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Many thanks to Michael Torres–Brooklynite transplanted to San Diego–for these fotos of Carnival Splendor returning safely to port yesterday. The job is escorted into port here by WHEC-722 USCGC Morgenthau.
As it customary . . . as news of the fire and disabling of the cruise vessel was disseminated, all mention of the rescuing tugs used the generic: tug, tugs.
So here are some names: far to near here Harley Marine’s Millennium Dawn and Crowley’s Spartan.
Here are the same, along with Saturn and Ernest Campbell.
I’m guessing the ones portside are Chihuhua and Saturn.
So here’s a slightly different version of that lead foto: SMBC Monterrey, launched in Valencia, Spain a year and a half ago. SMBC expands to “Servicios Maritimos de Baja California.”
Many thanks to Michael Torres and Mage Bailey. And thankful for a safe return to port for all.
Related: See this interview with captain of Millenium Dawn.
tugster: a waterblog 
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November 12, 2010 at 10:25 am
Rick Spilman
Carnival was fortunate to find tugs available. From what I read, the Splendor has three bow thrusters and three stern thrusters and is designed never to need tugs for docking.
They have twin screws and six diesels powering the generators. Interesting that a switchboard fire could take down the entire ship. One might think greater redundancy would be a good idea.
November 12, 2010 at 9:57 pm
mageb
So very sorry that I couldn’t get tug names for you. I was directly to the stern of the Splendor in that last bow shot, and the sun was directly in the camera’s lens. Blurry be me, darn it. I couldn’t get downtown either, and there he was up in the air with a really good telephoto. Hurrah. You were welcome to borrow any of my shots you wanted, but his were from a vastly better angle then mine.
Did you read the litany of things that have happened to this ship. Several commenters have left us lists at the bottom of the Maritime Matters blog.
November 13, 2010 at 3:27 am
David Hindin
This was a lovely and useful blog entry. Thanks.
AIS data (short lived, but there as I write this) shown on marinetraffic.com suggeats that Harley’s MILLENNIUM DAWN and ERNEST CAMPBELL ran down to join the Mexican flagged vessels for the tow home. San Diego tugs SPARTAN and SATURN joined up just south of Pt Loma the morning of 11/11 for the run up the entrance channel and berthing. Corrections to my impression will be most appreciated.
(MILLENNIUM: 2 Ns is the correct spelling)
There is a good marine traffic,com end game track for SMBC Monterrey(a pretty tug) that I had not seen before:
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?zoom=9&oldmmsi=345020017&olddate=11/9/2010%2012:00:18%20PM
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?zoom=9&oldmmsi=345020017&olddate=11/11/2010%2012:00:26%20PM
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?zoom=9&oldmmsi=345020017&olddate=11/11/2010%203:04:00%20PM
Thanks again.
November 13, 2010 at 6:16 am
Joe Herbert
I’ve served on a few ships, and I’ve never seen or heard of one taken down like this one. I fully expect that Carnival, the U.S. and Mexican Coast Guards will be having quite a fandango.
U.S.C.G. reported on their website that Splendor was back safe, then added the blurb that U.S.-D.H.S. (Their higher) had supeonaed the ships, drawings and maintainence files.
That’s important because Carnival is a large U.S. Corp. but all of their ships are Home Ported and Flagged by convenience. If the CG can find reason, they might find themselves ‘Jonesed’ right out of U.S. Ports.
November 14, 2010 at 2:21 pm
eastriver
Look carefully at SBMC Monterrey. She has a paint job and some other details that might stir one’s curiosity… yes, that’s Moran green on the hull, the Moran stripe and Moran deck red on the stern. The stack has an unusual design too… on top, the Moran “M”.
SBMC — Servicios Maritimos de Baja California — is Moran’s joint venture with the Mexican tugboat company Compania Maritima del Pacifico, bringing Moran’s LNG experience to the Energía Costa Azul LNG import terminal on the Baja peninsula. I’m sure the white house is a concession to the Mexican sun.
Some more info can be found here:
Click to access 2007_Issue_61_Towline.pdf
November 14, 2010 at 6:19 pm
tugster
the “M” i had noticed but assumed it referred to “mexico” even though the type style perfectly matches the moran “m.” the olive green hull i missed because it wasn’t counterpointed by moran maroon house. thanks for pointing those things out.