ORP Aquarius winter season

Then the Aquarius took a course for the Baltic Strait. He defeated the tiny and large Belt, then Kattegat and Skagerrak to yet go to the North Sea. “We spent 2 days there, and after returning to the Baltic we went to Świnoujście, where we replenished our supplies. In the last part of the cruise we crossed the way leading north of Bornholm and close Gotland, yet this morning we returned to our home port – describes kmdr por. Rusek.

The march was planned so that apprentices could practice all elements of the officer's craft. It was crucial to pass through the Baltic Straits. – This is an area where there is simply a very large movement of various types of units. From a navigational point of view, it is highly hard – points out kmdr por. Rusek. The patients had the chance to feel it on their own. During the cruise, the navigators came to watch the bridge. They were given the function of the watch officer's doubles. In practice, however, many tasks were carried out by themselves, although under the strict control of experienced crew members. – Through the straits we had the chance to go through before, but it happened in summer. Now we did the same in much worse weather – emphasizes bsm. pchor. Wiśniewski. Sailors were more likely to observe navigational instruments than they had their own eyes on them.

An crucial test was besides the entrance to the Świnoujście. Each port has its own specificity, and erstwhile heading towards it, it is essential to maneuver skillfully among another vessels, to keep communication with the mainland, and then to set up a ship to dock at the designated berth.

Meanwhile, erstwhile the incoming navigators were gaining the cut on the bridge, their colleagues worked below deck. “We have been working on watches at the gym control centre, learning about the rules of operation of the sixth section (i.e. electromechanical – ed.),” explains Prof. Mateusz Fajter, a fifth-year student at the Mechanical and Electrical Department. The trainees made entries in the device log, observed the work of the gym, learned how to respond to various types of alarms and simulated faults.

During their watch-free time, the subcholers took part in lectures conducted by a practitioner from the Naval Academy. The cruise ended with an examination in front of a committee composed of the commanders and officers of the ORP “Waterman” and the said lecturer. They all passed.

For more than 40 subjects, the winter cruise was the last test before graduation exams and appointment to the first officer's degree. shortly they will begin to service in individuals Navy. Most of them have plans, expectations, dreams. I hesitate between the Battleship Squadron and the Support Ship Squadron. However, we will see what allocation I will yet receive – admits Bishop Wiśniewski. Mar. pchor. Fajter besides mentions battleships. “I dream of taking part in missions, so in addition to dob, I think about 12 or 13 trawlers,” he says.

Meanwhile, the ORP “Water” will shortly start preparing for the next cruise. In the summer, the ship is scheduled to leave with AMA's footpaths to the Atlantic Ocean and enter the western Mediterranean.