. . . signing onto the 6200-teu Maersk Detroit and stepping off at the end of a hitch, this post is inspired by a sixth boro mariner on a milk run. Many thanks to Mike Weiss** for most of the photos. It took him 77 days to get from Port Elizabeth back to Port Elizabeth. Day 1 was back in early November.
Yesterday I caught a few photos in the KVK of the vessel on the last few miles of a voyage mostly halfway around the world and back.
Mike, an AB, texted me their ETA into the KVK and
in cold overcast morning I wore my conspicuous vest and waited
to see people on the aft mooring deck.
Welcome home, Mike. This is a timeless way to go so sea: depart from your home and return to it.
The following are some photos Mike took along the way, as in the Strait of Gibraltar just before calling at the port of Algeciras,
Port Said at the aft mooring deck thousands of sea miles ago,
entering the Suez Canal and heading under the Al-Salam Bridge (I think), and
about to exit the Suez following . . . Ever Given [yes, really!!],
getting an assist at Port Qasim,
port of Salalah,
and then homeward across the Atlantic to
port of Houston,
and port of Charleston, with many other sights that only Mike can tell about along the way.
Many thanks to Mike Weiss for sharing these photos and his experiences. If you didn’t click on the ** link in the first paragraph, you’ll be happy to do it here for some of Mike’s sea resume.
Maersk Detroit is part of the US-flagged Maersk fleet.
Ever Given has a big sister now here.
tugster: a waterblog 
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January 22, 2023 at 12:57 pm
James Anthony Murray
Pictures brought back some memories of a young man going thru the Suez on a Navy destroyer. Seems at the time they had floating bridges, barges linked together. Salala, Port Said brought back memories, Bitter lake in the middle, head lights tied on the front of the ship. Buses full of soldiers rode along side us on the shore. A sand storm on the voyage. I did not get to see a lot as I was in Main Control most of the time. Thanks for sharing.
January 22, 2023 at 4:38 pm
tugster
My uncles while in Dutch army went through Suez in 1946 on their way to Indonesia. They seemed more impressed with that canal than with Indonesia, since they were the “colonials” and not generally welcome in Indonesia.
January 22, 2023 at 6:44 pm
Robin Denny
It is notable that Maersk ships controlled by their Head Office in Denmark, identified by a female name preceding Maersk, are usually immaculate whereas those registered elsewhere with the name following Maersk, initially Singapore but now anywhere, seem poorly maintained and rust stained.
The change of control caused my brother, Extra Chief Engineer, to transfer to short-sea service.
January 23, 2023 at 9:33 am
tugster
I had the same question, Robin, but here’s the answer I got: “This ship is on her way to yard, so she’ll be peak rustiness on the topsides, since we don’t send crew over the side to paint topsides. The interior is in fine condition, and almost all of my OT was chipping, painting, and ospho work to remove rust on deck. It really depends on what the chief mate deems a priority and if they give out OT to accomplish it. In 5 months she’ll have the freshest coat of paint and no rust, and then she’ll go into a long and brutal service of having hundreds of thousands of containers and their associated deck fittings slam on the decks. The small deck crew will try to keep up but these ships are meant to make as much money as possible at all times no matter what, and keeping them pretty isn’t efficient unless the rust is detrimental to operations. Topside rust is not detrimental in the slightest. Also, US flag ships have ever-increasing safety protocols, so for example, to paint anything above deck height will require a work permit with risk assessment paperwork reviewed by master, mate, bosun, and deckhand, then the deckhand will get fitted out with all gear and harness and have it inspected, and then go 6.1 feet above deck level to paint a thing. This is a major waste of time and money and many mates would rather not deal with it unless it’s something broken… ” I hope that clarifies.
January 27, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Robin Denny
Entirely understandable for the US who wish to maintain safety of their staff but elsewhere such considerations are ignored.
Does a scruffy ship indicate lack of maintenance which might include safety considerations ?
Some years ago a very rusty fisherman berthed near me sank at her berth.