Other Peoples’ Fotos 11

Here was 10.

And here, from John Van Staalduinen,  are fotos of Legend, a sibling of the virgin tug Liberty I posted about a month ago.  Doubleclick enlarges. The size of this behemoth can

measured using the load line (draft markings) on the stern.  Eyeballing it, I’d say that from the top of the stern bulwarks to the top of the brownish bottom paint is almost 20′.  I.e., if (post-launch obviously) I dove from the bulwarks into the water, it would be a long way just to the water!  ??  Stern anchor is already in place.

Also at the shipyard in Anacortes, John got this foto of a dry-docked Nanuq, a 301′ loa oil recovery/platform supply vessel build by Edison Chouest.  Nanuq was delivered in May 2007; here’s a youtube of its launch.   Click here for a foto/info on the newest vessel Edison Chouest is undertaking for Shell’s Arctic drilling.

And from Isaac of the tugboathunter blog, this foto taken in Toledo. OH, (it reminds me of those shots taken by “future car spies”) of the former tugboat Cleveland, possibly headed for the sixth boro as the new (and third) Patrice McAllister.  Another shot of the future Patrice can be seen in the last foto here on this post from Isaac’s blog.  For archival shots of the vessel, check out Birk and Harold’s site, of course.

Thanks again John and Isaac.

Related:  If you haven’t seen Jed’s blog, Cumberland Soundings, check it out here.

Also related:  I’m suddenly thinking seriously about visiting the Panama Canal.  A site like this one gives me the impression that there is an Canal/shipping enthusiast-friendly tourist infrastructure in Panama.  Can anyone who’s been there comment?  Would it be better to use Panama City or Colon as a homebase for a four-day trip?  The “screen capture” below is interactive but time sensitive.  When I studied traffic just now, I quickly recognized a half dozen vessels I think I know from their transit through the sixth boro.   One is NYK Meteor, which I got fotos of eight days ago exiting the KVK.  Is this possible?

Turning 70

On this blog, you’ve seen spinning the king and turning Tabuk, get ready for turning 70, which never looked so good.

That 70 is CVN-70 aka USS Carl Vinson, recently

departing San Diego for points west.  These fotos come compliments of Michael Torres, who just a few weeks back sent spectacular fotos of the return to port of Splendor of the Seas.

The orange numbered tugs make up part of the Edison Chouest fleet.  I believe these tugs make up a small minority of American tugs with forward-mounted azimuthing drives, or ATDs, in this article by Gregory Walsh in Professional Mariner.   

For my mostly east coast eyes, these tugs are a distinctive as Michael’s fotos stunning.  I’ve written about them before here. 

The names are quite unusual also. 

SDMs 7, 8, 10, and 14 turning CVN 70 . . . that’s unfamiliar

nomenclature for my east coast ears.  I’ve got lots to learn about these, but

for now, I really appreciate getting these shots from Michael.