Macapa

According to the map, Macapa sits on the Equator. We were scheduled to arrive at the Customs clearing port of Macapa at 10:00 AM, but the Captain just announced we are three hours behind schedule. Once we arrive we will spend four hours while authorities board the ship to review all passports before we can continue our adventure.

The current turned out to be 5 to 6 knots rather than the expected 3 knots as we crossed the bar and the bottom under the keel was about 3 to 5 feet rather than the expected 7 or 8 feet. In addition channel buoys were not correctly marking the channel. There are many tree trunks coming down the river which the Navigator must avoid. Without channel markers the Captain is relying on depth sonar to find the channel. With all of this the Captain is proceeding cautiously.

The river must be at least 7 miles across at this time. As far as I can see off the starboard there is a mixture of very muddy water with sections of clearer stretches of water. For an hour or so we were running along an island off the starboard, but now no land is visible. The weather is good with scattered clouds.

I went on deck about 6:00 AM to greet the day. I met another man who told me they had traced the origin of the Norfolk virus to multiple couples who had stayed at a San Diego Holiday Inn prior to boarding the Veendam. Code Red procedures ultimately reduced the virus to one cabin. Contrary to instructions, they left their cabin and went to the dining room. As a consequence the Code Red was extended another four days and the Captain posted a guard at the door of the cabin 24 hours a day to make certain they did not violate confinement rules again.

Later in the day

At 12:50 PM we crossed the Equator just as we approached Macapa. We continued upstream and anchored close to the Custom facility for the required inspection at a latitude of 00 03.67 S. We are now barely in the Southern Hemisphere. I noticed our next sunset is at 5:13 PM and sunrise tomorrow is at 5:05 AM - still equal days and nights, but the times seem to be earlier. I know ship time is Eastern Daylight and they do not plan to change the time while in Brazil. I'll try to find out if local time is one or two hours ahead of ship time, which would account for the earlier sunrises/sunsets.

Anchored close to us is a ship that appears to be a dry cargo ship which also may be waiting clearance to proceed. A two decker ferry came by at a distance - not sure where it came from or where it is going. I did get a picture of a small vessel that appeared to be carrying black steers and one that may have been a fishing boat. Upload speeds are slow and internet time is expensive, so I may not upload many of the pictures. I have taken pictures off the blog but they will still be to view on the Picasa web site.

Macapa is the capital of Amapa, Brazil, a part of Amazonia. The area has a population of over 318,000, which surprised me. There are photos, not taken by me, at www.macapa-ap.combr/left/fotos1.html through . . . .fotos7.html. As we came abreast of Macapa I saw an Airbus A320 or Boeing 757 approach for a landing at an airport not visible from the ship. I also noticed on a map of Brazil there is a road called Trans-Amazon which goes circuitously from Macapa thru Manaus. That must be some road!!!

From Vancouver, BC, the ship has traveled 6,666 nautical miles and we are 303 nautical miles from Santarem, our first disembarkation point in Brazil. We were to arrive at Santarem at 8:00 AM tomorrow, but now it is uncertain of our arrival time.

With the Lord's mercies we both are doing well. We still have two weeks to go before heading for home!!!