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Finally, everything is ready. Everyone is aboard and we have all telephoned home one last time. All of our equipment is in place and working and all of our food and fuel supplies are aboard.

The captain gives the word to the boatswain and the deckhands lift the gangway with the crane and cast off the lines. Under the direction of a Japanese pilot, the captain gives the command to get underway. The Bent slowly moves away from the pier using her bow thruster. We are on our way!

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