Fair Winds, My Love

26

"Cash, ba't ngayon ka lang?" agad na tanong sa akin ni Lily nang makalapit ako sa kaniya.

"I woke up late," pagdadahilan ko habang inaayos ang uniform ko. Dapat hindi ko nalang pinatulan kahuratan ni Alon 'e nalate pa tuloy ako.

"Mag-sastart na maya-maya 'yung Muster Drill, ikaw ba naka-assign na mag pakita kung paano mag-life vest?" tanong naman ni Mina sa akin. Agad naman akong umiling, wala naman kasing nagsabi na ako.

"First Muster Drill ko 'to," masiglang sabi ni Lily. "Nakaka-excite kasi kapag nakita niyo 'yung mga tao na nakangiting pumasok sa gangway grabe halatang excited sila na maka-experience nang RL service"

Tumango ako, "Even me, I felt really happy here"

"En Especes was one of the most expensive and biggest cruise ship in the world" pagkukwento naman ni Mina, "This is designed by our Captain / Architect Cyon Ecthelion. He designed this after he graduated and finished this ship in about 3 years"

"Sir Cyon is really great," komento naman nung isang crew na mukhang taga Food and Beverages Department, I noticed it because of her uniform. "He's smart and he's handsome, almost lahat nang magagandang characteristics is nasa kanya niya"

I guess she's right, Wave is almost perfect. He's too gifted, sanaol.

"OMG! There he is!" sigaw nung babae at tinuro si Wave na kasama si Asher, Wave's wearing a navy blue captain's uniform. He looks so cool in it, he glanced on my direction and smiled then turned his attention back to what he's doing.

"Engineer," pagtawag sa akin ni Mina. "Did Captain just smiled at you?"

"I'm sure he didn't" pagkontra naman agad nung babae. "He smiled at US, because he is a very kind person he just wanted to greet us."

Nagkaroon lang nang maikling briefing bago ako pumunta sa engine room, since nagsisismula na nga ang embarkation o 'yung process nang pagpasok nang mga passengers sa ship. Nasa engine room ako kasama ang iba pang mga engineers para magstart nang engine.

"Turn the extra generator," agad na command nang Chief Engineer namin kaya agad akong sumunod. I turned the generator on to provide sufficient electrical power for the increase load.

I was assigned for pre-lubrication to the main bearings since the other forces needed for the main engine is kept and we just need to verify if it's parameters is within optimum limit. I engaged the turning gear and used it to slowly turn the engine for about 30 minutes.

We also lubricated the pistons and cylinder liners are also lubricated through injecting lubricant oil while the engine is being turned. After a few minutes we also executed the kickstart to engine by charging the big air tanks to a pressure with about 30 bar by starting the air compressors.

I actually done this for a few times when I was in training and also I kept on watching other engineer's do it. Pero kinakabahan ako, hinayupak.

We maintained the air pressure so that the main engine can be started or stopped as needed while the ship is being maneuvered. After all the operations we'll just wait for the bridge to send signals for us to test the engine. Testing is a must.

After the bridge sends signal we started to the auxiliary blowers in order to provide fresh air doon sa cylinders dahil required ito for fuel combustion. Next is we carry out an air blow while indicator vows is open to the atmosphere that allows the compressed air to expel any moisture or small particles from the cylinders.