| Print | Close Window | AMO Currents - Posted: January 31, 2012 |
Crew of heavy-lift ship Ocean Atlas completes around-the-world voyage
On September 26, 2011, the heavy-lift ship M/V Ocean Atlas, operated by Pacific-Gulf Marine, left Houston with a cargo of oil rig components bound for Papua, New Guinea. Little did the crew know at the time that the voyage would end up turning into an around-the-world odyssey.
After transiting the Panama Canal, the vessel encountered the first major storm of the voyage. As the weather intensified, a call for assistance to the site of a downed aircraft was received. The Intermarine-owned Ocean Atlas diverted into the storm to assist in rescue operations. After approximately six hours, the rescue effort was called off as word from the Navy was received of a false alarm.
The Ocean Atlas then sailed on to Hawaii for bunkers and proceeded to New Guinea to deliver its cargo. While in the port of Lae, the city broke out in severe riots, making life interesting and just a little tense for the crew. Word came from the home office that there was cargo waiting in Israel. That took the ship to Singapore for bunkers and Sri Lanka for personnel transfer. Sailing across the Indian Ocean, the vessel's security team ensured safe passage through high-piracy areas - the Gulf of Aden's 'Pirate Alley,' Red Sea, etc. The vessel then transited through the Suez Canal and across the Mediterranean Sea to the port of Haifa, Israel.
After a short stay in Israel for cargo loading and much needed shore time, the Atlas proceeded to Cartagena, Spain, for a very brief cargo stop. Then it received more bunkers, this time in Gibraltar, before heading across the Atlantic. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the vessel encountered another major storm, bringing the total to four for the voyage.
The Ocean Atlas finally made it back to the United States on December 30, arriving in Wilmington, N.C., to discharge cargo and complete its five-year Coast Guard inspection. The trip was almost complete but there was just one more port in order to make this an around-the-world trip. The ship left North Carolina on New Year's Day and set sail for Houston, returning January 6, 2012 to its original starting point.
Capt. Lund, in addition to receiving his own certificate, presented certificates welcoming the following SIU members to the Order of Magellan for completing the entire voyage: Boatswain Dave Hetrick, Able Seaman Barney George, Able Seaman Kevin Monteiro, Able Seaman Russell Y. Macomber, Assistant Cook Henry Commager, QMED Dan Gaffney and GUDE Randy Pacheco.
During the around-the-world voyage, the ship steamed 26,337 nautical miles, crossed 24 time zones while continuously sailing westward, encountered four major winter storms, traveled through all four hemispheres, crossed the equator four times, encountered major civil unrest, sailed through high piracy waters on numerous occasions, transited two of the world's major canals - Panama and Suez - and steamed through the busiest shipping lanes in the world, including Singapore Straits, Malacca Straits and Straits of Gibraltar.
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