“The onboard atmosphere has a certain buzz to it and the achievements made on a day to day basis may be small, or may bring around the completion of a mammoth task – each and every one contributing to getting Tenacious back in the water, which is very satisfying.”
Fliss is one of our First Mates on Tenacious and has been sharing regular updates about our progress on soccial media. She’s blogged here about the buzz of a special survey, and why our survey is such a significant milestone.
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Hello Shipmates, I am writing this on leave, a week or so before re-joining Tenacious 152 Nautical Miles away, where her normally wetted Hull is exposed in Sharpness Shipyard. Since the 9th September, the dedicated team of Crew, Volunteers and Contractors have been hard at it, scurrying about in her entire length, breadth and depth completing some of the jobs on the extensive lists required for her Special Survey.
It is ‘special’ not because it is our own Ship we’re talking about, but because it marks a five yearly interval where inspections are carried out to satisfy Lloyds of London – her Classification Society, and the MCA – her Flag State. Therefore there are stipulated jobs from both authorities, ensuring legal compliance. Other Docking periods are called ‘interim’ dockings, which fall roughly half way between the specials, and aren’t as intense in length or detail. Her last docking was in New Zealand, I wonder where Tenacious will undertake her next one?
Dry Docking by its very nature is expensive, complicated, and often stressful to ensure we get everything done and the ship back together in time. Ask any of her full time Crew or the Ship Operations Team ashore and they will add further embellishment (!), but it doesn’t put us off – it’s just the nature of the beast.
The onboard atmosphere has a certain buzz to it and the achievements made on a day to basis may be small, or may bring around the completion of a mammoth task – each and every one contributing to getting Tenacious back in the water which is very satisfying.
The end of day stories are proudly told over Evening Meal and then extend onwards into the Evening, often turning into workshops and brainstorming sessions and inter-departmental chats sharing ideas in an informal way. What better way is there to discuss the hurdles you’re facing than with fellow Crew and Volunteers!?! Team work makes the dream work after all, and we’re all in the same Boat (excuse the pun!), in wanting to keep Tenacious operating so she can carry on with the amazing job she was built to do by our own supporters.
The JST has been through its fair share of storms, and Covid-19 is one more that we must somehow ride out. Despite us having lower than planned manpower due to accommodation restrictions and the availability of some of our skilled Volunteer workforce who can’t feasibly join us, we are on track to finish up and return Tenacious to operational condition within the remaining five weeks of this refit.
None of it would be possible however without the funds from the Tenacious at Twenty appeal, which has demonstrated generosity in so many ways. We wouldn’t have been able to make the progress we have in these few short weeks in Sharpness without it.
I will keep posting regular Social Media updates, videos, and images to keep you up to date with the goings on, but I hope to see you onboard Tenacious for your dose of Vitamin Sea, on one (or more!) of her Voyages in her upcoming sailing program.
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To read more of Fliss’ social media updates, follow us on Facebook.
