₦airaland Forum

Inception:
I was thinking that Willbros was bought over by the now defunct Ascot(Ascot constructors offshore located at their site2 yard and Ascot lines at their site 1yard) at Isodu PH
I do not know about Acorn

That is what I heard from guys that I left behind in WAGP, so many stories about Wibros, some said it was bought by a former Governor in an oil rich state.

PeraGSD:
Interesting read. It reminded me of my days in the oil industry were our team was responsible for something similar but on land. We did flight following monitoring flights from onshore to offshore rig. The chopper chimed in on take off and every 10 mins with coordinates of current location which we logged. We were also responsible for routing any "man overboard" emergency as maybe necessary too. Other interesting stuff then too.

Interesting experience, Kudos. I guess you are out of the industry now?

Thanks all for reading and commenting, i will keep updating it.

The last picture that i posted was taken by a photographer:

Per Karlsson [View profile]
Title: Surfer 1822
Added: Jan 30, 2008
Captured: January 06, 2010 IMO: Unavailable Hits: 1,677
Location: Douala, Cameroon Republic

Photo Category: Offshore Crew Vessels

Description:
Surfer 1822
Type: Crew boat
Owner: Bourbon Offshore
Flag: French
Capacity: 25 PAX

Photo taken when inbound to Douala on Wouri River, Cameroon 2010-01-06

So each morning, we will resume at the dockside, fuel the boat on alternate days, pick food from the Kitchen. Mr. A**a, an itsekiri was the lead cook. We had to discuss this with him at some point. He was giving us Nigerians, the same food meant for the Captain, that was a good thing, right? But when we collected Lasagne in the morning to keep in the fridge, the Captain can eat the Lasagne in the cold form but to us, it was a big punishment. So we spoke with him to be giving us gaari and Okro with different road-blocks in it, Fried rice, Jollof and Chicken. Enough of eating cold continental dishes. In his defense, he did not want to discriminate against the Nigerians, He felt we should be treated equally. He understood our plight and change the menu for us. We will set sail in the morning, doing about 2 knots on the creek until we were outside the Channel, after the channel, the Captain will announce, Full ahead. There was a mystery to me that has not been resolved, outside of the Lagos Channel there were two distinct colors on the water, the dirty-looking light blue sea of the harbor and the deep blue sea, lying side by side yet not mixing. I asked the Captain, I remembered that he said what caused the delineation was the level of salinity in the deep blue seawater and the overdiluted land water mixed with the creek. I hope geologists, water scientists, and mariners can explain this to me.
I was very close to one of the Captains, I could call him my friend because we kept in touch for many years after the project. Captain St****n was a very good man. Unlike his back-back Captain Ch****ph who was a jerk( pardon my French), we were always at loggerhead in the same boat, he felt he was the boss, so he could do anything, I wasn’t having it. The Cabin has no smoking signs everywhere, instead of going outside to smoke, he will sit at the wheel and start to smoke where you have three non-smokers. I never wasted time in confronting him. You may own the boat but comm’on this is my country. I reported him to two Snepco officials but they were not keen on correcting him because of fish, Yes Fish. We do get fish and prawns from Fish trawlers from different countries, Angola, Togo, Benin, Cape Verde, Sao Tome, and Principe. It was free for all out there, I kept wondering why were these people in our territorial waters. What is the work of our Navy? These Trawlers and sometimes canoes might have been on the sea for weeks, so they always need a fresh supply of water and cigarette. So we usually exchanged cigarettes for their swathing catches.
The sea was really calm in the first two months, I mean, April and May but from the end of May, Heavy rain started and the sea became more turbulent. Sweeping and high rolling tides and waves started. Waves that will be higher than a ship. Most times we will run from our location if a mighty wave was coming towards us or the heave became higher. We have all the safety gear and life-saving equipment on board but they will be useless, if the boat capsized. The Thuraya phone was very handy in those difficult days to call out to family members, of course, we were not telling them, we were facing challenges but just talking to them and hearing their voices usually bring some sunshine to our otherwise grim environment, Deep, dark roaring sea and a dark, overcast 'tearing' sky, oh I forgot the cold. I remembered one incident, it was one of those grim days, it started raining from Lagos channel, so the sea was rough, the boat was slamming and banging the waves as we sped at about 15knots/hr to our location. We arrived late to the location, thankfully the weather was so bad that the birds could not take off from LOS and Snake island. The ambience was very dark, rain was hammering us, the waves were rolling us from window to window, port to starboard. There was a killer wave coming towards us, that we needed to move away quickly but the engine did not start, the Captain and the Seaman dived into the engine room to check what the problem was, I was left at the wheel. The Diver was on the lookout. All of a sudden, a dot appeared on the radar yet I could not see anything outside. Then we heard a loud horn, obviously, an oil tanker changed course because of us, we have drifted to her path. As they passed us, The Captain radioed to check on us. We informed him about our problem but that it was resolved as the engine has fired up and running smoothly. I know you want to ask, Yes, collisions do happen on the sea too, it is rare but it can happen.

Thank you Mods, I just realized that my topic made the front page.

There she is.

I have been to different places in my life, non is as diverse, deep, and awesomely interesting as the deep blue sea.

My first sojourn into this life started in 2006, after leaving Wilbros's project in Badagry. Wilbros now Acorn was laying a gas pipeline from Escravos across different terrain, swamps, rivers, jungles, roads, and settlements through to Lagos en route to other West African countries.

I still remember Okor-afor campsite, Ajido and Agbado Gas station, our relaxation hub, whispering Palms resort. The project was named West African Gas Pipeline. The company that I worked for was providing ambulatory emergency services and cover for the project so we were following these men from camp to site, swamps to the jungle. I cannot remember the number of times that my ambulance got stuck in the swamp and had to be towed out by an excavator. I was awed by the number of Catfish living in the wild in swamps, we made quite a few catches. Some are as big as a human leg and very delicious in a pepper soup.

Before I jump right in let me state here that the purpose of the thread is to educate, enlighten and add to the body of knowledge on Nairaland, It is possible to be a short thread or it could be a very long one, it depends on the level of civility and decorum in our engagements, the quality of materials that I can muster and the amount of time that I can spare to write. Let us keep it civil folks. I intend to keep it interesting with pictures to boot.

I have been across rivers and streams prior to this time in 2006 but nothing prepared me for this next stage of my life. So I was deployed to the Snepco project operating from snake island in Lagos. The theatre of operation was Tincan Island/Nigerdock. It involves using a Surfer boat launched daily from Tincan port to offshore in monitoring flights from both LOS and the offshore platforms. So basically we stayed in between LOS and the locations. The project was a tripartite contract between A major rotary-wing operator, 3 IOCs, and the government as the regulator of course. Remembering my first days on this project now as I write, this song comes to mind ‘ Oju e ni ma la aa ri o, Oju e ni ma la ari yonu’.

On my first day on the job, there was no power in the house, it was too early to put on a generator. I used the torch on my Samsung J700 ( Samsung J700 was a slip phone that the company used Didier Drogba to advertise back then) I left, Taiwo street, Alaguntan Bus/stop Iyana Ipaja very early in the morning, I got to Bolade, Oshodi at about 0500hr. I got a bus going to Liverpool and we proceeded. The trip was smooth until we got to Mile 2 bridge, there was traffic as early as 0530hr, traffic was moving at snail speed from MTN maritime house till we got to Coconut bridge. I alighted from the bus at Tincan's second gate then walked down to the main gate. I moved to the Jetty gate and presented my letter of introduction to the security, he radioed to the control room to confirm my presence. I was led to the jetty and waited for the rickety ferry. Two ferries operate across the two ends of the Tincan port on the 5 cowry creek. The first rickety ferry is for moving personnel across the creek and the second one is a long barge to move vehicles including oil tankers. The jetty was a beehive of activities as mariners and Niger-dock workers jostle for space in the ferry.

On getting to the island end, The environment felt different. The ambience was great, with cool air, spaced housing, power supply, a lot of greenery, unlike the chaos that I survived before getting to the jetty. I was directed to the control rooms for my ID processing. All done within few minutes. So I proceeded to the anchorage very near the dry dock. The dry dock is a big rectangular concrete box that has an iron gate that can be opened and closed to let the ship in before the water is drained away so that the body of the ship can be worked on.

It is amazing looking at various ships dry-docked, bare butt, and unencumbered by water like a nude model being worked on by the make-up artist. Only that these artists are not the usual soft face, brush wielding, powder sprinkling smiling faces, they are hard faces, with harder hander hands, wielding hammers, wire brushes, electric sanding machine, Chisel, sandblasting machines, and paintbrushes to make this particular iron lady a darling of the sea that she once was.

These are gifted hands that do diagnostic, clinical, and cosmetic surgeries on the various ships, they are named welders, Scaffolders, roast about, deckhand, sandblasters, safety officers, iron scanners, painters all decked in oil-soaked cover-all working tirelessly to return the sea beast to the sea. What fun to watch.
Besides the dry dock where she was, anchored, Delicately Perched on the waters like a bumblebee perched on a sunflower. Paragon of beauty, powerfully endearing, looking delicate like a butterfly wing yet powerful and beastly on the surf.

This boat was a beauty in and out, sitting elegantly on the dark waters but unstained. Sleek and Splendid, petite lady with a big engine, the cynosure of all eyes along the creek, darling of the brave and tormentor of small boats and canoes. Surfer 1822, A Bourbon Interoil made surfer boat. The 1800 series was top of the range then. Later on, I got so familiar with this boat that I could hear the moaning of her engine right from the Tincan gate. We refueled right there at the Jetty, the Seaman or the roast-about has collected our food from the kitchen and that was it. The Seaman removed the rope that tied the boat to the dock, The Captain eased off from the jetty and We set sail, Bon voyage.

My first day on the high sea.
Surfer 1822 ( called one eight two two and not eighteen twenty-two) was a 22 pax capacity service/rescue boat commissioned as a proactive measure to monitor flights and offer emergency rescue in the unfortunate incident of choppers crashing into the sea. Ironically many years later when I needed this kind of service, the contract has been terminated. If you have moved in a chopper to any of the offshore facilities within LOS and offshore locations belonging to the big four IOCs, we were on the floor of the ocean monitoring your smooth passage like the guardian angels that we were.

The boat was manned by four men, The captain, the medic, the seaman, and the diver. We have on-board top-of-the-range navigation equipment and also rescue equipment. The Captain is responsible for getting us to the designated position on the sea and also the day-to-day running of the boat, including general correspondence, logistics supplies. Thuraya was top of the range phone then, we had two on board because there was no cellular coverage on the deep sea, even with the Thuraya phones, we have to wander around on the sea looking for strong signals.

The medic, which was my humble self. was responsible for evacuation equipment and supply, general maintenance, daily, a weekly and monthly test of the equipment, and stock inventory. I was the lead personnel for emergency and rescue operations. I coordinated medical drills, real recovery, resuscitation, and evacuation of victims and was also responsible for the welfare of the crew members.

The seaman assisted me and the captain in whatever roll we deem fit. While the diver was to dive into the sea to rescue victims and sometimes to declutter the keel and underbelly of the boat.

It was awesome fun to watch as the boating ease out of anchorage into the open creek passing incoming and outgoing RoRo, tugs, tankers, and canoes. Outside of the creek, the boat kissed the waves as she picked up the pace, racing past the mother ships who were too big to enter the port but had to berth at the harbor serviced by small boats. It was April so the sea was relatively calm, the boat rod rode and surfed in what looked like an endless journey to nowhere, it took about 45 minutes traveling at 35knots/hour to reach our designated position.

I wondered how they knew the particular spot we were supposed to be, there was no Bus stop, skyscraper landmark, or street name. Well, there were coordinates and compass, perfect guidance.
Sometimes we drifted from our location and had to ride back to the location.

So the waiting game started before the airwaves buzzed,
5NB*** 1822, come in
1822 go ahead.
5NB*** Switch to channel X
5NB*** Departed LOS @ ***** approaching ******, ETA *****, ** Souls on Board. Endurance ******
1822, Roger all that.

The captain logged the information in his book, and our business for the day commenced. We know the distance between LOS and each location so if a particular bird forgot to tell us of her flight, we track her down because the pilot was sometimes too occupied with flying that they forgot to tell big brother on the seafloor.

Before my field postings, I have worked in the call center so I was very fluent in NATO-phonetic alphabets, the 26 code words, thingy. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yankee, Zulu. So following discussions on the coms was easy for me.

The first day was not too bad for me as I was not seasick, I had bought peppermint sweets or candy if you may, the day before so anytime I felt sick I was popping sweet in my mouth or going to the deck for fresh air and sunlight.

After 1 week, I stopped feeling sick altogether. The rotation was one week on – one week off.

Quite a few people have asked that I should upload my picture. Well, there you have it.
Satire.

Good morning, let the light through.

Richdee1:
Ma niggi is back, can't wait for Pictures
Hope you've been good??

I am good, and you?
Thanks.

faheez:
welcome

Thank you, how are you keeping?

Hello friends and everyone, apologies for the long silence. It has been a roller coaster experience for me.
I have some breathing space now so I will try to update he thread and also answer the pending questions.

EgunMogaji2:
No be mouth I dey use type nau

Have a nice day.

I salute your calmness Sir.

Iruosonobrugwhe:
Vickyehi
Barbie
Crushsugar
Soknown etc


This is a big thank you to the above listed persons and every other person on this forum.
Came here, read through, started the process for my wife and it has ended in praise.

The joke is that i should become an agent but all i did, i learnt from here and Scholas youtube channel.

Uwese
Wakobiruo
daalu
nagode
Ose pupo
danke
siyabonga

I am happy for you and your family. Congratulations Sir.

CapitalBank:
Yes, it is actually a training place. TOTAL and other multinational oil companies used the place for the for their trainee place. Most of my friends were trained there during their TOTAL training program.

Total, Chevron, Cegelec Prime Atlantic.

zoedew:
Reason you think TCC has been a secret all these while is because it has been focused on serious, productive and corporate entities for patronage. It was a conference centre. You were not sure to have its gates thrown open for you just because you could pay! May be a different focus has come to play now!

This place was being used as Technical training Center by Chevron and some other corporate entities back in the days. Guess the Elebutes have seen other use for the facility.
It has always been a dope facility.

Very good.

More

Pictures before export.

More pictures.

A clean in and out, good Duratorqe engine from UK.
(Conversion on new buyer.)
Manual transmission.
Diesel engine.
Normal start up light on the dashboard.
#1.3m fixed.
DM me please.

To whom it may concern.
Beware of most Nigerians giving advice and offering assistance to the Bahamas. They are mostly squatters, hustlers looking for their meals.
Just a piece of advice.
Regards.

Odunayomie:
I need clarification please on Naric delivery. Thank choose internationally signed for my delivery package and this is going months now am yet to receive my certificate. How long does this delivery company takes to deliver items to Nigeria? I’m running out of patience

I don't understand. So you mean, you are expecting a delivery through a courier.
NARIC as mentioned earlier in the thread is not a courier company but a certificate verification/authentication group.

Mindlog:
It's been a while Soknown, your writing continues to motivate many. Did get an offer to study Msc Clinical Child Psychology at ARU Cambridge but I deferred to this September resumption as I know I wouldn't gain as much as I ought to, as most of the classes moved online and would not get the needed opportunity to work with children and adolescents as per Covid situation...so September, it is.

While you were at Aro, was there a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinic there?

I have a friend who graduated with a B.Sc. in Anatomy, is Masters in Mental health Nursing an option?

Hello, my friend.
Congratulations on your admission. September is almost here. It's a good choice, you know it.
Mental health practice in Nigeria is not properly delineated. Every thing is lumped together, back then there was no Child and adolescent clinic.
Per your friend with Anatomy, I believe he can try it out. If he can prepare his portfolio very well, he will be considered.
Thank you for your feedback.

Reading comments on some posts, I think that we deserve the kind of leaders that we have.

Consent is important in everything, written or implied.
Coming to the hospital ( Teaching hospital inclusive) does not mean, you rights are burnt.

You can exercise your rights at any point of the hospital journey.

You can voice your preference at any point, like you want a male or female to examine you. If you are discriminated against or denied anything because you chose to exercise your right or preference. You have a ground to sue.

For the Professionals in healthcare, aside consent always ask for a Chaperone when dealing with Service users especially the opposite gender. It is for your protection, not the other way.

FACTS.
1. The security operatives know where Sunday Igboho lives.

2. Sunday Igboho is expecting them.

3. The SW is not banking on any zone's or region's support.

4. The SW says bring it on. So why wait?

5. At each time that Nigeria boiled, It started from the SW, the Pre-66, NADECO days.

Now the ball is in the court of Abuja.

Play or not to Play?

Seunfretty:
I laugh wen I see pple saying igboro is only chest beating ...u pple don't know how to state politics work oo..like u tink seyi makinde is the most powerful man in oyo state....sunday igboro works for the ladies and some other heavy and influencias pple in oyo state ...he also have a very strong relationship with OBJ and likes....so seeing him chest beating is nt an empty threat cos he has strong backbones and for every man that knows sunday well he will know DSS will be wasting there time cos they will never get him and God save there life if he doesn't waste some of there lives like chicken during the attempt .....that man and some other young boys in igboro are fucking powerful and will kill u without u even seeing them...makinde might decide to go against him but lots of Yoruba obas will back him and try to calm the situation cos that's wat will be needed

Makinde should have known that, His Excellency, the Governor is just a title on the street of Ibadan. There are always strong men, that are more powerful than the Governor. In the days of Lamidi Adedibu, who controlled the hordes on the street. With internet and the common hatred for the criminal activities of the killer herdsmen, Igboho is turning to another strong man in Ibadan that controls the street. Building on the momentum of the ENDSARS movement.
Ibadan, Ekiti and Ondo no dey hear word, just like Edo.
If hostilities continue this way or attempts were made to arrest Igboho. The town will boil, a state of emergency will be declared and then God forbid that we are back at the Wild Wild West days. Even Abuja will not be safe.
Hope Seyi will tread softly, before he sets Nigeria on Fire.

sapphiere:
Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, in a video shared online, told Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that he cannot threaten or arrest him.
Watch the video below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXXZKb3Cj3M&feature=emb_logo

https://thenationonlineng.net/video-you-cannot-threaten-or-arrest-me-says-sunday-igboho/

He is a deity, Ebora in and onto himself. He is not God but if you know him, you will know he is ready to die. So what can you use to threaten a man that is ready to die. NOTHING.

[quote author=TheLasyBuddha post=98178903][/b]

Thank you so much.
I checked it out, https://www.naric.org.uk/. It is useful as a replacement for IELTS in the UKVI requirements.
But NMC is accepting IELTS and OET for now.
https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/english-language-requirements/accepted-tests/

adrenaline02:
what advice do you have for someone that studied pharmacology and wants to come to the UK. Based on on this point based program newly introduced. Can you advise on some courses that can be taken. Pharmacology is a basic medical course, so what do you suggest?

If I may, Masters in Mental health Nursing.

During the Sims. You have failed, if your Mr Mannikins did not look like the one displayed with all the Head block, Spidal harness and Bag valve masks, and extrication devices in place.