Author Archives: Laleh Khalili

22 August 10.49 Ship time (GMT +3) Steaming towards Bab al-Mandab The Red Sea is such a wondrous sea. Volcanic activities around the Zubayr Islands. So many reefs and shoals and atolls, such depth and such harsh jagged mountains on … Continue reading →

21 August 10.19 (GMT +3) Steaming towards Bab al-Mandab   The ship left earlier again than anticipated. We had been scheduled for 09.00, but I could feel the engine coming on at 05.00 and then we were off at 06.00 … Continue reading →

20 August 09:05 (GMT +3) Steaming towards Jidda   Can’t really see all the reefs that the Admiralty charts say are there and which make approach to Jidda such a treacherous and difficult thing. It is hot and humid out … Continue reading →

19 August 11.50 (GMT +2) Steaming towards Jidda Had a couple of very interesting conversations today. First with Lysandro, the messman/steward whose theory it is that the 9/11 bombings was very bad for Filipino crewmen on cruise-ships. That security went … Continue reading →

18 August 2016 07.55 (GMT +2) Transitting Suez I was so excited last night I could barely sleep. Woke up several times between 02.00 and 04.30 when I finally got up. Turned out we were already steaming – and were/are … Continue reading →

16 August 12.43 Steaming through the Mediterranean towards Port Said anchorage   We are going incredibly slowly at 11.4 knots towards Port Said anchorage. The ship is filled with reefers – with even more having been loaded at Mersin. Much … Continue reading →

15 August 11.35 ship-time (GMT + 3). Steaming slowly towards Mersin   I suddenly have access to data and have spent the morning catching up with my emails. It has been a quiet morning as we have been adrift at … Continue reading →

14 August 2016 08.30 ship time (GMT+3) At Beirut port   The city is under a grey haze and standing on deck outside one is assaulted by the smell of the Burj Hammoud garbage mountain just to the east of … Continue reading →