Relaxing Saturday

It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a nice, carefree Saturday. Usually, there’s something I need to attend to or think about. It was great walking around, enjoying the sun and decent trades.

I spent most of the morning and early afternoon at the harbor (where else).

Westerdam was at Pier 10/11. Rat guards:

Hoku Ke‘a arrived with a barge (not pictured):

Torm Kansas:

If you are not sure what company the ship belongs to:

Mamo:

More cars! Pacific Highway:

Part of ramp and some crew members:

Bunker barge Ne‘ena being moved from Westerdam over to Pride of America by Namahoe:

American Contender hauling a barge…

…full of stuff (gravel, rocks, and machinery)

Namahoe all pau until it’s time to move Ne‘ena again:

Salishan with Matson crane barge Mauna Loa:

Before I left the Aloha Tower area, I walked over to Pier 7 to check on things. The state has posted guards to keep people off the pier since it impounded Falls of Clyde, so not able to get too close.

Kulamanu (ex-Rella Mae), another one of the ships being pressured to leave the harbor by the state. Portholes and viewing windows being boarded up with plywood. Hum of engine (or generator).

Said hello to my old friend. A zebra dove sitting in the top band of the bowsprit cap:

It’s all very sad.

Waiting for the Dawn and an Ending

Thanks to a heads up from Captain Ed Enos, I was able to make it down to the harbor to catch the final journey of Pacific Shipyards International’s (PSI) dry dock Kāpilipono.

In “better” days:

Resting on the bottom after she sank last year:

I arrived at the harbor while it was still dark.

Japanese training ships Tosakaien Maru and Hokuho Maru at Pier 9:

The cruise ships usually arrive early in the morning. Here’s Ruby Princess:

Not the greatest photo, but here comes the sun (and I say it’s all right):

Tying up Ruby Princess at Pier 10/11:

Clear and calm water (Tosakaien Maru bow):

Fellow photographer on board Ruby Princess:

View down the channel:

After a bit of a wait, Kāpilipono appeared, towed by Manuokekai and assisted by Mamo and Mikioi.

Passing the Matson gantry cranes:

The tugs were joined by Hoku Loa before passing Aloha Tower. At this point I was very lucky to be invited to hop on the pilot boat.

The Coast Guard making sure everything is all right:

Mikioi on the port side:

Captain Enos up on the dry dock wall:

Leaving the harbor with Ruby Princess and Aloha Tower in the background:

Manuokekai ahead:

Hoku Loa astern:

One could not have asked for a better day. Sunny, clear, and calm.

Aloha, Kāpilipono:

She was towed 12 miles offshore and scuttled.

Meanwhile, life continued on in the harbor.

Miyagi Maru, waiting offshore while Kāpilipono was being towed out, was finally able to enter the harbor:

Kwai at the pier, almost ready to leave with a load of cargo:

Containers being unloaded from Matson’s Haleakala:

Ocean Pathfinder arrived with a barge:

Ice for the fishing boats:

Literally, a cool job.

Moving containers:

Mahalo to Captain Enos, Captain Collins, and Paul.

Way Behind

It’s been a busy month. I have stuff to post but haven’t had the chance to do so. I’ll try to catch up.

This past week was a long one. I had to work yesterday and today (Sunday) too. I wasn’t sure if I would have time to make it down to the harbor, but I managed to get there. It was a welcome mental break.

P&O ship, Aurora:

Is this your truck?

Maunawili turning:

Bow detail:

No smoking:

Walking back into town, I spotted this beaver weather vane:

It was a rather curious thing to see.

Interesting pattern on a palm tree trunk reminded me of a zebra:

Divine Ace and Noordam

Divine Ace a little ahead of schedule. I made it just in time to get some shots before she left the harbor.

Noordam heaving line stuck:

Rat guards:

Crew member adjusting rat guards:

Noordam bow:

A group of crocodile needlefish hanging around:

Grand Princess Departure

Mahalo to Captain Collins and Paul!

Rat Guards and Detail from the Past

The rat guard obsession continues…

Old APL eagle:

San Francisco Ship Spotting – Afternoon into Evening

Continued from the previous post.

The new cruise ship terminal at Pier 27:

It wasn’t open open when I visited the city last year.

Upper floor of the Aquatic Park Bathhouse:

Work still being done.

Due to lack of time, I didn’t get to spend time on board Balclutha (sad 😦 ). Still, at least I got a glimpse of the ships at Hyde Street Pier.

Eppie!

YM Modesty:

YM Unison:

My first decent cormorant shot! Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax azurites):

Interesting blue-green eyes.

View across the water to Sausalito:

Hornblower’s San Francisco Belle:

A bunch of pelicans on the wing:

Veteran at Pier 17:

From what I gather, this tug was formerly Delta Audrey (seen last year).

Part of the Exploratorium, a container set up to produce sound, a work entitled Bosun’s Bass:

(Unfortunately it wasn’t working at the time.)

People out for an evening stroll along Pier 7:

Black-crowned night heron:

Inside the Ferry Building:

Ferry Building with lights, looking back on the way to catch the bus:

A long, but good, day.

Various Things – Small and Large

While waiting for Legend of the Seas to leave, I was looking at the rocks around where I was sitting (that’s the closest I got to the beach today).

Found a sea urchin test:

Lots of pipipi:

I’m not a big fan of modern cruise ships, but variety is good.

Legend of the Seas:

Unusual to see a fishing boat with a sailboat rig. Ka Imi Kai:

Old workhorse, Matsonia:

Another old workhorse, Horizon Consumer:

Pasha Hawaii containers at Young Brothers pier:

Beautiful Day

It was such a lovely day that any thoughts of going to the office vanished once I stepped out of the house.

Manuokekai:

Foss tugs were helping out with fuel barges today.

Mikioi with Ne‘ena before the the barge was towed out of the harbor by Namahoe (hidden behind the barge):

Mamo with Alaska Mariner and barge Capella moving to Pier 1:

Nice to see Eleu!

Splendid Ace:

(Check out the difference in size between Eleu and Mikioi)

Splendid Ace crew:

Alaska Mariner is a smart-looking tug:

Manukai:

I posted a picture of Fortuna a little while back. Here’s another one:

I’ve been keeping an eye on her. Maybe the State should as well? It would be pretty pathetic if she ends up like Judy K.

The waterfront mix of the day:

(Matson barge Haleakala, Alaska Mariner, Grand Princess)

Plans Go Awry

Despite a forecast of nasty weather (rain, strong wind), I decided to go to the harbor to catch the arrival of the tanker Valrossa.

While waiting, I wandered along Pier 9.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth was at Pier 10/11.

Spray from the swells beating against her stern:

Mat protecting the hull of Hokuho Maru:

Hoku Ke‘a:

Honolulu taking the pilot out to Valrossa:

I watched Falls of Clyde rolling at her berth at Pier 7.

Port side of the ship:

Sigh. Poor girl.

Large swell hitting the wall at the end of Pier 7:

Valrossa was approaching the harbor, when I heard a loud “bang” from FOC. Oh-oh. That didn’t sound good. I hurried over to the ship.

Oh great. Problem with the gangway. Again.

Although I haven’t had much to do with the ship (by choice) since I resigned from the organization, I notified the board members and waited until one of them showed up. I could have left then, but I stayed to help.* So much for photos of Valrossa.

The weather improved over the course of the afternoon. I was pleased to get some nice shots of Queen Elizabeth as she left the harbor.

Mikioi assisting:

Blocky stern!

The Star of Honolulu and Navatek I were floating around in the harbor. I assume this was because it was too rough for them to do their normal off-shore dinner cruises?

Star of Honolulu:

With Queen Elizabeth gone, Hokuho Maru was preparing to shift to Pier 10.

Getting ready to remove gangway:

Fender:

Pulling away from Pier 9:

*Big mahalo to Rick Wilson and the crew of Pi‘ilani (Captain Jeff Page, Chris Vincent, and Bruno Fonoti-Ulufale) for answering the call. You guys are awesome!