Tomorrow–Columbus Day–I’m launching a new blog called Henry’s Obsession. Henry refers to Mr Hudson, and obsess he did!. For the next year or so, bowsprite and I will use research and imagination to get inside the head of the first European to travel up the river that bears his name. We plan to post twice a month, or “halfmoonthly.” Shouldn’t we celebrate a Hudson Day in September rather than a Columbus Day in October?
Take one container vessel —Saudi Tabuk– northbound in the Buttermilk against an ebbing tide and heading for sea. Bring on Moran tugs Cape Cod (portside of Tabuk) and Kathleen Turecamo.
As they approach the Brooklyn Bridge, Cape Cod drops back to Tabuk‘s stern
Kathleen Turecamo no doubts shoves the bow toward Manhattan and Cape Cod presses the stern to Brooklyn.
Plan continues until the ebb tide assists Kathleen, and Tabuk rotates counterclockwise.
The ebb is unstoppable,
and Tabuk
pivots her 814 feet quite dramatically
leaving no room for error.
Soon Tabuk has steering
outbound toward the Narrows and
bound for the Red Sea
but not for Tabuk, an inland desert city.
Photos, WVD.
4 comments
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October 14, 2008 at 8:32 am
Buck
Nice narrative on a typical evolution. Just because it’s typical doesn’t mean it’s easy!
October 14, 2008 at 10:18 am
tugster
anxiety level must be high. if cape cod, ex., had lost power, there’d be damage etc. does it ever happen that power fails at worst moment?
October 15, 2008 at 12:29 am
Jed
Sure it does!
Percentages dictate that it’s a certainty.
Lines parting will generate additional gray hair as well.
Nothing is ever typical or routine. You KNOW yer in trouble wen you start thinking that way. Or more accurately I know I’M in trouble when the thinking goes in that direction.
Jed sends
October 15, 2008 at 8:50 am
Daniel Meeter
Wonderful posting. Yes, a ameuver so typical, so normal, but just why we love tugboats and harbors: the water is not just a pavement, it’s a living moving thing.