18
lessons in safety
Tagged Under : Bering Sea
This has been the week of “oh, *that’s* why they do that.”
On Thursday, we were getting all set to go out on the ice when a big old crack appeared under the feet of the Coasties who were checking it for safety. (Conclusion: Not, in fact, safe.) There was water, there was crackage, there was a heroic rescue of equipment. Lesson: Oh, *that’s* why we have to wear those very awkward dry suits when we go out on the ice.
This morning at 3:23 loud alarms went off (bing! bing! bing!) and the loud voice said “Major fuel oil leak in the #1 diesel engine” and also “all hands report to general emergency billet” which, my roommates helpfully explained, means to go to the science conference lounge so you can be accounted for. So we went to the lounge and sat while they worked on it. I think “major” has a broad definition and that this was an easy leak to fix, judging by the fact that we were back in our beds an hour later. Lesson: Oh, *that’s* why they do fire drills.