Something Different 48

Before the internet and interactive maps of all sorts, I covered my walls with maps and studied atlases.  I’ve moved along with some technological modifications.  Recently when a friend reported a planned trip to Guinea Conakry, I was looking at various ships in the offing there, and saw this notation below for STI Onyx.   Intriguing.  That was about two weeks ago, and when I checked last night, they were still on board.  Of course with news like this, one should not be surprised.

Decisive was in port briefly on January 2, but I was unable to get photos before she departed.  As I understand it, she is retrieving old cable, rather than laying down new at this point.  I was unaware of an area in the New York Bight referred to as “cable grounds.”  TSS I believe refers to “traffic separation scheme,” not unlike a jersey barrier or a median strip on a highway.

I checked on Decisive a half day later and saw her “destination” marked differently, now, if expanded, to one nautical mile closest point of approach required,” ie, keep your distance.

AIS is an effective tool for a photographer to see if anything interesting might be moving in the area.

Did anyone manage to get shots of Decisive last week?

Here’s an interesting cutaway drawing of a cable layer and info on the SubCom fleet.  The cables they lay, they ARE how the internet travels between continents.

And those armed guards, I don’t think they have anything to do with Internet security.

And to add to the chaotic nature of this post . . . ever see a dazzle painted tugboat?  Check this one out . . . about a five minute clip here.