Retro Sixth Boro 4

OK, if old songs make for “classic rock,” then old photos of tugboats could be called classic roll or pitch, yaw, or some such.

Let’s start with one from March 2008 . . .  American Patriot over NW of Shooters Island as seen from the Port Elizabeth shoreline.  I’ve no idea why she was here and have never seen her again.

Given recycling of names, check out Dean Reinauer of June 2008 over by Gracie Mansion.

Same time period, here’s the Curtis Reinauer of that era.

Labrador Sea . . . she’s the first boat in this post that’s still around here.

Emma M. Roehrig  has changed colors twice since 2008 and has not been in the sixth boro for at least five years, maybe longer.

Great Gull still around back then.  She’s gone down to Panama.

And finally, June 2008 saw the transition from the Roehrig fleet into the K-Sea one.  Note the new name on the nearer tug although the colors were still Roehrig.  Aegean Sea had been Francis E. Roehrig.  The farther tug had been Vivian L. Roehrig, renamed Caribbean Sea under K-Sea, and now still works in the boro as Emily Ann.   Did Aegean NOT have a mast?

All photos from a decade ago by Will Van Dorp.

 

Small Tankships 2

I should rename this post “Time Warp.”  I started it in May 2008 and this morning–in response to some Facebook exchanges–resurrected it.  Maybe I will begin a series called “Time Warp,” though, and any photos no more than 20 years old–to pick an arbitrary boundary and to keep the series from becoming ancient time warp which could be its own thing– . . . any photos you wish to contribute no more than two decades old would be welcome.   Maybe I gave up on this post six years back because I had too many unanswered questions.

Anyhow, to plunge back in . . . Robert Silva and Harold Tartell provided foto of Manhasset from way back, when it sported a flying horse on its stack . . . .  I assumed this vessel was long ago scrapped.  I’m also assuming the location of this shot can be pegged by the two LNG tanks in the background.

 

Here’s another shot of the vessel (1958) (or 1952) in transition, I presume, sent along by Robert Silva.

Here’s a photo I took in 2008:  a different small tankship Mostank (1950) maneuvers close to a tanker.  I don’t know if Galahad is still in service, and

Here in Arthur Kill to resupply, I suppose,  Mostank . . . M O S being Marine Oil Service.  Mostank shows up as registered until at least a year ago.  Emma Miller now serves the sixth boro.

Here’s where the time warp impinges on this post.  Great Gull was around still six or seven or eight years ago.  Time flies.  The Gull has flown south.

Back then, John B. Caddell was still working.  Is she still intact?

Nathan E. Stewart was still in town and here moving Mary A. Whalen to the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The unique Odin still worked here, and

Weddell Sea was still known as Scott C.

 

All photos here by will Van Dorp unless otherwise attributed.

 

 

Tenders

or are they dinghys? Ventura pulls one on a painter. I guess that word might have the same origin as pendant.

 

Half Moon slings a similar inflatable on its port side, sort of like a hypalon child.

 

Tanker Great Gull has one made off to the rail under a davit.

 

Brandywine has one on a cradle.

 

and W. O. Decker seems to be in negotiation. Will Decker or won’t she?

 

All photos, Will Van Dorp.

People on the Boro

The sixth boro idea excites me, especially in summer when it has a more visible as well as dynamic population…

Above, crew of the container vessel Maersk Sealand Gateshead eastbound on KVK enjoy last minutes of views of the greater NYC before headed out, probably Europe. Not much of human species to watch or photograph during 98%+ of that trip. Stories that intrigue me here: who the crew are, what places they call home, what languages do they use, who are their loves and beloveds, what are their impressions of New York…

Four crewmen of K-Sea’s Great Gull southbound on Arthur Kill prepare to dock. Stories here: same as those above, and career paths…

Foolhardy (my sense) or intrepid lone kayaker leaves East River for confluence with Hudson and flood tide bound for New Jersey. Stories here: same as above, and what his kayak experience is, what he does when not paddling…

Crewman of barge pushed by Taurus eastbound on KVK does bow watch. Stories here: all of the above, and what things he’s seen, what goals he has…

Crew and passengers on SSSM‘s Pioneer southbound on Upper NY Bay enjoy midsummer’s sunset. Stories here: again the same, and what prompted their choice to sail for the best views in the boros…

Find the clue that the foto dates from pre-winter 06-07? It lies right between the two ferries? See below. Converging SI ferries conveying hundreds between the boros. Hundreds of reasons to take the free ferries: work, visit, dinner, movie, date, scenery, shopping…
All images by Will Van Dorp.

Dating clue: See Red Hook’s sugar mill right between the ferries. You cannot see that anymore.