Logos Hope has the PSSC, we are getting ready to sail

For the past year and a half, 4 letters have never been far from our thoughts - PSSC.

It stands for Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and it is what we have been working for all these months. It allows us to sail the Logos Hope with all the staff and crew onboard in normal operations.

So finally today, the surveyor was happy with the ship and signed all the papers. YEAAH!

On Monday we have the ISM auditor returning to have a final look to ensure we are ready for sea and the the issues he raised last week have been resolved. We expect to get his agreement that we are ready. Then we just need to get our insurance changed over from port to sailing cover.

There are a couple of other little outstanding issues that also need to be resolved - we need the Damage Control Booklet to be handed over and the Bunker Convention Certificate (you can Google that one). But we are trusting God that everything will come together for us to sail out of Koge on Thursday for a very short visit to Gothenburg, Sweden.

Last weekend, Heather and I were doing our Basic Safety Training in order that we can be part of the ships crew, as opposed to passengers.

We had our fire training on Saturday, including putting out fires with different extinguishers. 

We also had a surprise exra bit of training when we had to put on full fire suits with BA (breathing apparatus)

Heather just had to put the gear on and off again, but my friend Alex and I were told we had to do a drill. We had to make our way down a stairway, through a closed fire door, find an open cabin, go in and find a casualty lying in there and carry them out - wearing the full BA suit and BLINDFOLDED! This is to stimulate heavy smoke.

Well never having had any training in this or worn one of these suits before, it was a challenge but we did it.

On Sunday afternoon we all headed to a local swimming pool and had our pool training including, righting an overturned life raft, jumping off a 5m diving board with a life jacket on, making a flotation device out of our clothes and getting into several different protective suits.

It It was all good fun but we hope we never have to use it for real.

So now we have got our BST and can be part of the crew in future.

The kids are on school holiday this week so we took them back to the pool for a swim this afternoon.

Another busy few days coming up with Steve sharing in devotions Friday morning on Teamwork, then doing a half day workshop. Friday night we are visiting local Danish friends for dinner and then Heather is doing a "thank you" mime at a dinner for all those who have worked to get the PSSC. 

On Saturday evening, we are having the big PSSC celebration - it is going to be awesome. Will tell you about it soon.

So our busy lives continue and are about to get busier as we set sail next week.

Will try and write a blog while at sea next Thurs night - the wonders of satelite communications.