Fortitude, Work and Fun

If there’s one thing that stands out about the smaller vessels, it’s how easily they create a small but great family.

When I introduced my friend Mr. Park, I haven’t stopped receiving messages of encouragement from those colleagues. 

In mid-July 2020, after 4 months at home due to the lockdown, I got a call from my company at that time (Allseas) to join the Fortitude, one of the smallest ships in the fleet. I won’t lie, I loved the idea since I had just spent 6 years working on the big Pioneering Spirit.

Without a doubt, alongside the Normand Cutter, it was where I had the most fun working. Where a superintendent would sit down with you at the table to talk about football, family, and future projects. Unlike other ships where we had to put the "red carpet" where it passed and make the military gesture.

The seriousness of the work during those 12-hour shifts mixed with the fun in the other 12 hours.

                  

There, I met people I will never forget and made great friendships.

President: Roberto, Goalkeeper: Oscar Iknow, Defenders: Fran, Jono, Peter "The Walloper", Paul "The Walloper", Midfield: Lorenzo, Juncal, Oscar, and Greg "El Pipas", and Forwards, two of the best in their positions, without a doubt, MacKenzie and Ravien. The list of call-ups also included people like Gustavo, Cardalda (Elite welders) Zvonko, Dirk "Party Chief", the great Marco Rocha, our own Pelé, (One of the best people I’ve ever met). Also Torres, Rafa, Cosme, Charlie, not forgetting the people from the bridge, ROV, ABs, and a few from the engine room. I say “a few” because I’ve had some disagreements with others, but it’s not worth mentioning.

During that time, the project where I worked the most (physically speaking) was the Champion Project. An oil field with 7 platforms located in Brunei. Every day there was movement, and I walked through all 7 platforms from top to bottom for months, installing all kinds of lifting accessories to later place the raiser (horizontal pipes on the jacket of the platform that connect with the pipeline installed on the seabed). Always accompanied by Dirk and his Giraffe.

The ROV team performed Juggling maneuvers, led by MacKenzie.
I remember the day when, as PIC (Person in Charge), I almost swam to shore. Some people know what I’m talking about.
We had time on the routes for those barbecues with games, and if you didn’t participate, you didn’t drink Coca-Cola.

In short, this is my personal tribute to that ship and the people I met there. I might have missed a few people along the way, but I know they’ll forgive me.