SUN DOWN IN SUIKUPANG, BATAM ISLAND, INDONESIA

THIS BEAUTIFUL FOCAL SHOT IS FROM A SMALL VILLAGE OFF SUIKUPANG POINT IN BATAM ISLAND, INDONESIA. YOU CANNOT SEE IN THIS PICTURE BUT WITH THE NAKED EYE YOU CAN SEE THE SKYSCRAPERS OF SINGAPORE COUNTRY SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR AWAY FROM THE LOCALS HERE. THERE CULTURE REMAINS TO BE WORLDS APART. I HOPE BATAM NEVER ESTABLISHES A VERSION OF SINGAPORE.

RELICS OF LONG TIME AGO

THIS CANNON IS ONE OF MANY THAT STAND ALONG THE FENCED IN PORT OF MUMBIA, INDIA. I'M NOT SURE WHEN OR IF THESE WERE EVER USED. I'M SURE THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY BEHIND THESE. I FOUND ABOUT  SEVEN  ALONG THIS IRON FENCE THAT RUNS ALONG THE PORT. YOU CAN HARDLY NOTICE THEY ARE THERE. I FOUND MANY FOUNDATIONS SO AT ONE TIME THERE MUST OF BEEN QUITE A FEW FOR DEFENDING THE PORT WHEN TIMES WERE DIFFERENT. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN  MARCH 2009 ON MY WAY OUT OF MUMBIA. YES THAT MEANS IT WAS TAKEN AFTER THE ATTACK IN MUMBAI IN NOV 26 2008.  I WAS LUCKY THEN I WAS IN PARADIP INDIA, FAR AWAY FROM THE MUMBAI THAT TIME. MOST OF THESE CANNONS WERE PROBABLY ROBED AND SOLD OFF AS ARTIFACTS FROM INDIA. 

PIPELINE PIGGING RECEIVER

HERE IS A LAUNCHER TO PUSH A BUNDLE OF POLY PLUGS CALLED "PIGS" THROUGH THE PIPELINE AFTER IT HAS BEEN BUILT AND IS ON THE BOTTOM SEA BED. THIS WILL TELL YOU IF THERE IS ANY KINKS OR DAMAGE TO THE PIPELINE. THIS WILL BE INSTALLED UNDERWATER USING THE DIVERS. ON THE END OF THE PIPELINE. THEN THE DIVERS WILL HOOK UP HIGH PRESSURE HOSES AND WE WILL PUMP WATER, PUSHING THE PIGS THROUGH THE PIPELINE TO THE OTHER END. DID SOMEBODY SAY HERE  piggy piggy! 

BELL LAUNCHING PROCEDURES

DIVE CREW LAUNCHING THE BELL. THIS IS A DRY RUN IF IT WAS REAL THE UPPER HATCH ON THE TRANSFER LOCK (THE PART BELOW THE BELL ) WOULD BE SEALED.  

Mumbai High Crew Feb 2009

Some of the crew from the SubTec 1. On our way back from North Field to the city of Mumbai, India. 

"RING OF FIRE ISLANDS"

THIS IS THE BEGINING OF THE NORTHWESTERN ISLANDS, OF WHAT IS CALLED "THE RING OF FIRE ISLANDS". THAT MAKEUP ALL OF INDONESIA. ALTHOUGH THIS ISLAND HERE IS UNINHABITED THERE WAS A MEGA YACHT THERE. THE WATER WAS THE CLEAREST I'VE YET SEEN IN MY LIFE, HERE. THIS IS ACTUALLY INDIA TERRITORY. YOU CAN SEE THE YACHT IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY.  

SBM- SINGLE BUOY MOORING

HERE IS THE SBM, THIS THING ROTATES AND IS HELD DOWN BY SIX ANCHORS. A TANKER WILL MOOR TO THIS AND THEN CONNECT UP THOSE FLOATING HOSES. ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE THERE IS NOT AN FSO.  THEN THE TANKER WILL TRANSFER ITS CRUDE OIL. THERE IS A PIPELINE THAT CONNECTS UNDERWATER THAT GOES TO LAND. THIS IS A WAY TO OFFLOAD OIL WITHOUT A SUPER TANKER COMING TO PORT. I'D TELL YOU WHERE THIS ONE IS LOCATED BUT HEY THAT'S CLASSIFIED!