Day 4

Day 4 (10 October, Wednesday): 

0730 - 0800: Breakfast

0900: Leaving Oshima

0900 - 1200: Watchkeeping

1200 - 1300: Lunch

1300 - 1500: Watchkeeping

1500: Arriving at Onomichi

1600 - 2100: Shore leave (Dinner)

2100: Roll call

2100 - 2200: Free time, shower 

2200: Night round & lights out

Day 4:  

3 Days in Japan, finally we are setting off to sail. We were distributed into different groups. Students who are taking nautical studies were in groups 1 & 2 whereas engineering students were in groups 3 & 4. For those nautical studies students, they were given positions to be either at forward, aft or the bridge to prepare to set sail and for watchkeeping. However, for engineers they would be either in the engine control room or the engine room for watchkeeping. Nautical studies students were responsible in allowing the ship to leave the port safely by removing the mooring ropes, steer the ship and to reach our destination safely. Nautical studies students work hand in hand with the marine engineers. Marine engineers have to start up many pumps before starting up the main engine so the ship will move. We had to follow the procedures to start the main engine successfully and it took us around 30mins. For beginners like the SMA students, we totally did not know what we should do. Fortunately, the Oshima students were helpful to help us out. Also, the chief engineers guided us along the way. Although we made a lot of mistakes, they were still patient and were willing to teach us. Throughout the watchkeeping, I believed our SMA students learnt a lot.   

Suhaimi on the bridge!

Captains at aft and forward.

    

Nery in the Engine Control Room.

Reporting

Before lunch, each group had their breaks at different timings. While having our breaks, Oshima maru went under a bridge. Sailors like us, going under bridges fantasized us.  

Professor Yoshidome & Mr Koichi

Here comes the bridge... 

Before we had our lunch, each group would have a chance to set up the meals on the dinning table. After lunch, groups which were assigned to wash the plates and wipe the table would had to carry on their duty. Each time it would be a different group setting up for meals and for cleaning up. Everybody in the group was responsible to do different duties so that we could get things done fast hence this had improve our team work. Next, we had to go back to watchkeeping but this time we would be in a different station, different from the stations that we were assigned earlier on. Soon, we had reach Onomichi and this means it is our shore leave! A thing that all cadets look forward too.  

So after we reach Onomichi... Our first... 

First meal!

First shopping mall!

First boys picture! 

 We had our shore leave, went back to Oshima maru, showered and it is sleeping time. Before our lights out, group leaders from each group have to do their night round. It means that every group leader has to go around the ship to check everything is fine and also to ensure that every cabin had their lights switched off.   

But before we had our lights out, SMA students had a debrief session. Well, we did it every night when we were in Japan. So...

Presenting our hardworking SMA lecturer, Mr Tay, taking down our feedbacks during the debrief.