Quiet day on watch aboard the Balmoral while docked in Rouen.
Today’s watch in Rouen was probably one of the quietest I’ve had in a long time. It felt like the bridge was sealed off from the rest of the ship. No calls from fitters asking to start or stop hot work. No requests from the gangway to adjust the list to port or starboard. And, thankfully, no emergency calls—whether from the ship’s bar, engine room, deck, or anywhere else. Honestly, I really enjoyed the peace.
The weather added to the stillness. I kept wondering where the wind had gone. Every hour I logged the same calm conditions—it almost felt like I was just filling out the logbook for the sake of it. And the sun? She was hiding behind thin clouds for most of the day but peeked out now and then, giving Rouen a soft, hazy glow.
After finishing up the paperwork, including preparing the Captain’s departure speech, I realized I hadn’t yet stepped out to check the port and starboard wings of the bridge. Sometimes there’s something interesting to catch on camera. From our usual berth at Quai Emile Duchemin, I wasn’t looking at Rouen’s tourist spots. Instead, I saw the working side of the city—silos, a floating drydock, factories, and a mix of river barges moving along the Seine.
These barges weren’t just hauling containers. They carry all sorts of cargo—grains, scrap metal, construction materials, even chemicals. It’s not the kind of view you’ll find on a postcard, but it shows a part of the city that keeps things moving.
Since my 12-to-4 watch was still in slow mode, I took a few shots. Just simple photos of what surrounds us here.
We’re leaving at 6 PM for Honfleur, just 61 nautical miles away. Should arrive around 1 AM. A short hop, but I’ll take it. We’re leaving at 6 PM for Honfleur, just 61 nautical miles away. We’ll be there around 1 AM—another quiet leg of the journey, hopefully.
Seafarer and Family Man
I'm Dexter— a seafarer by profession, a traveler by passion, and a homebody by choice.
