Of course, here’s another approach to lifting smaller boats onto a transport deck. All fotos here are compliments of Rod Smith, about 10 days ago. Rod operates Narragansett Bay Shipping, where I know him best for his tireless documentation of vessel construction at Senesco Marine. (Doubleclick enlarges.)
It starts here, as Ocean Freedom enters the Bay, passing Castle Hill Light, Saturday, May 5, 0740. Ocean Freedom works for Intermarine.
And here’s the cargo. A recent Workboat article discusses the deal: four new Army ferries bound for the Marshall Islands, specifically for the Reagan Test site. The builder is Blount Boats, which I did posts about here and here.
Sunday, May 6, 1313h.
Sunday 1436h. Note the diver in the water directly below the port prop and rudder.
Sunday 1448h.
Monday, May 7, 1035h. In the foreground is Conanicut Island; Newport is in the distance.
Monday 1038h
Monday 1039h.
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All of which answers a question: given my recent obsession with the Panama Canal, I was wondering if Ocean Freedom carrying possibly the latest government boats might cross paths there with a US government boats on its last voyage. The vessel is USS Glacier, and it is in tow by Rhea and the company that recently towed the Artship (also with South Pacific connections) to the scrappers. . . but according to marinetraffic, as Ocean Freedom heads into the Pacific, Rhea and Glacier are following Baja California.
Many thanks to Rod Smith for the fotos and to David Hindin for the info on Rhea and USS Glacier.
tugster: a waterblog 
3 comments
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May 18, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Les Sonnenmark
I sure hope OCEAN FREEDOM is carrying more than those two boats to the Marshall Islands. I would estimate the voyage cost to be about $2,000,000 including the vessel rate (American crew), fuel, port fees, etc. If she’s dead-heading back, then Intermarine will be tacking on additional charges. Makes for expensive little ferry boats.
May 18, 2012 at 2:33 pm
tugster
i wish my eyes in panama had been open. i wondered the same. does your $2m figure include canal transit . . . ? i learned that the formula used to figure transit fees involves potential cargo capacity, not just value f cargo being carried.
May 18, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Les Sonnenmark
It was a pretty rough estimate based on approximate speed, engine fuel consumption, vessel charter rates, etc., then rounded up to account for unspecified fees, which could include canal transit and longshore fees. it would have been less expensive on a non-US flag bottom, but the Army has to ship US flag if it’s available, and that may be why Intermarine re-flagged OCEAN FREEDOM last year.