Captain's Log

July 17, 2006

Today was the first really quiet day we have had. Lots of work, but good weather, even though it was overcast. I spent the morning talking with and sending messages to different groups in Peru to make sure that are arrival in Paita for the donated cargo was going to be an expected arrival. The deck crew spent most of the day, moving the cargo from the 04 deck around the stack to the 01 deck aft and the 01 deck amidships by our two cranes. This will allow us to discharge the cargo in the least amount of time.

In planning our arrival into Paita, I once again review the charts with the second mate, and reread the sailing directions, the publication that tell us something about the port. It is just a dent in the coast, with a fishing pier and a cargo pier that come out from the beach about 3/4th of a mile. Only the last 600 feet or so of the pier has water deep enough for the training ship. Currently the swell looks like it will be from the southwest so the pier should be protected. The truth will be in the seeing Wed. morning on arrival.