“It is always a pleasure to welcome new ships into the fleet, but a little bit special to receive them on their maiden voyage here in Houston. A group of us had the opportunity to visit her alongside at Stolthaven Dock 3, and as we rounded the corner to see her moored alongside her ‘Panama Stripe’ was immediately obvious even from a single transit – A thick black mark that ran along her flat side from rubbing the fenders on the exit of the locks.
Once we were signed in and issued with visitor passes, we were taken to be formally greeted by Captain Binoy Chacko, who has now taken the Bow Jaguar and the Bow Leopard as new deliveries to commission them into service.
We chatted about what an honor it is, as a seafarer, to be trusted with taking out a newbuilding, but also what a significant workload that entails in terms of not just the Inspections that the vessel needs to go through but the preparations, logistics and practical considerations with taking a newbuild out of the yard for the first time.
Captain Chacko was quick to compliment Odfjell’s structure, a system that he is already familiar with having previously sailed on other ships managed by Synergy but sailing under the commercial control of Odfjell: The Bow Precision as a Chief Officer, but also as far back as the Bow Rio as a cadet as well as other vessels that have operated for Odfjell in the regional trades such as Marex Noa and sailing for NCC as well.
The important point here is that there is a strong continuity from this experience, and it is immediately obvious. Captain Chacko was also very quick to praise Odfjell, and in particular Denise Schaefer, Manager Documentation and Regulatory Compliance, for the tireless work in ensuring vaccines were available during Covid to our seafarers.
The Odfjell party was made up of colleagues from our Commercial and Operational departments with one of the Agents making an appearance on board as well. The Captain and his crew were only too pleased to give us a full guided tour of the Bow Jaguar: Bridge, Engine Room, Deck, Manifold, and even down into a Cargo Tank (having verified safe atmosphere, signed tank entry log, and checked the safety equipment available).
It would be remiss, indeed positively rude, not to mention that we were treated to a first class lunch onboard - Chicken Biryani – which was exceptional. When we were introduced to the Ship’s Chef we soon understood why, as he had worked, at one time, in the Oberoi, which is one of Mumbai’s most celebrated hotels on Marine Drive. None of us were able to finish our lunch and so the crew packed us all up with a take-away.
This ship left an extremely positive impression all around and reminds us all of the value of these types of ship visits as opportunity allows – there is always something to learn, something new to see or understand, an exchange of information between our commercial and seafarer colleagues, or even a simple case of putting names to faces. In this instance, Alexis was busy confirming volumes for the Jaguar’s next voyage to South America.”
