Em Becomes a Tug Assistant

Dear Friends,
Hope this finds you all fine and enjoying June . Here it is cooler and everyone is suffering with the 60 degree temperature. Ski hats, parkas, and scarves are the thing now.

Last week, I had the best day I ever have had in Mozambique ....
 It is the law that a Mozambiquan pilot must standby with the Captain on the bridge to bring the ships in and take them out through the channel. I have been trying totally unsuccessfully to wrangle a place on the port tug boat to get out to sea with them. Security,  port policies, etc created a dead end for the official tug.

 I happened to meet 2 South African guys who are here with a vessel for another project, and are helping the Port temporarily with this job of moving pilots on and off ships. I asked them if I could come along if I made a lunch...and sure enough, I was at sea the next day.

We met the 1st outgoing ship which had a pilot already on it from port . We went along up against the ship’s leeward side going 6.4 knots. They lowered a ladder and the pilot climbed down onto our vessel. Then we went full throttle to the 1st incoming ship and did the same thing...up against the side, ladder lowered, and pilot climbed up to bring that ship in. Then back to the 2nd outgoing ship to get that pilot and put him on the next incoming ship. And so on.  The ships are lined up off shore waiting for the pilots.

The ships were from China, Emerites, Holland, South Africa, Monrovia, Nassau, etc. It was one of the most exciting days of my life!! Hope you all are having lots of excitement, too, but not too much!!!  Sending many greetings from Mozambique!! Emily