Unexpected Morning Ride

A cloudy/rainy morning at the harbor.

Mare Fox at Pier 1:

Mare Fox

A bit too far away for good photos, but nice to see two ‘iwa flying around:

two iwa

Barge Hilo Bay and tugs Capt Les Easom and Salishan:

Hilo Bay and tugs

Mikioi and Pi‘ilani headed out to assist Manoa:

Mikioi and Pi‘ilani

The reality of the port side of Falls of Clyde. Spot the ‘a‘ama (Thin-shelled rock crab):

Mr A‘ama crab

Kulamanu (ex-Rella Mae) detail:

Kulamanu

The Kulamanu is another ship being forced out of the harbor.

One of the Tiger tugs now in Foss livery as Freedom:

Freedom

Manoa:

Manoa

SPM:

SPM

Admiral’s Barge still hauled out, but looking good:

Admiral's Barge

Mahalo to Paul and Captain Collins.

Variety of Ships

There was an interesting mix of ships to see at the harbor today.

Balao at Pier 1:

Balao

Matson Navigator along with Sause Bros. tugs Henry Sr. and Capt Les Easom:

Matson Navigator and Sause tugs

Interesting SWATH vessel, Susitna, on a barge on the way to the Philippines:

Susitna on barge

Chinese bulk cargo ship, Rui An Cheng:

Rui An Cheng

Rui An Cheng bow

Crew standing by:

crew standing by

Pi‘ilani working at the stern:

Pi‘ilani at the stern

Mikioi at the bow:

Mikioi at the bow

Splash! Testing the anchor:

testing anchor

Setting up rat guards:

deploying rat guards

Next job, Matson arrival. Mikioi with Mahimahi:

Mikioi Mahimahi

Mahimahi backing down the channel with assistance from Mikioi and Pi‘ilani:

Mahimahi

Hello to new and old friends from McCabe, Hamilton & Renny. Always fun talking with you guys.

Taking the Falls of Clyde Home?

Those of you who are interested in large historic sailing ships have no doubt been following what has been going on at South Street Seaport Museum. Wavertree is back from dry dock and looking splendid. (Congratulations to all involved!) Peking is being prepared for her journey back to Germany and a brighter future.

It is quite a different situation here in Hawai‘i. Time is running out for the National Historic Landmark ship, Falls of Clyde.

Lately, I have been quiet regarding the Falls of Clyde. It is not because I do not care. I have been watching and waiting to see what became of the discussions between DOT Harbors and the Friends of Falls of Clyde (FFOC). Frankly, I didn’t have much hope for the future of the ship.

I have been spending my time trying not to be angry and depressed by the whole situation and mentally preparing myself to hear bad news.

Will she be:

• Towed out and scuttled in international waters?
• Sold and broken up for scrap?
• Sunk as an artificial reef or dive site?

Nothing but sad thoughts. Until today. Today brought a glimmer of hope.

Is it possible that there is enough interest in Scotland to bring the Falls back home to the Clyde, should the FFOC’s efforts fail?

A campaign has been started to explore the possibilities, while still supporting the mission of the FFOC. The following is a Facebook post from David O’Neill, who is spearheading the effort:

This is a Glasgow and Clyde Heritage related post, I am looking for volunteers who have an interest in the Clyde Shipbuilding History, who may have skills in P.R., Media and fund raising or crowdfunding. This is a campaign to bring back and restore a Port Glasgow built ship Falls of Clyde. Built at Russell shipyard, now Ferguson Marine.

The ship is currently in Hawaii and was a museum ship up until about 8 years ago, now under threat of being sunk as an artificial reef.

Hollywood actor and Scot, Mr Brian Cox of Bourne Identity, Troy and Planet of the Apes has agreed to be our patron so hopefully this will boost the campaign.

Glasgow Nautical College are also on board and can play a part in her restoration.

Clyde Maritime Trust are also offering help to save this 138 year old ship

We will shortly be launching a crowd funding campaign, so please consider playing a part in this effort, if we succeed the plan is to rebuild her and put her back to work, as a Fairtrade Transport Vessel, Sail powered, carbon free.

Another aim is to include Community Groups and Secondary Schools across Scotland, who can send kids aboard on trips for life changing journeys to fly the flag for Scotland and Glasgows Shipbuilding Heritage.

Please share to all groups and friends you know, this will be a tough challenge, but will be worth it.

I am happy to share David’s message. I spoke with him at length on the phone this afternoon. He is walking into this with eyes wide open. He knows it will be a hard road. I fully support his efforts. I like his energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to explore all channels necessary.

While I would be sad to see the Falls leave Hawai‘i, to have her return to Scotland would be pono, since the state does not seem to care about supporting her as an important part of local maritime history.

There is hope.

Lucky

Things were looking really scary for a while with hurricanes Madeline and Lester headed for Hawai‘i. Fortunately, Madeline turned to the south and Lester to the north of the islands. Whew!

Due to the hurricane threat, there was no harbor traffic in the morning, but things picked up in the afternoon after it became clear Lester was moving away from O‘ahu.

Kinei Maru No. 83 arriving at Pier 9:

Kinei Maru No

Crew handling mooring lines at the bow:

mooring lines

Tug Hawaii and barge Capella with Pi‘ilani assisting:

Hawaii and Piilani with barge

Tanker Ross Sea heading to the offshore anchorage:

Ross Sea

Ross Sea bow

Ross Sea draft marks:

Ross Sea draft marks

View from offshore:

view from offshore

Back in the harbor with another tanker, St. Joseph:

St Joseph Mikioi

Mikioi at the bow:

Mikioi St Joseph

Pi‘ilani:

Piilani St Joseph

St. Joseph tying up at Pier 51:

St Joseph at pier

Salishan with Matson barge Mauna Loa:

Salishan with Mauna Loa

Job done. Mikioi headed back.

Mikioi job done

Mahalo to Captains Enos, Hopkins, and Demuth. Special thanks to Paul.

Harbor Sunset

After spending most of the weekend in front of my computer, I took a few hours off to get some fresh air.

Poor Falls of Clyde…in limbo. So very depressing. Impounded by the state but still owned by the Friends of Falls of Clyde. I guess the powers that be don’t mind that their names will go down in maritime history as the “bad guys.”

Falls of Clyde

Too bad that it’s only money that talks. History’s voice is silenced by greed.

One bright spot in all of this is that I’ve made some new friends. People who understand and care about the fate of ships like FOC.

Maunawili and tug Hoku Ke‘a:

Maunawili and Hoku Ke‘a

Horizon Reliance assisted by Mikioi and Pi‘ilani:

Horizon Reliance

Mana‘o approaching Pier 9 to pick up some folks:

Mana‘o

Horizon Reliance‘s distinctive stern:

Horizon Reliance stern

Pi‘ilani:

sunset Pi‘ilani

Sign the Petition…

Help stop the State of Hawai‘i from evicting the National Historic Landmark ship Falls of Clyde from Honolulu Harbor. This ship is the only one of her kind in left in the world.

The following link will take you to the petition:
Save the Falls of Clyde

In addition, you can help by contacting your local politicians, news outlets, sharing on social media…spread the word!

***

For me, this is déjà vu, in a bad way. Much more painful than in 2008. Sigh.

More Sun and Water

I took the day off. Much needed rest and a visit to the harbor again.

Jean Anne arriving:

Jean Anne

Kaiyo Maru was getting ready to leave Pier 9.

Captains Enos and Hopkins along with the ship’s captain:

Capts Enos and Hopkins Kaiyo Maru

Kaiyo Maru crew with fender:

Kaiyo Maru crew with fender

Bye bye!

Kaiyo Maru leaving Pier 9

JD Pringle arrived towing something:

JD Pringle towing something

Very Much Appreciated!

After a few rough weeks, it was wonderful to be allowed to tag along with Captain Enos on the Horizon Reliance job. There is nothing like being out on the water.

On board Honolulu:

Capt Enos on Honolulu

Horizon Reliance:

Horizon Reliance

I love the lines of these old LASH ships!

Pi‘ilani:

sunset Piilani

Mikioi:

Mikioi

P & R boats in the harbor:

P&R boats

Horizon Reliance turning in the basin:

Horizon Reliance turning basin

The Admiral’s Barge (from Pearl Harbor) hauled out on PSI’s dry dock:

Admiral's Barge hauled out

Had a rough week too?

long day

Thanks to Captain Ed Enos and Paul. Feel much better.

Aloha BE Esmeralda

I went to the harbor to watch the departure of Esmeralda.

New Foss tug in town, Pacific Escort:

Pacific Escort

For those of you who care about such things, she has a Voith-Schneider propeller system.

Headed over to Esmeralda on board Mikioi:

Esmeralda from Mikioi

Crew with safety harnesses on:

crew in safety harnesses

A different view of the condor figurehead:

condor figurehead

Just off Pier 7 with pilot boat Kawika:

Esmeralda off Pier 7

Turned around and headed out of the harbor:

Mikioi along side

Esmeralda

Headed back to Pier 21:

back to the pier

Captain Ross Bright:

Captain Bright

Spotted on the pier near the fishing boats, cute kittens playing among some old line:

pier kittens

Mahalo to Michael MacDonald, Rick Wilson, and Whit Olson. Special thanks to Captain Ross Bright and Ryan Cabral.