Exotics 24

I’m always thrilled to see these specialized vessels in the sixth boro.  I’d seen Regulus before, but see how her deck machinery back in November 2019 was different than it is now.  Versatility is key.

That red T identifies her as a Tidewater boat, a PSV (platform supply vessel), one of hundreds of speciality vessels operated around the world.  The link in the previous sentence provides lot of information about the company, its history back to the mid-1950s, and its boats.  Most Tidewater boats have a two-word name, the second being “Tide”, eg., Desoto Tide or Ebb Tide, which launched the company in 1956.  See a photo of Ebb Tide here. 

The fact that Regulus does not indicates she came from the Gulfmark fleet, which Tidewater absorbed.

 

I’m out of my depth here, but I’d wager there’s a “moon pool” directly beneath the red tower, an opening in the hull though which subsea equipment can safely be lowered or retrieved.  Scroll through this link to see a great photo through the moon pool and into the deeps.

The A-frame on the stern can also be used to lower/retrieve instrumentation, here inside the yellow frame.

 

 

If you didn’t notice in the links above, the dimensions here are 272′ x 58′ and powered by a total of 10250 hp.

As is true of many of the “exotics” in this blog, the impending wind farm construction explains their presence here. 

As of sunrise this morning, the Jones Act Regulus has headed back to sea.

All photos, WVD. 

 

Ports of the western Columbia

For GHP&W 10, let’s gallivant over to the West Coast and look at some photos there by Glen, who moved to the Columbia watershed after a long career working on sixth boro waterways.

Let’s start out with Shaver’s Washington.  Notice anything unusual about this photo?  Answer at the end of the post.

And some more starting with Kirby’s Sirius,

Tidewater,

Shaver’s Umatilla and Foss’ Howard Olsen,

Shaver’s Deschutes,

Portland,

Vancouver,

P. J. Brix, and

and Bernert’s Diane B.

And in that first photo, Washington travels on the river any way forward she pleases.

Many thanks to Glen  for these photos.

 

Random Tugs 88

Meagan Ann, Seattle-built in 1975.  Note the glazing and  icicles.

For more info from Birk and Harold’s site, , click here.

McAllister Responder’ s name alludes to its former role as an oil-spill response vessel.

Until 2009, the Florida-built vessel was immediately distinguishable from Charles D. McAllister by her boom spool.

Tasman Sea comes out of Louisiana in 1976.

Click here to see her as Ambassador.

Magothy is a Patapsco-class 4200 hp vessel launched in 2008.

Hornbeck Tidewater equipment seems less frequent in the sixth boro these days, but last weekend I caught

Gulf Service and

Huron Service, 1979 and ’81 respectively.   Astern is the unmistakeable Atlantic Salvor, itself a former Tidewater boat.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.