Small Craft 31

Miller Boys . . .

Seatow’s Ralph, 

the 598,

with a work crew on and under the dock, 

Christina, 

Bobby G. Miller in the thick of it, 

 

Nicholas, 

Gaines, 

Jessica Ann, 

and Emily sidling up to Aitolos.  There are a lot of small work boats in the area, and a  lot of them are operated by Miller’s Launch.

All photos, WVD. 

 

People on the Boro 30

Spring, for a few more weeks, means it’s no longer winter.  Warmer temperatures bring mariners out, to clean glass,

to plan the docking procedure,

to flake out the lines,

to retireve the boom . . . although these boom guys have to be out all year round, as do all the crew above.

Spring temperatures just make it more pleasant to stay out,

on the way to work,

catching fresh air,

or just contemplating all the oceans this cargo vessel has already transited and will still transit in future months.

All photos recently, WVD.

 

Small Craft 29

All small craft working in January get my attention, but

this one attracted me even more because of its lines.  Is this a one-off or can someone identify the manufacturer?  An indicator of my severe case of cabin fever this year is that I’ve been looking at lots of small boat ads.  I’d really be happy to find a Grover  26 or 28. . . if anyone knows of one that’s available.  

Crewboats, like the one with the cyclopean light,  make their way among lots of other traffic in places like the KVK.

 

As you know, foreshortening compresses space in a frame . . . .

As close as this looks, it’s entirely safe.

Patricia is a small boat in this pond though

NYS Naval Militia Moose 440 patrols year around.

 

All photos, WVD, who’s serious about that Grover built search.

 

Small Craft 8

Here was 7 in the series.

ABC-1 is a harbor supply boat, restocking the larder and spare parts lockers while load shifting happens in port.  Click here to see her high and dry a few years back.

BB 163 . . . is a still used antique, up on the Canal that connects the Great Lakes with the sixth boro.  Some day, when it’s warmer, I hope to learn much more about these BBs, buoy boats.  I’ll do more on BB 163 later.   For now, I can’t look at this and NOT see the flag of Colombia or Ecuador.

Gabby has been featured here many times.

Miller Boys is a crew boat.

But really the focus here is the line boats operated by Ken’s Marine.

It might be 5 above zero or 5 below 100 F, these crews are shuttling lines from ship to shore, negotiating with crews on a vessel as well as crews on shore.

Note the ship line handler chief watching the line boat and signaling to his crew to pay out line.

Once the line boat gets to the shoreline, the shore crew takes over.  Given the ice I know is on those rocks, this is a job requiring concentration and sure-footedness as well as  strength.

Once lines are on, the line boat stands off until they get snugged.  Then there are lots more lines to get on.

“All fast” needs to be done quickly and thoroughly.  Not long after this vessel was snug, two container ships passed between Medi Osaka on this side and UACC Masafi on the other side, creating tremendous lateral pressure on all vessels, straining the lines.

But all fast is all fast.  Bravo, guys.

All Fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Back in the Sixth Boro 2

Here was the first post by this title.  I’ve been back for a few days, but it’s been hard to transition from my jaunt in Utah areas of wilderness back to the densely settled areas in and around the sixth boro of NYC.  I didn’t take the foto below of Binghamton, but her time is clearly running out.  If you notice human/mechanical demolition (as opposed to destruction by natural erosion . . . as in the desert) happening, please get in touch or  send me fotos? This was taken Friday during the rain by Allan and Sally, whose sweet vessel you’ll see later.   I did three posts early October 2011 about Binghamton, then ravaged by Hurricane Irene.

I caught this foto of Miller Boys yesterday when it seemed the winds were blowing more rain in.

Ellen McAllister was moving this “unmarked” McAllister tug (anyone recognize it?) around the yard. Info follows, thanks to Birk Thomas.  That’s Cashman’s Lynx in the background.

Also in Mariner’s Harbor, it’s Mark McAllister, not typically a sixth boro boat.

And slightly west, lined up from left to right are Barents Sea, Yankee, NaHoku, and Taurus.

Potomac stands off with Lower Manhattan in the background after an assist.

Over in North Cove, expedition yacht Copasetic costs more than twice any of the tugs appearing in this post; that bow is inspired by much larger ships.

And finally, my host vessel for a jaunt and great conversation . . .   the Lord Nelson Victory tug Sally W, operated by

Allan and Sally, who’ve kept this blog during their recent jaunt up to Ottawa.  By the way, has anyone seen Chase, the long distance padleboarder?

Binghamton fotos by Sally.  All others by Will Van Dorp.

In case you were not able (like me) to identify the tug alongside Ellen McAllister, it’s none other than Winslow C. Kelsey.