Paid Gun(s) Arrive

Gunboat Escort Arrives
This morning while playing cards, our gunboat escort arrived alongside our ship about 11:00 a.m. There appeared to be a half a dozen rather young men (at least from our perspective) on a boat about the size of the Eaglet. There was a big 20 caliber machine gun on the front of the boat and who knows what under cover. Two of these sharpshooters with bulging back packs boarded our ship and are still aboard keeping watch, mostly from the stern of our ship. After a while, we transferred fuel to their boat so that they can make it through the Gulf of Aden. Our ship arrived at the transit corridor with 3 other vessels cruising at 18 knots in order to transit together along with our paid protectors. We’re feeling very safe and the gals continued to play Mah Jongg all afternoon. Tonight is “dark night” -- all curtains pulled tight, balcony lights off, and no strolling along Deck 5 – the open air deck where they have all the fire hoses at ready.
Yesterday Terry & Dennis toured the control room of the ship. Not the bridge or the engine room, but rather the area where all the systems are viewed on screens and monitored by ship personnel.
Continuing on our journey…
Six BMK Travelers
4/25