GIÁO TRÌNH WELCOME ON BOARD VSUP PROJECT

Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

WELCOME ON BOARD
Volume 1
Conversation On Merchant Vessel

English Practice For Vietnamese Seamen
All Japan Seamen’s Union

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

1. On The Plane – The Declaration Card
Announcement:

Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon be distributing Immigration

Cards and Declaration Cards. Please fill them out and ask the cabin
attendants should you require any help.
Tan:

what does “Occupation” mean on the Immigration card?

Dong:

I think that it means the kind of business we are in. I guess we can write
“seaman”, can‟t we?

Tan:

I think so.

Dong:

I brought 400 Lucky Strike cigarettes and 200 Seven Stars cigarettes with
me. I wonder if I have to declare them?

Tan:

I‟m not sure. Let‟s ask the cabin attendant. Excuse me, may we ask you a
question?

CA:

sure.

Dong:

he brought a total of 600 cigarettes with him. Does he have to pay tax on
them?

CA:

tax exemption for non-Japanese citizens is up to 400 japanese cigarettes
and 400 non-japanese ones.

Dong:

I see. He has 400 non-japanese cigarettes and 200 japanese cigarettes
ones, so he‟s within the tax exemption, isn‟t he?

CA:

that‟s right. So you don‟t have to declare them on the Declaration Card.

Dong:

I see. Also, I brought a camera with me. Should I declare it?

CA:

if your camera is new and its price is over ¥10,000, then it is a taxable
item. However, if you do not have any other article worth more than
¥10,000, then a camera is taxable only if it cost you more than ¥20,000.

Dong:

my camera isn‟t new.

CA:

OK. Then you don‟t need to declare it as long as it clearly looks used.

Dong:

I see. Thank you.

CA:

you‟re welcome.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

2. Talking With Another Passenger
Dong:

I‟m bored with the scenery. All I can see are clouds. (pointing at a
mountain). Wow! Look! That must be Mt. fuji! Splendid!it‟s exactly like in
the picture I saw.

Tan:

Wow! It‟s really beautiful! Is the white stuff on top, snow?

Pass:

It‟s snow, that‟s right. You‟re lucky to see it so clearly. It‟s quite beautiful,
that‟s true. Is this your first time in japan?

Dong:

No, it‟s our second time, but we didn‟t see it last time. We‟re really lucky,

aren‟t we?

Pass:

Are you here on business?

Dong:

No, we‟re seamen. We were hired by a japanese company and we‟re
going to board a ship in Yokohama.

Pass:

You‟re seamen? It‟s the first time that I‟ve met seamen. Nice to meet you.
It seems like a tough job, doesn‟t it? By the way, where are you from?

Tan:

I‟m from Hanoi, in Vietnam.

Pass:

I‟ve never been to Hanoi but I saw on tivi that Hanoi is quite a modern city
now.

Dong:

Yes, it is. Is Mt. Fuji covered with snow throughout the year?

Pass:

No, it isn‟t. summer in japan is from june to august, and the snow melts
then. After that it is the fall season until the end of November. During the
winter, from November to around April, it‟s covered with snow.

Dong:

I see.

Pass:

Have a good trip.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

3. At Customs – Narita Airport
C.O. :

You‟re seamen, aren‟t you? Open your suitcase, please.

Tan:

Yes, just a moment. There you are.

C.O. :

Are you carrying any liquor or cigarettes?

Tan:

Yes, I have two cartons of cigarettes.

C.O. :

Let me see them.

Tan:

( Taking one carton from his pocket and the other from his suitcase)
Here they are.

C.O.:

( Looking at them carefully to see whether there are drugs hidden.). Thank
you. That‟s OK. May I check the contents of your suitcase?

Tan:

yes, go ahead.

C.O.:

(looking at each items one by one) what‟s this?

Tan:

it‟s some medicine I bouught in Vietnam.

C.O.:

let me have a look inside. (taking out some packages) what‟s this medicine
for?

Tan:

it‟s for the stomach.

C.O.:

OK. Thank you. Please go ahead. Next, please.

Tan:

he really took his time. I was starting to lose patience!

Dong:

I almost lost my mind too! I‟d heard they were very strict with drugs, and
they really are. There‟s so much smuggling from southeast Asian countries
that it makes them very nervous.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1

Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

4. Meeting with an Agent(1)
Tan:

(At Narita Airport‟s Gate No. 2) wow! There are so many people. Where‟s
Mr. Yamada, our agent?

Dong:

Apparently, he‟s waiting for us and holding a placard with our names on it.
Look, it might be him.

Tan:

Excuse me. Are you Mr. Yamada from international Marine? We‟re Dong
and Tan from Vietnam. We‟re supposed to board the persian Adventure.

Yamada: Welcome to Japan. My name‟s Yamada and I work at international Marine.
Dong:

Nice to meet you. I‟m Dong, Dang Thai Dong, third Mate.

Tan:

Nice to meet you. I‟m Tan, Ngo Cong Tan, Third Engineer.

Yamada: How was your trip?
Dong:

It was great! We saw Mt. Fuji from the plane. It was beautiful.

Yamada: I‟m great to hear that. Did you have any problems at customs?
Tan:

No, we didn‟t, but we were searched quite thoroughly.

Yamada: That‟s understandable. Customs officers are now very strict because drug
smuggling from southeast Asian countries into Japan has been increasing
recently.
Dong:

They looked through our luggage. Is it that easy to find drugs?

Yamada: According to the news, they often find drugs that way. Smuggling by cargo
ship also seems to be quite popular. Japanese customs officers are
confident of their ability to fiing smuggled goods. There is a minibus
waiting for us. Shall we go?

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

5. Meeting with an Agent (2)
( Dong and Tan exit from Gate A. suddently, a Japanese man calls them over)
Stranger: Excuse me, you‟re Mr. Vu Van Tu from the Vietnam ABC Company, aren‟t

you?
Dong:

No, actually, I‟m not. My name‟s Dong, Dang Thai Dong. I‟m not with the
Vietnam ABC company.

Stranger: I‟m very sorry.
Tan:

It‟s difficult to find people with this crowd.

Dong:

I think our agent has a placcard with our names on it. Let‟s try to find him.

( Ten minute later)
Tan:

He doesn‟t seem to be here. Has he got the meeting place wrong? There
are two terminals at Narita Airport. This is Terminal 1, isn‟t it?

Dong:

Anyway, we can‟t do anything now but wait. And we don‟t know the phone
number. Let‟s sit on that bench and wait.

(ten more minutes later)
Tan:

Look! That man seems to have the placard with our names on it. Excuse

me. Are you Mr. Yamada? We‟re Tan and Dong from Vietnam.

Yamada: Oh, thank goodness! I‟m glad we were able to meet up. We were delayed
because of the traffic. There was a big accident on the highway on the way
to the airport. This has never happened to me in my 8 years of experience
with this company. Today‟s not my lucky day. I‟m sorry to have kept you
waiting.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

6. At Tokyo Station
( They are transferring from the Yamanote Line to the Tokaido shinkansen)
Dong:

I think this is the right way, but with all these people I‟m not sure! It‟s peak
hour. Anyway, commuting is always bad.

Tan:

Let‟s ask someone. (he stops a passerby) excuse me, is this the way to
the shinkansen?

Person:

There are several shinkansens. Which one are you looking for?

Tan:

Straight ahead? Ok. Thank you very much.

Dong:

Let‟s go.

Stat. staff: Will you show me your ticket, please?
Tan:

Here it is. Which platform does the train leave from?

Stat. staff: Platform 16.
Tan:

Platform 16. thank you.

Dong:

We should have lunch on the train. Let‟s buy some food.

Tan:

That‟s a good idea. If possible, I‟d like to have some typical Japanese
food.

(At a stall nearby)
Dong:

“Makunouchi-bentou”. I think it‟s a Japanese packed lunch. I‟ll have that.

Announcement: Hikari Super-Express 163, bound for Okayama at 12:45, will leave
Shortly from Platform 16.
Tan:

Let‟s hurry or it‟ll leave without us. We have seats A and B in car No. 12.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

7. At the Mizushima-Port Service Boat Station
Tan:

( To the staff at the Service Boat Station) Excuse me, we want to board the
Persian Adventure. When does the service boat leave?

Staff:

Marine No. 1 leaves at 1 pm. She‟s over there.

Tan:

Thanks. By the way, has the Persian Adventure come into berth yet?

Staff:

Well, she was supposed to be here at 12 o‟clock so I suppose she has.
Look, you can see her there.

Dong:

Oh, that‟s true. It‟s the one with the reddish funnel, isn‟t it?

Staff:

Yes, it is.

Dong:

Do you know the schedule?

Staff:

I heard that the ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) is the day after
tomorrow, but I don‟t know the details.

Tan:

That‟s way too short, isn‟t it?

Staff:

All specialized carriers do the same.

Dong:

I‟d like to buy some cookies. Is there a shop around here?

Staff:

There is a convenience store further down the street. Go out here, turn left
at the corner and then go straight on. Go on about 200 meters and you‟ll
find it on your right.

Dong:

Thank you.

Staff:

Be sure not to miss the service boat.

Tan:

Don‟t worry. We still have 30 minutes until it leaves. Let‟s go.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

8. Getting Lost

Tan:

I thought it would be easy to find the shop, but I can‟t see it anywhere.

Dong:

I wonder if we‟ve lost our way. Maybe we turned at the wrong corner.
Everything‟s written in Japanese, and there‟s kanji everywhere!. I can‟t
understand anything.

Tan:

We‟ll have to turn back. Let‟s go back to that corner.

Dong:

We don‟t have enough time. Let‟s ask someone.

Tan:

Do they speak English, though? I‟ve heard that ordinary Japanese people
are not very good at speaking English.

Dong:

Anyway, let‟s ask that student. Excuse me, do you speak English?

Student:

Yes, I‟m studying English at school. Can I help you?

Dong:

Yes. We want to go to the convenience store nearby but we‟re a little lost.

Student:

There‟s the “Morning Light” that way. Turn right over there. Go straight on
for about 100 meters. You‟ll see a set of traffic lights. Turn left there and
you find it.

Dong:

Thank you very much.

Student:

You‟re welcome. Are you seamen?

Dong:

Yes, we are. We‟re boarding a tanker in Mizushima.

Student:

It takes five minutes from the shop to the boat station. Will you know how
to get there.

Dong:

Yes, we will. We just came from the station so we‟ll probably be able to get
back.

Student:

That‟s good. Take care of yourselves. Good-bye.

Dong:

Thank you very much.

Tan:

Thank goodness he could speak English! I was very impressed with that
student. He looked like a very competent young man.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

9. At a convenience Store
Staff:

May I help you?

Tan:

I‟d like to buy some cookies.

Staff:

They are on that shelf over there. Please choose what you like.

Tan:

these are chocolate-flavored cookies. Excuse me, how much are these? I
can‟t see the price.

Staff:

I‟m sorry but all the prices are bar-coded only. Those are ¥200.

Tan:

Thanks.

Dong:

¥200 is expensive, I think. Let‟s look for cheaper ones. How about these?
It says “potato chips” on the packet. They‟re ¥130.

Tan:

It‟s quite light for such a big packet but it looks good. OK, I‟ll buy two of
them.

Dong:

I‟ll buy some too.

Staff:

Do you want to pay for these separately or together?

Tan:

Together, please.

Staff:

That comes to ¥546.

Dong:

Ah, isn‟t it supposed to be ¥520 since they‟re ¥130 each?

Staff:

You need to add the 5% sales tax which comes to ¥26.

Dong:

Is the tax imposed on everything?

Staff:

Yes, in principle it‟s on everything. Will that be all?

Dong:

Yes, here‟s a ¥1,000 bill.

Staff:

Thank you. Here‟s your change: ¥454.

Tan:

Thank you. (they go out ot the shop) I wonder if it‟s safe enough for such a
young boy to look after such a big shop on his own?

Dong:

I was surprised too but I heard that Japan was a very safe country.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

10. In a taxi
Dong:

We should get going. We don‟t have much time left. Shall we take a taxi?

Tan:

Yes. But can we catch one easily? Ah, here comes one now. Flag it down.
Oh, there‟s already a passenger in it. That‟s no good.

Dong:

Here comes another one. It‟s stopping. The red lamp at the front seems to
mean that it‟s free.

Tan:

Wow! The door opens automatically! Aren‟t Japanese taxis amazing!

(they get in the taxi)
Driver:

Hello. Where will you be going?

Tan:

To the service boat station at Mizushima Port, please. How much will that
be?

Driver:

Mizushima Port, service boat station. Yes, sir. The basic fare is ¥560 for
the initial two kilometers and then it‟s an additional ¥80 per 200 meters. So
it will cost about ¥640 from here.

Dong:

Do you have the same taxi fares everywhere in Japan?

Driver:

No. generally speaking, it is cheaper in urban areas than in rural areas.
Basic fares vary from ¥300 - 400 to ¥600 - ¥700. competition is very tough
so we don‟t earn much.

Tan:

It‟s a difficult job, isn‟t it?

Driver:

Well, I still have to earn a living, you know. Here we are. Is this all right?

Tan:

Yes, here is fine.

Driver:

Just a moment, please. I‟ll pull over.

Tan:

How much is it?

Driver:

(checking the meter) it‟s ¥640, please.

Dong:

Don‟t we need to pay the sales tax?

Driver:

The tax is already included.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project
11. Self-Introduction – The Captain’s Cabin
(After knocking at the door of the Captain‟ Cabin)
C/Off:

Captain, Third Mate Dang Dong and Third Engineer Ngo Tan are here, sir.

Captain:

Come in. I‟ve been expecting you.

C/Off:

Excuse me folks. Let‟s go in. Captain, I‟d like to introduce you to Third
Mate, Mr. Dong Dang, and to Third Engineer, Mr. Tan Ngo.

Dong:

Nice to meet you. I‟m third Mate Dong Dang, from Hanoi City. I am 22
years old and I am determined to do my best.

Tan:

Nice to meet you, sir. I‟m third Engineer Tan Ngo, from Ho chi Minh city. I
am 22 years old and I hope to do my best too.

(Shaking hands)
Captain:

Nice to meet you both. I‟m Captain Shimoda. Welcome aboard the Persian
Adventure. Please have a seat.

Dong/Tan: Thank you, sir
Captain:

Is this your first time on a japanese ship?

Dong:

Yes, it is. And I‟m very nervous. Also, I‟ve never been on such a large ship.

Captain:

Everyone is nervous the first time. Be sure not to get injured and don‟t get
into trouble. These are the most important things. Also, always do my best.
If you don‟t understand something, just ask us. In Japan, we have a
proverb which says: “Asking for help is a momentary shame, but never
asking for help is a lifetime shame”. So try hard on your own, and if you
still don‟t understand, ask for help. The worst situation is when you pretend
that you understand and then you fail to do your work.

Dong/Tan: Yes, sir.
Captain:

Enjoy your time on board.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

12. Self-Introduction – The COC Room of the Tanker
(COC: Cargo Oil Control)
2/Off:

Hi, you‟re the third Mate, Mr. Dang, aren‟t you? Welcome on board. I‟m the
second Mate and my name is Tanaka. Nice to meet you.

Dong:

Nice to meet you too. I‟m Dong Dang, I‟m 22 years old and I‟m from Hanoi.

2/Off:

Is this your first time on a tanker?

Dong:

Yes, it is. I‟ve been on a 20,000 ton bulk carrier before, and I received
tanker training in Vietnam, which was mainly lectures. I also trained using
a tanker simulator at one of the Japanese shipping company‟s training
centers. It was quite helpful.

2/Off:

I did that simulator training too. Training is different in various ways from
the real job, but it‟s true that it‟s helpful. By the way, I‟m from Hiroshima
Prefecture, I have a family with three children. The eldest one is 13 years
old. He is a junior high school student. My family comes to see me
whenever a ship arrives in Japan. They have already been to my cabin
and made a big fuss.

Dong:

That‟s great. I‟m single and my parents live with my two elder sisters and
two younger brothers. Both sisters work for Japanese companies in
Vietnam. My brothers are college students and they hope to pay their own
way through college. There‟s a lot of difference in culture and in social
structure between Japan and Vietnam, so please tell me everything about
japan.

2/Off:

Yes, there are a lot of differences. Learning about each other‟s culture
helps us understand each other better. That‟s the first step that will allow
us to spend a pleasant and peaceful time on board.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

13. Self-Introduction – A passage
Tan:

(To a Japanese crew member passing by) Hello. I‟m Third Engineer, Tan
Ngo. I just came on board.

2/Eng:

Hi. Nice to meet you. I‟m second Engineer, Suzuki. I‟m sorry but I was
checking a pump and that prevented me from being in the engine control
room when the Chief Engineer introduced you.

Tan:

While I was in the engine room, I was surprised by the size of the engine.
It‟s the first time that‟ I‟ve seen such a big one!

2/Eng:

This ship keeps us busy and she‟s good one to learn jobs on.

Tan:

I‟m sure I‟m learn a lot. I was also surprised by the small number of crew
members.

2/Eng:

Yes. It means that each crew member takes on a lot of responsibility.
Quickly become familiar with the ship, and take care of your
responsibilities. We all have faith in each other. I‟ll help you whenever
there‟s something that you don‟t understand. Also, read and study as
many instruction books as possible. And don‟t hesitate to learn things
using your hands, feet and body. This is the way Japanese people work.

Tan:

I understand. I was told the same in Vietnam. If one willingly copes with
difficult tasks, then one can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

2/Eng:

Exactly. Work hard and you‟ll gain self-confidence. And always perform
good work. Oh, by the way, I should tell you more about myself. I‟m 30
years old, I‟m single, and I come from Yamaguchi prefecture. My hobbies
are playing golf and fishing. How about you, are you single?

Tan:

Yes, I am. I‟m 22 years old and I come from Ho Chi Minh City. I have an
older sister and three younger brothers. My hobby is reading books.

2/Eng:

I‟d like to ask you more about your city later. Right now, we have a busy
schedule, so let‟s get back to work. We should have a drink later on,
between us single men.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

14. Being taken to a Cabin
2/Off:

OK, I‟ll take you to your cabin. Just follow me. We are on D-Deck now.
Your cabin is on B-Deck, two floors above. Let‟s take the elevator.

Dong:

Is the elevator available at any time?

2/Off:

Except during an emergency, you can use it anytime. You should also
abviously keep good manners. Shut the door quietly but firmly. Here we
are. This is your cabin.

Dong:

Thank you.

2/Off:

The next cabin is the Chief Mate‟s. and the First Engineer, second
Engineer and third Engineer‟ cabins are also on this floor.

Dong:

Are the chief Engineer and the radio officer on the same deck as the
Captain?

2/Off:

That‟s right. There‟s a water fountain over there. When you want to drink
water, just serve yourself. Next to it is the laundry room. There are two
washing machines. One is for underwear and slightly dirty clothes. The
other is for heavily stained clothing such as oily work wear. Please tell the
chief officer whenever they are out of order.

Dong:

I will. By the way, your English is very good.

2/Off:

Thank you. I‟m very glad to hear that. I often read English newspapers. But
no more compliments. Why don‟t you settle down in your cabin?

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

15. Getting to know the Ship – The Bridge
Dong:

The eye altitude on the VLCC is very high. How high is it?

2/Off:

It is 26 meters when fully loaded and 37 meters when at ballast level. The
ship is now half loaded so it is about 32 meters.

Dong:

I know most of the names of the equipment here, although the models are
different, of course. The steering stand looks like a car‟s steering wheel. It
doesn‟t look like a ship‟s wheel at all. This is the engine control panel. This
is the engine telegragh, isn‟t it? And this is the telephone which connects
you to the engine room, isn‟t it?

2/Off:

Yes, it is. All you have to do is pick up the reciever and speak. The rest are
the meters related to the engine. And this is the Doppler sonar. It‟s more
accurate than the electric-magnetic log. It is especially helpful when
coming into berth.

Dong:

This is the radar, isn‟t it? Ait has ARPA!

2/Off:

It has ARPA, which is very useful. Make sure to remember that using your
own eyes is essential. You should never rely solely on the radar. Don‟t
depend on the radar picture for information. Always confirm with the naked
eye, even if visibility is bad.

Dong:

Yes, I understand. It seems like the obvious way to do it.

2/Off:

The ship is equipped with an electrical chart system, which indicates the
position of the ship by receiving signals from the GPS. But observing the
position with your own eyes, especially for cross bearing, is part of the
basics for a deck officer.

Dong:

I understand. I will learn cross bearing properly. This is the GMDSS, isn‟t
it?

2/Off:

Yes. Have you ever used it before? Transmission‟s done only by the
captain or the Radio Officer, though.

Dong:

Actually, I have used one on a ship, previously.

2/Off:

That‟s good.

VLCC: Very Large Crude Carrier
GPS: Global position satellite System
GMDSS: Global Marine Distress and Safety System
Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

16. Getting to know the Ship – the Radio Office
Tan:

Excuse me. May I come in?

R/Off:

Hi. Sure, come in.

Tan:

I brought my passport, my mariner‟s license, and my seamen‟s book.

R/Off:

Thank you. The expiration date in your passport is in 2001, so you have
three more years. Is this seamen‟s license Vietnamese? This ship‟s
Panamanian, so we need a panamanian license. Do you have one, as well
as the seamen‟s book?

Tan:

Yes, I do, but I left them in my cabin.

R/Off:

I need to see them. Bring them later, please. Do you have vaccination
certificates?

Tan:

I have a cholera certificate. I‟ll bring it later too.

R/Off:

Don‟t you have a yellow-fever certificate?

Tan:

No I don‟t.

R/Off:

That‟s no good. You won‟t need it for this voyage but you might need it for
the next one. You should get your yellow-fever vaccination done next time
you are in Japan. It is too late to get it now.

Tan:

I‟m sorry. I wasn‟t told about it. By the way, the radio equipment isn‟t like
the former equipment any more, isn‟t it?

R/Off:

It was changed when we started using the GMDSS.

Tan:

So all the information is exchanged with the GMDSS?

R/Off:

Yes, we can say so. Most messages sent between a ship and the

headquarters are done by INMARSAT. In the vicinity of Japan, we use the
coastal telephone system which covers a wide area since it also recently
started using the satellite system. Another system is the VHF telephone
that we use to contract pilots, etc. INMARSAT is available for private
telephones, too.

INMARSAT: International Marine Satellite.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

17. Getting to know the Ship – A Cabin
Dong:

It‟s quite a big room, with a big window, a shower, and a toilet.

2/Off:

The ship‟s accommodations were built by the Japanese ship owners and it
didn‟t use to appeal to us compared to the accommodations of European
ships. But lately, conditions have improved.

Dong:

Is this telephone used only in the ship?

2/Off:

Yes, it is. It‟s mostly used by the Quartermaster to call you 15 minutes
before your watch. There is a coastal telephone system installed at the
bridge and in the general office. It covers not only the Japanese coastal
area, but also the Bashi Channel area. We use it to communicate with the
head office.

Dong:

Can I drink the water from the tap?

2/Off:

No, you‟d better not drink it. It‟s only for washing and rinsing. We call it
“fresh water”. It is distilled seawater that comes from an evaporator in the
engine room, so there might be unwanted bacteria in it. You should drink
the water from the water fountains.

Dong:

Do I have to clean my cabin myself?

2/Off:

Basically, yes. But the mess boy sweeps the ship once a week. He also
changes bed sheets every two weeks.

Dong:

The word “antenna” is written on this box by the wall. What is this antenna
for?

2/Off:

This is an antenna for a radio. When you connect your radio to it, you can
listen to short-wave broadcasting in your cabin. Take a single electrical
wire and wind it 10 to 20 times into a coil with a diameter of about 10cm.
then connect one end of the coil to this antenna terminal and the other to
the ground terminal. Put the coil close to the radio and you can hear
clearly.

Dong:

Can we listen to Vietnamese radio?

2/Off:

I believe you can in the south China Sea.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

18. Getting to know the Ship – The Dining Hall
C. Stew:

Here‟s the third Mate‟s table, and here is the third Enineer‟s table.

Dong:

Thank you. Breakfast is served at seven o‟clock, lunch at twelve o‟clock,
and dinner‟s served at five-thirty, am I right?

C. Stew:

Yes, that‟s right. But the third Mate‟s dinner is served st five o‟clock
because you have to relieve the Chief Mate when he eats dinner. It is selfserve dining room, so make sure that you return your dirty dishes to the
basin in the galley after you finish your meal.

Dong:

I will. What kind of food do you serve here?

C. Stew:

Mainly Japanese food for the Japanese, and Vietnamese food for the
Vietnamese. But at times, we serve the same meal for everyone, such as
steak. Do you like Japanese sashimi or sushi?

Tan:

Yes, I like it very much.

Dong:

Me too. I like sukiyaki too. Actually, I‟m interested in Japanese food, so I

cut some Japanese recipes out of a newspaper and took them with me.

C. Stew:

That‟s good. I‟ll prepare some one day. I think that will serve sukiyaki for
the welcome party, after we‟re off at sea.

Dong:

That‟s plendid. Will we able to drink beer?

C. Stew:

We have a company policy about alcohol. You can drink, but there‟s a
limit. In any case, just enjoy yourself and don‟t get drunk.

Tan:

Don‟t worry.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

19. Getting to know the Ship – The Engine Control Room
1/Eng:

Let me briefly show you the control room equipment. This ship is a socalled M0 ship, and the main engine is operated from three places: the
bridge, here in the control room, and locally.

Tan:

What situation requires the main engine to be operated from the bridge, or
locally?

1/Eng:

We usually operate the main engine from the bridge while at sea. We have
to operate locally when the remote-control system breaks down. But
special skills are required for that. We check and practice the operation
locally before entering and leaving port. Will you be training soon?

Tan:

Yes, and I‟ll do my best.

1/Eng:

The main engine is a Hitachi B&W 8S80MCE. Its CSO is 18,071 kilowatts
at 69.7 RPMs. The diameter of the cylinders are 800 mm, and the piston
stroke is 2,592 mm.

Tan:

It‟s huge. A cylinder is big enough for an adult to work inside it.

1/Eng:

Yes, exactly. We can go and see a cylinder where we are now changing
an exhaust valve. I‟ll take you there later.

Tan:

I‟m looking forward to it.

1/Eng:

Yes. The main engine and mmost auxiliary machines are operated and
turn on and off, here, in the control room. We can check their condition,
too.

Tan:

do you mean that no one needs to stay in the engine room?

1/Eng:

Not exactly. As I told you before, an M0 system is applied so that we don‟t
need to check it while at sea. All of the engine crew members engage in
maintenance work. An engineer and an oiler both assigned to an M0 watch
have to check and maintain the main engine and the equipment in the
engine room. Whenever the M0 alarm rings, they have to respond to it.

Tan:

This is the first time that I‟ve worked on a M0 ship. Please give me a lot of
advice.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

20. Getting to know the Ship – The Upper Deck
C/Off:

Let me quickly show you the deck. Be sure to wear a helmet whenever you
work on deck. There‟s one that has “Third Officer” written on it.

Dong:

I found it.

C/Off:

We must go one floor above the upper deck, it‟s D-Deck. The entrance
used should be the one opposite this one. Come out from the starboard
side. Both doors on the upper deck are to be shut firmly like this. The use
of this door is prohibited, except when there‟s an emergency.

Dong:

This is a deck Seal Tank of the Inert Gas System, isn‟t it?

C/Off:

You studied very well. Inert gas is sent to this deck seal tank through that
big pipe after it is generated by the inert fan room on top of the engine
room. Then, from here, it provides inert gas to each tank through the deck
pipeline. You will study all this in detail later. We can say that the deck seal
tank is the most basic safety device. Seawater is continuously supplied
from the engine room.

Dong:

Is it sent through a special pump?

C/Off:

Is it sent through a GS pump, the fire pump, and any other soecialized
deck seal seawater pump. If one pump is out of order, another one is
supposed to work.

Dong:

This mooring winch is hydraulically operated, isn‟t it? Where‟s the
hydraulic pump?

C/Off:

One is in the steering engine room for the aft part. Another is in the center
store for the mid-ship part, and the other is in the bosun store for the fore
part. You should inform the engine room before you turn them on or off.

Dong:

These are the main piplines: No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, the inert line, and the
COW line, aren‟t they?

C/Off:

That‟s right. You can differentiate piplines since they are color-coded. This
is a small line. This is a bunker line. This is a fire line, of course. This is a
form line for the fire line.

Welcome On Board

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Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project
21. Getting to know the Ship – The Poop Deck

2/Off:

I stand on the poop deck when berthing except when berthing SBM or
anchoring. You have to let me kow whenever when we do a trial run of the
engine. We do it every time we leave port. I then check it aft is normal, and
then I check for fishing boats or small boats, or if the crew left fishing
tackles. As for the accommodation ladder, we heave it up a little when the
ship moves. After that, we do an engine test by contacting the engine
room.

Tan:

I see. How about checking the steering gears?

2/Off:

we do it before or after the engine test. You should do it after I enter the
steering engine room. I check the movement of the rudder and see if the
hydraulic system works well.

Dong:

Communication between us is done only by transceiver?

2/Off:

Yes. We can even use the one in the steering engine room.

Dong:

What‟s this wire?

2/Off:

It is a fire wire. A tug boat uses this wire to pull the ship from the berth
when she can‟t move on her own, in case of a fire during the cargo work,
etc. Regulations about setting this wire are very strict in ports so you have
to follow the rules. This is to be set when the ship enters the Maritime
Traffic Safety Law areas in Japan.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project
22. Getting to know the Ship – The Engine Room

1/Eng:

Here‟s your new workplace, the Persian Adventure‟s engine room.

Tan:

The size of the engine surprises me. it‟s huge! The engine room is also
bigger, brighter, and quieter than I expect it would be.

1/Eng:

It isn‟t too noisy at port, but it becomes very noisy at sea, so be sure to
wear ear plugs while you work in the engine room. Also, it is essential to
keep good maintenance of the lighting equipment for safety reasons. Since
you are in charge of electricity, you are also responsible for the safety of
the work place.

Tan:

I‟m looking forward to starting my job because it seems challenging. By the
way, did you change the main engine fuel oil from heavy fuel oil to diesel
oil before entering port?

1/Eng:

We used to do that, but FO valves have improved recently. We can now
use heavy fuel oil even while at port. But the FO pump must still always be
in operation, of course.

Tan:

Where are the cargo pumps? I can‟t see them.

1/Eng:

For safety reasons, they are in the pump room in another section. All lights
in the pump room are gas tight.

Tan:

How do you switch pumps?

1/Eng:

We use the No. 1 group when going outbound, and the No. 2 group when
going inbound. We switch pumps while warming up the engine when we
leave port.

Tan:

Do the two diesel generators run the same way?

1/Eng:

The Second Engineer, who is in charge of the diesel generators, adjusts
their operating times according to his work plan.

Tan:

That maintenance plan applies to the main engine and to the important
auxiliary machines such as the generators, the air compressors, and the
boilers, doesn‟t it?

1/Eng:

You got it! Proper maintenance of the machinery is essential for the ship‟s
safe and economical navigation.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

23. Getting to know the Ship – The Galley
Tan:

Thank you very much.

C. Stew:

You‟re welcome.

Tan:

Is it OK if I put the dishes here?

C. Stew:

Yes, it is. How was your meal?

Tan:

It was very tasty. I really liked the juice steak and the big lobster. How
much are your Food expenses for us all?

C. Stew:

They are now ¥900 a day. This is in accordance with the contract between
shipping companies and the All Japan Seamen‟s Union. This budget
allows us to buy good food that is supplied in singapore.

Tan:

Do we stop in singapore?

C. Stew:

No, we don‟t. we get the food from singapore from a supply boat. It comes
on several slings, and it is hard work. Will you help us next time, because
we need all the arms we can find

Tan:

I will. By the way, may I use the refrigerator in the galley?

C. Stew:

Yes, you may. You have to write your name on your food, and make sure
to keep it clean. You may also use the microwave oven.

Tan:

I usually have snacks during night navigation-watches, so I bought cup-ofnoodle soups. Can I boil water in the microwave oven?

C. Stew:

No, you shouldn‟t use it for that. You can use the water boiler in the galley.
And after you finish eating, you should rinse the container before disposing
of it.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1


Vietnamese Seafarer Upgrading Project

24. Getting to know the Ship – The Toilet
2/Off:

Let me show you the toilet.

Dong:

Are there common toilets only in front of the COC?

2/Off:

No. there are some in front of the workers room on the upper deck, and
others in the crew quarters on C-Deck. Cleaning is done by the deck crew,
but we must also make an effort to keep them clean.

Dong:

Is the flush water seawater?

2/Off:

Yes, it is provided by the GS Pump in the engine room. You must report
any problem to the Chief Officer, for example, if the toilet clogs up or if the
water doesn‟t stop running. Then repairs can be done quickly. We must all
be responsible for the maintenance of the ship.

Dong:

Yes, sir. What should I do if I flush, and water doesn‟t come out?

2/Off:

In that case, you can wash up using tap water by connecting the hose to
the fresh water faucet. If it doesn‟t work, use the bucket to pour water in
the toilet. It usually works that way.

Dong:

I hope it never happens to me.

2/Off:

this ship is OK. When you are on an old ship, there are many problems
with pipes and filters getting clogged and it makes flushing difficult if not
impossible.

Dong:

I heard that the toilet paper is stored in the deck store. When may I take
some?

2/Off:

There are rolls in that locker. When they run out, you should ask the
Assistant Officer for more. You may take some to your cabin too.

Welcome On Board

Volume 1