MV Greenpeace / PC 8023
Noon Pos: 7 29'N 131 31'E
June 2, 1996
Day 17
It has been an oppressivly hot, humid day. the kind of weather
that can send people `troppo'. (out of character, strange)
The first signs of what the day was to bring was when I noticed
some of the crew walking around in flippers and aprons.
Just before lunch it was a state of emergency, everyone mustered
on the bridge deck with survival suits, watching in horror as
enormous octopus tentacle's were wrapping themselves around the
ship. But we all breathed a sigh of relief as the `octopus
deflecting zapper switch' was activated (luckily we had just had
it overhauled in maintainence) and the giant disapeered back into
the depths of 4000 metres.
We all needed a good strong cuppa tea after that.
A few hours later as we were all getting on with our work, it was
presumed Jeannette was practising a Williamson Turn, a steering
procedure for man overboard. But shouts of alarm went through the
ship, we were being dragged into a giant whirlpool!
All four engineers shot down into the engine (in matching hand painted,
flowery boiler suits) and for five minutes gave the engines full
throttle and we managed to pull out of it. It seemed an eternity.
We all had another strong cuppa,this time with a tot of rum. Usually
only kept for medicinal purposes.
It seemed we had only just got our wits together again when it
was noticed we were doing 30 knots and getting faster (average
speed is 12 knots) a hard turn to Starboard was made on realising
we were in the strong current that would take us over the edge.
Finally, after a enjoyable meal of seaweed pie with a thick
vegemite sauce we all sat around the table sipping on a glass of
rum with a tot of tea, discussing the days bizzare events.
Coming to the conclusion; If the earth is flat, maybe nuclear
power is safe.
Tanya Popp
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