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Hi my name is Wilf Geier.I work on the W.E. Ricker,
in the pacific region and I’ve been here for about 3 years
coming from the Canadian Coast Guard College.
Since I’ve been out here in the pacific region on the Ricker
I’ve been working as a second engineer
and my tasks include watch keeping, maintenance, controlling of all the equipment on board
and working with one oilier or engine room assistant,
and communication with the bridge and with everybody else on board
to make sure that we have a tight running ship.
(Music)
My day to day role on this ship is to do rounds when…
before starting my shift I do complete set of rounds
to make sure that everything is functioning as it should be
and that all equipment is in place and no noises or whatever.
You really have to use all your 5 senses to make sure
that you look at everything that’s involved on the ship
and you use any of the equipment that we have on here to monitor
and then come on shift and do a change over with the other engineer
and from then on it’s my watch.
I can phone the chief if I need to but for the most part
I am on my own down here with my engine room assistant.
The W.E. Ricker is an older vessel it has on board
one Akasaka main engine and it actually has open rocker gear
which is kind of interesting, it’s not something you get to see very often.
It will be replaced in the next few years by a new modern ship
and so a lot of these things we wont be able to see again.
I probably will never see another Akasaka engine anyway
and it’s…I was really happy to get on to this ship first
because I get to see how things actually work.
There is nothing electronic that’s doing things for you; you actually have to manually do them.
So as a starting out engineer, I was very happy to get on board
this ship. I went to the CCGC – one of the training institute of Canada where you can actually
get to the Coast Guard and its four year intensive program.
It’s difficult, you have to be determined
but if you get through you’re in, you’re in a really good spot.
I really had a good experience out on the west coast.
Pacific region has been great to me.
I’ve enjoyed my time on the Ricker and it’s not always easy,
you’re out here for 28 days. Sometimes there’s a lot of work,
and a lot of things that come up, unexpected things
but I think I wouldn’t have it any other way, I really enjoy my job.