Being on ship in Lagos Nigeria along with 600 another ship

This is my expirience which happened in 1975 years when I was Cadet after Nautical school, lasting in my home Country Croatia 4 years its as high school, it is for after 1 year sea Time sailing as Cadet and afterwards manage to do exam and  become younger ships officer. After 4 years of Nautical school you have to join one cargo ship for sail 365 days , "sea Time" its time you only spent on ship according data in your Seamans book every seaman must have where is among other thing ting in date and place and sign of date and place both must show date exactly day, month and year.

Story what i will try to describe as acurately as I can took place in Lagos, Nigeria Africa, while ship was loaded with cement at anchor wiith some all together 600 ships, around waiting their tour to enter port discharge cargo and sail out of that then very, very dangerous place.

Its been said that ones been in political power want built entire new capital city I am not  sure where but somewhere in the middle of nowhere , start from very bigining so they ordered so many cargo, materials of all kind one can imagine causing that quickly port of Lagos was not able to cope with such tremendeus quontity of goods ordered paid and delivered and out of some 600+ships also one wa was where i was sign in and happened to be there. Its hard to believe that someone mind can do something like that, for example we had cargo of cement in bags of 50 kiligrams each, about 15 000 metric tons and only we, were on 200th place  in row to enter   the port and discharge cement and one who know basic about material used to building such as cement is sure that after some months stowed only cement will become in bags solid as concrete and will be not possible to manipulate with it and discharge it and for any construction useless

not only in case of fire but, evacuating ship with life boat, what and how to transfer very sick or injured men to coming rescue helicopter what in movie seems so easy but in fact us very dangerous especialy for helicopter crew well trained experts, but ship crew must know what to prepare for helocopter  to impose maxumum securuty for its crew, made  circle of 24 m have to be clear of any obstacles on decjk and insure that chopper with blade no hit in anything as consequences will be fatal,

and also for sjip crew not to touch anything helicopter crew lower before they discgarge static electricity what few people know how dangerpus it is as static electricity before on such way by helicopter crew will kill anyone attempt to touch

before they discharge static eletricity on a way i described

anything from helocopter hoover above ship but on weekly drill we know that frorm by lowering kind of some hook which when touch ship dekj descharhe ekectricity and then is safe, or static can kill you, usually man well trained lower on deck from chopper hoover above and they lower rescue strecher and man injured already on drills which we made instructed and must serouusly before when is strapped in helicopter strecher which they lower, by no means try to do something to help helocopter crew just lay and do nothin leave all to them as are well trained experts in rescue and they winch him up, and then go away to nearest land with hospital or some war ship US or any nation having highly competent doctors and all hospital facility on board.

We  were heareded that in Lagos they to try to get rid of ships only with cement as became useles after so many months stay not to pay delay money using explosive in cargo holds  to at least discharge and dump it useles material as it was not cement anymore to built anything as not being moved many months thats what happened with cement hard as rock, and they do that used exolosives to at least no pay every single ship money, for delay waiting on anchor only with cement as I said our turn to enter port was 200th which practicaly means never.

And that is unfortunately worst example how once then in power waste money instead to help poor country and their inhabitants to improve their standard of living in that country rich with oil and peopke common ones live so poor

What was in mind of those people to do that probably great fee they put into their pocket buying and bringing such billions and billions $ worh commodities, and accumulate 600 ships waiting on anchor and paying each  and every day money for delay in cargo discharging, and its huge sum of money virtualy thrown into trash as Cadet on that ship I was sigh in i know every single day company from Dubrovnik, ships belong they paid 6000 $ for waiting at anchor,regularly delay as been idle there turn to enter port and if we multiply that with 600 ships many bigger and with more valuable cargo then we brought we are coming to amount they paid every day  in  hugs sums of money for nothing and no care at all.

I will try to describe what I expirienced there but now will only say this that on New year day eve on 1975 to New  1976 year as it is custom on ships every one of so many hundreds ships,  600+  open up at midnight ships whistle making spectacular noise never to hear anywher again.

What spectacular it sound  that was something as thunder from 600  and  ships more nobody knew exact figures sounds exactly at midnights  become as one from all that ships will still recall after so many year that thunder and how many fire rockets were fired ones expired date, as every single ship have rockets in case of emergency to fire in tha sky red colored so to attract attention on any ship in vicinity for help, its not allowed to do that but in grave danger, and rocket which had been fired the were sure with expired dates , which can be very dangerous to fire it as it can as being expired explode in hand of one activating it, but one must understand how crew and officers felt desperate there every night being attacked by pirates,  trying to steal anything and in that attempt even if manage to board ship  were ready to kill.

Every ship keep watch by keeping fire hoses in readines and at light all around ship from forward part till stern maintaininng anti pirates patroles with two sailor with some wodden stick to defend themselves in case were attacked, as all the time making rounds so that potential pirates saw that crew is in readines and by means what we can provide to defend as fire hoses with high sea water under strong pressure if we have been attacked, and if  saw that they try board ship sound general alarms and all crew will on the double rush on deck armen with wooden sticks and anti pirate made apliances using

fire hoses as means to hit them with water in their boat with strong seawater pressure to repel attack as being cargo ship we of course no have fire arm or are willing use it to shot anyone as we are not any army, in fact navy but merchant seamen doing their job as merchant seamen do.

I remember one night on chief officer senior after Captain on ship, he spot pirates trying to board on Japanese ship what was anchored not so far from us and obviously they no spot it as time was just before dawn when it is hard to see well around.

He at once call that ship as was able with strong binoculars we have to read his name with ship to ship VHF radio, warn them and they raise alarm of course at once  open up all strong pressure fire hoses being in readines as all ships did and point strong  pressure sea water on them below ship and they move away, later Captain of that ship call as and express his great gratitude and we know he will do same for us if what opposite situation.

At sea solidarity among seamen can understand only one who was sailing and experienced that, as no one know  when he will need help of some kind, on sea its century long tradition, nobody care what nationalyity is other one, just action is what happened.

We use to go to city with ship life boat now and then and every time visit our agency working for our interests as every ship have, to ask what is going on, prediction how is our ranking as many ship owner despite that they paid them delay time bribe authority to enter as soon as they can dischargo cargo and go away from there.

As Cadet I was going on that lifeboat journey every time it took us some 3- 4 hours to reach entrance to port and there we sometimes barely moved as current was so strong pushing us back to sea. I remember was one floating barge  big quite made as some restaurant and all headed there seamen with lifeboats from other ships as nobody dare to go and berth somewhere else , we exchange some information take some cold drinks as in Lagos temperature is very, very hot,

WE then went to agency but of course leave 3 sailor to watch and guard our lifeboat there.

In agency of course they have air condition and have good life not bothering much of ships and crew they represent

was lucky who can work there but when i saw mails from homes ones sent to us from home as one agency represent tens ships, and letters we in one corner same as you saw on TV before when they draw some lucky mail  card for some game to win, it was one round box with thousands letters just dump inside

in and nobody of them bother to bring and deliver to ships and seamen they represent it was just there we try to find some mail addressed to us from home in such mess sometimes managed to find few by sheer luck.

One one occassion on way back it was already quite late and just on entrance to that canal leading in Lagos we saw one seamean obviously vawing to us as on that beach they came and stay swam he and his fellow crew, but on way back obviously they forgot him, was Scandinavian we found later as pick up him and was lucky as some mean peopple already start gathering waiting night and god know what will happened to him, so we asked him where about is position of his ship amoong all that hundreds ship and by his help we found shit and safely disembark he told us to wait , in fact insisit and lower us as gratitude one case of beer.

WE thank him and Isaw  his ship was not big but was of type cary dangerous cargo what later for us will be very importanthelp from his shi actualy can say save us, this is solidarity at sea that man no forgot.,

After month or saw we had very bad experience and that on my first ship almost new one then was,  Chief engineer it is engine main officer and have 3 engine officer one senior and 2 younger and rest are ratings same as on deck,

So he by ship to ship radio talk and find out that have friend on one of the ship on anchor there and with captain permission decide to take life boat and visit his friend, not alone but with few seamen of course manned boat.

But what he did before almost destroyed all ship, in plastic PVC bucket not want to use washing machine for some underwear cloth he placed electric heater which after some time boiled water, and went but forgot on it what he did.

And of course as water evaporate when reach boiling point with that heater it melt that PVC bucket and it caused fire in his cabin,

it was about 5 pm, some half hour before dinner on ships start and all crew were up nobody luckily was sleeping, I myself will never forget that was then in another Cadet cabin my classmate, as we attend 4 year same class in Nautical scool and destiny place us to sail on same ship as well and we were updating Cadets logs which each have stamped by harbor master and when you completed 1 year every 7 days senior chief officer who taught you actually all what is possible for the day when you be young officer of your own  have to present it as document to harbor master home to be allowed to made officer exam.

.Suddenly his cabin  by air condition sucking air filled up  with thick black smoke and it start coming more and more and a lot more and more. almost choking one if not rush out on deck air fresh one..

We of course run out as his cabin was close to entrance door to exit ship accomodation and come on deck and we heared shouts fire, fire, and went on forward part of ship and saw red flames akready become strong and  more and more stronger.

First of all senior officer  ordered all crew to garhered and take list of crew on board quickly before anything to see that someone is not trapped inside ship full of that murderous smoke and already strong flames fast spreading,

And who was missing was our Captain as he when saw what is going on went to his cabin to collect ships documents but already was too late for him to leave his cabin as was sorrounded with flames.

We hear screams then someone in all that mess remember close are alluminium ladder what can reach his roud ship window only way to pull him out,

Quickly i as am strong then and tall and one seamen climbed when place that ladder to window of his cabin  was quite high as captains cabin on all ships are on almost at top of accomodation just under navigation bridge it is if officer call him for anything that quickly can come on ship navigatio bridge.

So we saw his head out of window and a bit more he managed to exit but was stuck as have not big belly but big enough for that round narrow window, to be stuck and start screaming as fire already caught his legs,

So I an that sailor even now after many years  in that split moment no remember, all but climb ladder  grab him and pull with all power we had to pull him out, and he screamed as we hurt him but managed to pull him out, still after many years i no recall how we not fell from that ladder with captain holding him and managed to lower on deck,

Some half our he was in charge issuing orders when realized what is going on we thought  when we pull him out that hurt a bit his ribs

and then he just collapsed as he just fell down on deck, of course no doctor except on then Soviet Union ship and each have doctor, so sennior officer while organize all fire hose and crew to try to put out fire as inside was not possible to enter but now main concerne was captain what is with him

He order me to quickly take one seamen and engine apprenticeadet and go to that Russian ship as fast as possible as was not far anchored frm us . When we came close throw rope to fast boat I remember was girl sailing that ship take and fast rope so when we climb up we said what happend they no ask further more just say moment and dr came take his bag and came down in out boat and we quickly head back to our ship, so he climbed up as was infrmed by me having walkie.-talkie and rush to Captain and find out there is no any injury but he got some not strong but it was as heart attack and immediatelly gave him one injection and in few minutes he open eyes but we no allow him to stand up but bring some as blanket and place him there,

Not question were ask on Russian ship by Commanding officers jus say wait doctor will take what he can medicine and no waste time every minute cam be difference between life and death as he is doctor, that is solidarity, who  and nobody care politicaly and such thing

In the mean time then i saw what means solidarity on sea.

As you remember when we helped that scandinavian I think was Dane but never mind his captain and also other same ship as were not so big berthed aslongside us and as were designed to carry dangerous cargo have very powerul fire fihting pumps and start stpraying ship burning and already star beung distorted, other as hade been on big ship was impossible to come as they did but sent crew by life boats with full fire fighting eqiuipment.

Not much time was waste  talking as i recaed maybe even hundreds life boats with officers and crew came with all equipment needed as they know much of our was in trapped by fire and not posinle to use.

I remember one seniuor German officer when he and crew came on our shipo brtiefly just talk with our senior officer as was no time for talk as must stop fire ordered his men what they have to do,before it reach from top where was cabins of man caused all this to engine room in level of deck having some high diesel oil tanks, if it explode all will expolode as bomb,

Quicklyy we find priority, when i say we not mean on myself as young cadet of not even 19 years old  and few months on this 1st ship in my life

But more senior and crew and senior officer now by all means in Command of a ship in flames and Captain disabled laying on deck  I  I but senior officer on our ship now Captain and other officers experienced, that that is of utmost importance as accomodation and instrument on ship all cabins andd so cannot can be saved, main was to stop fire not to reach that engine high tanks with few hundred tons of  diesel oil

Of course I was listening my senior officer in this situation he was by all means now in Command as Captain was heavily wounded and Russian doctor said he will spend all night, with us will no go back to his ship to watch captain laying on deck.

Then I was not yet 19 years old as my class mate he was much smaller then I and was as my brother,

In such situation when adrenalin start flowing one no have or feel fear, what i realize, in one moment I went from behind accomodation where are stell ladder steps to top of accomoation and senior officer was there,

When he saw me say Niksa go down this all can melt and crush down to navigation bridge as plates steel of course was starting distorting and already on bridge all we could see was melted radars, radio station, steerings, all instruments no exist any more, and as that was burned fire was  rushing down toward engine,

Main thing was then to close as mauch doors as possible to not let oxygen to enter in and fed flames even and made it more stronger, just as we came same way down one dor only we kept opened and some with fire fighting suits i no know what nationalities enter in and keep hoses spraying  all they can and we with biggest sledge hummer start hitting one round window to put in  fire hoses and spray through it,

it was so strong glass that I cannot believe that when hit first time with sledge hummer I tought will shatered but no even was scratched

but then 2 more men came with long sharp chisels and more sledge hummesrs and each start hit that glass as long he can withstand heat in turns as was accomodation so hot that one cannot touch it despite all 2 ships berthed to us sprayed all with tons of water, eventualy window  glassl gave up shatered and we pull as musch fire hose to spray inside,

It was long battle as fire starts about 5 pm and we managed to extunguished about midnight, and all iside was one black mass, cabins instruments, and the another troblee start as we spray with water hours in hallway was water almost half metar and almost, reach door level to engine,

so we placed portable electric pump brought by seaman from other ships and have as fast as we can prevent that water no went to engine room  as in that case we will lost all power especially of main fire pumpm what was in engine and depend only of emergency one on dech house  not having but limited power of main one, so then battle start taking out water mainly with strong portable air and electric pumps last about 2 hrs and then we all fell dea tired on deck as was over that and ship was as ghost one looking as was night,

In morning we went in and saw something what no look like at all just a day before place we sleep and our cabins in accomodation and navigation bridge was mass of melted instruments, but luckily nobody was killed and mainly becouse we manage prewent that fire storm not to reach those high tanks in engine as if that happened all will violently explode and destroy us and acoomodation in  many pieces,

Then i was very young and later many times recall that you can find out how in grave emergency only someone will behave, some strong men was so in shock as parallized when that happened what not one can blame, and ones from which one never could expect at that hours behave as its drill, as i realized when adrenalin at least in my case flow you no think what could happened if??

but just do even more then you ever think you will be able to do, later in morning you realized when all was finished and ship completely burned and was almost new, importance that one must never joke whan safety drill take place.

Well trained peple can do as best as they can but if drills are no kept and did lightly no serious what depend from senior officer in charge when  is , must behave as is real emergency,

First what is done is to muster crew, as in drill only Captain stay on navigation bridge and just one man in engine room in case all other must seriously be present and on cargo ship there are two life boats one on each side of ship and one not both must have capacity to embarked all on ship,

That is as if ship is disabled and badly listed you cannot lower one life boat and if by Captain order only ship have to be evacuated that every single man know his duty, boat as  fast and lashed strong but is designed that in few minutes all lashing is open free and it is lowering into sea by gravity no need any electrical pover,

if situation is so damanding and no time then is lowered till embarkation deck all crew boards and only one man stay up pull up handle and boat is by gravity lowered to sea and as fast as posible free from fall hooks and man who lower lower down down by special rope ladder thrown while all crew was up and as fast as he could rush down ladder and board boat motor is started already while was  on deck before is lower into sea and when all are in , and situation demand as you see that ship will sink, move away to safe distance that ship no pull you down when sinking that is gravest situations,

And what said before on drill all crew excep one in engine and Captain on bridge is Mustered means gathered and senior officer chekj holding in hand table on which every one name is and read to check that all are present, as will do in real emergency to be sure that all men are safely out or have to be entered accomodation and pull out man who might be wounded out..

And it is hard to believe that on ship 1st one I never will forget even if was not such things, and on 1st ship, so then also first time I realized how ships are dangerous and very complicated machine and I one day to be able to be in charge for all what can happened have to learn a lot, and never take things for granted.

As if you sail and work on ship you must be without any fear that ata any time something can happened what not any school can teach you but now as only few month I was there first time learned way things happened that being there you are on someting huge , floating at sea, having very complicated machinery, not only in engine but all around and more over never to forget that such main engine on ship use daily a lot fuel, later when was on biggest containers as senior officers that huge and fast ships able to sail 25 knots use daily more then 200 hundred metric tons or more fuel , and that its stored in tanks,  same as is ballast tanks and its few thousand tons and what can happened in some serous accident for ship, people and enviroment, every time as man in charge have to bear in mind.

Most accidents happened by human error, not all but many, I am not saying that this can be called on ship I sailed as Cadet was human error that was more then that what that man did and what consequnces are from that.

I canot say that it is good that as young I experienced that main thing is that nobody lost life, Captain was afterwards transfered to hospital and was good sailed later many more years, but as young in such situation you have completely different way of thinking what will never forget as you one day will be senior what that means.

That is in every kind of business when one accept to be manager in charge of huge property and above all of safety ones working on company he managed, such as that big multinacional oil digging companies, how and what happened due lack of competency, people have to be treated with care but must be well traine so that can cope with situation which can arrise in any moment such as was on this ship. It is of not big value to have best man experts in their job if one who lead all that called manager no keep and lead it with strong hand as people will be listening and can respond in accidents right way only if well trained, and have competent leaders who are to be responible first for people safety and property, huge property and enviroment.

We all know what they in fact only told us what is going on on huge oil platforms for example in Gulf of Mexico where men dare to extract oil from more then 1000 m sea depth and when that disaster happened on such depth what consequences arrise.

They of course said to media they managed to stop oil leaking but on such depth it is impossible even by special submersile vehicles that spill but it is not possible and I saw what looks like nowadays sea there from thousands platforms extracting oil there and how is to work on such things

and that one have to be trained to cope when something go wrong, young men can learn not to take for granted such things, long time ago men were saying we all know that Titanic is built as unsinkable,

and what happened in few hours after hit that iceber disaappear beneath surface with many people.

Even now it is very dangerous to sail when icebergs are around as radar cannot well detect them, and its been said that one Titanic was hit was some 30 meter high but that was only above water and 8 times more is under water means some 300m roughly size of a mountain ice harder then rock even cannot be destroyed with explosive how strong is but just followed and warned all at sea of it presence , even then Titanic was warned of icebergs presence in area but once in chaarge take it lightly, was more importannt to break record accross Atlantic then slow dow and we all know how it end up.

I know even today after many years Captain all blame what is right to some extend , he was under immense pressure from company managers to sail and break record but also he and only he decide what to do when can endanger such ship and so many people , same case was with many years later with Captain of Costa Comcordia

all blame him and its right but company leaders unofficialy" suggest" him that  for entertain crew will be good to pass close to that island and we also know what happened and if he no had guts to tell them I and only I decide, at least should be on bridge when passing so dangerous close with such speed to that island.

I from later experience was in position to host huge company owner on one of his ships maybe one of wealthiest man in world and he spend one voyage on his ship, to see how is people doing with his property but although Owner Captain is one making decision despite that man who owned that and hundred other ships is on board, if ships is passing some dangerous place where traffic is dense as is in English Channel, Gibraltar, Singapore strait, and he come on the bridge and start giving suggestions to captain what to do, he can be said politely but firm to lrave the bridge , no matter that he is owner as if things went wrong captain and once in charge will be blamed,but he know that at least most will not do that to interfere but some will.

I am placing this in my blog as advice to young people when graduate some University no matter which if their wish is to become managers that have to start from lower position as school for managers to lead some corporation simply no exist, but its gain knowledge step by step starting to learn all about certain business and how to deal with employee its haardest of all deal with people. right way..

Actualy its not easyto deal with people, you must gain skill and know how to approach that they trust in you and quickly they realized are you competen or not to be manageer issuing and making decision and wrong one can lead to even financial bankrupt of company.

I will complete this blog and my personal experience where I learn a lot and many things what previously in school I wonder Why ? Now understand why when trouble happened not to loose presence of mind aas people entrusted to you wee he know how to deal and find a way out of trouble.

My advice to young peope is even when you not know simply what to do in certain situation to never show people you lead as senior, that you no know what to do,

as if you did that their world will crush and even can start panic and cool, think, and from my experience I learn that 1st thought come on your mind after carefully think what to do is always real one, time is precious

all other will distract you if you start changing decisions you made all the time, but thought that you got and its coming with experience follow it no waste precious time by changing as I said decision and trust me thats is best way to solve some situation not happening but maybe once or few times in you entire career if you wish and want be manager and feel tha you can have confidence to be in charge.

You will never know how will you behave if you not accept offerin position sayin YES, as not much chances in life you have,  but as young you have to do utmost to learn and learn so when time comes that you are ready

And as being manager decision what to do is always yours , but what i did, gather all people even lowest in rank and tell them ok, no fear what you will do to solve this situation if you on my place and do not be shamed all of you I will listen and respect but while you stress your point of you i will decide anyyway.

i will tell you one true story what happened on one war ship after world war ship in one country which I will not mention neither war ship of that country.

That war ship was anchored at certain place close to land where war was going on and ships command knew that sea mines were placed  on certain places but no know where,

Suddenly one sailor spot mine, floating to their ship which was placed and anchored to bottom and anchor caable broke and with current was drifting right toward that war ship.

Alarm was raised all high naval officer saw that time is precious there is no time to take their own anchor up and escape as mine was close and drifting quite fast towards ship, if they shot at it they will destroy mine but as was so close also their own ship, when one sailor boy let say 18 years old say take fire hoses,

all looked at him, high position naval officer for a moment realized what me meant as with all their knowledge experience and education all stay as frozen run out of options.

Then they realized wwhat that young sailor means quickly connected fire hoses and start strong fire pumps very strong pointed spray under high pressure in front of that mines mine close and causing vawes and stream and mine as beig infuenced by that strong fire hose water jets, and current it provide startrt drifting away and pass safely out of their ship what was saved by idea occured to boy of 18 years old and was only one real and what was posible to do.

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What I try to say even young men in split moment come on such briliat idea while all others high naval officer having knowledge , experience thought they will be doomed as simply nothing can be done,

and that what boy said that briliant idea certainly is not written in any book on any naval academy, in that split second real thought came on his mind only one under circumstance what was possible, and to whom, to lowess boy sailor boy of 18, while all oters in shock watch that thing will expode when come close as was magnetic type.

I never forgot that what i read long ago when became senior officer that sailor with many years of experience or no experience at all sometime come to an answer how to solve situation or at lleast trigger idea in senior officer mind and he then act and made right decision. I apreciate everyone thought as it cost nothing and know decision will be mine only on the end.

I know I wrotw a lot, words are just coming to me and I really enjoy making blog and hope young people will understandwhat I was trying to send them as advice, nobody of as was born with knowledge, and talent that without hard work can reach top in job he choose, and its important tha in job of his choice, he like it and enjoy as not always will be all according rules but if you not like what you do and do it just for gain power and money that will not last long and will not make you as best as possible in job you choose.

As I start with my expirience took place in lagos , Nigeria I will also end up with that story one never forgot 1st ship he sailed, as never forgot first time he fell in love with girl and girls with boy.

So as ship was burned and I and my school class mate were youngest company through another shiip of same owner sent then was not e-mail but by morse radio officer received telegrams tha we two will in two days go home.

So that day came and we manage to collect some cloth, my seaman book I still keep it as souvenir was half burned but can be see my photo and data in and afterwards i got new one.

We went early morning with only means of reaching shore and port of lagos wher ship agent was waiting us and organise all to aitline tickets and formalities with their immigrations and transpot to airport not so close to city.

I am my friend tought will be just formality as flight was at midnigt and we reach shore at some 9 am he wait us wit car and we went to agency and then troubles starts what he was doing with our papers and mail from company is hard to explain and I will not, but point is that we reach airpot hal andn hour our Alitalia plane is to take as to rome, and to pas airpot immigration another show they made and finaly let us in so we rush and at last moment board plane whic took of and reach Rome then with another plane to Croatia I felt as was born again, I remember when in lagos I stay few month at that high temperature and board plane in Januray it was 1976 and when land in Rome was snowing and moment I sep out from plane my nose star leaking and I feel cold as in small gap of time from equador temperature all year same came in rome covered with snow and very cold weather but lucky all was behind me,

Later I found out ship was towe by tugs to port and cargo of cement by explosive discharged as was thisck mass no to be used anymore.

Ship engine was ok, only was not possible to steer fro navigatin bridge as all was melted so officer stay up and every ship at sren part have emergency seerin deep in and can be seered but he see nothing and must be in contact with officer on shatered bridge

That enmergency wheel is placed wher is macinery turning ship wheel, in such situation and finaly they came in euriope and one dock and was all repaired and cost was huge and here my story ends hope I help you to realize how important is never take anything for granted in life, but till you are young learn hard as later when you become senior you will be one making decision,

I have to add something happened to me in Rome Fiumicino airport.sinnce our plane was in the afternoon about 5 pm to Split, in Croatia, I am my school mate, friend decide to take taxi, since we are there and have time as we came from lagos in the morning. So we passed with document immigrstions and i will never forget what happened there, in fact there are two way one leading you out , and there is fence in between for passengers came to Fiumicino Rome airpot, and in the middle onmy way ozt I saw my older brother just came from Bangko in Tailand from ship as he is also maritime officer but we shake hands of course I was in state of no shock but hard to belive it, imagine I came from Lagos and decide to with my class mate to go to Roem and on way out whom I met but my own older brother came from Bangkog on vacation from his ship and we can not then stay together as i passed imigrstion and he with other passengers on other way was going to immigration to pass in. I told him ok we will meet as I cant now go back and with same plane will go to Split in Croatia then home so we will sure meet .

all the best from Niksa