Memoirs of my ship by Altaf Shaikh (m. v. Malakand’s final voyage to no-where….) A few days ago, While passing over the Jinnah Bridge, my daughter Mariam pointed out to one of the ship on the East Wharf side of Keamari, and told her 13 year old son Ahsan: “That is the ship – m.v. Malakand. The ship I lived with your Nana for a year when I was 7 years. Soon it will be scraped”. For a while I also turned my face towards the harbour and saw “PNSC written funnel” of the vessel m.v. Malakand . I concentrated on the driving but could not control my tears ran from my eyes. Were those the tears of joy? The joy that this ship served 30 years instead of 10 for which it was built. Were those the tears of Sorrow? That the ship I sailed on its maiden voyage is going for it last voyage to nowhere! Or tears of Nostaligia - a longing for the past, one often feels in idealized form. I don’t know. My heart was too heavy to decide It. Yes, I was the first Chief Engineer of this “once upon a time a very beautiful and modern vessel” of its time, built by Japanese shipyard IHI (Ishikawaharima Heavy Industries), in 1980. According to the news, the 18224 ton ship, m.v. Malakand ( Length 153mtrs & Breadth 23 mtrs) shall soon be making its final voyage to its graveyard from where no one ever returns. When an animal stops supplying milk to its master or when it is found of no use for tilling the land, the farmer sells it to a butcher who takes it to a slaughter house for cutting it into pieces to end up in cooking pots and its skin usually find its way to tannery industries for the manufacture of shoes etc. Similar is the case with the ocean going ship. After some years of useful service, when it is found that the expenses on ship’s repair, maintenance and for making it sea-worthy are higher than its earning, it is announced for the scrap. Kabari-walas in business of scrap material bid for the cost not according to its past “maan, shaan & aan” but for its remaining “jaan” ie the weight of useful copper, brass, wrought iron etc, it can give when melted or its wooden furniture, toilet fittings, small machineries etc which can still be brought in use. After the successful bid the new owner takes the ship to Gadani beach – the slaughter house of the “old and unwanted” ships. The ship is beached there, useful furniture and fittings removed and the remaining body of the aged ship cut into pieces by scores of gas cutters and welders. Some of the machineries, pipes, furniture finds its way to the second hand markets of Shershah Karachi while the remaining scrap, usually various metals goes to rolling mills for the recycling. Gadani, near Karachi, in Balochistan province is one of the largest scrapyard (graveyard) of ships in the world; where even large passenger ships, like Caneberra, ended up their life. In Gadani, the ships lose their original shape and figure and are disintegrated into bits and pieces convenient to transport and attract the attention of “Radiwalas/ Kabariwas”. Very soon this ship m.v. Malakand, will also meet the same fate. I can very well visualize the butchers (gas cutters) cutting this ship into pieces which was built piece by piece by the japanese workers and engineers in IHI Shipyard Tokyo Japan. Some 30 years ago, when this ship was on the paper only, in the form of various sketches, I had the honour to supervise its construction and then to sail as Chief Engineer for its maiden voyage, after its delivery from the Japanese shipyard. I was chief Engineer of some other ship m.v. Chenab. On arrival to homeport Karachi from Antwerp Belgium, I got the office directive for the new assignment. When I reached Tokyo airport by PIA, it was a cool spring morning. The keel lying ceremony of the ship was just completed. Having workable knowledge of Japanese language and extra qualification in “Automation and Instrumentation”, it was interesting for me to work with Japanese people on a ship to whom I had to take to high seas. The ship was being made fully automatic with the most of the systems computerized. Part after part was added upon the keel of the ship, & then various machineries were installed. And then cabins (accommodation) etc were constructed. As the ship reached near completion, some more marine engineers who had to sail with me, were called for assistance, from Karachi. And finally a day before the delivery of the ship from the shipyard the remaining ship staff arrived from Karachi. Our Tokyo shipping office and the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo arranged the “Delivery”, “The Flag Changing” ceremonies and other celebrations. The next day the ship left the shipyard jetty of Tokyo port and anchored in the nearby port Yokohama the first port of call of our ship. I had sailed as Chief Engineer on various other ships also but like some favourite child, this ship was very special for me as I witnessed its construction from keel (fetus) to the final delivery. On our homeward journey to Karachi, we called Osaka, Nagoya, Pusan (South Korea), Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo ports. Everywhere the ship was admired very much – its outer features as well as its decorative interior. As a chief engineer, I did a few more voyages to European and African ports thru Suez Canal and the Cape of Good Hope, on m.v. Malakand. Today when I remember those days I feel as if it was only yesterday….when I was young man of 35 years only. But today, an old man of 65 years, I feel strong nostalgia (what Malay people call “Rindu”) for those old days and for that beautiful ship m.v. Malakand which was built in front of me and now very soon it will turn into pieces….the pieces which 30 years ago, Japanese workmen assembled together to make a ship to whom we named “m.v.Malakand”….motor vessel Malakand…. “Ahd e Peeri Shabab ki batain, Aisi hain jesey khawab ki batain….” When some one departs for a journey a famous verse is often quoted in Malaysia: “Kalau umur panjang, boleh jumpa lagi” (If we shall have long life , we shall surely meet you again). But to you, my beautiful ship, you are going to such a journey that I can only say: “Bye Bye Malakand! We cannot meet again!!” And the same thing Japanese workers, who built you, have to say: “Sayaonara Malakand! Mo aemasen!!” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For browsing books of Altaf Shaikh, please visit altafshaikh.pk Altaf Shaikh is a famous Professor Emeritus, Visiting Professor, Scholar, a travelogue writer and a well known Marine Engineer. Born in 1944, Altaf Shaikh got his early education from Hala, then from Cadet College Petaro. He studied Marine Engineering at Marine Academy Chittagong, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh ) and did post graduation from the World Maritime University , Malmo , Sweden . After sailing as Chief Engineer on various types of ships for some 15 years, he served Malaysian and then Pakistan Marine Academy as Head of Marine Engineering Dept. for some 20 years. He is author of more than 80 books mostly travelogues in Sindhi and in Urdu. He is also a regular columnist of daily newspapers of Pakistan, Malaysia & Japan. Besides other awards, he is recipient of Presidential award T.I (Tumgha e Imtiaz) of Pakistan and PJK (Pingat Jasa Kebaktian) a Malaysian Award.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 20:56:02 +0000
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