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.”

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:

Horizon Reliance assisted by Mikioi and Pi‘ilani:

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

Horizon Reliance‘s distinctive stern:

Pi‘ilani:

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:

Horizon Reliance:

I love the lines of these old LASH ships!

Pi‘ilani:

Mikioi:

P & R boats in the harbor:

Horizon Reliance turning in the basin:

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

Had a rough week too?

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

Arrivals In the Harbor

While it’s interesting to see new or different ships, it’s always good to see “old friends.”

Just arrived, Maunawili:

Waiting for the pilot:

Horizon Reliance passing by, headed to her pier:

Waiting for the pilot again:

Maunawili and cranes silhouetted against the sky:

Mahalo to Captains Collins and Demuth. Special thanks to Paul.

Monday Off

Day Off = Go to Harbor

Horizon Spirit (my first of her with her Pasha Hawaii paint job, I think):

Looks like Nico’s is doing well:

Marsupial & Extinct Bird? 😉 Wonder if tourists from Australia and New Zealand scratch their heads?

Grain storage detail:

Boom texture:

Maunawili:

BBC Amisia departure delayed. I was rather disappointed I couldn’t get a good photo due to the fuel barge.

Nohea:

Nene, which I consider a “cute” tug (along with Noke):

San Francisco Ship Spotting – Morning

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit San Francisco for a few days for work.

On Thursday, I was supposed to meet my co-worker at 1000 at the Exploratorium. Waking up super early, I was able to squeeze in a bit of ship spotting to start off the day.

First stop was the old Matson Building on Market Street.

Nautical motif:

I walked over to the Ferry Building and boarded the ferry to Alameda.

I had noted (via the MarineTraffic app) that Lihue would be arriving and I was hoping to see her at the Matson terminal.

As the ferry pulled away from the pier, I could see Lihue approaching the Bay Bridge.

Talk about good timing! (Yeah, I’m a nut. I hope no one saw the mad grin on my face.)

Looking back at the city:

Royal Melbourne pushing tank barge Bernie Briere:

Oakland gantry cranes:

Passing Kauai at the Matson terminal:

It was great to finally see HMB-1, now owned by Bay Ship, at Alameda:

Sigh. What could have been…

Schnitzer Steel facility:

More old friends, Matsonia and Moku Pahu:

Commuters on board, it was time to head back to San Francisco.

Here’s Lihue!

She had some problems related to her engines back in Honolulu, which delayed her departure. Glad she made it to the Bay Area safely.

(She’s currently back in Honolulu. 🙂 )

Sandra Hugh (same class as Pi‘ilani?) assisting:

Goodbye Oakland:

I saw a dolphin and tried to get a photo, but it didn’t turn out (can only see the top of its dorsal fin).

Passing under the Bay Bridge:

Back on land, a view of the Ferry Building:

At anchor:

Pilot boat San Francisco heading out:

Posing seagull:

More to come…

A Variety of Ships Today

More cars. Opal Ace:

Cool to see Lihue in service. She’s been laid up in the San Francisco area for the past few years:

Leaving the harbor with Maui waiting off shore:

(Puff! Still having a bit of a problem there.)

Tacoma Trader:

Tira Lani:

Mahalo to Captain Demuth. Special thanks to Paul.

Form and Function

I often wondered about the reason for the odd sterns of a couple of the Horizon container ships.

Horizon Reliance:

Horizon Spirit:

The ships also share another design detail. They have two separate stacks—one located on the starboard side of the hull and the other on the port side.

I finally got around to asking a naval architect friend about them and found out that the ships were originally built as barge (or LASH) carriers.

Matson also has had former barge carriers as part of its fleet: Chief Gadao (ex-Golden Bear) and Ewa

Lihue:

Lihue laid up in San Francisco:

Compare the above photos of Lihue from 2012 to this one taken early on in her history before she was converted to a container ship: Thomas E. Cuffe