(Note: Doubleclick enlarges.) The title . . . those were the exact words John Watson emailed me last night. If the message had been “hawk is down” . . . or “condor …” it would have alarmed me, but instead I charged my camera so that right after work I could zoom over to Fort Wadsworth for these shots. By one, I found Alert loaded onto barge BFT No. 38, which
was already on Swan. Gabby Miller was present, of course. Lined up on the Brooklyn side was a cast of characters identified as
Cavalier, Pioneer, and Mars . . . in custody of Charles D. McAllister.
The three Crowley tugs glided onto Swan‘s back, extending beyond the hull on
For outatowners, that’s Manhattan in the distance looking across most of what’s called the Upper Bay. The Lower Bay is behind me, as is the Verrazano Bridge. On the right is the boro of Brooklyn. The red tugs are Charles D. McAllister and McAllister
Sisters Girls.
If you wonder about my shifting POV, the tide turned from ebb to flood during loading, and with it a bank of fog crept in and out, several times.
Next on board . . . Socrates, who in spite of the fog, found
Heron! It’s not quite Noah’s ark, but I’m hoping Bowsprite will find a spare moment to drawing this vessel with its cargo almost as diverse as that of Pi Patel.
Loading completed, Susan Miller glides by. No doubt Swan has already begun to deballast to rise back up, and tomorrow the menagerie onboard Swan will be high and dry. After that, next stop, Nigeria.
I include this foto for outatowners. The vessel farthest left and most distant is Swan; I took it on the ferry about halfway back to Manhattan. Land to the right of King Emerald is Staten Island.
Some related posts include Mighty Servant loaded last December, Blue Marlin loaded a year ago, and Socrates last summer . . seventh foto down.
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May 16, 2012 at 8:16 pm
HT
Thankyou Wil outstanding photos,looks like the boys have it down pact now with loading the vessels on board the dockwise ships! I am still sad to see all of this equipment go overseas, and I bet so are the men that worked on them. When my old barge was sold, because of the double hulling rule…my old partner and myself went down to see her off. It was our second home and workplace for 10 years. I will never forget the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach, when a foreign tug took her away. Smooth Sailing Swan,you have a lot of memories on board.
May 16, 2012 at 8:23 pm
tugster
HT . . . I understand what you’re saying.
May 16, 2012 at 10:36 pm
bowsprite
me too.
Swan song.
adieu, satwadee, addio belle ragazze…
May 17, 2012 at 5:06 am
Hans van der Ster
Dear Will, Thanks for your excellent report. I will add some in my weekly Tugs Towing & Offshore Newsletter. Some years ago I was there with the Giant 4 on almost the same place loading the floating jail Resolution. I have met very fine people during the loading operations. Regards Hans
http://www.towingline.com – jvds@towingline.com
May 17, 2012 at 7:56 am
Swan Dive « Working Harbor Committee
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