Loading in West Africa

First time in West Africa on a VLCC. An unforgettable experience. The authorities board, and start with the customs and immigration paper work. The agent seems to be in cahoots with them, for he keeps silent through it all. Very politely a list is produced and if we do not acquiesce to the demands there could be trouble and delays for the ship, which of course could result in huge loss in terms of time and money for the owners and charterers.

Once the authorities have finished their “free shopping” on board it is now the turn of the agent to demand some medicines from the ship’s medicine chest. Of course we comply, who wants to delay a VLCC for a few pills.

Loading goes peacefully. But the mooring masters have not been paid for last two months so the VLCC after us is delayed as they will not bring her in till the wages are cleared. This seems to be a routine occurrence here.

But what do I care; we are finished here for the time being and on to our next port of call – Ceiba, Equatorial Guinea.

Force Majeure?!! If we did not cough up

"Any Party asserting Force Majeure as an excuse shall have the burden of proving that reasonable steps were taken (under the circumstances) to minimize delay or damages caused by forseeable events, that all non-excused obligations were substantially fulfilled, and that the other Party was timely notified of the likelihood or actual occurrence which would justify such an assertion, so that other prudent precautions could be contemplated."