Gas, Gas, Gas

Last year when we arrived onboard I found the AFRICA MERCY only had oxygen meters for use in confined spaces. Since one of my responsibilities as Third Engineer General is to maintain the Sewage Treatment System I was pretty keen to get hold of a multi gas detector. That is because Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) or more commonly known as rotten egg gas, is a by product of stagnant anaerobic sewage and can kill in very small concentrations - 15 parts per million is the 15 minute exposure level (STEL for the techos). So I approached Encore Automation from Balcatta, Western Australia whom I had previously hired two multi-gas detectors from in my last job. They very kindly donated an ex-hire GasAlert MicroClip XT multi gas detector which I am sure has saved me gassing myself several times already. Thank you Encore! Their contact details are:

http://encoresales.com.au/index.php?pages=about&mnu=6

Anyway it required calibration this summer so again I googled to find a company in the UK whilst visiting family and found Survey Express Services (SES) in Yeovil, Somerset, UK, only 5 miles from where we were staying in the UK. Trevor and his team re-calibrated it in an hour free of charge! Thanks SES! Their contact details are:

http://www.surveyexpress.co.uk/t-aboutus.aspx

Trevor from SES Yeovil with Mick and the boys

Thanks to both companies for their donations and keeping me safe. My family and I really appreciate it. And so do all the crew of the AFRICA MERCY, all the patients and everyone else who comes aboard.  Thanks for being part of the Mercy Ships team.

What's a Wheelie?

Anyone who has served in the Navy (except maybe the USN) should recognise a wheelie - or valve wheel spanner to give it a more formal name. These are the oddest looking tool but the best solution for providing a little extra leverage to open or close stiff valves. I had used these in the Australian Navy and was disappointed to find we had none onboard the AFRICA MERCY when we joined. So I did a google search to find out where I could obtain one and found that they were forged in Yeovil, Somerset (UK) only 5 miles from my aunt and uncle. So whilst in the UK visiting the family over the summer I contacted Robin Green of Wessex Forgings who offered to donate an eight inch and twelve inch wheelie. In fact Robin even personally delivered it to us at my aunt and uncle's place the day before we flew out.

Robin Green donating two wheelies to Mick

Robin recounted how his grandfather had designed the original wheelie and that he was still supplying to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and had just received an order for 700 from the USN. He also continues to receive special orders for chromed wheelies for presentos., probably to ex-matelots. And of course they have a Nato Stock Number (NSN) stamped into them, 5120-99-437-5897.

Thanks Robin and Wessex Forgings for your support of us and Mercy Ships. For all of you who have just found out about the tool you have always desired their contact details are:

http://www.wessexforgings.co.uk
http://www.wheelspanner.co.uk