Riau Archipelago, Matak Sea Onboard Drilling Vessel Frontier Dutchess… 19 September 2007 – 13 November 2007

Owh ya it was in the fasting month of Ramadhan I was there.

First met with Gary, he was my designated supervisor for that hitch and met with Franky the next morning at the Halim Airport.

We boarded the Fokker 50 variable pitch propeller plane and flew 3 hours to Matak Natuna Island it was like Fantasy Island where there is just a strip of runaway and a small airport building. We had to wait there for like 6-7 hours before our 45 minutes chopper ride to the rig.

It was the 1st time boarding a vessel a part from my 1st trip onboard the semi sub in Japan. Perrrgghh tak bergoyang langsung. Yup dengan lapan anchor kesemuanya depan belakang.. Stabil bangat kapal tu. (Aik layan bm plak – layannnnnn)

Job disini lebih kepada bubble watch sebab kitaorang bikin drill support and rov adalah mata dan tangan kepada operasi tersebut.

So trip ni dapat la aku merasa dari stage mula mula drill sampai la ka stage turunkan subsea xmas tree for future production stage.


Trip ni aku lasted selama dekat 3 bulan la jugak tapi aku on and off balik and lepak few days and then gerak sana balik sebab bed space.

Merasa la aku posa and raya di laut. Nasib aku memang baik sebab majority atas kapal tu semua muslim dari Indonesia, surau pun ada jugak atas kapal and sunat jumaat pun ada di jalankan. Solat sunat Aidilfitri apa la kan lagi la sempoy layan kat atas deck jer.. yang buat pagi aidilfitri lagi bermakna, masa imam dok baca kutbah aidilfitri tu aku usha kat tepi deck kapal dok ada sekumpulan ikan lumba lumba dok main main berenang kat tepi macam depa meraikan juga lembaran bersama kami kat atas kapal ditengah laut.





Sori la lama tak update sebelum ni.. sibuk sikit sebab dah tukar company.. dapat offer lain and memandangkan selepas aku buat dekat 7-8 kali trip decided better gerak sebab company yang aku attach sebelum ni pun tinggal hanya satu job jer luar negeri – yang tinggal job japan satu tu jer yang lain semua kat Australia dan cerita nya pulak kalau job kat sana kita susah sikit nak tembus masuk.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI
MAAF ZAHIR DAN BATIN

Riau Archipelago, Matak Sea Onboard Drilling Vessel Frontier Dutchess

19 September 2007 – 13 November 2007

Was suppose to do my 2^nd trip back to Japan onboard Hakuryu 5 but failure to secure a visa on time for the flight departure and crew change date all because of a new policy system implemented by the Japanese Govt and the visa application here which before takes about three days to clear now takes about 10 days to a month.

Well the boss then make a switch instead of Japan, now I’ll be flying in to Jakarta for the night and early morning catching the early charted domestic flight Fokker 50 a three hours flight to Matak & Natuna a Riau Archipelago island under the sun.

This was the trip which I had the chance to see from the very beginning stage of Drilling a hole for exploration to the end of putting down a subsea xmas tree for well completion job.

My Japan Trip 18 July 2007 – 17 August 2007

It was truly an eye opening 1^st trip offshore fun lay back introduction trip to offshore life. Had the chance to work with 2 supervisors and 2 pilot techno on my 1^st hitch there in Japan. All treated me well with all the proper human being characteristic of “treat others how you like others to treat you” – with respect. …

Finished my 1st 4 weeks hitch offshore by mid of August and going back home for a full 4 weeks time off spending quality time with wifey and attending Atan’s wedding, stopping by for a days trip around Tokyo with Gee my home town buddy living in Tokyo to show me around. Had to say good bye to the Mount Fuji trip since my visa will expire on the day I fly back hurmm.

All went well with this 1^st trip will always be hoping for the next adventure in the near future and was ever willing to fly back to Japan again for the next crew change..

My 1st Offshore trip

Japan was the 1^st trip offshore. Visa application submitted to Japan Embassy, waited three days and got it.

Took the last flight of the day to Narita International Airport. The “Amazing Race” journey begins with wifey and friends waving me off at the airport.

Upon arrival, took the shuttle bus an hour long journey to TCAT (Tokyo City Air Terminal) then from there took a cab driven by a lady towards UENO Train station.

WOW! My 1^st impression was like Japan is sooooo clean man and tidy.

To get to Onahama a two hour journey distance by train. Every one was like actually queuing to board the train. Such discipline bunch of people they are. *respect*

Upon arrival in Onahama station straight away I took a cab to the hotel stated in the travel instruction. Was a surprise to see that there was no booking under my name but being a cool guy that I am hehe managed to get the only room available.

The room was like the smallest hotel room that I’ve been in. Just the basic bed fit for 1 and a half person a very small bathroom and the WC was a tini tiny one hehe. Guess space is really not that bigga deal around this part of the world.

Next day took a cab and went straight to the heliport and register myself for baggage weighing.

My 1^st chopper ride did not materialize due to some technical fault on the ignition. Had to abandon the ride. They arrange for a back up transport. We had to take the support vessel to the rig. Hence my 1^st ever ride onboard a support vessel “OSA Voyager”.

Arrived at the Semi sub HAKURYU 5 and was “billy plough” lifted to the rig by crane.

Hahaha now I officially am an OFFSHOREMAN by stepping foot on a Drilling Semi Submersible Rig.

Met with Mat my 1^st Supervisor. Was a very welcoming gesture from him. Am glad. Meet with Mark another crew onboard. He showed me around.

Was given the safety induction onboard by the safety guy Richard.

to be continue..

OGA 2007

Got a text from an offshore dude, “Hey go check out the OGA 2007 la dude”

I jump straight to shower and went straight to KLCC and yup there it is the Oil & Gas Exhibition all the major player in the region was there to showcase their product and services.

I was like a kid in wonderland, looking around in wonders.. wow here.. wow there.. all alone getting excited, looking at such a big information bank with all the brochure, pamphlets company profiles and the best part is getting to meet one on one with those IN the industry and asking more questions and getting a first hand answers from them. Its like taking a small kid into a candy store.

Job Hunting

Went for a weekend gateway diving trip with the big boys after the philippines trip. Ok was a good start even though most was against it.. wasting time going lah.. wasting money lah.. and all that crap lah..

Well I did the course then to hell with it.. gua nyer sen maa apahal lu org!

Attending the course was to find out more about the industry that I’m getting myself into. Nobody gonna tell me nothing about this industry and hell no one I know is in the industry so what else then, pay to get more info then. No walhala.

Updating the CV and streamlining it to industry spec, making it more attractive for future employer.

Following up with phone calls. making appointments to meet up with them. Calling both local and abroad companies. Establishing contacts, asking questions, asking the right questions, looking for answers, looking for the right answers and listening to suggestion and tips on how to grab the part. Amazing what kinda information you will get when you ask lotsa people questions. Going for interviews, listening to old boys in the industry how they got them selves into this industry and work their way up.

Got some really negative remarks and lotsa positive ones too.. manage to balance up all that and turn it all to a positive ones.. hey its all about perception ain’t it?

Do or do not… there is no try – master yoda
(quoted by afuz my flying guru)

All this for about two months straight.. serious two months straight.. e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y

IDESS MARITIME

2007 was indeed a good year to start of with. Going to the gym was a daily routine. The RPM classes were my favorite among others. It helped to gain back my stamina and was feeling top of the world. As the saying goes “ when you have a healthy body, mind and soul then... the sky is the limit”…

Attended the High Pressure Water Jetting Competency course in JB under NIOSH. Meet several offshoreman and we talk and share lots of info regards to the industry. Most of them working in the industry for like 10 – 15 years and loving it.

I then decided to pursue further… going to where none of my country men have gone to. (he he poyo..)

IDESS Maritime, Subic Bay was the place to call home for 3 weeks.
Being in a foreign place, not the usual company, the food and the language, making new friends, traveling and seeing different culture. Opens up a whole new perspective towards life. 3 weeks of my life. Fill with knowledge to pursue the dream job to go offshore..

Now ready to put both my feet in the industry. Not letting anyone stopping me getting in.

The next step is… marketing.. the product is… ME!

The beginning…. continue…

Ok well.. to start of with.. I’m not that academically smart ass.. but.. I’ve got the brain to understand things from a layman terms.. kinda way (who hasn’t?).. and to start of with.. to join the industry.. will take me to the drawing board to plan my entrance into the heavily guarded industry (konon nyer)

My so called 1^st step is to get myself enrolled for a safety survival ticket and that is a MUST to join the industry because.. it’s a safety comes 1^st industry (konon nyer)

So.. I got myself into Consist in UK. A tropical water basic offshore safety induction emergency training (T-BOSIET) they call it and it’s certified by Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO) and with a validity of 4 years.

The course itself takes about three days and was hell of an eye opener for me. Two dudes from Brunei were conducting the said course. They were professional in doing so. Well with their vast experience in safety they conducted the course with great and memorable experiences for all of us. Kudos to you guys.

Ok the truth.. when I went for that course I didn’t know jack shit what I’m getting myself into and what sort of job description I’m looking for.. but.. I’ve got a bit of an idea.. how much money I would like to earn in “a day rate basis”.. well heard that they pay daily USD rate for all the days we are offshore.

Ok that itself.. motivates me to find my ways..

Well decided to get myself into recreational scuba diving world.. to.. so called get myself acquainted with the ocean. So no wahalla .. by December 2006 I’m a certified diver with PADI. Ok ok scuba diving has got nothing to do with going offshore. Hurmm well maybe.. maybe not. But.. as for me it does help.. it gives me better perspective towards joining the offshore industry.

HOW? Well with meeting the people in the industry and talking to some of them whom.. is IN the industry and getting a first hand Q&A with most of them. Well taking things to become my advantage towards getting in is all that counts to motivate me to do lotsa homework.

OK give myself a B+ for that afford.. he he.. (hey it’s my blog maa)

the beginning...

end of 2005... after a lot of deep thinking.. (not!) decided to abandon a lucrative venture (he he yer la tu)... well it is to some.. but as for me.. its not.. it’s a pain staking, ass rubbing, ball scrubbing, jack shit kinda mess up entrepreneurial venture that i've put myself into..

well after putting a full stop to that.. I move myself back to KL.. living with the remaining balance of dignity that I have. Quit smoking.. adopt a healthy lifestyle.. went for a vacation to Bali… thanks to Citibank *wink*.. subscribe to a local gymnasium and putting back both my feet on the ground.

Till this time I wasn’t quite sure yet where I’m heading.. with my life that is.. (that is after about six months of being a house husband).. *I’ve got a cool wifey standing by me.. with full support. (have to mentioned this maa *wink*)

Start to read books ..my God.. this was something I was not entirely.. seeing in my own self doing.. but that was the start of all the mind boggling thinking out of the box and seeing the bigger picture of things.

Start going online…the world wide web… yup.. it’s all in there.. “seek and thou shall find”.. spend most of my free time browsing the net.. and hell yeah in Starbucks rm5 per mineral water and spending the whole day.. kah kah kah..
yup the whole day!…

Well apart from having to seek for a job.. I have to seek for THE JOB.. to finance all my past spending and hole in the pocket. Well the best option is.. to be seeking for the most lucrative job in the entire universe.. that is the OIL & GAS Industry..
Man… last war I know started because of it.. hurmm sure hell they pay loads of money to employ skilled and educated tom, dick and harry..