14/11/12 - Captain Simon, Tenacious

Tenacious arrived in Milford Haven a week past on Saturday evening. It was rather windy, but we made it through the lock and berthed safely on the Fish Quay, just outside the drydock. On Sunday, the VC left and we started getting the ship ready for the docking. We had a few extra - and unexpected
- days as there was a tug in the dock having some steelwork done. Three yards were sent down and all our liferafts landed for their annual service whilst we were waiting to shift into dock. The Emergency Generator Alternator came out from its hiding place under the Fo'c'sle Head and was sent off for service.

At 1315 on Thursday we let go all lines and backed up the basin to let the tug out of the dock. As it had no power, the tug was hauled out of the dock and along the basin wall by two diggers!. Once it was clear of the dock entrance, I manoeuvred round it and we entered the dock. At 1330 we were roughly in position and the yard's positioning tackles were rigged to place the ship exactly in position at 1500 as the dock began to drain. Docking is a fairly slow process and the ship was not on the blocks until 1800. The water continued to be pumped out and the dock was finally dry shortly before
0200 Friday morning.

A dock bottom walkround on Friday once the yard had pressure washed the hull confirmed the ship is in good condition under the waterline and the yard set to work removing sea grids and anodes. Ashore, the three yards sent down have been stripped of all fittings and are being sanded and in the dock bottom, the anchors and cables were ranged for inspection.

Sunday was a slightly quieter day. We turned-to at 0900 and whilst the volunteers were continuing with sanding, cleaning and so on, PC conducted drills and a safety meeting before we all finished at 1300 for lunch. In the afternoon, some went off in cars for a look around, whilst others bought a paper and sat down to read it, or went to the pub.


Simon
Captain