Rising to the Challenge

In keeping with the theme of WHAT CAN BE DONE, take a look at this photo:

The man in the foreground is working on a submarine at the Electric Boat Works in Connecticut during World War II. Here are some statistics that should perk you up: During the Second World War, American workers built 5,777 merchant ships, 1,556 naval vessels, and 299,293 aircraft. This was accomplished without computers, without cellphones, and by people who for the most part had not finished high school.

Thus, it’s time to rise to the challenge, get to work, and quit complaining if we’re ever to live up to the accomplishments of previous generations.

Marine Photography

While doing some more research for MacMillan Judge, Privateer, I came across Michael J. Berman’s website. He has some brilliant photographs of sailing ships there to be seen. Here is a link http://www.michaelbermanphotography.com/fineArtDyn.php?ID=49. It is very difficult to take pictures in the marine environment, let alone of sailing ships. The weather, the vessels, and any number of other factors can conspire against you. However, I’m impressed with Mr. Berman’s work, especially the black and white images.

Among them, you’ll find one of the Pride of Baltimore II. This is a topsail schooner, much like the one MacMillan Judge finds laid up in Spain. Judge buys it from a Spanish nobleman named Don Francisco. After some refit and repair, he and the crew rename her Fletcher. No need to tell you any more, you’ll have to read the book.

Please check out Mr. Berman’s site. You won’t be disappointed.

Careful Approach, video

The cruise ship Statendam is seen approaching Oranjestaad, Aruba. You’ll see a tugboat standing by, then disappear behind the leaward side of the ship. Take a look.

The wind almost always comes from the east in Aruba. Thus the tugboat has moved to the opposite side of the ship. Plus, it will need to be on that side to help the ship to the dock. Most modern cruise ships have an array of bow thrusters, steerable pods, and other devices that enable them to dock with very little help from the tugs. Still, it makes sense to have one handy in case of a failure of man or machine.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Leading the Way

Pilot boats have the tricky job of showing larger vessels a safe route to port. Here in Aruba, pilot boats are used to guide tankers to the terminals in San Nicolaas. I made this short video from the front window of my little house here in Savaneta, Aruba, DWI.

As you can see, the ship towers over the pilot boat. The captain of the smaller vessels has to be careful not to be run over by the larger. That happened here in Aruba a couple of years ago, in the harbor at Oranjestaad. One of the biggest problems is that the ship can’t stop on a dime or even a quarter. Usually there are a few tugs helping to guide the ship through the channel and to the dock. I hope to post a video of them working soon.

If you read my novel, An Island Away, this is the type of work that Captain Beck was doing while here in Aruba.

Bon dia from Aruba.