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Post by WettCoast on Jul 21, 2016 7:07:20 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 7, 2016 21:16:33 GMT -8
So yesterday I rode for my first time on the C. Inspiration. Now I can proudly say that I have been aboard all three of the sisters. I did the slightly strange trip to Victoria from North Vancouver via Tsawwassen & Duke Point just so I could finally 'do' this ship. So what does that have to do with box boats? Upon leaving Tsawwassen I could see two Seaspan tugs outbound from Roberts Bank (DeltaPort). I could also see a large containership some distance south of the ferry terminal crossing the route that ferries going to/from Active Pass take. To make a long story short, the C Inspiration did not make the usual sharp turn toward Duke Point immediately after departing Tsawwassen. Instead it traved south along the Route 1 route for maybe two km to go around the stern of the incoming box boat. This provided an interesting photo opportunity for both the big box boat, and its Seaspan assistance. The second Seaspan tug was the S Resolution which is hidden behind the big boat in this photo.  APL Containership Qingdao (IMO 9461893) about to be assisted by the tug Seaspan Kestrel just off DeltaPort near Vancouver, BC - 6 September 2016
© WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr |
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Neil
Voyager 
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Post by Neil on Sept 7, 2016 21:43:40 GMT -8
If I recall correctly, Western Mariner did a report on how these vessels have grown in size since their inception fifty years or so ago. They also did a feature on the evolution of containers themselves. Guess you have to be a shipping nerd to appreciate it... I found it pretty interesting.
I think I've mentioned it before, but since WettCoast has started a dedicated thread, I'll recommend a book, Ninety Percent of Everything (with a big long subtitle) by British journalist Rose George (Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt & Co.), where she chronicles a voyage on the Maersk Kendal container ship. A wide ranging account of life and business aboard the vessel and ships like it, the law and lawlessness of the seas, and ecological issues. Very readable and informative.
Good idea to start this thread. As the book I mentioned points out, the vast majority of all the stuff that we use in our daily lives comes to us on these container vessels, but most of us know nothing about the whole process. |
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grk
Chief Steward
Posts: 227
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Post by grk on Sept 8, 2016 15:51:34 GMT -8
I see that Hanjin Vienna anchored out at Constance Bank has over 100 containers aboard for Canadian Tire alone. She is stuck out there owing the financial woes of Hanjin; no money to pay for the dock, for the tugs, for longshoring, for the railway to move the containers, no money for fuel or supplies either. Up in Rupert, the Hanjin Scarlet has been financed to unload and that is now underway. There are typically 4 Hanjin ships a week on our coast. The rest are running real slow at sea awaiting a suitable outcome for their cargo handling.
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John H
Voyager
Admin Emeritus
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Post by John H on Sept 8, 2016 19:39:44 GMT -8
I see that Hanjin Vienna anchored out at Constance Bank has over 100 containers aboard for Canadian Tire alone. She is stuck out there owing the financial woes of Hanjin; no money to pay for the dock, for the tugs, for longshoring, for the railway to move the containers, no money for fuel or supplies either. Up in Rupert, the Hanjin Scarlet has been financed to unload and that is now underway. There are typically 4 Hanjin ships a week on our coast. The rest are running real slow at sea awaiting a suitable outcome for their cargo handling. Had not heard about this on the local news, but maybe we will soon. Seems like a major story that could affect a lot of people. Wall Street Journal Article. www.wsj.com/articles/billions-in-cargo-remains-stranded-at-sea-1473285117 |
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 9, 2016 7:39:48 GMT -8
The Hanjin financial debacle resulting with ships running at slower speed while enroute to various world ports, ships anchoring near ports for extended periods of time while running low on fuel,supplies and worst of all, potable water, creates a ship-board tension amongst ships' crews that sometimes lead to physical confrontations or worse, between crew members. Matters can be made even worse if one's particular ship is not a
"dry" vessel.(Crews having access to various degrees of liquor/consumption).
I've had personal experience with being stuck at anchor with similar supplies running low.
While transporting Meranti wood from Port Swettenham and Singapore to European ports, my ship weathered a typhoon in the Indian Ocean enroute to Durban, South Africa where we were to do a 'top-load' of more Meranti wood.
Upon arriving in Durban harbour,(after a 16 day voyage from Singapore),the crews' anticipation of sampling Durban's night-life was dashed as we were informed by our Durban agent that we weren't going anywhere. Drop your anchor an sit tight. Apparently there was some sort of dispute between our agents in South Asia and Durban regarding our cargo.
At that point we were running very low on potable water, which ended up being rationed for 15 days,( having exhausted the potable water in our 2 life boat tanks).
Late February and early March in the southern hemisphere is Summer. Temperatures hover around 40 very humid degrees. Our ship being of a non-air-conditioned vintage, became life aboard a floating sauna!
Several days of sauna-living started to create tension/fights amongst our multi-national deck crew, exacerbated by the depletion of our allowed liquor supplies.
Day 15 and we were totally out of potable water. None for drinking, cooking, washing etc.
Early evening on the 15th day we received permission to enter the inner harbour, tie up and take on a healthy quantity of potable water.
None of the officers or crew were allowed to set foot on the dock. Upon getting our water, we were escorted back out to the outer harbour anchorage position and once again told to drop the 'hook'.
No chances of sampling Durban night-life that night, but having a fresh supply of water was akin to winning the Lottery!
About 05:00 hrs., I awoke to the sounds of anchors being hauled aboard.Somehow during the night, the 'cargo dispute' had apparently been resolved. Eight Durban night-life nights had depleted most of our crews' entertainment budgets so finally getting underway to Europe was, at the time, very welcomed.
Hanjin's financial woes are 'what they are" and the manufacturers of goods destined to your local Walmart, Canadian Tire, etc. have their issues as well.
The big-player participants' plight in this financial mess, are issues that the 'big boys' will resolve in due course.
Tragically, the very real losers in this debacle are the ships' crews. Usually away from their families for months at a time, relying on wages to support their families back home,the human element of seafarers' lives,is often unknown or misguided by 'landlubbers who live in a very different world.
I offer a human angle to all non-seafarers. Whilst viewing or taking nice pictures of any deep sea vessels in transit or at anchorage,
please take a moment to think about the seafaring men and women who serve at sea, the sacrifices they make within the world of global shipping.
We landlubbers can enrich their lives. Wherever one lives, investigate whether or not there is a Mission to Seamen, Flying Angel or the like in your community and give some thought to dropping in and enquire if there are opportunities to volunteer some of your time at that site.
One would be pleasantly surprised to hear the level of interest expressed by visiting seafarers. They are eager to learn about our communities and all things 'Canadian'.
We should be proud and eager to share our Canadian riches with mariners from all parts of the world. Small keepsakes of Canada one might give to these folks are truly received as 'treasures'.
Saint Christopher would smile upon you.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Sept 20, 2016 14:28:32 GMT -8
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John H
Voyager
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 2,919
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Post by John H on Dec 20, 2016 21:55:19 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Dec 21, 2016 8:17:05 GMT -8
The Marine organizations and the Victoria Filipino Canadian Association are to be warmly commended for their 'understanding' of what it means to be a 'virtual prisoner at sea', far from home, family and numerous loved ones, at this special time of year. One of the biggest enemies sailors of any stripe constantly face is 'loneliness'. Folks who haven't spent time at sea cannot fully appreciate the debt we owe to the men and women who provide us with the goods we buy, the travel and leisure we enjoy and most of all the defense of our country and its resources. Thank goodness todays' technology has provided those at sea with one weapon against loneliness: it's called the Internet. In 1970, the 'Internet' was years away, I was stranded. I know how it feels. May the spirit and blessings of St. Christopher be with all mariners at this time of year and always.  |
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 2, 2017 11:53:00 GMT -8
Seaspan sister tugs Kestrel & Osprey assist containership George Washington Bridge (K Line) just off DeltaPort near Tsawwassen - 14 December 2016  © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr |
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Post by mybidness459 on Jan 6, 2017 13:02:30 GMT -8
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Post by SS San Mateo on Feb 13, 2017 19:45:58 GMT -8
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 28, 2018 20:45:59 GMT -8
Loading up!
Cosco Prince Rupert @ Prince Rupert's 'DP World' container terminal on a very wet late afternoon - 9 March 2018. This view is from the departing ferry Northern Expedition.  © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr |
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Post by dofd on Jul 19, 2018 0:33:44 GMT -8
Something I took on a rainy day.
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 19, 2019 20:24:24 GMT -8
Container ship CSCL Autumn (IMO 9645891) in Vancouver Harbour about to be berthed (with the help of Smit tugs) @ Centerm - 3 July 2019
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Post by Starsteward on Jul 20, 2019 8:23:30 GMT -8
Container ship CSCL Autumn (IMO 9645891) in Vancouver Harbour about to be berthed (with the help of Smit tugs) @ Centerm - 3 July 2019
The current tense state of trade affairs Canada is experiencing with China at the moment aside, looking at all those containers, one wonders how many items in those containers will find their way into homes in the Greater Vancouver area alone? It's not too early for Christmas merchandise to be on the move, yikes, things in the world move much faster, and sooner that we ever contemplate.  |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 13, 2019 8:26:00 GMT -8
Boxes in the rain, lotsa boxes ...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2020 19:43:12 GMT -8
I just watched this neat complete tour of the container ship Maersk Ohio. If you have about a half hour it is worthy.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 26, 2021 17:03:24 GMT -8
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Jul 20, 2021 8:18:44 GMT -8
According to an article in Sunday's New York Times, it was only last Tuesday that the Ever Given was allowed to proceed on it's way past the Suez Canal, after being impounded since the March grounding, over disputes relating to damages. Seems pretty clear from the article that the Egyptian pilots were not adequately familiar with how to handle a freakishly huge vessel like this one in the weather conditions that prevailed in the Suez that day. At one point, they had the ship going thirteen knots in an eight knot zone, in an effort to make the rudder more functional. |
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grk2
Deckhand
Posts: 91
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Post by grk2 on Jul 30, 2021 20:57:20 GMT -8
The more water flowing past the rudder certainly increases it’s effectiveness. This could come from either the speed through the water, or from the prop wash thrusting against the rudder. Increased speed does however create a problem at the other end of the ship! Bow thrusters start to loose their effect at about 4-5 knots, and on many vessels the thrusters become totally ineffective at about 6 knots. Reports indicate that in this grounding the bow thrusters failed to hold the bow because of the high speed.
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Post by WettCoast on Jan 5, 2022 19:24:29 GMT -8
Container Ship MP The Belichick (IMO 9317937) at anchor south east of Prince Rupert, waiting for its turn at the DP World Fairview Terminal in Prince Rupert.
17 August 2021
Many ocean-going ships seem blessed with very weird names this one being a case in point. I took this photo from the Northern Adventure which was inbound into Rupert from Haida Gwaii.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 6, 2022 7:21:56 GMT -8
Container Ship MP The Belichick (IMO 9317937) at anchor south east of Prince Rupert, waiting for its turn at the DP World Fairview Terminal in Prince Rupert.
17 August 2021 Many ocean-going ships seem blessed with very weird names this one being a case in point. I took this photo from the Northern Adventure which was inbound into Rupert from Haida Gwaii.
"The Belichick" probably has hidden microphones planted at the Fairview Terminal, and probably also deflates the fenders on the pilot boat. |
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Containership Japan Apollo (IMO 7907465) entering Vancouver Harbour off Prospect Point - 21 June 1980. Looks pretty small, eh?
Cosco Singapore (IMO 9221102) @ Fairview Container terminal, Prince Rupert, Canada - 19 October 2014. This is the 'end of the line' for all those intermodal trains running on CN's BC North main line.
Carl Schulte (IMO 9665683) in Juan de Fuca Strait passing by Victoria, BC - 21 April 2016. After dropping off the Canadian 'pilot' on board, this ship was headed west to the open Pacific & then Asia ... 
