OK, so I’m a curious blogger who looks in on a world I don’t really inhabit, a set of professions I wish to know more about than I do, a realm where I might re-engage. If I’d made different decisions years ago, I could have been this crewman, almost lost among the steel members of bow and crane at the dock where President Polk will discharge and accept containers with goods worth millions. I’m guessing he’s a docking pilot, sixth boro crew as opposed to Polk crew. Might some of Polk crew be asleep as their vessel docks, here at Howland Hook?
I might have come to work the clamshell dredge this morning on this crew boat. Or I could have been boat crew bringing these dredgers to their job site. English is strange sometimes: crew boat just isn’t the same as boat crew. The tug there is Miss Gill. More Gill and dredge fotos soon. Is Gill a day crew only boat?
When Grimaldi Lines Repubblica di Amalfi came through the Narrows the other morning, I first saw a RORO container ship painted the same bright yellow as . . . a Ferrari or a Fiat. Well, maybe less glossy. But I didn’t think of the crew: how many, what life stories and dramas and talents, what nationalities. But as the vessel came closer, I noticed the bow
had five guys visible. They were taking in the sunrise as I was. (I’m trying to figure out how to upload fotos such that when you click on them, they enlarge, but I don’t have it yet.) The closest guy wearing a chartreuse life vest had a phone to his ear. Talking to whom and where, I wondered. I’d certainly call friends and special friends all over the city just to say I was back in the sixth boro, but could he even get off the ship?
About the same time into the harbor came this beautiful tanker, Orange Wave, carrying my favorite drink fresh from groves in Brazil. And the Orange Wave crew, what color uniforms do you suppose they wear?
But who is he? How many trips between Santos and Newark has he made?
Robbins Reef . . . I could be wrong, but I’m guessing what we see here is the entire crew, one man sitting at the wheel. Correct me if I’m wrong.
And the crewman of Falcon standing beside the railing near the stern of the barge, how many fellow crewmen are on the tug?
As Miriam Moran with white protective sheet over the rubber pudding trailed a cruise ship into port last weekend, a crewman looked upriver maybe at the stern of the cruise ship, resting on the warm H-bitt.
This is one of my favorites and I posted a different shot in the series a few days ago: one crewman of Gramma Lee T Moran working out on a rowing machine while hundreds of people on the cruise ship look on. Does he realize he appears to be such a spectacle. Of course, you say, those folks were looking at Manhattan, not the crewman, and I know that.
My point: crew is crew. They’re not passengers, family, friends, staff, associates, castmates, colleagues, teammates, partners . . . I could go on. Crew. They’re crew.
If I were crew, there’d be gains and losses. I’d know some of the answers to questions like those raised, but I wouldn’t see myself or my vessel in its entirety the way I can now. On the other hand, I’d see the world from it, see the insides. Gain some, lose some. Makes it hard.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp since July 1, 2009.
tugster: a waterblog 
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July 9, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Allen Baker
If you had chosen the seagoing career path, you would not have gone wrong sailing in a ship like “President Polk”.
For containerships, they are very, very nice. Spacious, comfortable, powerful and a great ride at sea.
(see my description of life at sea on one of these C-10 class ships I wrote here some months ago regarding “President Truman”)
If the ship was docking at the time of the photo, you are probably seeing one of the AB’s (able bodied seaman), the bos’n (serang or snapper as they are sometimes referred to in the west coast Sailors Union of the Pacific) or possibly the chief mate watching over things up on the foc’sle.
Speaking from experience, the only crew that might be asleep during docking or undocking might be the stewards department members. Unlikely though as I am sure she will be provisioning upon docking.
As hard as it might be to believe, these large ships are only manned by 20 crew.
You would find the Master on the bridge with the pilots, an AB on the wheel and the third mate operating the engine order telegraph and noting maneuvers in the “bell book”. There also might be a deck cadet from one of the maritime academies on the bridge as well. (same goes for an engine cadet down below in the engine room with the chief and assistants)
The chief mate will be on the bow with half of the deck gang supervising the lines being put out or taken in, tug lines and relaying distances to the bridge.
On the stern you would find the second mate with the remaining balance of the unlicensed deck gang handling mooring & tugboat lines or rigging a pilot ladder from the ship’s sideport opening.
9 stories below, you will find the chief engineer and his 3 assistant engineers answering bells from the bridge and making sure all machinery is performing during docking and undocking evolutions.
Ships of the C-10 class have an 8 story high, slow speed 12 cylinder Sulzer diesel engine capable of delivering 58,000 horsepower to swing a propeller thirty feet in diameter. These ships will easily maintain 24 knots while crossing the worlds oceans.
Will, I’d like to take this moment to thank you for this blog you have created here that allows folks like me to sound off on. I hope I relay some of my knowledge and experiences here and that readers enjoy reading it.
I only wish I were a better writer, for I sometimes have a lot to say. There are several books written and stored in my head…someday, I wish to get them on paper.
July 9, 2009 at 10:21 pm
tugster
allen . . . no need to apologize ever for your writing. i enjoy it. i live vicariously thru your descriptions and –in this case–play-by-play. please continue to comment. maybe we could tandem up on some posts; i’ve got LOTS of fotos, and no doubt so do you.
July 10, 2009 at 4:16 am
bowsprite
A serang in a sarong!
24 knots at sea with 20 comrades…
A propeller 30′ in diameter working in response to bells from the bridge 9 stories above…
yes, please continue to comment. Those of us green with crew-envy hunger to know what it must be like. Thanks.
July 10, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Allen Baker
Thanks Will & Bowsprite..
Before the days of Homeland Security and MARSEC levels, I often took friends and even some complete strangers out for tug rides when I worked in Baltimore & Philadelphia docking ships.
I always thought it was something of a duty to introduce and enlighten those that knew nothing of the secret, inner workings of our harbors. Give them a personal, up close demonstration better than any Powerpoint presentation could do.
This is one of the reasons I like “Tugster” so much…it gives those curious about how the port or harbor works a look in lieu of being taken for a tug ride.
Yes Will, I do have many images. Been taking photos since I was a teenager wandering the Baltimore waterfront. I have documented the change from working industrial port to the tourist friendly, service oriented business it has become.
Little did I know 30 years ago that the simple images of tugboats, cargo ships and waterfront would one day become historical documentation of the way things once were.
Perhaps these are things we do not think of or even understand when we are 14 years of age.
I invite you both to my home port for a visit someday, it isn’t New York but, I give pretty good tour.
July 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm
tugster
allen- thanks and there’s a PRETTY good chance we might just drive down to baltimore and take you up on your offer. and let’s hope for better days when a mantle of fear-spawned “security” prevents those curious to know the waterfront from getting there.
July 17, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Allen Baker
This would be a good weekend to visit.
The World War 2 Liberty ship “John W. Brown” will be tied up alongside the only nuclear powered cargo ship built in this country, “NS Savannah”
Perhaps the only chance visitors will get in this region to tour this historic ship as her future as a museum is certainly in doubt.