The Captain’s Wife

The largest Container vessel, mankind ever built, was sailing past Singapore coast. The docking at the Singapore port was a momentous affair. The port was not equipped for a super container, least of all the Adrianus. The Port of Singapore is otherwise the busiest container transhipment hub in the world. Located on the southern end of the Malay Peninsula, about 30km south-west of the Port of Johor in Malaysia, the Port of Singapore offered connectivity to over 600 ports in 123 countries. It is the largest publicly owned port in the world. The port's Pasir Gudang Terminal off Malaysia in which Adrianus was impossibly berthed had undergone a special $1514m expansion, mostly at the expense of Cronos Marine, adding half-a kilometer-long berth that could accommodated at once the 29500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of the Adrianus. The super-container was equipped with bow and/or stern thrusters, which enabled the ship reducing the turning circle so as to maneuverer the basin, without tug assistance, as Adrianus could maneuverer herself in turning the basin that had a diameter of just 1.2 times the ship’s length. The ports of Singapore had been scrambling to get extra-large container cranes and to dredge to greater depths to handle the huge vessel. As the East Coast quay had to work to a deadline set by the scheduled voyage of Adrianus, several super-sized box ships were tried on the berth and some of them had become regular in these months. Thanks to UK and US pressure against the deadlines, the port authorities of Singapore worked on the infrastructure to meet the needs of Adrianus, a large responsibility had fallen on the piloting associations that were preoccupied with the procedure for safe handling of Adrianus in confined port spaces.

The Singapore port had taken a proactive approach to handling the Ardrianus, with a precision navigation unit, manufactured by Pilot Mate, a Swedish Company. This was a package of highly efficient and very accurate navigation instruments. The software in this device allowed the pilot to select the ship integration with the electronic charts that had been checked by the pilots and updated to a very high level of accuracy. Once the pilot was on board the ship, to the irritation of Capt. Sadanand, who had an innate allergy for the plots, but had to cave in, as a GPS antenna was deployed outside the wheelhouse. The pilot then paced off the distance from the antenna to the Pilot Mate and entered this into the system. The result was a highly accurate and dependable GPS expression of the vessel on the precise electronic charts. Packaged in a soft case measuring 3x3x1 feet, it had been be taken along with the pilot as he boarded the ship.

At 0639 on the D-day the pilot asked the captain to pull “half back” to slow the ship as it approached the Pasir outer harbor. At 0645 the giant ship was down to 3 knots and was beginning to turn to starboard with its own rudder while two Scottish tugs Patricia Ann and Revolution continued with their lines up ready to assist. The pilot asked the tug for “half back” and then, as the speed came down to 2.4 knots, “easy back.” In Pasir the order “easy” is used rather than “slow” to avoid any confusion over the radio with “full.” At 0648 the pilot asked for Adrianus to push on the starboard stern quarter to assist the starboard turn. The ship was down to 1.3 knots. Seven minutes later, with the turn nearly complete, the pilot told the captain, “take back your line and go around ready to push on the starboard bow.”

Pilot Huang Sun, aboard Adrianus, explained that, even with four tugs working the ship with him, there was no “lead” tug as they all worked as directed by the pilot. With the ship nearly in position for a port-side landing at Pasir’s Pier just ahead of the 1458-foot Adrianus, the pilot directed the captain, still on the stern, for “half back,” the third tug Sandra Hugh on the starboard stern quarter “easy toward,” and Revolution to push on the starboard bow. Patricia Ann, with its line still up to the starboard bow, countered with “away easy.”

Like an orchestral conductor with multiple sections of instruments, the pilot conducted the precision job of moving this huge 186,161-dwt ship. The Adrianus had offloaded some cargo in the Port of Malaya, with a draft of only about 38 feet, was relatively light compared with its 50-foot maximum draft. At 0720 the GPS on Revolution showed the ship’s port side nicely parallel to the pier and only a short distance off. The pilot gave a rapid series of commands, “Sandra, easy toward, Patti stop,” etc.

Finally, at 0725 the command for “full toward” for some of the tugs indicated that the ship’s lines were being worked by the linemen on the pier. Then came a request from the dock to move the ship 20 feet ahead. Minutes later, with the adjustment complete, the pilot was heard over the tug’s radio, “Dock are we in position now?” “Copy that,” came the reply. At 0735 with all lines to the ship made up to the pier, the pilot released the team of tugs with thanks and checked out himself.

Elaborate structures had been erected by a Norwegian Company Sandpit to accommodate the ship on her portside with huge hauling hooks that helped the Adrianus coughing and howling as hundreds of workers hauled it along the bunker barges – seven of them – pumping seventy thousand gallons of her half empty tanks. The vessel was equipped with eight bottom heavy fuel oil tanks forward and two bottom fuel tanks aft, each with a capacity of 2400 M/T. The vessels total fuel capacity was 10,400 M/T. During the voyage both forward bunker tanks were empty. Since the vessel’s next voyage was scheduled to be to the Durban, the charterers ordered the vessel to bunker up to the maximum level during her next port call. Due to heavy swell the vessel speed was reduced and some crew members were sent forward to inspect the anchor. They discovered that the port anchor was not properly secured and the brake was not tightened – the anchor had been used in last port. This resulted in the anchor lowering down several metres and becoming level with the waterline. Cronos had commissioned seven large modern bunkering vessels that could offer oil capacities of 2300 tonnes and a pumping rate of 1000 tonnes per hour, ensuring the Adrianus could take the long-haul voyage of Singapore to Durban. The Adrianus had also engaged two world leading ship repair yards, featuring four floating docks with lifting capacities of 46,000 tonnes, capable of accommodating the superstructure repairs of the super container. The ship had been designed to sail at an average of only 16 knots – a system known as “super slow steaming” – which was expected to save the company around £7,050,000 in fuel on a typical journey between Singapore Rotterdam. But, instead of burning 214 tons a day, the Adrianus would burn a slightly less-damaging 150 tons, which Cronos executives insisted was a step in the right direction. The slow speed also reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

Sadanand knew that engine starter motors were a cause of sparks and a potential source of ignition. The huge barges carrying fuel had been moved alongside Adrianus with the assistance of tugboats. Once there, they followed a strict protocol to ensure refuelling being done safely. There was a heavy protocol detailed in the port authority’s Port Information Guide. In addition to the long list of thorough procedures required for bunkering at the Port of Singapore, vessels to be bunkered in Pasir were subject to further restrictions, including that bunkering operations may not proceed if winds are blowing or forecast to blow above 17 to 21 knots, and a requirement that a tug remain onsite and ready to render assistance. Since these rules came into place in January, bunkering operations of such large scale happening for the first time in Pasir Bay for the first time, Capt. Sada had got the engines stopped, inspected the bilges personally in order to ‘sniff out’ any pockets of petrol vapour. He found a few and fully vented the space and then looked for leaks in the fuel system. There was none.

The ship had the state of the art coolers to contain all the heat the engines generated at her full throttle. The cooling water pump was operated by a separate electrically driven pump that pushed the water around the circuit. After passing through the engine, where it removes the heat from the cylinder liners, cylinder heads, exhaust valves and even the turbochargers, it was cooled by seawater and then returned to the engine. The temperature of the cooling water was closely controlled using a three-way control valve. The seawater had to be slightly cooled first, but not so cool. If the water was allowed to get too cold, then it would cause thermal shocking which might lead to component failure and would also allow water and acids to condense on the cylinder bores washing away the lubricating film and causing corrosion. If it got too hot, then it would not remove the heat effectively causing excessive wear and there was a greater danger of scale formation. For this reason, the cooling water outlet temperature was required to be maintained at about 78-82°C. Because it was at a higher temperature than the cooling water used for other purposes, extreme precautions had to be put in place.

At the end of it all, after a week of maintenance and inspection, the super container was to raise anchor. Capt. Sada had daily meetings with his crew and lectured daily with the basics, “when the engine is required to start, a low-pressure air signal is sent to the air start control valve, which can also be hand operated in an emergency. The air pushes a piston down which opens the valve and allows high pressure air to flow to the pilot valve and the automatic valve operating pistons. The pilot valve is forced down onto the cam profile and the automatic valve opens and high pressure air is led to the main air start valves and the pilot valve. When the pilot valve cam follower is on the lowest point on the cam, air flows to the operating piston of the main air start valve for that cylinder, opening the valve and allowing high pressure air to flow into the cylinder.”

Even new Danish Chief engineer Abbott Yaeshawn was impressed.

Capt. Sada needed some rest. He called Chief Officer Sarge to take over. Sarge was a thorough learner. He always saw to it that when the engines were required to start, a low-pressure air signal was needed to be sent to the air start control valve. As the chief officer completed all his procedures, with the pilot valve and the automatic valve operating pistons, opening the valve and allowing high pressure air to flow into the cylinder, Sada went down the pilot ladder towards the captain’s quarters, once the vessel was in full steam ahead.

There were a great lot of ancillary aspects needed his attention. But they had to wait until the ship was in a steady speed of 16 knots. It could wait.

On-board Adrianus

Early March

Captain Sada was very tired. All the nuclear flasks had been sealed airtight and the ninth deck had been totally sealed off entry limits. Stem gun wielding security guards had lined up the galleys of the eighth deck. The top deck had another contingent of US Marine and British Commandos with their submachine guns had taken position. After all the vessel had a stock of 346 tonnes of nuclear grade plutonium and an equal stockpile of thorium, uranium oxide and strontium in separate airtight containers of lead, their one meter thick walls having been radiographically tested again leaks of one thousandth of a millimetre. Capt. Sada had requested the commandos to spare him a full night, as he was on the verge of exhaustion.

Nova was curled up on her elaborate bed in the Captain’s quarters. She had had enough. It was almost two years since she had a domestic royal meal. The comforts of Adrianus was no more appealing to her. What her husband called stretches of blue serene waters had earned a weary look. Worst of all on her Westbound voyage, the vessel was not going to call any Indian ports, not even any port in the Middle East. Her husband had told the vessel could not pass through Suez cannot, nor the English Channel. The vessel’s avaricious fuel tankers had to be refilled twice as for security reasons, the spare tanks had been kept devoid of any fuel, but filled with ballast waters. The vessel will circumnavigate Thailand, Sri Lanka the Gulf and part of the African Continent. In Durban and  Bristol, the ports were being expanded with a seven hundred meters huge wharf to accommodate her with elaborate arrangements for refuelling and transfer of the dangerous cargo on-board the ninth deck. Amsterdam was the final call for the port where the Cronos Marine had made a gala welcome for the Captain and his crew on disembarkation at the Amsterdam port. President Mark Rutte was going to be there. And a contingent of nine prime ministers, half a dozen princes, sixty-seven ambassadors and several heads of states, ministers, industry tycoons and bevy of world famous beauties- models, actors and heiresses of European and American marine and aviation industry were going to be there. And of course, a hundred-strong contingent of scientists and engineers to decontaminate the vessel of any minute trace of radioactivity. All this and more had been drilled into her tiny brain during the intervals of several sessions of coitus. She had specifically briefed her husband long ago that only those stuffs imbibed into her between industrious spells of love making went into her head and the captain husband had been religiously following that.

The vessel had been taken off her huge anchors and gave a high pitch scoot as she surged forward like a huge whale, several thousand times over. Her idea of repeating the Rose-Dawson I'm Flying' scene on the bow of Adrianus with the Celine Dion theme song on the background had not materialiszd so far. The ninth and tenth decks were off limits for her and she fought with her husband over this several times over though with no avail.

Her conjugal life was anyway going well and her captain husband had a high libido when he was sailing especially when the vessel was in motion. He had explained that a vessel on motion pumped a lot of adrenaline which in turn kept his manhood always engorged. He was always ready for her as he entered their bedroom in the captain’s quarters sometimes for a quickie that lasted anything between quarter to half an hour or regulars that was always overnight affair. This night it was going to be a large overnight affair with possible spill over to the midday next. A luxurious intoxication had taken over her. Her loins had developed that special ache that could be quelled only by the stirring of the most familiar device deep inside her belly. She had a luxuriant bath with the scented bath powders only some of which was left over now. Her curvaceous body, water still dripping all over was covered from the nipple-adorned breasts of her cantilevered bosom that gave her the thrill of carrying something closer to her heart. She always pleasured at the weight of her cantilevered bosom. It gave her a fullness in her mind that life was worth living come whatever may.

As she wriggled out her bathing towel that covered her upper body, there was a single knock on her door that indicated her husband was alone, lest he should have knocked twice. She switched on the corridor light and dimmed the bedroom lights. And stood stark naked to receive her husband. Sadanand was in his elaborate uniform and she did not have the patience to undress him. She plunged herself towards his huge torso and hung from his shoulders, levelling her pussy towards his engorged manliness.

‘Are you carrying this all through like this?’ She protested at the bulge on hisfront.

‘You have to tell him,’ he said matter of fact lay.

‘Who?’ She feigned innocence though she understood what he meant. Her fingers were at his belt and he stood defenceless against the tigress of his wife. The bed seemed far off and they settled for the tremendous rug on the flooring. He tore himself out of his sailor uniform and entered her within the fraction of a minute on her favourite missionary position and teased her touching her and withdrawing as she pleaded him to stay still inside her before humping. And when he finally entered her treasure-trove she yelled bloody murder. She orgasmed instantly and wound her legs around his slender waist, arresting his movements as he struggled to continue with the piston movements. This moment was precious for her and she would give up the world for it in exchange. But she was unable to bear his weight, which he had put on recently though he worked out forty-five minutes every day in his personal gym. He stretched still embedded in her and raised his hand his gigantic weight resting on his elbows, as he simultaneously plunged several inches into her, unmindful of her external protests since she liked her pretensions. She liked him full inside her, demanding pleasure, giving pleasure and making her delirious, pleading for more. Today there was more craving in his poundings, more intensity and obscenity in his thrusts, which she reciprocated by raising her butt heavenwards and in that process impaling herself further and further. There was some vulgarity in her slutty, demanding sensuality which drove him to extremities of lovemaking.

There was the ocean, the ocean of love. He felt caught up in the vortex of pleasure out of which he never wanted to come out. Nova was the ocean. She had created a vortex of ecstasy into which Sada found himself drowning and drowning until he clearly heard the gun shot, as chief officer Keith Sarge barged into the captain’s stateroom holding an Uzi Submachine gun, whose breech end of the barrel had sunken into the neck of Chief Engineer Yaeshawn, who looked like a vanquished soldier caught in the enemy line.

Keith Sarge said flatly, “Good evening Captain, we have taken over your super container Adrianus. No sweat. For matters of practicality I would like to get you dressed in your captain’s uniform. But the bitch of your wife can stay the way she is, cum-soaked, stark naked. She seems natural that way and my colleagues want her remain that way as long as they are through with her.” There was an outpour of great laughter as Arnold, Albert, Zhanna, Artur, Eleonora Volodymyr, Rostyslav, Vsevolod, Bohdan, Vira, Lyubov, Nadiya, Vanda, Ruzhena, Vlasta, Kvitoslava. officers and crew, some of whom Sada recalled by name and there were more, each of them holding .223 Remington, 22 Winchester Magnum, 30 mm Heckler & Koch and several firearms of assorted models.

Sada rose trying to bring his forehand to the head of Keith, “You bastard, you must be out of your head. Don’t say it is all a dirty joke you use to play with the crew.”

“I wouldn’t Captain. Nobody jokes with an Uzi submachine gun. We have three hundred of them on-board,” Sarge said mildly, tightening the flashlight mount of the. Bayonet Lug.

Capt. Sada rummaged over the faces of his crew, men and women each holding assorted rifles and guns, their eyes focussed between the tightened legs of Nova, who was squirming of shame more than fear.

The hijack of the largest man-made floating object ever built had just begun.

To be continued.