Repositioning

29th April, Jakarta

33 Comments

We are at anchor in Jakarta Bay, 6 miles from the harbour.  We arrived here yesterday afternoon and joined 60+ other vessels at anchor.

The last time I wrote, we were making our way from Port Klang, Malaysia, steaming at a stately 15 knots towards our destination.  Strangely enough, it is the first time we have steamed through the busiest shipping lane in the world, the Malacca Straits, in daylight.  We have always been rushing to Singapore, or leaving Singapore during the hours of darkness; for me it offered the opportunity for some photography, an added bonus.

A radar picture, Singapore Island at 12 o’clock, Batam at 3 o’clock.  The yellow dots are ships

We are approaching the trickiest turn in the traffic lane, a 90 degree turn, with shipping around us. We adjust speed to make the turn without interfering with the other vessels, as they also turn

How it looks out of the window. The black object at 9 o’clock is a wreck, someone got it wrong…….

We pass a drill-ship

We pass Singapore…if only…

Past Batam’s east side and we make our turn to the south, making for Jakarta, thus leaving the busy sea-lane for less congested waters.

The 28th and someone’s birthday, moi! 🙂   Wonderful videos from my daughters and grandchildren are on my phone,  cards on my WhatsApp from all of them.  This one is from Emily, my ship is on its way to ‘Amirica’, my cabin entrance is decorated and a cake at coffee, on the Bridge.

I am surprised after lunch………………..Unfortunately I can’t rotate it through 90° for some reason…….

Then to the anchorage, weaving our way to our designated spot, through numerous other vessels.

There are 2 other cruise ships here with us and both have to complete their disembarkation of Indonesian crew before we do.  Optimistically ours will be on May 1st, however, as I have learned from experience, I’ll believe it when I see it.

More later and stay safe!

33 thoughts on “29th April, Jakarta”

  1. Happy Birthday Jonathan! I completely forgot yesterday and I apologize ! I was going to say that I hoped you had a terrific day, but I can see from your post that, all things considered, it was pretty good! Much Love and Aloha – Dee and Wells

  2. A belated very happy birthday to you captain and thanks so much for keeping us up to date. Emily’s picture is very cute! Isn’t technology great when used for good things like that.

  3. Captain,

    Thank you so very much for these updates! I very much enjoy everyone of them.

    With each message from you will I feel increased nostalgia for the Amsterdam, the wonderful crew and your outstanding leadership. It breaks my heart to read the crew will disembark in Indonesia. From my passenger perspective they are all so amiable, hard-working and very professional. I hope I have the opportunity to meet them again soon!

    Your birthday cake was outstanding! Unparalleled detail! And I feel your granddaughters picture is very accurate. However I would caution you against opening up the door she has indicated!

    My prayers are with you, the remaining crew and the Amsterdam for safe trip home. The most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard has been the bells in the Abbey in London. Next to that now is the magnificent horn on the Amsterdam!

  4. Happy Birthday Captain Jonathan, what a wonderful birthday cake, decorations and party from the staff! This is one birthday you won’t forget. Love the picture from your granddaughter. I have missed you mentioning her in your blog. And the Amsterdam’s horn sounding for your birthday celebration was extra special. Sounds like you got the party we would have loved to have given you for your retirement. Certainly well deserved. We wish you the best as you disembark your “precious crew” and for continued health and safety dusing this C-19 pandemic. We will remember the times we sailed with you on to Mexico on the Oosterdam in 2007, through the Panama Canal on the Statendam in 2009, the WC on the Amsterdam in 2018 and 2020! Thanks for your great leadership, the nautical information during the “Voice from the Bridge”, your perseverance in doing the best for your passengers and crew as we tried to navigate trouble waters during the pandemic and for your blog as we continue our voyage on the Amsterdam vicariously. Birthday wishes from Alan and Sharon Johnson🍻🎉🍾🎂🎁🍰🥂🧁

  5. Panjang umurnya, panjang umurnya, etcetera! I bet the crew sang THAT to you on the 28th! I now know it by heart after hearing it every meal at dinner on the 2017 world cruise. It is a happy song sung by happy crew and we wish you a safe journey and hopefully as happy as possible one for the remaining days. ****** Anne and John Micena ******

  6. Encore: Happy Birthday Captain Mercer!!
    All good stuff – the cake looks wonderful I know it did not come from “Sams” !

  7. Another belated happy birthday, Captain! We are sure that this b-day will be amongst the most memorable! Great photos! John is still waiting to celebrate his February b-day with our granddaughter when we are allowed to celebrate with family again! Our thoughts are always with you, Karen, and the entire Amsterdam crew. Are you sure you don’t want to come back for the 2021 WC!?

  8. Happy belated birthday Captain! All the best for your call at Tanjung Priok, hopefully tomorrow! Then of, if it’s still part of the plan, to Bali and Manila. Sure your Asian crew will be happy campers!

  9. Happy Birthday, Captain Mercer. Hopefully you & Karen will be home soon. Thank you for taking care of the crew & getting them home safe.

  10. Happy Birthday Captain Jonathan.. just got this a little while ago… so belated birthday wishes.. and wishing you many many more.. been following you and the AMDM ( we were onboard for 79 days Sept-Dec 2019 ) as well as following all the other HAL fleet of ships.. it’s been a while–Veendam Mar 1999 – pretty sure it was when Peter H made Captain …and we’re also still hanging in there with HAL– 87 cruises in all.. enjoy your retirement whenever it shall be.. stay safe ..stay well.. and ‘write that book’ — you know you should 🙂

  11. Belated happy birthday to you, Captain! We are glad to know that you have made it safely to Jakarta. Hopefully the crew disembarkation goes well and happens in a timely way. We are very happy for the crew that they finally get to go home. We hope you stay safe and that you and the ship make it back to wherever you are headed, uneventfully.

  12. Very nice of you to share your celebration. Glad to see one and all from what may feel like a never-ending voyage. At least a terrific birthday there with all of us in the Cloud cheering you on as well.
    Trust me. Better to be trapped in a routine of sailing a ship than being home in quarantine. I am entering my 3rd month here in New Jersey and the natives are getting restless.
    My poodle dog looks like a sheep because I dare not try to use clippers on him. So I am just writing, be careful what you wish for. Where you are , you are in charge. When you finally
    return you will be at the mercy of politicians. My neighbors cannot count to 6, so I am 2 blocks from the beach and the boardwalk has been closed.
    So I close with letting you know that I am travelling vicariously through your voyage and wishing you a safe return.

  13. Happy Birthday and smooth sailing after disembarking “our” crew. I know they will be happy to back at home amounts their families and friends.

  15. Captain Jonathan: You are the Gold Standard of Captains!
    Happy Belated Birthday.
    SarahMack and Horace

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