Turning Fidias

Sitting on the bank, I really enjoy watching large vessels turned at the dock.  Here is an index of previous “turning” posts.

Warm Sunday mornings are the best times to watch, though, because you might spend a long time waiting.  The first photo here was taken at 0929 hrs.  Can you identify the tug beyond the bow bulb?

0845 . . . Gramma Lee T Moran arrives at Fidias’ gangway

to deliver the docking pilot . . . 0848.  And then, as events unfold onboard, from the land, it appears that nothing is happening.

At 0930 there is noticeable although quiet motion.

0931 . . .  well, it’s less quiet when Gramma Lee spins her wheels to keep Fidias from slipping seaward with the tide.

0932–10 sec

0932–29 sec

0932–53

Once the 600′ vessel starts to spin, things happen very quickly.

All photos above by Will Van Dorp.  Photo below was taken by “Jed.”

Today–and every day– is Earth Day, prompted post-Santa Barbara 1969.  Hat’s off to all the person-centuries of painstaking efforts at safety and coexistence.  Who said this?   “”It is sad that it was necessary that Santa Barbara should be the example that had to bring it to the attention of the American people. What is involved is the use of our resources of the sea and of the land in a more effective way and with more concern for preserving the beauty and the natural resources that are so important to any kind of society that we want for the future. The Santa Barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the American people.”  Answer here.  HR Constellation is the ex-Beluga Constellation.

Here was last year’s Earth Day post . . . sea junk.