Araceli: First in a Row of Interim Surveys

27/01/2021

Our Atlantis Araceli kicks off the Year 2021 on a high. Our 12-year young lady came to Tuzla on 12 December and left Gisan Shipyard 27 January 2021. We completed a very broad-scoped and successful intermediate survey on her.

Extensive works were done including, cargo tank spot & full repairs (MarineLINE 784), a new antifouling for the hull was applied from JOTUN’s SeaQuantum Pro U (conventional one) with a 24-month protection period, M/E, AUX Engine, N2 System and other similar major overhauls were completed and all class requirements have either been met or exceeded. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to all stakeholders at the shipyard who put in a relentless amount of work (during difficult times) to make our vessel a top-notch performer again.

Currently Araceli is off to Varna, Bulgaria to load her first cargo. 

Araceli is the first in a row of interim surveys expected to be carried out with 2021.

Araceli’s sister vessel, the Atlantis Arki, will be coming to Tuzla this spring, followed by Armona and Antalya in the fall. The two latter vessels will be fitted with BWTS within this year.

Meral Güney’s 20th Anniversary in Armona Family

01/12/2020

We wish to congratulate you on your 20th anniversary in Armona family and would like to thank you for your valuable contributions during this period.
We are appreciative of the dedication showed by you in your work and wish you continued success.
We do hope to spend many more beautiful years together with health, happiness, peace and prosperity.
 
With love and respect,
 
Armona Denizcilik A.Ş

Shining like the Sun

23/10/2020

Atlantis Almeria (Gross Tonnage: 4,263 | IMO2 Chemical/Oil Tanker) was here in Tuzla / Istanbul for her second Class Special Survey Period with RINA as she is 10 years old already and the first thing we, as technical managers of our good lady, had to do, was to repair and paint the cargo tanks as a general rule and acceptance as well. In addition to this, we have already completed the following major engine overhauls such as main engine, diesel generators, oil fired boilers, diesel and oil separators (purifiers), anchor windlass and mooring winches, cargo plant systems and so on which we have been also performing during the spot repairs on the cargo tanks coated with Marineline.
 
After the above mentioned works completed she was accordingly drydocked (floating dock) at last to be able to finish the measurements after withdrawing of both Controllable Pitch Propeller and Rudder within the scope of the special survey and in parallel with these measurements and inspections as well we had applied a Hempel Hempaguard X7 Anti-fouling Paint once again as a third consequtive X7 silicone ship at the same time. Just to be more specific, It provides smooth, low surface energy, repellent surface with unique fouling control properties. These characteristics allow for high fuel savings potential (plus approx. one nautical mile per hour speed increase when compared to the sailing period before the drydock) and are especially suitable for vessels operating with long idle periods or in warm waters also.
 
In the light of above, we do see that our good lady is now even faster than the seatrial tests at the end of her new-building stage around 10 years ago by referring to the last two X7 painted ships last year (firstly Antibes 5800 dwt and secondly Andaman 6400 dwt) at the same time.
 

Applying ActiGuard® technology

16/10/2020

The propeller of Atlantis Almeria will be painted with a  high solids, advanced fouling defence coating based on ActiGuard® technology which utilizes the added effect of advanced hydrogel silicone and an efficient fouling preventing biocide. This will boost the antifouling barrier and prolongs the fouling free period.
 
The preparations till here were intensive. The Propeller shaft including the hub and blades was removed from the ship, completely dismantled in a workshop, checked for wear and overhauled  whereby all sealings were renewed. In the workshop the blades were grinded with sandpaper. After refitting to the ship the blades are being sanded with a special grid that is produced from walnut shell. This grid creates a surface that is ideal for adhesion of the epoxy layer that will carry the antifouling coating.
 

CEO Visits Reaching New Heights

13/10/2020

In the middle of the Atlantic, in an archipelago between Guinea and Brazil, our CEO Lorenz Weinstabl and Training Superintendent Menduh Aydin had awaited the Atlantis Aldabra to arrive from Europe. The Royal Dutch Shell-related Leadership & Safety visit was conducted after all on-board crew and visitors took a fresh Covid-19 PCR test, thus allowing for a mask-free setting. The visit was of great significance as the entire crew will be off signing in the coming days to be replaced by new crew members...
 
Sidenote: since March 2020 and due to the Corona pandemic, Armona chose to prohibit their seafarers from leaving their vessel for shore visits.
 

Hull Condition after 5 years

13/10/2020

Almeria entered the bay of Tuzla for her 2nd special survey on August 22th. The antifouling has preserved the hull’s condition for the 5 years period very well. The propeller blades and hub have set on barnacles, which is very normal, the growth occurred within 26 months, which was when we had last grinded the blades with a diver underwater. Propeller blades that have barnacle growth reduce the efficiency of the propeller considerably, as their resistance increases created by turbulences the rough barnacle surface produces, which are result in a pure energy loss. For the first time in our history, we will paint a propeller during this docking, to test if we can achieve to prevent growth until the next docking in five years and thereby save energy and contribute to less emissions.  
 

Woman Empowerment - Interview with Irem Captain

12/10/2020

1. Bizlere biraz kendinizden bahsedip hem eğitim hem de iş hayatınızın bugüne kadar nasıl ilerlediğini anlatır mısınız?

Eğitim hayatım biraz rastlantı olarak başladı aslında, liseden beri bu mesleğin içindeyim. Ortaköy Denizcilik'i seçmem tamamen bir tavsiye ve gençlik hevesi ile oldu. Lise tercih döneminde annemle birlikte bir kafede konuşuyorduk. Yan masadan bir amca konuşmamızı duyup niye Ortaköy Denizcilik'i yazmıyorsun yeri de güzel meslek de güzel parası da güzel diyince biraz araştırdım dedim ki neden olmasın denizi de seviyorum sonuçta. Hiç bir bilgim yoktu ilk başta ama sonradan farkettim ki; mesleği, denizde olmayı gerçekten seviyorum. Devamı da Piri Reis Üniversitesi ile geldi.  İş hayatımsa asıl olarak Armona Denizcilik ile başlıyor. Denizciğin hem kara hem deniz ayağını gördüğüm ve deneyimlediğim yer burası oldu.

Could you tell us about yourself and how your education and professional life in Maritime came to be?

Actually, my education life in Maritime began as a coincidence. I entered this profession in high school, and the decision to attend Ortaköy Maritime High School  was derived from good advice and young ambition. During the period in which I had to choose a high school, I was at a cafe with my mother and a man heard our discussion and asked "Why  don't you choose Ortaköy Maritime High School? The location is good and profit is good." After he said this, I said to myself "Why not?”. Essentially I love the sea. At the beginning, I didn't have any information about this profession but later on I came to the realisation that I truly loved being at sea. I continued my education at Piri Reis University. My work life began with Armona Denizcilik. It was the place where I saw and experienced both the shore and sea side.


2. Denizciliği seçmendeki en büyük pay nedir?

Denizciliğe devam etmemdeki en büyük etken aslında sabah 8 akşam 5 bir işte çalışmak ve hergün aynı trafiği çekip akşam televizyon karşısında uyuklamak istemememden kaynaklanıyor. Karada kalmanın kendine has dertleri var, ben denizin dertlerini tercih ettim.

What had the biggest impact on your decision to work in Maritime?

The primary reason I chose to be a seafarer was that I didn't want to work a typical 8a.m. to 5p.m job, to deal with the exhaustive daily traffic and to fall asleep in front of the TV every evening. Working at shore has its issues, but I prefer the issues of working at sea.

3. Seni zorlayan durumlar var mı?

Deniz herkesi zorluyor aslında özellikle kadınlara özel bir zorluğu olduğunu düşünmüyorum. Yalnızca şunu diyebilirim, pozitif ayrımcılık yapıldığında rahatsız hissediyorum. İnsanlar kadın olarak gemide bulunduğunda sürekli bir şeylere yardımcı olmak istiyorlar, oysaki zaten bir konunun içinden çıkılamadığında herkesin herkese yardım etmesi gerekir.

Do you face any particular difficulties?

Sealife is difficult for everyone onboard. In my opinion, being at sea is not particularly difficult for women seafarers. However I can say, I feel uncomfortable when people discriminate in terms of gender.  Male seafarers think female seafarers are unable to do certian things. However, if an issue seems unsolvable, everyone should help one another.

4. Çalıştığın şirketin kadın çalışanlara yaklaşımıyla ilgili neler söylemek istersin?

Bu konuda Armonada olmaktan mutluyum. Pozitif ayrımcılığın minimum düzeyde yaşandığı bir firma. Şu an tersanedeyiz görüyorsunuz. Cebimde anahtarlar var ve valf söküp bakımlarını yapıyorum ve bunun gibi bir çok iş. Şirket açısından bir ayrımcılık yok ve aksine teşvik etmeye çalışan bir yaklaşım var.

What do you think about your company’s approach towards female employees?

I am happy to work at Armona Denizcilik. It is a company in which discrimination is kept minimal. At the moment, we are at the shipyard and as you can see, I am unscrewing valves with my tools, undertaking maintenance as well as other similar jobs. In the company, there is no discrimination, on the contrary, there is an encouraging approach.

5. İlerisi için hedeflerin nelerdir?

Süvariliği alana kadar denizde kalmayı planlıyorum. Sonrasında bi kaç planım var ama tabi zaman ne gösterir bilinmez.

What are your goals for the future?

I am planning to work onboard until I get my Masters license. Afterwards I have some plans but we never know what the future brings.