As we approach winter solstice in the north, noon light can be dull enough for me to wonder if my eyesight might be failing, my glasses opaque with greasy fingerprints.
But yesterday my company was luminous (solar bright, even) and the movement on KVK exciting (with stellar choreography), so we watched Sea Venture pivot with the assistance of McAllister Responder and Ellen McAllister and
like a mere tub toy, this
570′ loa vessel did a 180,
fired up the M. A. N. engine and
headed for sea even if
for now she headed only as far as Stapleton anchorage.
Still, this overcast December light really makes me rub my eyes.
Related: To take the fotos above, I stood in front of the entrance to Snug Harbor, Staten Island. If you haven’t seen the exhibit “As Tugs Go By” yet, make a point to get there. It’s fabulous. Recently, as I re-read Fast and Able, it amazed me how many fish-schooner crew of vessels the vintage of Lettie G. Howard spent their last days on Staten Island at Snug Harbor.
Note: Sea Venture is fleet sibling of an ITB featured here a year ago.
Photos, WVD.
tugster: a waterblog 
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 10, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Mage Bailey
Look at that. I just want to run out and run a paint roller over it before it goes down river.
January 5, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Dan Schermerhorn
Mage,
I boarded the Sea Venture in June of 1989, at that time she was only 6 years old as the Sea Venture but 18 years of age if you included her pre collision time as the Hellenic Carrier built in 71. Every time I came back for “my turn” over the next 9 years she looked the same. Even after we got out of the yards , soon after she would assume the same neglected look, but I can assure you, she was far from neglected. We were all family on that vessel and Atlantic Tankships for all of our bitching was one great shipping company. They took excellent care of the crew and the crew, due to the leadership of guys like Pete Kelleher, Karl Kraker Wayne Andrew Steve Cutter, John Hayes, Dave Stamm, Mark Menton and Bob Martus kept her going. I was just looking at another ship I was on back then and see that it’s life was ended this past year with a fraction of the use the Sea Venture has had. These pictures brought a smile to my face. thanks Tugster for posting them. safe sailing… Dan Schermerhorn, Oiler and 3rd Asst eng.