01 November 2006
By LMT(P) Steve Hunter & AMT2 Marama Hawaikirangi
On leaving Devonport in July and beginning our passage to Japan, ENDEAVOUR’s Engineering Branch was in good spirits and looking forward to the ship’s first big deployment since our DSRA (that is, Docking and Ship Repair Availability - a refit/maintenance period).
The long passage to Japan (three weeks) meant some interesting minor engineering defects along the way. Almost inexplicably, large amounts of seashells had found their merry way to our seawater cooling system, which led to many shutdowns of the main engine. This in turn provided the perfect opportunity to conduct Hands to Bathe and test the tropical waters for their ‘swimmability’. The passage also provided to opportunity to erect the ‘Burns Treatment Unit’ (a salt water-filled tub) which would prove to be invaluable.
The passage was a busy time for the Engineers, but it brought the team together, and as we neared Japan we had each main engine lube oil cooler clean down to just 30 minutes. This was the kind of teamwork we’d require in Singapore.
First stop, Tokyo, heralded the start of the diplomacy phase of our trip. Each week in August saw the ship enter Tokyo, Chin Hae in Korea, Hong Kong and finally Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, before our arrival in Singapore would signal the start of yet another busy and dirty maintenance period for the Stoker team.
The month went by quickly but everyone in the engineering team took away some great memories from each of the countries we visited. Two highlights included a tour of the Viet Cong tunnels at Cu Chi in Vietnam, enjoyed by all (even those of us attacked by bats) and the unforgettable “motor scooter taxis” which have no comparison in NZ - to have travelled that fast with three people on a scooter into that much oncoming traffic, and end up still in one piece, had us curled over in relieved laughter!
We arrived in Singapore with the programmed maintenance period holding the promise of some ‘hard yards’ for all of us. Although ENDEAVOUR was due for maintenance, she wasn’t going to let us wait until we got alongside before giving us plenty to do. A burst water circulation pipe caused water ingress into the engine control system, and the main engine automatically shut down just as we were about to alter onto the approach course into our berth at Sembawang!
In Singapore we conducted routine and defect maintenance. With the much-appreciated assistance of personnel from the SRU, and the Ship Manager from FRG to deal with the local contractors and control the budget, we added to the good teamwork developed earlier in the trip, and were able to accomplish 2 weeks work in 5 days, concluding with a successful basin trail and a much enjoyed departmental ‘regeneration’ afternoon ashore.
Having completed the maintenance, we were able to snatch a couple of days ashore, and after playing with snakes at the zoo and savouring the extensive culinary delights at restaurants within walking distance from the ship, it was time to go back to sea for Exercise BERSAMA PADU 2006. With the maintenance done and the engineering plant in good order there was good feeling amongst all branch members.
The completion of BERSAMA PADU signalled the end of the Asian phase of our deployment and we sailed from Singapore for Fleet Base West in Western Australia. With half the trip over, morale was good and we were looking forward to getting into cooler waters. But the ship was not ready to cool down just yet, and the air conditioning failed shortly after our departure!
On our passage south we were paid a visit by King Neptune. All those members of the ship’s company who had not previously crossed the equator, known as “Tadpoles,” were called to muster and answer the summon to be initiated into King Neptune’s realm as “Shellbacks”. Another fun day.
With all our AMTs by then fully Auxiliary Machinery Certificate (AMC) qualified and with two Control Room tickets well on the way, the branch had progressed well professionally. While in Fleet Base West we conducted another SMP: This ship needs a lot of looking after!
A run ashore in Bunbury followed before we returned to some serious war-fighting exercises with the RAN, including ASWEX, where we hope all our escorts will protect us from the dreaded green grenades.
Ends