Lia ⁽¹⁵⁶⁾

I have a serious haiku habit, even though I often miscount the number of syllables. For those of you not into haiku (Caroline, I am pointing at you), please wait in anticipation for tomorrow’s post.

Date and time: 07.08.25, 11:00 Location: LAT 59.00°, LON 13.50° SOG (speed over ground): 13.5 knots, 21 knots, coming from astern Wind: 21 knots The seas have really calmed down. It was a very comfortable night yesterday. The crew, though, is under a lot of…

Date and time: 06.08.25, 12:00 Location: LAT 54.17°, LON 04.22° (some 58 miles off the coast of the Netherlands) SOG (speed over ground): 12 knots Wind: 22 knots A lot's happened since yesterday. First of all, we were given only a few hours’ forewarning that…

Busy day today. We’re still unloading iron ore from Brazil. The operation runs day and night. Two gantry cranes take turns, their massive grabs opening and shutting like mechanical jaws, dipping into the hold, scooping up a truckload of ore, and dropping it into a…

By the time I reached the bridge, I’d clocked over 9,000 steps—easily 8,000 of them on stairs. Five decks high, steep staircases, and a safety tour that looped us through the whole ship like a vertical maze. My legs were burning, but I refused to…

It’s official. I’m on board. The MV Roland Oldendorff is docked here in Rotterdam, quietly hulking beside the terminal like it has nothing to prove. She stretches out for 260 meters and feels massive up close. My cabin is comfortable, and I’m in the process…

It’s the day before I am scheduled to drive to Rotterdam with Herman, a Superintendent. He’s going to do a hull inspection and some checks on some other stuff. Super excited. It will be interesting to see how day-to-day life unfolds on a much, much…

A friend recently asked what sorts of storms we had to weather on our voyages. There were so many, from intense squalls to roaring gales. I wouldn’t know where to start. It's a little like asking someone who fishes to tell about the big fish…

Yesterday, Yeliz, my crewing manager, called to say the route is (finally) known. It’s a doozy. Here is what it looks like: Leg 1: Rotterdam, Netherlands to Narvik, Norway Leg 2: Narvik, Norway to Hamburg, Germany Leg 3: Hamburg, Germany to Nuuk, Greenland Leg 4:…

When my mother, Pat, was on the boat, she was the one who took care of the provisioning. She taught me a lot about the art of it. It wasn’t about volume so much as the variety. Yes, you needed your staples (e.g. rice, pasta,…

My bags are packed. They have been for a few days now. They sit there, like the hospital bag I once kept ready in our hallway before giving birth to my two children. But this time, the waiting has a different quality. It is not…

The conversation at breakfast this morning was about seasickness and whether I am worried about being seasick on the voyage. The optimist in me thinks that I won’t get too seasick, because I never really got it too badly in the past. Generally, I only…

I speak with Özgün, a marine engineer from Türkiye, who works in the Fleet department’s Technical Data Desk team. We talk about his journey from life at sea to supporting fleet operations on land, and how his early years on bulk carriers continue to shape…

My son, husband, and I started watching Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s documentary Long Way Round. I’ve always wanted to see the series, and this feels like the right time to watch and pick up a few pointers. What struck me immediately was how they…

Simon opens the conversation with stories from his recent off-road motorbike trip through Bosnia. From there, we shift into his day-to-day work in fleet management. We talk about the balance between safety, efficiency, and regulation, and how technology is changing what happens behind the scenes.

Ollie shares how his love of sailing and a background in history and geography led him to a career in shipping. Now a trainee at Oldendorff, he reflects on a transformative three-month voyage aboard the Emma Oldendorff and the steep learning curve of life at…

(Note: only the first few words are in German then we talk in English;-)) What do Canadian grocery stores, spare parts for giant ships, and QR codes have in common? Henning Wegner. I talk with Henning about his unusual route into shipping, the daily adventures…

Some moments hit you in the chest, not like a punch, but like a kaleidoscope of butterflies bursting to life inside your ribcage. Your heart starts beating fast and light, and suddenly your brain is flooded, not with clarity, but with colour and movement and…

I'm in the process of packing. Part of me is already aboard. Part of me is stuck in the past. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Undoubtedly, this will stop once I focus on getting me bags packed and let go of all the thoughts about…

Choosing which books to bring along is one of my favourite parts of preparing for a voyage. There is usually time to read, even during watches. Yesterday I spent a few hours sorting through old favourites and new discoveries, trying to decide which ones would…