13 July 2006

A Special Message From The Crew Of The Esperanza

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Today is an extra special posting. The Crew of the Esperanza would like to tell our very good friends and colleagues in our Lebanese and Israeli offices, and all the people of the Middle East that we are sending our love, positive energy and thoughts to them in this difficult time. We Love you all, we hope that you are all ok, and that you will find peace very soon.

If you are reading this, please post your messages of support so our colleagues and friends in our Lebanese and Israeli offices, and all the people of the Middle East can feel that the rest of the world is thinking about them and sending their love. (Perhaps if you could mention the country you are from would be nice to)

Read The Special Message From The Crew Of The Rainbow Warrior!

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12 July 2006

Cruising Past Sri Lanka.

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

The last few days have been getting back into work again. After having a nice break from the everyday onboard stuff, and getting ashore to learn and research about rising sea levels in the Maldives, it’s back to the painting. Chipping and Painting has resumed as the weather has really improved. Our Boson, Grant and the deckhands have been keeping up with the everyday maintenance that has to be done onboard.

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10 July 2006

A Remote Island Stop Over.

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Today was something a bit different. The crew of the Esperanza had the fantastic privilege of visiting a remote island community. We were passing Kelai Island, in the Maldives to research the risks of rising sea levels on Island communities. This incredibly unique island is one of the most far northern islands in the Maldives. It's only two metres above sea level and is in constant risk of rising sea levels due to climate change.

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8 July 2006

Timezones, Haircuts and other stuff too!

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

I wish I could sit down and have a chat (perhaps a heated discussion) with Sir Sanford Fleming about his time zones idea. I’ve discovered that I no longer like this idea. So far in this trip we have crossed 2 time zones which means I have to get up an hour earlier for my watch (which starts at 4am). Anyway, that’s my rant for the day.

As the weather improves, we can begin to get back into more work. All the jobs on deck can now be done as it’s been too rough to go outside. With nicer weather, it was a good opportunity for some of the crew to get a haircut from 3rd mate and resident hack hairdresser Diek. However only Frederic and Dorothee we’re game enough to let him get anywhere near their hair. I opted out and decided to stick with the scruffy look rather than risk it.

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6 July 2006

The Espy, The Warrior and a bloke called Jim.

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

From hot to cool and choppy. If it’s not hot and flat, it’s cooler and rougher oceans. But I guess this is all the fun of it. We continue to make our way through the Indian Ocean getting closer and closer to India each day. As we plough through the waves of this vast Ocean, the Rainbow Warrior continues to work on tuna in the Med(or lack there of), and we’ve received this interesting report from Jim Wickens, our former Oceans Campaigner, at a fish and chip shop somewhere in London.

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5 July 2006

Eggs Anyone?

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Well, I decided it was time for a Video Log (VLOG). So today’s weblog is more going to be about the video. In one of my previous blogs, I mentioned that the deck of the Esperanza was so hot you could fry an egg on it. This comment seemed to gain a lot of interest so I decided to see if it actually was possible. Turns out, you can. Thanks to the sun beating down on a big bit of metal we were able to cook an egg. Check out Ocean Defenders TV to see the video of the egg being cooked. Maybe next time we could try a stir fry?

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4 July 2006

As The Smooth Sailing Ends, Bring On The Waves.

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

In the Red Sea it barely felt like we were moving. When I was in bed it felt as if I was on land. But now things have changed. In the early hours of this morning the sea started to get a little more rough (well according to Captain Frank it’s just a ripple in the water). No where near as rough as the Southern Ocean, but rough enough to make you hang on in bed so you don’t fall out. We’re only rolling about 15 degrees each way but it’s enough for me to have to type with one hand and hold onto the desk with the other. I’ve already fallen off my chair twice today. Imagine what it would be like in bigger seas.

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2 July 2006

A Much Needed Break .. A Lazy Sunday!

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

After working long hours all week, with watches throughout the day and night and some very extreme heat, it is finally Sunday. As we work 6 days a week onboard, Sunday is usually the day off. We still have our watch keepers working and the guys on the bridge, but for most people it’s a relaxing day. It was a good opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep and washing. I even decided to shave after 10 days of not doing so. Most people took the time to relax and read, lay in the sun or sleep. During the afternoon I took the opportunity to learn about navigation.

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30 June 2006

Yikes It's Hot!

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Today was hot, yesterday was hot, tomorrow will be hot .. did I mention it was hot? At about 42 degrees and 80% humidity, its darn hot! I get excited when I go from outside to inside the ship, as its only 30 degrees in the mess (the place we eat) it's much cooler! I think I'm consuming between 4 - 5 litres a day of water and sweating about that much out. I think the most enjoyable part of this heat is when I wake up in the middle of the night swimming in my own sweat. Nice! Have I mentioned it's hot? As the ship is all metal, once she heats up, there's no cooling her down.

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29 June 2006

A different sort of Pirate!

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Over the last few days we have been preparing and training for pirates. Not like you see in 'Pirates of the Carribean', but ones on speed boats. We are in one of the most dangerous areas in the world for pirates. We will have extra crew on watch right around the clock. My watch will be on the bridge tomorrow morning from 4am till 8am with the chief mate.

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28 June 2006

My first days at sea are truly something!

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

We departed Hurghada and headed south down the Red Sea. Sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. As dusk came upon us, the sun tipped over the horizon and left us with a beautiful glowing pink sky. As it became darker and darker, the sky’s shone brightly with every star, millions of them. I sat on the Stern (the back of the ship) and watched the ocean being left behind as we sailed into the pitch black darkness of this sea.

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27 June 2006

Bon Voyage

by Alex, onboard the Esperanza

The Esperanza is off to India. And I'm off the Esperanza.

I'm leaving you in the big, capable hands of Slade. Yet another Aussie, but I think we've managed to keep the international vibe. Strewth mate, I've had a bonza time.

Today we went on a snorkelling trip as a little farewell to Hurghada. It was incredible. We swam over coral reefs, teeming with fish of all sizes and colours. It's fascinating to see how they all interact. There are the outgoing life forms that swim around, come to check you out and then if you look closely under coral shelves and in the dark corners there are plenty of surprises.

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Chatting with Johan Vifian from HEPCA

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Whist in Hurghada, we have been supporting a local organization called HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association)

Whilst HEPCA was on board, We had the privilege of having a chat with Johan Vifian, Vice President of HEPCA.

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26 June 2006

Open Day - Hurghada, Egypt

by Slade, onboard the Esperanza

Well, after the brilliant effort put in by the web editors formally known as Elaine and Alex, it’s time for them to head back to the office. Today, Alex left and now I’m in the hot seat for this next leg from Egypt to India. They’re big shoes to fill, so let’s see how we go. Like Alex and Elaine, I’m also an Aussie, so will try and keep the aussie lingo to a minimum so you know what i'm actually talking about.

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24 June 2006

Seeing Red

by Alex, onboard the Esperanza

We've left the Mediterranean and headed through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea. The trip has been full of surprises. For a start, the Red Sea is blue.

It may be strangely named, but this so-called Red Sea is certainly full of underwater treasures. Check out our latest offering on Ocean Defenders TV. Its clear waters and varied marine life make this area a favourite for divers.

I had my first taste of Red Sea marine life this morning with a post-breakfast dolphin run. A dolphin run invovles someone, in this case Sari (Oceans Campaigner), yelling "There's a school of dolphins at the bow" and all in earshot sprinting towards the front of the ship at superhuman speed, leaping tall bollards in a single bound. We oohed and aahed as seven Bottlenose dolphins, including a mother and baby, swam alongside the Esperanza. They stayed long enough to say good morning before disappearing into the watery blue.

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23 June 2006

Pirates of the Mediterranean – update from the RW

by Alex, onboard the Esperanza

While we were playing the waiting game with Egyptian coastal authorities, our courageous colleagues on the Rainbow Warrior have been grappling with pirates.

They confiscated a section of an 8 km illegal driftnet being used by an Italian vessel (yep, you read it right, 8km!) and released a baby sea turtle entangled in the net. Driftnet fishing kills thousands of whales, dolphins and turtles in the Mediterranean, so this little fella was lucky to get away with his life.

This fishing practice is outlawed by the United Nations and the European Union, so why is it that Greenpeace had to step in and do something about it? In the words of Alessandro Gianni aboard the Rainbow Warrior, “it is scandalous that for years Mediterranean governments have continued to condone piracy, when the law has given them a mandate to protect the Mediterranean Sea."

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From the Med to the Red Sea

by Alain, onboard the Esperanza

We arrived in Port Said late Wednesday evening. First we were supposed to go at anchor, waiting there to join the convoy that will pass the Suez Canal. But a few minutes before getting to the anchor point, change of plans, we were going in the harbour, alongside...

There was a pretty interesting and intense moment; as soon as we stopped the engines, our vessel was "visited" by a bunch of people from the agent to some guys that stepped on our ship trying to sell us some "typical" souvenirs from Egypt. The poop deck turned into some kind of open market and the place remained very animated until the end of my harbour watch (4am). I knocked off to my cabin to get some rest, the coming day is going to be very busy. We are due to start our transit through the canal at 6am....

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18 June 2006

Notes from a seasick sailor

by Alex, onboard the Esperanza

My first ever day as a sailor, and it’s a beauty. Brilliant sunshine, calm, sparkling azure waters. I board the Esperanza from Port Limassol in Cyprus as it's refuelling at sea. I’m going to be on this ship for less than two weeks, but already I have the feeling that I want to stay for a long, long time.

We’re heading for the region between Turkey and Cyprus to document bluefin tuna fishing practices there, and to estimate the size of the tuna population. There is a lack of information about the Turkish tuna fishing fleet, so it’s a bit of a black hole. We hope it's going to give us more of an idea of just how much devastation the tuna population has suffered in this region.

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