12 Tugboats b

As tugster continues its CYPHER series,  this is the 3633nd post, and almost 2.1 million hits.  Thanks for staying with me.

On the other hand, if I were selling calendars, the number 12 would be significant.    So for the next few days, let me offer some diverse dozens chosen quite subjectively, although what the photos have in common–besides subject–is that I like them.

Here’s a November 2016 photo along the Gowanus under the BQE.  This tug looks good in blue, but I’ll never forget her in orange.

Here’s a November 2015 when the upper deck of Bayonne had yet to be assembled, and the lower disassembled.  Amy C last appeared here as she nudged Empire State into her Fort Schuyler dock.

Here’s 2014.  She’s recently worked in the Keys.

Here’s ’13.  Where is Houma today?

’12.  Ellen‘s a regular on this blog.

’11.  Tasman has been doing this work since 1976!

’10.  Is ex-Little Bear in Erie along with Bear?

’09.  She now makes her way around the lower Caribbean .  . . and currently anchored in Trinidad.

’08.  And I’m adding another photo right after Linda (launched in ’08) of

Scott Turecamo (below) launched in 1998 but radically retrofitted in 2005, originally quite similar to Greenland Sea, here see the photos by Robert J. Smith.  How many of these ATBs does Moran now operate?  .

’07.  This was the only time I ever saw Penobscot.  Anyone know where foreign she went?

’06.  Note the size of the yard workers around the wheels on Ralph E. Bouchard.

Again, some of these photos show what has changed in the sixth boro, spawning ground for this blog.

All photos by Will Van Dorp.

 

Bouchard

Yup . . . close up of a stack;  nope . . . this isn’t only about stacks although I do think Evening Tide has a classy one.

In the foreground here, barge Evening Breeze rides alongside Morton S Bouchard II.  Serious question:  what does Evening Breeze sometimes referred to a “vacuum vessel” transport, what services does it perform?

Barbara E. Bouchard, long, low, and sleek.  For scale, notice the crewman alongside the house just forward of the winch.

Jane A. Bouchard with Amy C. McAllister background left and New Jersey Responder, background right.  New Jersey Responder is MSRC equipment based in Perth Amboy.

Bouchard Girls . . . haven’t noticed it around in a bit.

Ralph E. Bouchard.

Frederick E.

And once again, different day, Evening Breeze this time escorted by Evening Mist.

Before you check the answers here, can you guess which Bouchard tug has lowest and highest horsepower rating of those depicted?  The highest rating of the fleet goes to Danielle M. , depicted here last winter.

All fotos . . . Will Van Dorp.

For a reminder on the hazards of the trade, see this blogpost about the 2003 explosion.

Assists 2

Along came Vera K, as pretty as a painted tug on a painted ocean, to take Coleridge‘s line–“idle as a painted ship . . .”  totally out of context.  Idle Vera K . . .

is NOT!  Rather she’s quite busy assisting Ralph E. Bouchard move B. No. 230 into

a berth over at IMTT, assisting herself right out of the picture, at least from my point of view.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Random Ships 10

Ralph E. Bouchard and B. No. 230 move in the direction of Explorer of the Seas.  Not apparent from this foto . . . Explorer was at that moment reversing its way into the the Bayonne passenger terminal, backing into a parking spot if you will.

Compliments of Bernie Ente of Working Harbor Committee, Hoegh Africa moves seaward through the KVK, overtaken by  . . .  she who’s been alleged as my “crush-du-jour,” Emma Miller.  Well, Alice has spurned me for just so long,  that part of me that always seeks “my other half” has decided that 700′ loa bulk carriers like Alice might just not be my long-lost other half.  Maybe Emma is more my type.

To get serious, Bernie has some fantastic “hidden harbor tours” planned, including four sunset tours and –what I get most excited about– a circumnavigation of Staten Island.  Click here to reserve your spot(s) while they last.

Nathan E. Stewart emerges from behind New River, an American-built tanker from Avondale Industries, 1997.

Emma again?   Nope.  It’s her sister Sunny Williams passing Histria Tiger, Romanian, proving that not all blues are created equal.  I’m partial to the lube tanker’s blue.  To digress into thoughts of love, I’ve never had a crush on someone with an identical twin.  I wonder how that would work.  Here, I feel something for Emma different from Sunny.  Hmm?   Such strange wiring I must have in me.

Parting shot . . . stern of Chemical Pioneer, a very unusual ship to bear New York as its port of registry, escorted to sea by Rosemary McAllister, who arrived in the sixth boro almost a year ago.

All shots, except Bernie’s, taken today by  . . . Will Van Dorp.

Unrelated:  Henry’s logpage is up although the watercolors keep getting washed away by the stormy north Sea.