While it’s a fairly common occurrence for the BG Group-controlled LNG vessels to call at Atlantic LNG in Trinidad and Tobago, a recent voyage by the Methane Nile Eagle holds several unique distinctions among BG Group’s shipping fleet:
* First BG Group-controlled vessel to sail around the world- from Atlantic LNG on November 4, 2010, to South Korea, Mexico, Chile and back to Atlantic LNG on February 6, 2011 – a total of 94 days
* First to cross the Pacific Ocean
* First to reload a vessel from an export terminal (also first-ever re-export for the terminal in Costa Azul, Mexico)
For the crew, one of the most exciting aspects of this journey, which spanned 30,587 nautical miles, was travelling the so-called “old world” routes – they sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, across the Singapore Strait and the Strait of Magellan from Chile back to the Atlantic Ocean.
“ There is pride among the crew in completing this circumnavigation using the old routes, ” said Captain Zacharias Cherouvis . “ We never thought we would do it with this type of vessel, and in some way we all feel like ‘explorers. ’”
Highlights of the voyage included seeing the Cruz de los Mares (Cross of the Seas), a large metallic cross on Cape Froward, the southernmost point on the mainland of South America, as well as numerous escorts during the Pacific crossing – whales and dolphins.
Although the journey was long, the crew maintained a high level of morale by enjoying off-duty activities such as table tennis, basketball and working out in the gym, communicating with their families via e-mails and via satellite phone and singing karaoke on Saturday nights.
When the Methane Nile Eagle left Pyeongtaek, South Korea, it was snowing and the scene looked like a Christmas movie.
“ Of course, we missed just by a day the opportunity to celebrate Christmas twice ,” said Cherouvis, describing the effect of crossing the International Date Line travelling east in the Pacific Ocean.
However, the Methane Nile Eagle- which was also name ‘vessel of the year’ by ship manager Ceres among its fleet for safety performance – didn’t miss the opportunity to make history for BG Group.
When the vessel returned to Point Fortin, Trinidad, Atlantic LNG officials welcomed the crew members back and commissioned a photographer to take pictures of the crew and Atlantic LNG staff to mark the occasion.
[mappress]
Source: Atlantic LNG, April 16, 2011;