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.

Published in: on March 22, 2009 at 6:41 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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.

Published in: on March 15, 2009 at 12:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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.

Published in: on January 8, 2009 at 11:35 am  Leave a Comment  
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Kite Powered Ships?

Who would have thought that sailing ships would come back into style? I mean, isn’t that how the first ships were powered? Yes, wind and human power at the oars. However the Sky Sails company has taken sailing to a new level. They use a kite, which is actually a sort of wing, that is tethered to the ship. The kite is flown up to 300 meters above the ship, a place where the winds are stronger and more reliable. They’ve been doing some test runs and fuel savings are better than 10% when compared to normal operations and are on the way to 20% or more. That’s better than $1000 per day for a 10,000 ton ship. Mucho dinero as my Spanish speaking friends would say.

Check out this video for some good footage of the system in action: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QUyetrs3MQ0&feature=related.

Thus, there are smart people doing great things out there to protect the environment and make money at the same time. Best thing we can do is let them continue their good work unmolested.

Published in: on October 20, 2008 at 1:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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