Monday, December 31, 2018

Time for a new job

I have worked for Troms Offshore for the past five and a half years, and I have had a great time. There have been plenty of nice colleagues and I have even managed to sneak in a woodworking project or two during these years.

One of my coworkers forwarded a job ad two months ago, and while I wasn't really looking for a new job or planning to change jobs, this particular job seemed interesting. 
I got so curious about it that I did a bit of research, and ended up sending an application. I truly hadn't expected to hear from the company again, since it was sort of a very special job with a high number of potential applicants who might have a better chance than I did.
I told myself that at least I had sent in an application, and I would be happy for whoever landed the position.
And since I like it here in Troms Offshore, all would still be well no matter the outcome. Actually I was pretty sure that the pay was lower in the new job, so it really didn't matter much.

To make a long story short, they called me one day in the end of November, and I accepted the job despite a lower salary.

Most people tend to move towards better paying jobs and newer ships. 

I on the other hand have done the opposite. In even manage to live up to my motto "Being old fashioned, the cool way".

My new job is as chief engineer on board the Statsraad Lemkuhl, a ship built in 1914. 
The ship is run by a fund, that has got the goal to keep the ship active, and I read somewhere, that it is one of the tall ships of the world that has got the most sailing days per year. That appeals very much to me, since the ship was built for sailing, and not for being in port like a museum ship.

It will be a new experience for me, but like trying out new techniques, it can't hurt to use you brain once in a while to learn new stuff. Another good thing is that the ship usually visits USA once every year, so that is a bit of an adventure on its own.

The ship is in dry dock prior to this years season.

Definitely prettier than an offshore supply boat.

34 comments:

  1. Exciting! Beautiful ship. Looking forward to a bit of woodworking at heeling angles. Should be interesting.

    Wish you fair winds and following seas.

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    1. Thanks Jumping Jax

      I got the grand tour of the ship yesterday while she was in dry dock, and the ship is incredibly well maintained and just oozes of history, tradition and quality.

      I hope that I will be able to continue with small woodworking projects over there as well, but I can't see why not.

      Brgds and happy New Year

      Jonas

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  2. If you didn't sail before (I mean with the wind) you will have to learn a lot of new vocabulary and concepts, and acquire new skills.
    Of course this kind of ship needs a core crew of professionals but I guess many would pay to pull on the halyards on such a ship.
    You can give a hand to the carpenter.
    Congratulations.
    Happy new year.
    Sylvain

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    1. Hi Sylvain

      I did a little bit of sailing while I took the basic seaman's course 23 years ago, but I have been reading up on the subject a bit since I got this job :-)
      There is a professional crew on board, but not enough to run the ship on sails. So there is always a lot of people who pay to joint the ship. That's how they get the economical ends to meet.
      I have watched some of the videos on Youtube of the ship, and people seems to be having a great time, and since all is manual, all hands are really needed in order to make things work, so people aren't just buying a cruise, but instead a "working holiday".

      Brgds and happy New Year

      Jonas

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  3. Jonas,

    Congrats on the new job. I've always lived by doing what I love and letting the money take care of itself. It has worked very well for me, I've lived a life of no regrets and much joy.

    ken

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    1. Hi Ken

      Thank you, I tried to tell myself something like that too, and I quickly decided that I would rather be doing something that seemed exciting and getting a bit less in the pocket.
      And as the old saying goes: If you earn a little bit more than you spend you are rich.

      Brgds and happy New Year

      Jonas

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  4. Wow that a beautiful ship and awesome job. I have always wanted to take a trip on a sailboat. The only ships I have ever been on were small coast guard ships that took us out and dropped us off in the ocean for survival training. Will you have to climb the rigging?

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    1. Thanks.

      It must be a great place to work, since one of the old chief engineers are still active as a stand in, and he is 73 years old. So I figure that if you are still longing to go to work at that age - it is probably a fine place to work.

      I don't think that I'll have to climb the rigging, but I want to try it, so I can get an understanding of the entire ship and all its systems.

      All those people that join the ship for a shorter or a longer trip are offered the opportunity to help working in the rigging, so I really want to try it too.

      Brgds and Happy New Year

      Jonas

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  5. Statsraad Lehmkuhl Is Eye Sweet all the best on your new job Chief..

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    1. Thank you for the nice comment.
      I'll do my best to make sure that the ship will stay beautiful.

      Brgds and Happy New Year

      Jonas

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  6. Statsraad Lehkuhl would look nice painted on the inside lid of your Sea Bourne Chest..

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    1. That would actually be a good idea.

      Perhaps I should start building a new sea chest. It has been a while since I did a chest project.

      Brgds and Happy New Year

      Jonas

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  7. Something new for the new year. Congrats and Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you for the nice comment.

      Happy new Year to you as well

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  8. Good luck with your new job. That's a beautiful ship. Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you.

      It will be a pleasure to stay in port on a ship that people will actually be happy to walk by and look at.
      (something that is a bit hard on a modern vessel)

      Brgds and Happy New Year

      Jonas

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  9. Good luck, and a happy New year to you and your family

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    1. Thank you António

      Hapy New Year to you and your family as well

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  10. Very cool, I envy you my friend :-)
    Life is about the pursuit of happiness not money.
    BTW we often have tall ships gatherings her in Halifax and you can still finds shops to do wooden tall ships repairs here in Lunenburg also.
    I'll keep an eye out for your ship
    Bob, whishing you a happy new year

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    1. Hi Bob, Thanks a lot and happy New Year.

      Visiting Canada could be a fun thing, I hope that one day they'll organize a tall ships race that goes there.

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  11. Just remember, on sailing vessels you can't count on plumb and you can't count on square. And tools roll to leeward, sometimes with greater vigor than on land.
    Bon Chance!

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    1. Plumb or level rarely work on ships :-)
      But I think that you are right about the square on this one too. All seem to be much more gracefully sculpted, so there are few straight lines.

      The rolling tool problem is luckily something that I am used to out here, except for that those ships roll in both directions, and I think that a sail ship tends to stay on one side a lot longer. So that might be an advantage :-)

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  12. Congratulations. I’m excited for you.

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    1. Thanks Paul.

      It will be an adventure for sure.

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  13. Oh wow! What a cool opportunity, I hope it lives up to expectations, it seems like a good fit for your unique perspective and we all look forward to hearing of your new adventures.

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    1. Thanks Jeremy

      I am pretty sure it will be fun.
      The more I think of it - the more certain I am that it is the right choice.

      There are a bunch of videos on Youtube with the vessel, and it just looks amazing.

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  14. You have reaped the blessings of Moulariprionia, sir. It's such an honor to be working on such a storied and impressive craft.

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    1. Thanks Mitchell

      I hope that the goddess Moulariprionia will continue to be pleased with my efforts :-)

      Brgds
      Jonas

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  15. Wow you got the job, congratulations! On a ship that old I guess that, in order to keep to traditions, you now need to learn to make ships-in-a-bottle and other cool things as well

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    1. Hi Ty.

      Thanks.
      Funny that you should mention ships in a bottle, cause that was one of the things I got to think of myself :-)
      I am not sure I want to make one though, but if it is required, I'd better do it.

      Brgds
      Jonas

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    2. If you do, it will mage great content for your blog. Would love to read along

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    3. It will really be small scale woodworking, but now that you mention it, I haven't seen any woodworking blogs discussing how to make a bottle ship. So it might be worth trying.

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