Alistair Baillie

Good afternoon all!

Still not much to report on the college front, Morse is still in progress although I seem to have found a system which is working for me! Oddly although I would of thought this would be harder, learning the flags and there meanings only took an hour!

In response to someone’s comment (and to give me something to write), while I know its meaning the flag “G” was never flown by the ship I was last on – possibly because we never had to wait for a pilot or it was usually dark when we approached the ports.

The flag “H” (I have a pilot onboard) was flown regularly, “B” (I am loading, carrying or discharging dangerous goods) was flown whenever the ship was bunkering and “Q” (My vessel is healthy and I request free pratique) was flown occasionally whenever we hadn’t already received clearance before arrival.

I received my next ship assignments last Friday I shall be going on the Island Escape on the 10th of June until the 14th of October during which time I shall be travelling around the Mediterranean Sea.

I will then be going back to the Island Star on the 8th of November until around the end of March 2009, where after she completes her dry dock I will be sailing across the Atlantic to spend the winter out in the Caribbean Sea.

Marc who was with me last time on the Island Star will be joining me on both trips this phase and one of the other Island Cruises cadets who I shared a room with at college in phase 1 will be joining me on the Island Star.