Malta Bound

Dear Readers,

Today is a sunny, hot Sunday as the TSES approaches Valletta, Malta at full speed. We are scheduled to take a pilot aboard at 16:30 and dock at 18:00.

All on board are looking forward to a few days on shore. Malta promises to be a great port of call to visit for everybody. Besides a scuba diving trip, the regimental affairs office has organized three day trips, including a trip to the famous Blue Laguna.

The last few days were dedicated to STCW training . Cadets learned to enter confined spaces for search and rescue operations . This training took place behind the library’s walls in the cadets’ recreational room which was converted into a “dark confined space flushed  with CO2 gas”.  The library served as a staging area. Cadets worked in teams of two, entering the space clad in rescue gear, searching for mannequins  representing  unconscious  crew members.

Meanwhile, future navigators have been practicing the Williamson turn, designed for the “man overboard” emergency. In such an instance, the  ship turns in a certain pattern in order to return exactly to the same spot where person went overboard.  Meanwhile, rescue boats had been deployed multiple times to pick up “person in water”.

 Also, on fantail, some cadets learned firefighting skills while others practiced ship survival techniques.

Everybody was enjoying the practical learning experience.

Until  next time,

Oleg.