I wish you could be right here with us, as we are sitting out on the deck leaving the port of Antwerp headed down the Schelde River to the North Sea and on our way to Hamburg, Germany. Look at the amount of containers waiting to be loaded on these ships…and this is only one tiny, tiny section of this port- the second largest in the world. It is second in size only to Singapore!

It is about 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. The air is beginning to chill…..sunset almost here…and a spectacular Antwerp lock passage awaiting us!

However, first, I want to share some glimpses from our voyage across the Atlantic.

I am sure that you can’t imagine this but we were actually THRILLED to be invited down to the engine room by our beloved Chief Engineer!! He has been an amazing host and delightfully informative. Come with us and take a look at what makes this 630 foot long, 110 foot wide and 30,000 ton vessel ‘purr’!! Meet our Chief:

Of course, the Chief is the gentleman on the right…the guy on the left is just the ‘want to be’!
I am going to attempt to share the actual sounds of the engine room….note the ear plugs as a necessity for this tour!! We are actually below sea level on parts of this ‘engine tour’….hope the thing ‘holds together’!

Take a look at this ‘drive shaft’….to make this thing ‘purr’ at about 16 knots for just simple ole ocean cruising….

Here it is with sound effects….it is really a drive shaft to the propeller of the ship (not a crane shaft as I described:)! ) SO much to learn!!!

Here are the cylinders in front of the silver exhaust values:

Control panels…lots of ‘fun’ dials to entertain the ‘adult kids’ on board:)!

And here’s Rolly’s ‘digs’…he is the electrical officer!

Of course, the Chief really was hoping that I would take over his watch at the control station….and if you believe this…I am sure there is an oil refinery in Antwerp that I can send you!!

OK …all you engineer types….now let’s see you step up to identify these other critical components:

If you missed that one – it is the ship’s incinerator. OK, now you are on your own for the rest…which really means ….I had no clue what I was actually experiencing:)!!

I do know this ….that was my exit door:)!! Enough of that …did anyone hang with me all the way through this one…..there will be a quiz when I get back.:)!!

Now, off to the ‘ocean party’!