Mold/Mould

I once read a Graham Greene book set in Liberia, in which the climate was so damp that the ex-pat characters had to wipe mold of their leather book covers. Now I know what he was writing about. Everything leather here grows mold if its not kept in air conditioning - including shoes, sofas, hand-bags and even Land Rover steering wheels and car upholstery. And currently, black mold is growing all over the ship's exterior, where the warm damp air is condensing on the cool metal walls. So this is rainy season! It will take a long time to scrub the ship clean and mold-free. Olly

Black and green mold growing on Deck 7. Fascinating photo, eh?

M/V Kaduna sails

Since her arrival mid-week, M/V Kaduna has been loading 24 hours a day (come rain or shine) the Nigerian Army's tanks, armoured personnel carriers, trucks, fuel tankers, and Land Rovers. On Friday evening she already had over 60 APCs onboard...when she finally sailed earlier this morning (Sunday) all her inside decks were crammed full, and her outside upper deck was half full too. Such a movement of Nigerian vehicles is significant, and must surely reduce the UN's capabilities here. Olly

4 APCs waiting to be loaded.

M/V Kaduna sails away in the rain.

Land Rovers wanted

Does anyone out there have access to Land Rover Defenders, or their spare parts? I am trying to replace some of our older and more battered members of the fleet with newer ones. Maybe someone out there might have access to a Trust that would consider donating money for Land Rovers. Their new price is about $37,000 USD, but they are guaranteed to last at least ten years in our hands, unlike many other 4x4s made of steel which are expected to last only 4 years in an NGOs hands. Please email me or make a comment. Olly. P.S. Did you know that 75% of all Land Rovers made since production began in 1948 are still on the road!

Old UN tanks leave Liberia

Here are some photos of the Nigerian Army's old tanks being loaded before returning to Nigeria. Thanks to Major Austin, Logistics Officer, for permission to take the photos. Olly

New armoured cars arrive in Liberia

Today a large Panama registered roll-on/roll-off ship moored next to us, and after it's berth was secured by armed Nigerian soldiers, it unloaded 15 brand new Cobra 4x4 armoured cars, and 11 brand new Land Rover Defenders (am I envious or what?). The ship then loaded 5 small tanks and a big truck. All these vehicles are owned by the Nigerian Army, who have recently committed to staying in Liberia for another couple of years as part of the UN peacekeeping force. The delivery of these new vehicles is reflection on the current stability of Liberia: out go the tanks, which are slow moving and heavily armoured for serious fighting, and in come the armoured cars for high-speed disbursement of civil unrest, which is currently the biggest threat to Liberia's peace. The vehicles are slightly different from the Cobra in the photo below - they are painted white with "UN" on the sides, and are equipped with blue flashing lights and very loud sirens. Their gun turret is slightly different from that in the photo too - it was not a rotating turret, but more of a hole in the roof surrounded by armour, which allowed the soldier to stand with his head out of the vehicle in a less confrontational and more friendly manner.

Noah and I enjoyed talked to a Nigerian Major who was overseeing the unloading operation, and who explained that the Nigerian army has over 5 million soldiers in it, out of a population of 115 million. Once the unloading had been done, all the Cobras and Land Rovers left in a bright and noisy convoy of flashing lights and loud sirens and powerful engines - it was quite a sight! Olly

Cool painting

This is a photo of a painting we bought in the local craft market for only a few dollars. It is appallingly badly drawn, but captures Monrovia's daily struggle very well. It shows ex-combatants pulling a hand-cart of water barrels up the hill into the city centre, where they are sold at a profit of 10p per barrel. It is incredibly hard work for the young men, who often suffer from hernias from all that lifting, pushing and pulling. Olly

Noah's favourite Ghurka

This is Noah and his favourite Ghurka, Ganesh, who is from Nepal but served in the Indian Army before becoming one of the Africa Mercy's four Ghurka security guards. He is a lovely guy, who misses his wife and grown-up children in Nepal, so he is grateful for Noah's affection. Noah gives him a big hug every time he passes him on the gangway. Olly

Our mechanics

The guys below keep the Africa Mercy's Land Rovers and Nissans on the road. They do a great job, and I'm proud to work with them. On the left are mechanics Lamin and Moses Turay from Sierra Leone; on the right is Momo Zwannah, our apprentice mechanic from Liberia. Lamin and Moses are training Momo so that when we leave Liberia mid December we will leave behind a lasting legacy. Olly

Running Club starts again

Today, the Academy's Running Club started again after the summer vacation. Six lengths of the dock equals one mile, and twenty-six miles equals a Liberia Marathon. Noah and Anna both managed 2 miles today, so they should achieve the 2008 Liberia Marathon by the time we leave the country mid-December. Olly

L-R: Natty, Anna, Fride & Noah
Libby in her running shoes. In fact, she did no running and went to bed early.

National Port Authority Halts Work On M/V Torm Alexandra - 19/08/08

The Management of Delta Impex, the company that won the bid to remove the sunken vessel at the Freeport of Monrovia has been served notice by the National Port Authority [NPA] to halt further works on the vessel M/V Torm Alexander and works to remove 14 other vessels sunk off the port pier. Delta Impex was contracted to perform the task within 24 months but now 18 months into the contract, the company is yet to remove any vessels. The General Manager of Delta Impex, Charles K. Mochiah, said the NPA management did not release the contract until 12/01/07 and that equipment brought into Liberia to complete the job was held for several months due to problems granting a duty free release on the equipment. Once equipment was cleared Metropolis had only 2-weeks left on its contract with Delta and had to leave the country due to other contractual agreements. Delta then brought in another company, which sent a team to inspect the job and work began on the wreckage. However according to Mochiah, while efforts were being made to remove the vessels, the NPA management blocked workers from entering the port by seizing their passes and allegedly granted permission to another company, Sandercon Construction Company, to carry out an inspection on the vessel. Mochiah reiterated that Delta's contract terms offered a no cost solution to the government or the NPA and has recalled that the previous two bidders competing for the contract in 2006 would take nothing less than US$3million plus the scrap value. The NPA had initially contracted GETMA Liberia Limited and Rio International to remove the wrecks prior to the contract with Delta. For more interesting news about the Freeport of Monrovia click on http://www.otal.com/liberia/index.htm

I can't believe it! They were so close! I guess lawyers will be involved now, and a long delay, and meanwhile Liberia's poorest people will continue to die because they can't afford the high price of rice which is partly because so few ships can come into the port because only 3 out of 5 berths are operational. Olly

General Butt Naked - update

For an interesting article on General Butt Naked a.k.a. Pastor Joshua Milton Blahyi, click here. Photos of him in action during the war, and in action after the war. Olly

Liberia's Truth & Reconciliation Commission continues

This afternoon just about every radio in Liberia is tuned to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission testimony of Prince Johnson, who was the leader of the NPFL rebel army during the long war here, and who tortured and murdered the former President, Samuel K Doe, which was even recorded on video camera. Liberians are divided on the reason for the TRC - one guy I talked to said it was so that everyone could be reconciled and live in harmony together; another said it's purpose was to gain enough evidence to bring International War Crimes trials against "guilty" people living in Liberia. I understand that Prince Johnson is now an evangelist and Senator of Nimba County. I wonder what the future holds for him. Photos of Prince Johnson, and the unfortunate Samuel Doe during his torture. Olly

Fire Teams

Fire Team training: A couple of weeks ago we walked two miles up and down the dock in the baking sunshine, in full bunker suits and breathing bottled air, to see how long our air tanks would last. We all suffered nasty blisters on our feet as a result of wearing badly fitting boots. Olly

Above, me and my mate Josh.

Above, all three Fire Teams.

More photos of the hydro

Stop me if I've told you this before, but Liberia's hydro-electric power plant was constructed in 1965 in two parts - the earth and concrete dam that includes the sluices that control the water levels in the lake; and a couple of miles away, the power station itself. Yesterday two Land Rovers of intrepid explorers from the ship hacked their way through virgin (nearly) jungle to reach the sluices, which have been abandoned since 1990. Their remote location has prevented much looting. Here are three of the explorer's photos...Olly

Power plant update

I heard the Consulting Engineer for the rebuilding of Liberia's electrical grid on the radio yesterday in an interview. He mentioned that $140m is needed to rebuild the hydro, and $160 to rebuild the power grid across Liberia. No money has been received towards this yet so the Government of Liberia are seeking investing partners. The engineer said that it will take two years minimum for the power-plant's parts to be made and delivered, plus another year minimum for construction...so at best there will be no working power grid in Liberia before 2011. Photo of part of the grid right now. Many of the pylons and power lines have been looted, and the remaining pylons are neglected and overgrown. Olly

Burns Surgeon Returns

Most of the population of Liberia cook over charcoal fires, since there is no cooking gas or electricity available to them. Consequently, horrific burns are very common as people (especially children) fall into cooking fires and are burned by boiling oil or water. This weekend, one of South Africa's top plastic surgeons returns to the ship, to work with the burns patients. Sadly, he can't reconstruct the burnt faces of the people in the photos, but he can loosen burns contractures which otherwise can disfigure faces and bodies. Olly

The budget for the 2012 Olympic Games?

I just read in a BBC article that the budget for the 2012 Olympic Games in the UK is £9.3 billion ($18 billion). Sure, the Games are great but how can anyone justify spending £9,300,000,000 on an event that lasts 2 weeks (when there is still so much need in the world). Why not bring the Olympics to West Africa and use all that money to rebuild country after country? London doesn't need all that investment. The total government budget for Liberia for the whole of 2006 was about £63 million ($125 million). That puts £9.3 billion a little more into perspective. For the full article click here. Olly

Liberian Girl

I just found this photo on the ship's archives, of Libby in her African best and holding her nation's flag, on the day we arrived back in Liberia earlier this year after 2 months in The Canaries.

Retired

For those of you who know us, we are pleased to let you know that we are officially retired and are enjoying a hard earned rest! Bunny, white mussie and pink mussie.

Trouble at the Water Plant

On Tuesday, Liberia's only working water plant was out of action for the day due to a system breakdown. Can you imagine a whole country without running water? Its true, the majority of Liberia's population rely on wells and hand-pumps for their water, but most people in the city of Monrovia buy their water on the street, which comes from one or two water pipes that reach the edge of the city, and is then bought up the hill in 5-litre jugs in hand-carts and sold for 25LD per jug (25p or 50c). So on Tuesday, with no water in the line, there was no water to buy in the city. Can you image that? No washing or flushing for the whole day. Supply to the ship also dried up, but fortunately we have reserves in our tanks that will last for weeks if we are careful. On Tuesday afternoon our Second Engineer and Chief Electrician went to the Water Plant and managed to get things going again. Phew. Photo of a Water Boy selling his water. Olly

Liberian Government Defends Mercy Ships & Dismisses "Kidney Buying" Rumours

The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has come to the defense of Mercy Ships in the wake of rumors that the organisation was dealing in "kidney buying" from victims that fell prey to evil men. "We have an information about rumors that are going around that people on Mercy Ships are buying kidneys, and selling them in Europe or the United States; this is not true; it is blatant lie," Dr Walter G Gwenigalie, Health and Social Welfare Minister stated in a very strong mood. The medical doctor added "Mercy Ships has served the people of Liberia since 2003 with high medical standards and distinction. It is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978." It can be recalled recently that a story on the FrontPageAfrica.com website, written by one of its correspondents in Monrovia, reported that there were rumors that Mercy Ships was allegedly involved in "ritualistic killing designed to extract kidneys and other human parts for commercial purposes". The site's story continues: "In the past four months, some bodies that were found with missing kidneys include Mack Nimbo, a deportee from the USA whose body was discovered at the Barnersville Junction, outside Monrovia with the back open and kidneys removed. A taxi driver only identified as Sumo was also discovered with kidneys removed at Armed Bush curve in Kakata, Margibi County. An unidentified body of a man believed to be in his 50s was found with kidneys extracted, under the Gabriel Johnson Tucker Bridge (New Bridge) in Monrovia. An old lady, only known as Ma Wata was abducted from her house midnight in the Jamaica Road area, and was found in an old toilet house with kidneys removed two days later," the report in the Frontpage maintained. "Monrovia has been buzzing as residents debate on the allegations involving those reportedly behind the buying of kidneys. As rumors were widely spreading, some residents have been suggesting that they heard that Mercy Ships was involved in buying kidneys," the report added. Dr Gwenigalie, in his reaction to the story, vehemently refuted it and said the Mercy Ships was not only involved in performing life-saving operations but was also helping in building clinics and other facilities in various communities around Liberia. Dr Gwenigale defended Mercy Ships at a well-attended press conference jointly held by his Ministry and Mercy Ships officials on Friday, August 15, 2008 at the MoHSW. The international chief executive officer of Mercy Ships, Samuel Smith, responding to a question from a reporter as to whether they perform surgical works on kidneys, said: "Mercy Ships does not carry on or perform any internal organ operation involving the kidneys, heart, etc." He said that they are involved in reconstructing the face, eye, tumor, among other surgeries. Journalists were barred from asking more questions to Mr Smith by Minister Gwenigale who said, "I call you here, so ask me all the questions and leave Mercy Ships alone but if you like, you can follow us on the Ship, we are on our way there right now". Still trying to show the impossibility of using or transplanting unsterile kidneys and maybe other human parts, the learned Minister, who himself is a surgeon, stated: "It is of course true that in a few countries in the world it is possible for very advanced medical personnel to transplant human kidneys from a donor to a person whose own kidneys have failed. This is an exceedingly complex and risky surgical procedure, requiring specialized equipment that is found in only a few countries on this earth. Only surgeons with long years of experience are capable of even doing such transplants. Speaking as a surgeon myself, it is preposterous to even think that a human kidney removed by amateurs in unsterile conditions could possibly be used for a medical transplant. Organs such as kidneys used for transplants must be removed under sterile conditions by experienced surgeons, and then stored under very closely controlled conditions. They must be used very quickly - there can be no delay in transplanting the organ into the recipient. From this very brief description, any sensible person will clearly understand that there is no possible way that a person's kidney - or any other organ - could be removed by an amateur and still be useful for a transplant. There is no possible way that any representative of Mercy Ships would even consider receiving such an organ - free or for money. There is no possible way that any such organ would have any cash value for any medical purpose. There is no possible way that an organ could be carried to the recipient in time to be useful for a transplant. There is no possible way that the would-be organ seller could escape arrest and prosecution for this illegal act". Minister Gwenigale concluded by saying "If anyone hears a report of the sale of any human organs, I ask you to report it immediately to the police, and to call me personally at the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare so that our own investigation can put an end to these preposterous, false, and malicious rumors". www.liberianobserver.com

Photo taken/teeth cleaned/hair cut/typhoid injection

It has been a busy Tuesday. Libby had her passport photos taken at 9.15. Then Sally and I went to see the ship's Dental Hygienist for the first time in 3 years - our teeth were cleaned, x-rayed and checked. Sally needs a filling. I don't. Then we both had haircuts. And then I had a typhoid booster injection. In between I did plenty of work. Honest. Olly

Swimmers disturbed

Anna and I got a bit of a shock this evening as we walked past the abandoned Blue Atlantic, which is moored on the other side of our dock. Two filthy (and desperate looking) theives were chased out of it by a policeman, and over the ship's side into the water where they swam away. Both men were filthy and covered in oil - not the kind of guys you'd like to bump into on a dark night - and had somehow managed to climb aboard the ship in broad daylight to loot it. Their journey across the port was closely watched by the Seaport Police and Nigerian UN soldiers. Maybe they were caught and taught a lesson. Maybe they weren't. Olly

Old Bridge to be rebuilt in November?

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has announced that the Vai Town Bridge which connects Monrovia with the industrial complex of Bushrod would be rebuilt shortly. The President said the reconstruction of the Vai Town Bridge would commence this November. The Vai Town Bridge collapsed in 2006 after the Ministry of Public Works declared the bridge unsafe for pedestrians and motorists. For full article click here. Olly

Charles Taylor's Court Hearing adjourned for 1 day

My Google Alert today told me today that Charles Taylor, ex-Liberian President (and one of the most evil men in the world in my opinion) has managed to get his war-crimes trial adjourned for a day because, he argues amongst other things, that the manner in which he is transported from jail to court is degrading. How ridiculous. I'm sure Mr Taylor's victims wished they had only been "degraded" instead of raped, mutilated, beheaded, disemboweled, burnt alive, thrown down wells...For the full article click here. Photo of the dear chap and some of his victims (or their remains). Olly

M/V Torm Alexandra update

One year ago on 16th August 2007, a Ghanaian salvage team started their salvage attempt on the Torm Alexandra. They have so far been successful in righting the ship and floating the bow, but the stern remains submerged despite continual pumping. I seriously doubt we will see the ship fully floated before we leave Liberia mid December. Photo above of the Torm Alexandra as she capsized on 24th July 2002. Photo below of the ship as we found her upon our return to Liberia in mid February 2008. Olly

Weevil-free Wheatabix

Praise the Lord! A container has just arrived from Holland with more wheat biscuists in it...and they haven't got weevils in yet! Breakfast is so much more enjoyable now, but lacking in the protein Libby and I have been getting used to. Olly

Play Station 2

Yesterday, Noah was lent a Play Station 2 for 24 hours. He made me join him playing with it yesterday evening...I am simply hopeless, and the whole miserable time was spent with Noah shouting "Daddy, press the triangle" or "the square", or the circle, or whatever. Even Anna is a better player than I am. Somehow, kids have the ability of picking up a new (and previously unplayed) computer game and playing it without any problem, whilst their old dad can't even make his Lego Star Wars man walk in a straight line. Do any other parents out there suffer from the same problem? Olly

Toni's Tenerife newsletter

Do you want to read Toni's newsletter, about the excellent work the British churches are doing in South Tenerife? Then click here. Olly

Eating oil

Do you know what a transformer is? You can often see them near power lines, reducing the voltage down to 220v or 110v before it goes into buildings. We've all got smaller ones in our houses, reducing voltage down to 12v or 9v, for charging mobile phones or playing small portable electrical devices. Anyway, I just overheard one of our Liberian staff saying that his people were so hungry in the war that they used to drink the oil from inside transformers to take away the hunger, and use it for cooking whatever they could scrape together. How terribly sad. Little things like this really shake me up now and then. Photo of a transformer. Olly

Minister of Health visits Mercy Ship

This morning, Liberia's Minister of Health & Social Welfare visited the ship and met with us crew in the International Lounge. He assured us of his Governments continued support in the midst of the bad media backlash we are experiencing. He bought with him a dozen reporters from Liberia's press, who toured the ship in order to see what we really do, and who will hopefully write kindly about us in the next few days. Olly

Media fall-out continues

The fall-out continues following the ridiculous article that was published locally implying that we are abducting and murdering people in order to steel their organs for sale in the USA. The UN's intelligence service have come to the ship advising us of possible threats to our safety, and some individuals around town have begun to hurl abuse at our vehicles as we pass. Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia is continuing to support us and have organised a press conference for tomorrow, where hopefully the rest of the local media will come to our assistance, and help clear our good name. Please pray for our safety during this time of unrest. Olly

Back to school

Today the kids went back to school. Libby (Preschool) is now taught by Miss Elizabeth; Anna (Grade 2) is now taught by Miss Emily, and Noah (Grade 4) is now taught by Miss Bethany. They are all happy to be back at school, and have come home tired. They even had an early night. Olly

Another ship sinks

Earlier this week, an old Nigerian freighter that has been moored outside the port's breakwaters for a few months, started taking on water, and is now lying on the seabed with its starboard side, part of the bridge, and its cranes showing clearly. Whilst it was in the process of sinking, local fishing boats evacuated the crew. Its a shame that another few thousand tonnes of steel have been added to Liberia's seabed, which will eventually cost millions of dollars to salvage and will remain a shipping hazzard until then. Olly

Our latest newsletter

It's funny, but I find it so easy writing down a couple of lines for this Blog, but I find it harder and harder writing newsletters. Do you want to read our latest? You do? Then click here. Olly

CeCes Beach is GONE!

Yesterday at 1.30pm, the Virginia swamp overflowed and cut a new river flowed through CeCes Beach, where we have spent hundreds of happy hours over the last three years, almost completely destroying the place. Gone is the beach area where we used to play; gone is the car park and road; gone is the gatehouse and generator shed; gone are countless thousands of dollars worth of tables and chairs buildings and years of investment...The toilets and the table-tennis room are toppling into the new river even as I write. Hundreds of site-seers have visited the disaster site today, including the President of Liberia herself. It is simply unbelievable what Mother Nature can do when faced with the encroachments of mankind into areas where we plainly shouldn't be. Olly

Above, all this area used to be beach.

Above, the road used to go between these buildings.

Above, the remains of CeCes hotel. The generator shed used to be where the river is now. The generator man was feared dead, but was found fit and healthy earlier today.

Some interesting old photos

These photos of the Africa Mercy were taken in the Camel Laird Shipyard in Newcastle, in 2001, and show the ship in the process of conversion.

Above, the aft bridge has been removed and the new cabins installed on Deck 6 and Deck 7. The crane is not yet in place.

Above, the bow door has been lifted and you can see the fire-proof panels have been inserted. This area is now used as the Bosun's Locker.

Above, the aft door lifted. It has now been welded shut to create the aft end of the cargo hold in which 20 shipping containers are stored with supplies.

Interesting eh? Olly

Hydro Electric Plant revisited

Today I visited the remains of Mount Coffee Hydro Electric Dam with 14 other crew in two Land Rovers, one year on since I was last there. The Liberian Electricity Corporation has wisely employed security guards there now, to prevent further looting of the iron and copper from the engines, motors and turbines. The place seems a little cleaner, somehow, without dozens of looters loading container trucks. Since we are in the heart of rainy season, the river was very high, and it rained all day - just getting to the plant was a challenge, with flooded roads and deep mud that no other vehicles had been through in days. After a brief look around the power station, we went on a long walk that too us into the heart of the dam itself, where we walked through the remains of the control gates and down the tunnels that used to take water into the turbines. There remains a few feet of water at the bottom of the tunnels in which crocodiles and boa constrictors live, our LEC guards told us. After shouting at some bats, we then continued up the river bank for an hour, and saw the spectacular unspoilt Liberian bush, complete with fire-ants and snakes. We returned to our Land Rovers having waded through chest deep creeks in the pouring rain, tired, soaked to the skin and covered in mud. A great day out. Olly

Beijing Olympics

We were all having lunch in the Dining Room just now, when someone turned on the TV so we could see the opening of the Beijing Olympics. All conversation dried up and everyone sat open mouthed (well, we did!) as we saw that spectacle opening up before us. How impressive. We are all looking forward to cheering-on our country's teams over the next couple of weeks. Olly

Libby's passport

We've just found out that there is no Liberian Embassy in either Benin or Guinea, so we now have to ask the Liberian Passport Office to issue Libby a new one now, two years before her old one is due to expire. Acres of Hope, our adoption agency, are helping us to go through the process, so should be straight forward enough, but please will you pray with us that all goes OK? Thanks, Olly

Bad media

In early 2006 an article appeared in a Liberian newspaper saying that some women on the Mercy Ship were child trafficking. The truth was that three families (including us) had felt lead by God to legally adopt Liberian babies. Such a newspaper article is hurtful to say the least, and can have a disastrous effect on our image and reputation…so imagine our horror once again when an article was published last week entitled "Mercy Ship and kidney sales", implying that Mercy Ships is behind a spate of recent abductions and murders (which are actually the work of Satanic Cults, as per my recent blog entry entitled "Body Parts for Satan"), and implying that our surgeons then removed the murdered victim's kidneys which were sold in the USA. Our leadership is doing everything they can to get the article withdrawn, but the damage has already been done locally to our reputation. Our safety is even less secure than previously, so we are being extra careful ashore. But it is some of our Liberian staff who are feeling the brunt of the population's anger at the moment – please pray for their safety. They are good guys, and extremely hardworking, and don't deserve to be treated badly by their country folk because of the viscous lies published by the idiot media. Olly

New Mercy Ships logo

Last Thursday evening, the new Mercy Ships logo was unveiled. Here it is (taken as a photo from the back of a t-shirt, hence its a bit wonky):
Developed by Satchi & Saatchi in the UK, the new logo clearly shows a ship with a medical cross on the side, and a Christian cross on the mast. The rings coming out from the ship are supposed to represent the world. I don't think its too bad, although I am sorry to say goodbye to the old logo. What do you think? Please comment. Olly