This week we worked more on testing and maintaining the emergency systems. The Captain is back home in North Carolina but he called and went over the whole alarm system with me over the phone. He showed me which each alarm was for so when i have time i’ll be able to go around and test them all. Then Don and I took out the gas power high pressure pump so we could inspect it. The other 3 emergence pumps are all electric. So the gas powered pump is very important. If we had a fire or the ship was taking on water and it knocked out the power on board, we would still have a pump to either fight the fire or pump out the incoming water. The pump ran well but it was due for its yearly maintenance. We changed the oil, gaped the spark plugs, replaced some cracked hoses, fixed the pull cord, and cleaned up any rust.
I love looking into the water from where we have been docked. On days when the water is really clear there is so much to see. I’ve seen Stingrays, Eaglerays, Parrotfish, Pufferfish, Atlantic Spadefish, Needlefish, Tarpon, Creole Wrasses, Snook and two Nurse Sharks. I’ve also gotten to see several Manatees. This week I had one swim right under the dock. I have been trying to learn more about the animals that live around Southern Florida.
