02 March 2025 03 February to 07 February 2025 - Our Lakshadweep Trip - 05 February 2025. ( Part Three)

 

02 March 2025

Our Lakshadweep Trip - 03 February to 07 February 2025.

05 February 2025. ( Part Three).

In Part two, we left the departure station around 1:13 PM.

As we approached the jetty, we had a very good look at MV Empress with the floating iron dock and an empty lifeboat.

It all made a pretty picture with the ship shining white on the dark blue calm waters of the sea and the light blue sky. MV Princess looked majestic. I thought 'majestic' suited better than 'awesome' or 'amazing'.

The approaching lifeboat was empty and was returning to the jetty to collect another group of passengers. In this particular case, it would be us.

Lifeboat reached the jetty. With the crew's help, we boarded the bobbing up and down lifeboat, and by 1:30 or so, we were making waves towards the ship.

Getting on the floating iron dock and from the dock onto the ship, we followed the same procedure we had followed in the morning, only in reverse. We had built up afair appetite, and once on board the ship, freshned up and had lunch. After lunch and a good rest in the cabin.

We went on deck 10 for the 'high-tea' and thence on to deck 11. Took some photos and had a last look at Agatti.

By then, it was approaching 6:00 PM, and I realised that the crew must be working towards getting the ship ready for sailing for the return journey.

Observing the process and how they go about it was very interesting.

For the last half an hour, I was observing a couple of local motor boats loitering just beyond the floating deck.

I observed the lifeboat offloading the last of the passengers and clearing the dock.

Another ferry boat arrived. From this, only a few crew members alighted, and some equipment was off-loaded.

I inferred that these were the last of the personnel of the ship who were returning after winding up from the beach. Those who had alighted entered the ship with the equipment.

The lifeboat cleared the dock. As the lifeboat was clear of the dock, local motor boats that were loitering around came to the floating dock. The crew sent a tow line to the motorboat, which made fast the floating dock to the motorboat. In the meantime, all the ropes securing the floating dock to the cruise ship were released. Once the floating dock was free, its job done, motor boats towed the floating dock to the shore of Agatti.

As the dock cleared the ship, the ferry boat came alongside and positioned itself directly below the devit (onboard crane that lowers lifeboats into the water). The Devit cables were lowered, and the lifting hooks were attached to the front and aft lifting points of the lifeboats by the lifeboat crew. Once secure, the lifeboat was gradually lifted and placed and secured at its place on deck 6.

I was in a good position to take a video of the complete process of getting the ship ready for sail.It was interesting to see them going about doing things they do for their bread and butter. It was good to see them doing it so well.

The complete operation was carried out with clickwork precision and synchronised so well that the completion of one action led smoothly and without time loss to the next operation. For example, off-loading last of the crew - towing away of the dock - positioning lifeboat below devit - lifting the lifeboat to deck 6 and securing it there.

For someone who understands planning and executing operations involving moving equipment, aircraft formations and personnel from different locations so that all reach their desired destination safely and in a time-bound manner prescribed manner and desired sequence, I found this complete operation very interesting.

To realise thet the ships crew had safely transported 2000 odd passangers from different decks at different times to the foating dock to lifeboat to floating dock of the jetty - from the jetty by road to the beach and to repaeat the whole process in the reverse between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM speaks of a well-evolved and time tested Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's). High level of training and regular drills of all the personnel involved. My compliments to the Safety Officer of the cruise ship and the administration for running a 'tight ship'. Once all was ready, we set sail on a northerly course and started our return journey to Mumbai.

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4Gita Gohel Rathore, Harry Ahluwalia and 2 others