Ships need fuel and the Empire State VI is no exception. After traveling thousands of miles, it was time to gas up for the journey home. This is known as "bunkering" in nautical terminology. The bunkering services at Gibraltar are well known to sailors for their price and convenience. It is located at the convergence of two great continents, Europe and Africa, and the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is probably the busiest area in the world for shipping.
The techniques of bunkering are essential for mariners to learn. On Monday morning we anchored off the coast of Gibraltar. The bunkering tanker pulled up aside and connected its hoses and began pumping.
Smoking and cell phone use were banned from the ship for the duration of the process as the smell of petroleum filled the air.
The process took 9 hours as we took on tons of fuel. Filled up by 2000 (8 PM), we raised anchor and headed out to the Atlantic and our last port of Cadiz. We are scheduled to arrive Tuesday evening, July 21, for 4 days of rest and relaxation before crossing the ocean and returning back to New York.
Richard Delbango
Ship's Librarian
No comments:
Post a Comment