Let’s pick up from yesterday and follow Atlantic Star from the Narrows to the part of the KVK called the “salt pile.” To the right off the stern of Atlantic Star, that’s lower Manhattan.
Ellen McAllister swoops in to deliver the docking pilot. The signature “G” on the stack points to Grimaldi Group, of which ACL is an associate. Grimali’s West Africa service is a regular in the sixth boro with such vessels as Grande Morocco.
Seen from head-on, the bow is knife edged, but in profile it’s plumb. Yes, that’s the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
That’s Robbin Reef Light and WTC1 just off its right. Atlantic Star and the other G4 vessels are operated by a crew of 16, compared with 21 for the G3 vessels like Atlantic Concert.
The cranes in the distance are at the MOTBY terminal.
We’re now in the KVK with the salt pile to port and
the Bayonne Bridge ahead, and Atlantic Concert being assisted beneath.
Eric McAllister joins, and we’ll pick it up there tomorrow.
All photos by Will Van Dorp, with thanks to the NY Media Boat for conveyance.
6 comments
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January 12, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Lou Rosenberg
Will
About the pics of the Atlantic Star: is that some sort of drive on ramp thats folded up onto her transom? Wild if its that!
January 12, 2016 at 12:20 pm
tugster
hi lou– that’s absolutely what it is. carrying capacity is 420 tons. here (scroll) you see stern ramps in cutaways: http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2013/11/ship-shore-logistics-17-expeditionary-port-access-concept-1-roro-link-span-cargo-handling/
January 12, 2016 at 1:57 pm
CAPTNC
Great job, Will – love the photos and the details.
January 12, 2016 at 8:07 pm
Daniel Meeter
So she’s coming in empty, and all those parallel verticals are racks for containers?
January 12, 2016 at 8:09 pm
tugster
yes, containers are held securely in those racks. ACL boasts not having ever lost a container overboard. and no, she wasn’t empty.
January 13, 2016 at 8:46 am
CAPTNC
She may look empty, Daniel, but there are many, many more containers stowed below deck, where you can’t see them. The “racks” are called cell-guides, and they serve as fixed “lashing” systems that secure the containers in the cells; the only additional securing required might be for “6th layer” – boxes on the top tier – which will be secured to the box below them by 4 semi-automatic “twist-locks”.