G’day Captain………….I see no ships!
Swedish Captain Steve Pennonen of the SuperStar Gemini told The Mole as the Gemini cruised around Australia that this was his first visit here and accordingly he had to be even more vigilant than normal and plan very carefully, especially when entering a port.
[Pictured right: Captain Steve Pennonen on the bridge with First Officer Michael Esping on the left at the Con looking for any potential problems]
Having been on board the SuperStar Gemini for two years Steve is taking advantage of being in Australia to bring his wife and children of 3 and 8 to Australia next year with a holiday on the Great Barrier Reef built in.
With many years experience in totally different environments on a wide range of cargo ships, tankers, ferries and his love, ice breakers, [I told him, not much ice down here mate!] Steve told The Mole that he is also an officer in the Royal Swedish Reserve Navy and we joked about how the Gemini could be requisitioned to be a Swedish Naval ship – “I don’t think so, was his reply!
He also told The Mole that the movement of any vessel like the Gemini is sorted out 6 to 12 month prior to the cruises, to ensure that everything is ready to go and that it goes very, very smoothly.
[Pictured left: Steve Pennonen at the bottom and Finnish Staff Captain Robert Mattson, discuss departing Melbourne tactics wth the Melbourne pilot. – you know the sort to stuff – left a bit, right a bit, and full speed dead ahead!!]
It was interesting to hear that all the officers on board the Gemini do a rota of ten weeks on and ten weeks off and also that when they are on board and during their ten weeks on, it is a Star rule that the officers are not allowed to drink any alcohol at all.
He said that securing officers was becoming very hard in deed and that the same applied to crew, but that he was very fortunate to have such wonderful crew on board the Gemini.
Standing on the bridge [Pictured below] with Steve, with the sparkling blue ocean ahead, The Mole asked Steve if he had seen any whales or dolphins and he responded that they had seen many whales and dolphins with one whale and her calf surfacing right by the Gemini, not far from Fremantle.
He said that the Gemini was very special and was able to get to places that other vessels could not.
While the weather that day as the Gemini entered the Bass Straits was very smooth indeed, he did say that they had encountered some very rough seas south of Fremantle including 5-7 metre waves, but the Gemini handled them beautifully, with the stabilisers doing a great job.
The Mole reckons that not much flusters Captain Steve Pennonen with Aussies in very safe hands indeed aboard the Gemini.
For more information on Star Cruises, please visit www.starcruises.com and for bookings please visit www.cruiseagents.travel
An on location report by The Mole on board the SuperStar Gemini cruising round Australia
John Alwyn-Jones
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