Our last day at Midway for the year and you get attached to the laid-back lifestyle and attitude of the atoll. I got up early as promised and started to do all the pre-deployment checks, inspections and sign offs. Today was a ten-hour day and every minute occupied with details of projects.
When I was on the Ka’imimoana, I noticed a high tally of equipment malfunctions along with redundant maintenance practices, which lead to high cost of maintenance and wasted man-hours. In borrowing concepts from the Navy, I looked over manufacturer’s recommendations of preventive maintenance as well as standard commercial practices. Common sense, experience, and familiarizing with characteristics of equipment and instruments added to designing a preventive maintenance plan and system along with electronic library and database of chronological history of maintenance on systems and modules.
The idea came from integration of work methods obtained from my experiences with the navy, private sector, Japan and Dugway. I spent many hours putting together the pieces and practicing it before submitting it as a suggestion. I am sure you already know the results. I was told that such methods were already implemented and what I had designed was not needed. I went back into my cocoon and used what I put together for myself. I will continue being innovative but will not publicize it or go the “recognition” route.
We are heading back to Kure Atoll for four days. Cruise time is about five hours on the average of ten knots. It is about 50 miles from Midway. The winds have picked up and it was a rolling ride to get there. We must be parked on the side of the atoll tonight that is sheltering us from the waves or the winds have really died down. I am tired and plan to hit the rack after this is published.
We will be in Honolulu in less than two weeks and hard to believe the season is over. I talked to the wife tonight and told her that in one month at the hour we speak, I will be home again. Meanwhile it is focus on duty, get the job done and do it right. Tomorrow is another day and the list is long again.
Fortunately, I will not be getting up at five. I will get another hour of sleep and wake up at six. Look over e-mails, strategize maintenance schedule and start the work portion of the day with morning calisthenics for stretching. Go to the galley for breakfast and afterwards start admin tasks and dailies at 07:30. Keep an ample supply of Green or Oolong Tea for drinks as well as water.
I bid you goodnight from Kure Atoll, again.
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