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Happy March . . . . Exactly a decade ago I made my second trip to Puerto Rico, and both times I spent some time on the island of Vieques. If you’ve never been to either PR or Vieques, you owe it to yourself to visit this corner of the US, so close to the east coast.
Of course, being myself, I spent some time watching the traffic in San Juan and visiting with the fine mariners working there. Here the classic Honcho (former fleet mate of Atlantic Salvor and Atlantic Enterprise)
heads out to meet El Morro and together with
Handy Three do their magic in the harbor.
Don Raul also came into port with a barge on the wire. Don Raul, working for the Borinken Towing and Salvage at the time, has been repositioned to the Great Lakes to work for the USACE. Has anyone seen her on the Lakes yet, maybe Buffalo? Has her livery been changed?
Beth M. McAllister, slightly newer sister of the sixth boro’s Ellen McAllister, was and still is working in San Juan. Both Beth M. and Ellen are–as you can see–former YTB tugboats built for the USN in WI.
Service between the big island and Vieques is provided by small planes, where you get asked your weight (please answer honestly)and seated accordingly to balance out the seven-passenger load, and lots of ferries, like Isla Bonita below.
For more context on this part of Puerto Rico, click here for the 2013 post. See any resemblance to Blount built boat in the depicted nearer ferry below?
Clearly, back then I was still floundering with the camera on a flip phone and took the image below, with the negative setting. To me, it adds magic to a magical place for me. I can’t believe that a decade has passed since last I left the enchanted islands . . .
All photos, WVD, who encourages everyone to visit PR.
In A Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger writes “There are houses in Gloucester where grooves have been worn into the floorboards by women pacing past an upstairs window, looking out to sea.” Today a lot of people are wearing out keyboards searching for news on El Faro. Others are out in the still stormy aftermath of the hurricane, looking for contact. Wishes and prayers and hopes swirl through the air as well.
this photo and the next four . . . taken in Baltimore in March 2010
The next four photos show El Morro, sister ship, arriving in San Juan in March 2013. Note the splash in lower center left in the photo above; that’s the pilot boat delivering the pilot on this stormy morning two years ago.
Here she arrives in the port of San Juan.
All photos were taken by Will Van Dorp, who prays for strength and safety for all who need it today.
Click here for info on vessel owner, TOTE Maritime, a Saltchuk company.
This summer has taken me to memorable places and points in time, one of which was this comparison of the NJ-side Holland Tunnel vents today and thirty years ago.
This morning as I walked to a meeting on the Lower West Side of Manhattan, I took this set of fotos, all within a quarter mile . . . More time travel?
Here’s a perspective of Lilac and Pilot from an angle that was not available–due to construction–as recently as two months ago. Click here (foto #11) for more info on Pilot, the 1941 tug along Lilac‘s starboard side.
Fair early morning sun illuminates tug Red Hook and the CRRNJ building, seen here 30 years ago.
Brendan Turecamo passes the Hoboken Terminal, originally completed in 1907. For a look at what’s behind the Terminal, click here.
Tailing Brendan Turecamo was El Galeon Andalucia, presumably headed south for Puerto Rico and Florida.
In Spanish . . . is the phrase “Felices vientos,” I’m wondering . . . Also, is El Galeon Andalucia the same vessel that I saw a half year ago in San Juan then called Galeon La Pepa?
All fotos taken this morning between 7:30 and 8:30 by Will Van Dorp.
San Juan Pilots see big waves while still inside the Bay.
These same huge rollers fail to discourage fishermen, but
sabalo . . . aka tarpon attract!
Midnight Coast is another short-sea shipper of containers.
That’s assist tugs Honcho and Handy-Three with tanker Freja Taurus.
Pelicans perch in trees for plume-maintenance after doing
dives like this and
adding a splash to stun prey.
Time to move back to the sixth boro, but Puerto Rico . . . I’ll be back.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp.
How did this cat gain its rotundity?
What creatures besides cats occupy waterfronts round the world?
Recognize this ovoid?
And when this vessel leaves port . . .
and heads for sea,
the cats are satisfied. Save a gato . . . .
Here‘s an article on the felines. Click here for info on “save a gato.” Scroll through to see a foto of the creature on the stern of the Disney ship. All fotos by Will Van Dorp.
tugster: a waterblog 
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