76. Conversation with an Agent at the General Office (cds-14)

Agent: Good morning, Chief Mate. How're you doing?

C/Off: Good morning. I'm fine, thanks. How about you?

Agent: I'm doing pretty well, I guess. Did you have a good voyage?

C/Off: We ran into two big storms on the way here, but we managed to survive. Please

have a seat. I'll get you some coffee. Agent: Thanks.

3/Off: How would you like your coffee?

Agent: With milk only, please. I'm on a diet. So you are the new Third Mate. Nice to meet

you.

3/Off: Nice to meet you, too.

C/Off: We are carrying a lot of reefer containers on this voyage, aren't we?

Agent: Yes, we are. There aren't so many oranges, but there sure are a lot of melons.

There are about one and a half times more than on the last voyage. C/Off: That many! The deck is going to be loaded. This ship has power supply problems

because she's so old. Agent: I know. I'll bring the final plan later on. The power supply will be OK, although

the GM distance will be too short. C/Off: I'll let the engine crew know about this. An auxiliary generator may be needed.

How much GM distance do we have? Agent: About 50 cm. C/Off: That's still safe. Well, we can still sail. We should be able to depart on Wednesday

evening if everything goes well. Agent: Yes, I think so.

managed to: .. .was barely able to do something

I'm on a diet: I am trying to reduce my weight.

reefer container(s): containers provided with refrigeration units

one and half times more: 150% more

power supply: supply of electric power (electricity)

GM: Gravity and Metacenter (The location of the metacenter and gravity indicates the stability of a floating

body.) auxiliary generator: additional equipment used to create electricity

8077. Conversation with the Authorities (cds-15)

C.G.: Chief Officer, may I ask you some questions about cargo operations?

C/Off: Yes, please do.

C.G.: First, could you please tell me the cargo contents from your last voyage and the

quantity of each item?

C/Off: Yes, here is the information on contents and quantities.

C.G.: OK. Now I'd also like to see the oil recordbook and the ship's logbook.

C/Off: Here they are.

C.G.: Where is the record of bilge discharges?

C/Off: Here it is.

C.G.: How about for garbage disposal?

C/Off: It's written here on these pages in the logbook.

C.G.: Chief Engineer, can you explain to me the bilge discharge method?

C/Eng: Sure. Look at this drawing. We collect bilge water in a tank and discharge it with

the bilge separator. I'll show you where it's done. C.G.: OK. You can show me later when we are in the Engine Room. Chief Officer, will

you please tell me where you incinerate plastics and where you keep the garbage? C/Off: Yes. We keep the garbage on the Poop Deck, protected from the rain and seawater. C.G.: Where's your designated smoking area when loading at port? C/Off: We have one here and here. (Indicating the areas on a map) C.G.: Let's see. This is the officers' smoking room, and this is the crew's smoking room,

right? Thank you.

C.G.: Coast Guard

cargo operations: work involving the handling of cargo

cargo contents: list of cargo carried by a ship

oil recordbook: a book showing records of oil cargo

bilge discharges: elimination or disposal of bilge water

garbage disposal: throwing away waste

drawing: picture, a graphic representing or showing something

incinerate: to bum, to eliminate something by burning

designated smoking area: area specially set up for smoking (safely)

indicating: showing