Dale Stenseth's Freighter Odyssey

Itinerary: Oct. 18, 2008-Feb. 19, 2009

10/11/08 This will be the last update to this page for the next 4 months. While I won't have internet access, I am able to update my journal BLOG by satellite phone. Today, the Rickmers Jakarta is east of the Yucatan, headed north. I have tracked it by satellite. You can too, using this link. Click on the world map. It requires JAVA to be enabled on your computer. I'll be driving south early Sunday morning.

10/07/08 Update: Further delay. I was asked to switch to the Rickmers Jakarta, which could keep the same schedule. Can send and receive emails on a special satellite email address, but probably will not have internet access.

9/26/08 Update: Notified of a 2 week delay in arrival at Houston.

People ask 'Why am I doing this?', and 'How did you find out about this?'
I can only answer, 'It is in my Norwegian genes.' The mountains and the oceans call me. Ancestors skied endlessly in the mountains near Bodo. Distant relatives of my Viking ancestors settled Greenland. When I can see the ocean, I am at peace. Walking in the surf, or even on the sand, is a great pleasure.
I think I saw an ad for freighter cruises in an adventure magazine, 2 years ago.

The ship I will travel on is the Rickmers Jakarta. This is one of 9 ships in the 'Round-The-World Pearl String Service'. Under more normal weather and economic conditions, a ship departs from Houston twice each month. Each has a crew of 33, and may carry a few passengers. The best part about international travel by ship versus aircraft, is being able to sleep horizontally. How cool is that?

Tidbits of the North Metro (9/22/08) claims there are 350 maritime attacks by pirates per year.

This week I only need to pack and buy remaining supplies. Of course, there are the remaining satellite phone issues.
10/8/08 New ticket received, and new contract signed for Rickmers Jakarta. Created Freighter BLOG.
9/26/08 Satellite phone and adapters RECEIVED. Now I have to figure out how to make it play nice with my laptop. Argh!
9/19/08 Ticket RECEIVED!
9/17/08 Received 2-entry China visa.
9/12/08 Applied for absentee ballot. 8/1/08 Travel clinic. Typhoid 4-part, oral vaccination. Everything else is up to date. Malaria meds and emergency antibiotics.
8/8/08 Arranged mandated emergency air evacuation insurance.
8/11/08 Medical release signed by my doctor, because there is no doctor on board.
8/12/08 Contract for Carriage signed.
8/22/08 Bought a German power adapter plug for electronic toys: laptop, cameras, ipod.

Day	Date	Position	Likely ports	Possible ports
1	10/18/08	30°N 95°W	Embark, Houston, USA
	October		New Orleans, LA Newport News, VA Camden, NJ	Savannah, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NYC
15-21	10/27- 11/01		Atlantic Ocean crossing
22-25	November	51°N 4°E	Antwerp, Belgium	Immingham/Liverpool, UK
25-27	November	53°N 9°E	Hamburg, Germany
38-39	11/15/08	44°N 8°E	Genoa, Italy
40-42	11/17	30°N 32°E	Suez Canal passage
45	11/25/08	29°N 48°E	Kuwait
48	12/01/08	6°S 106°E	Jakarta, Indonesia	Chennai, India; Surabaya, Indonesia; Tanjumg Jati, Indonesia; Ko Sichang/Maptaphut, Thailand
59	12/05- 12/9/08	1°N 103°E	Singapore
61	12/17/08	22°N 114°E	Hong Kong
	December		Ho Chi Minh City, VN; Shanghai, China; Dalian, China	Phu My/Haiphong, Viet Nam; Kaohsiung, Taiwan
	January		Xingang, China; Qingdao, China; Masan, South Korea;	Inchon/Onson/Ulsan, S.Korea; Yangpu/Fangcheng, China;
	January	35°N 134°E	Kobe, Japan; Yokohama, Japan	Ishigaki/Hitachi, Japan
107-121	2/01- 2/14/09		Pacific Ocean crossing
122-123	2/15/09	9°N 79°W	Panama Canal passage	Long Beach, USA
125	2/19/09	30°N 95°W	Disembark Houston

Copyright © Dale Stenseth. All rights reserved.
These pages may be freely linked to, but may not be duplicated in any manner without the author's express consent,
except that travelers may print a single copy of trip reports for personal use.

Dale Stenseth's Freighter Odyssey

Itinerary: Oct. 18, 2008-Feb. 19, 2009

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