’s good thinking We don’t have to worry about accidents all of the time, but if you

wear safety gear, you will be more prepared if an accident happens If you aren’t dressed properly, it might slow down your work

Avarro: I understand Somebody told me that we should never run on deck

Ramos: Yes You see, you could slip and fall or you could trip on a rope, resulting in serious

injuries Be careful especially on the deck, which is covered with denatured epoxy paint

That paint becomes wet and slippery when it is humid The hawse could also break, and that could be dangerous for the crew So be careful when you are on stand-by

A/off: Also, be careful when you see a running rope It could snap and whip you

lighter gear: light clothing or equipment

dangerous: risky, hazardous, something that may injure a person

protective gear: clothing or equipment that will protect a person

performing emergency tasks: doing operations in sudden, potentially dangerous situations

prepared: be ready for

serious injuries: grave damage inflicted op people

humid: moist, wet, said of the air containing large amounts of moisture

hawser: cable or rope used for mooring a ship

whip: to strike or lash

33 On the Deck of a Bulk Carrier in Port

A/off: Wait! Don’t pass by there! There’s a safety rope there, and you might stumble there Walk

on the other side, on the port side

Avarro: But going by the starboard side is faster

A/off: You’re right, but it’s more dangerous walking on the starboard side Lumps of ore could

fall through a gap in the grab You’d be seriously injured if a lump hits you It could even kill you Even when the grab is still on shore, it’s hard to walk on the deck because it gets covered with ore

Avarro: I see I’ll be sure to walk on the port side I have to remember that there are many

dangerous things on board

A/off: You may not believe it, but there was an accident like that on a container ship just recently

A lashing worker from the shore fell from the top of the bulwark And he was very experienced The wire in his hand swung him around, and he lost his balance He was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but the accident nearly cost him his life He fell on the wharf right by the gangway that the crew uses to go on shore Fortunately, no one was there when he fell Another time a hatch cover dropped from a gantry crane onto the wharf while it was being transferred from a container ship They were lucky that nobody was injured in that accident, either

Avarro: Which means I must always pay attention to what’s under and over me!

stumble: to walk unsteadily, almost falling or missing a step

port side: the left side of a ship when facing the front or bow

grab: to grasp or get hold of, a device for picking up something

lashing worker: a workman in charge of lashing (tying) things down

bulwark: wall, raised structure, rampart

ambulance: emergency vehicle used to carry sick or injured people to a hospital

… nearly cost him his life: he was nearly killed

gangway: a narrow passage

gantry crane: a crane mounted on a sturdy support

container ship: ship specialized in carrying containers from port to port

34 Dangers on a Tanker

C/off: Because you are new on the tanker, let’s begin this training session with the basics Refer

to the green brochure Safety on a Tanker Well, what kinds of dangers do you think are

lurking on a tanker?

Cruz: Fire? The gas from the crude oil could ignite and start a fire

Santos: An even worse case is an explosion

C/off: That’s right The tanks are filled with crude-oil vapor, and when the oil is being loaded, it

could spill onto the deck The vapor, or hydrocarbon gas, is very dangerous You should never carry matches or lighters while on the deck You may not even carry them to your cabins

Cruz: I guess that’s why we should smoke only in designated areas There are matches there,

and the ashtrays are filled with water I smoke now, but I’ve made up my mind to quit smoking It will be better for my health, too

C/off: What are some other dangers?

Cruz: Since we use inert gas, there could be a shortage of oxygen

C/off: Actually, there is little oxygen in the tanks We are not too affected by inert gas on deck

except while performing specific tasks, such as gas freeing I oxicity hazards caused by crude oil gas are more likely to happen

Santos: I’ve heard that a small quantity of crude oil gas isn’t too dangerous

C/off: That’s true, but crude oil that contains a lot of hydrogen sulfide is dangerous It could

paralyze you if you inhale it

brochure: small booklet, pamphlet

lurking: hiding, awaiting

ignite: to catch fire

explosion: sudden, violent release of energy and substances

crude-oil vapor: vapor that forms when crude oil is contained

hydrocarbon gas: a gas of organic substances which contains carbon and hydrogen

designated areas: area marked off for a special purpose

oxygen: a gaseous substance existing in the air which is essential for breathing

gas freeing: removing unwanted gas

toxicity hazard(s): potential danger from toxic (poisonous, harmful) substances

hydrogen sulfide: colorless, poisonous gas with the smell of rotten eggs

paralyze: to make a person lose free control of movement

inhale: to breath in, to intake

35 Tanker Fires and Explosions

C/off: Let’s talk more about fire and explosions Flammable gas, alone, doesn’t cause

explosions

Cruz: You mean there must be oxygen, too?

Santos: And also a source of ignition

C/off: You’re right But what is more important, however, is their concentration What I am

about to tell you is a little advanced, but we have to discuss it so you are aware of the dangers

Cruz: Are you talking about LEL or UEL?

C/off: Yes First of all, petroleum gas consists of many different substances Each of these has

different properties That’s why the ICS has defined UEL or UFL as a 10 percent concentration, and LEL or LFL as one percent

Santos: That means that the petroleum gas won’t explode unless the gas concentration isn’t within

that range

C/off: Exactly And an oxygen concentration of 11 percent is also necessary Even if the

petroleum gas concentration is in the explosion range, there can be no explosion if the oxygen concentration is less than 11 percent

Santos: So that’s why the inert gas sent to the tanks has an oxygen concentration of less than 8

percent

C/off: The most dangerous problem with the tanks is static electricity But if the tanks are filled

with the proper amount of inert gas, we don’t have to worry about static electricity

Cruz: Is it safe on deck?

C/off: The most important thing is to check for gas on deck when you are chipping or welding

That’s why proper maintenance and good communication between the deck crew and the

engine crew is so important

flammable gas: a gas that catches fire easily

ignition: catching of fire, starting to burn

concentration: the amount of substance in a solution; strength

LEL: Lower Explosive Limit

UEL: Upper Explosive Limit

petroleum gas: vapor generated from petroleum or oil

substances: material(s)

properties: qualities, characteristics

ICS: International Chamber of Shipping

UFL: Upper Flammable Limit

LFL: Lower Flammable Limit

static electricity: discharge of accumulated energy, electric potential which can produce sparks welding: joining metals by applying extreme heat

36 Toxicity Hazards on a Tanker

C/off: We will now talk more about toxic gas hazards and safety

Cruz: Is it hydrogen sulfide?

C/off: Most crude oil comes from wells with high levels of hydrogen sulfide But the level is

usually reduced by a stabilization process before the crude oil is loaded If this system fails, however, a tanker may load with a higher-than-usual hydrogen sulfide content Then special adjustments must be made Mexican or Qatar crude oil contains high levels of hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs Be very careful not to breathe it because

it could paralyze you instantly One time, when we were at the ullage hole, a man lost consciousness after inhaling the gas

Cruz: there must be some way to avoid this problem

C/off: We have pocket sized detectors for hydrogen sulfide You should always have one with

you We are allowed to work when the concentration is less than 10ppm (parts per million) If you detect more gas than the 10ppm allowed, you must be very careful

Santos: That’s why I saw oxygen masks at the entrance of the Pump Room Should we use them

in that case?

C/off: Those masks are used when there is gas present or when there is a fire They are also

useful in the Pump Room if a large amount of oil has leaked and gas is escaping But even with a mask on, it is still dangerous if there is a lot of gas

toxic gas hazard(s): dangers associated with poisonous gases

well(s): oil well, a hole drilled into the ground to draw out petroleum

reduced: decreased, made smaller in number or quantity

a stabilization process: a process for making something stable

rotten egg(s): eggs that have gone bad

instantly: promptly, tight away, on the spot

lost consciousness: a person losing sensory perception

avoid: not to encounter or experience

detector(s): device used to find something

oxygen mask(s): a mask worn over the nose and mouth for supplying oxygen

37 Oxygen Deficiency on a Coal-Ore Carrier

Avarro: Well, we’re safe on this ship from accidental oxygen depravation because, as a coal-ore

carrier, it doesn’t have an inert gas system

A/off: That’s crazy! This ship is especially dangerous

Avarro: Really? Why is that?

A/off: It’s very dangerous in the cofferdams, in the ballast tanks of the double-bottom, and in

the lower stools Whenever coal is being loaded, there is a danger of asphyxiation Avarro: Why is that? There must be enough oxygen; we go down there all the time

A/off: It’s rust Oxygen is consumed when iron rusts This uses up the oxygen over time You

have to take special care and measure the oxygen level whenever you enter these areas

Be sure to check with two oxygen detectors, not just one And you must have enough ventilation

Avarro: How do you ventilate without a fan?

A/off: We keep the manholes open for a day or more It’s natural ventilation For

double-bottom tanks, we open both the fore and aft holes to let the air in coal catches fire easily And fire lowers the level of oxygen and raises the level of carbon dioxide Avarro: That’s scary

A/off: Yes, it is Two seamen died once in a lower stool because of a shortage of oxygen If they

had measured the oxygen properly, placed a watch on deck and prepared their breathing apparatus, they would be alive today

depravation: a lack of something

coal-ore carrier: a ship for carrying coal ore

That’s crazy!: Nonsense! Don’t be silly!

cofferdam(s): a liquid-tight chamber used to prevent oil spills

double-bottom: ship’s bottom having a double structure or lining