Due to lack of information on our cargo movements we decided to go in alongside anyway, just in case they are on the way and we can get things into the hold early. The two patrol boats tied up turn out to be Malaysian Police and I go and meet the Captain to see what their intentions are. They have bought boxes of food across the Malacca Straights and are waiting for trucks from Banda Aceh to come and pick it up. They are quite happy to negotiate moving if our trucks arrive first, I explain I do not want to hinder the ferry when it arrives at 1100, so we agreed to standby and see what transpires.

There are also a lot of food boxes piled up on the quayside which look to have been dropped off by the third Malaysian vessel which left last night. A steady crowd of people come down to the wharf and load up their bicycles, motorbikes or just carry them away.

The harbour master comes down and does confirm the reason no one is on the fishing boats (as I mentioned in my update of yesterday) is simply because they have been washed away. There are about 40 empty fishing vessels in the bay, it is very sad to see.

Unfortunately the ferry does arrive before our trucks so we need to go back out and anchor again.

When I do finally get through to Pete, I discover we have five trucks getting loaded at the warehouse and we ought to expect them at the wharf by around 1530. The arrive at that time, and as we have moved the RW alongside (the Ferry departed at 1400) it's possible to start loading straight away and this is complete by 1800.

This load comprises of mattresses for the hospital at our next stop, more water sanitation equipment, tools, mosquito nets and a number of other miscellaneous items.

Pete did come down as well and I finally had a good meeting with him. Banda Aceh sounds like it is chaotic, he's of course helping us with our logistics at that end, but is also coordinating Helicopter operations to the field and incoming Cargo for the office there. A lot of the MSF staff who have come in have been dispatched to the field, so they are little short handed. He can fill these gaps nicely because he's done it all before in many other parts of the world.

One of the other problems the MSF crew are facing in Banda Aceh is the availability of truck hires. With so much aid pouring in they are at a premium, so they have decided to bring their own in shortly. They are also going to attempt the road out of Medan in the next couple of days with a truck convoy, as the warehouse in Medan is quickly filling up.

Well we departed at 1800 tonight, and we will expect to arrive in the morning tomorrow. It's good to be underway again, and yet another efficient display from the crew during the loading operations, only 2.5 hours for in excess of 10tons this time.

I am also starting to get a lot more information about other yachts coordinating relief work around here, I am just continuing to keep them all in touch with one another and keeping them in touch with one another.

That's about it from here, trust all is well

cheers Rob