The first Saturday that the ship was in port, the engineering department had a scheduled black-out to do some mandatory cleaning of the engine cooling system. Not wanting to pass up a chance to learn a new life skill Alainie, Esther, and I volunteered to help out down in the steamy depths of the engine room. It was hot, exhausting, and dirty work, and we loved every minute of it! Many thanks to the men who work in those crazy conditions of the engine room everyday! They were such patient teachers and lots of to work with!
The engines of the Africa Mercy are cooled using sea water. The sea water is pumped through a series of filters and pipes that trap shells, sand, barnacles, etc. We used a long wire pipe cleaner to unclog 1,500 pipes in a very cramped space! Dennis from Lithuania kept us on track!
"It smells like a clam bake in here!" -Alaine Costas
We took many breaks!
Dad, you would've been proud!
I thought of you while I was changing the gasket under this metal cover! 
After a full day's work came the moment we'd all been waiting for!!!
"Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!!!"
I got to fire up the harbor generator to bring power back to the whole ship! Trust me...I felt the power!!!
wow. just wow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blast!You are having such an exciting year...Keep a real journal ,too...Glad you had your ear plugs on! Love, Mom
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