10 December 2010; Manaus.

Not the whole waterway that we generally call the Amazon River is really covered by it. Just before Manaus, the river Solimoes and the river Rio Negro meet and form the Amazon. Also Pilotage for the river is split up in two groups. Thus we had a pilot change at the town of Itacotiaria about 120 miles South of Manaus. All was set for 00.15 and in front of the town we passed the Regatta from Oceana Cruises and their pilots came over to us. They had left Manaus at 16.00 hrs. yesterday and now they will be back at 10 am. today. Travelling in 5 star luxury and getting paid for it as well. For an Amazon pilot getting a cruise ship job is very desirable as mostly they are stuck on austere equipped tankers and container ships. Thus we get most of the time the very senior pilots who firmly stand on their stripes to enjoy room service while piloting. They know that the HAL ships are very hospitable as me and all my colleagues follow the policy that a pilot full of food does not complain and thus we ensure that all is arranged according to this philosophy.

From the pilot station I set an arrival time for 08.30 at the “wedding” or the meeting of the waters” so that the guests did not have to be out and about too early. Again a new one for these pilots who, used to the cargo ships, expected that the ship would race towards its destination to save as much time as possible. So when I explained to them that I would be there at exactly 08.30, I was met with a bit of disbelief. When during the trip up river, they saw that the navigation officer was adjusting speed to match this time exactly; they had a long conversation among themselves in wonderment.

I advised “the troops” at 08.00 with a 30 minute notice message and at exactly 08.30 we left the muddy water from the River Solimoes and entered the dark Acidic water of the Rio Negro. From there it is 10 miles to the dock which we did at slow speed in order not to create a wake that might upset the navy ships and ferry boats along the shore line. The Broadway dock was ready and waiting for us; with ear splitting salsa noise and a dance group on the dock side to welcome us. Our gangway lands almost in the stern shop on the dock, which gives those with withdrawal symptoms due to lack of shopping, a change to get their fix.

Housekeeping transporting the goods to the Provision Break.

For me I had the next item on the agenda at 11 am. Donation to good causes. Since I got onto this on the Veendam in 2006, I have ever since been looking for opportunities to donate items to good causes, instead of it all going into the ships “recycling centre”. Knowing that we were going back to Manaus I started the process again in July and “Club Prinsendam” responded as expected. On top of that we are in the process with a soft good upgrade for the guest cabins and that meant that all the old stuff is coming out. Old between exclamation marks, as what comes out of a five star cabin is only downgraded to 4 star by the time it gets exchanged. In total we had over 40 large –wash machine-size boxes to donate.

The S.E.H. officer in the break ensuring that nothing falls in the water.

I asked the agent to contact the same two places from last time, the Old folk’s home and the children’s rescue centre.

The children’s home of :Lar Batista Janell Doyle, www.larbastistamanaus.com.br; and the Retirement home: Fundacao de Apoio ao Idoso Dr.Thomas. Both well-known in Manaus.

Combined with our donations from last march, the old folks will now have HAL curtains, HAL bed spreads and skirting, HAL pillows for their rooms; HAL bathrobes to sit in and HAL sticks and rollators to get around with. We even landed a box with cooking utensils for the central kitchen. The children’s centre received bed covers, pillows and curtains as well.

Happy faces all around.

All and all something to feel very proud about and so we are. We will stay overnight here in Manaus and then sail tomorrow at 16.00 hrs. in order to be on time in Parintins. That port we already past when going up river as it is quite close to Boca de Valeria. It will be an anchoring port as the dock that allowedboth the Prinsendam and the larger Veendam to dock, has gone for repairs. Hence we will drop anchor on a bank in the middle of the river and tender across to the ferry terminal.

Hotelmanager Francois Briarda, Captain Albert, HRM Mike Willock and the representatives of the childeren’s home.

As you can see I am wearing my cap, not because of the formaility of the affair but because the sun was belting down today. There only seems to be two options in Manaus; either it rains cats and dogs, or the skies are completely blue and the sun burns down all day.

Just a few of the 40 boxes that went to a good cause.

All photos courtesy of Human Resources Manager Mike Willock.