Cormorant and I sometimes chat down by the water. Like we did this morning down where Arthur Kill meets Newark Bay. We differ on some things, but usually it’s . . . laissez faire, live and let live.
And then this came by. It’s Discovery Coast, the brand spanking new tugboat I’ve seen twice before. The first I was driving and traffic precluded pulling off for a foto and the second time was too dark. This time I could have gotten it in the still golden light of 9:30 a.m. But I averted my eyes. . . it was too much to bear. I watched from the corners of my eyes until it passed . . .
Its silhouette suggests . . . pagoda. Just count the decks . . . if they be called that . . . six of them. Discovery Coast just came out of the Main Iron works in Houma, LA. Here’s the proud new owner answering questions about the vessel’s features. From the interview, I can appreciate the vessel meeting all the latest guidelines. And I’d love a tour of the living quarters. But
if this is the look of the future, then what associations I have with that is . . . so at one time was the Edsel! And cormorant, well he took one look and
got outa there!
I wish fair winds, happy voyaging, and successful & profitable service to Discovery Coast and Chesapeake Coast . . . but with all due respect . . . I’m with cormorant on this one.
tugster: a waterblog 
9 comments
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April 13, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Joseph Herbert
Strikes me that with all that top hamper she’d be an uncomfortable place in a quartering or beam sea, and down right hazardous if she were light. I really don’t know what’s gotten into the designer’s minds these days . . . they seem to have forgotten principles of marine physics that have taken years to learn. Remember Vasa? They say that 80 percent of ships lost capsize first, I still remember those pictures of the Doria rolling all those years ago, Costa Concordia would have too, except for the island.
April 13, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Ken
Can’t think of which one it looks like but it reminds me of one of the tug/barge combos I see floating around here.
April 13, 2012 at 10:38 pm
HT
Thats got to be one of worst designed offshore tugs I have ever seen…just looking at it gets me seasick. I bet Dann did not get to many volunteers to work on these boats.
April 14, 2012 at 5:42 am
Chris Williams
If she’s locked into a notch, with couplers, she’ll roll with the barge – which should be a lot easier to take than a light tug. Still, that high off the roll center, the ride in the pilot house could tend to be spectacular. Seat belts, anyone?
April 14, 2012 at 8:17 am
HT
Chris those are standard wire boats with push knees, they have no couplers. And also because of the kness they will not fit in a barges notch,the tugs bow is square,You can see the push gear in these photos,sorry to say these tugs will be towing when their offshore.
April 14, 2012 at 8:46 am
Chris Williams
Thanks HT – with that pagoda I just assumed she’d be a coupler boat. I’d love to see a profile view. It sounds like they have some coastwise towing in mind, but a square bow and push knees don’t make for much of a ride in any sort of seaway. My old ASRs were pretty good seaboats going ahead, but with their flat counters and vertical taffrails they took some pretty good slaps when backing, enough to send a standing wave through the hull and give the foremast a pretty good shake. Best wishes for the crews in any sort of weather.
April 14, 2012 at 9:05 am
HT
Your welcome Chris, The discovery is working for Penn right now,so you can be assured of one thing their going to do coast work.If you click on Discovery Coast and Chesapeake link just above (thanks Tugster) you will see a side veiw and some information on them.
April 14, 2012 at 11:14 am
walt
Cormorants are cool, i see them in the Hudson north of the North River Water treatnebt plant, and when they see you, they dive.
They love the trout stocked streams, which really are a Cormorant feeding programs.
wss
April 18, 2012 at 7:58 pm
BeyondtheSea
We saw the Discovery coast out Sunday in the sixth boro. I don’t know much about tugboats, but I know when I like what I see. I’m with Mr. Comorant on this one.