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Published: November 10th 2009
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The Hotel where we sleep
The Carlak hotel in Turkmenbashy Turkmenistan
On the 19th of October my flight of 17.30 brought me from Amsterdam via Istanbul to Asghabath the main capitol of Turkmenistan. The last flight was terrible, many people with to many stuff! I was surprised the people could carry so much. After landing I had to go for my visa, this took 2 hours of waiting. Than there was a man assisting how to get on my inland flight, this took about 2 hours to Turkmenbashy. When it got light I saw that the entire inland flight was over dessert and rocks. No towns or signs of civilisation. When the plain started its landing I saw some roads and gas pipes crossing the landscape. The small airport had one landing strip and a still under construction flight tower. All foreigners where again placed in a different row and a police officer took us and we waited in front of his office. One by one had to go in and he asked what the purpose was of my visit. The next morning around 8 o clock I was in the hotel. At 10.00 I was picked up to go to the project area. This was a trip of 30
HAM 217 at sun set
The dredging vessel HAM 217 dredging the channel. to 45 minutes over bad roads. I wonder if the guy missed one single hole……
While driving we passed some camels, sheep and donkeys. Then there was in the middle of the dessert a large construction site. We are a sub contractor only responsible for the off shore and shore protection works. Here I hear that I will be a superintendent over a cutting suction dredger and two multicats. At noon we had a very nice lunch that consists out of smashed chicken or broken cow or just road kill 😊 combined with sticky rice or over boiled potato. Hearing that it was good today I was a bit surprised but had some and the taste was …….. doable.
27-10-09
The morning of the storm, the vessel stopped dredging due to high waves.
Nils from Survey and me where on the vessel after we where ready we went back with the captain of the survey vessel to his home town. A small town that is located in the shelter of a natural dam. The town was interesting to see but there was a crisis and we found out that two kids had been lost in the storm. After
Me and the cutter head
The cutterhead cuts the diffrent soil types and two pumps suck the water and soil and side cast this material. agreement of the project manager two of our vessels participated in a search for them. The local small fishing vessels could not look over the waves but our help was not usefull and nothing was found. Two days later during a large and coordinated search still nothing was found……this felt strange. After 4 days we heard that a kid of 7 years old had been found at least the parents can say goodbye….
It is strange being such a short time here and experiencing this.
After the weather cleared we continue dredging and I was spending time to get the personal planning back on track. It was difficult 5 reports a personal planning and the vessels. The production, survey and progress. But its so cool to have the largest dredger in the whole sea 😊 and on this project we also have the largest excavator a CAT 358 in Turkmenistan.
29-10-09
Finally I fell into the rhythm of the day and work becomes easier. Now I have more time to spend onboard and talk with the crew. Its interesting to see how much is different from coordinating hoppers. The crew is easy going and willing to learn
The Bazaar
One day off and i went to the local bazaar me allot.
31-10-09
Due to bad weather we had a crew change at the salt jetty this is further and costs money but this jetty is sheltered from the swell. When I was in the office I was called by one of the multicat vessels and he had a crew member that was really sick. So with a driver we picked him up and drove to the site hospital. He had 41 degrees and after a call I found out that 3 other crew members where sick too. After all 4 where seen by a doctor we put the vessel under quarantine and the sick crew was placed in their apartment under medical supervision. Happy that by these measurements this “flu” was soon under control and did not spread under other vessels.
10-11-09
The weather has changed, its cold around freezing but no wind,
We are dredging and making good productions. In the morning there is no electricity in the office and the heating works also by the electric system. So we sit in the dark and cold for the first hour or so.
17-11-09
Today I have to leave Turkmenistan for a visa run to Istanbul.
A friend and colleague Daniel, who is the excavator operator joins me. After a day work we leave the office around 17.00 to the hotel to pack our stuff. Our pickup from the hotel is at 20.45 together with two members of the crew. The four of us fly to the main capitol and stay there some hours in a apartment. This city is so clean and full under construction it amazed me after spending 4 weeks in the coastal region.
18-11-09
Istanbul around 9.00 local time we land. In the plain we got some food after these last 4 weeks this food was stunning. This was a heavy night and we take some time to rest. We went for a walk and tasty food among the many old buildings from the city centre. During day we spend some hours in a health centre in the hotel. The night we did not make it late due to too much travelling. That is why I spend some time to write this.
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