A landmark waterfront building pointed out to me on my last day in San Francisco.
At one point in its history, it housed the offices of the Coast Seamen’s Union (which eventually became the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific).
More information here: Audiffred Building San Francisco
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.
Falls of Clyde sailed from Honolulu for San Francisco.
Falls of Clyde arrived at Honolulu from San Francisco.
Falls of Clyde sailed from San Francisco for Honolulu.
When reading about Falls of Clyde’s days as an oil tanker, the name Marion Chilcott is also often mentioned. Marion Chilcott was, in fact, the first sailing ship to bring fuel oil in bulk to Honolulu. However, I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself here…
Marion Chilcott was launched as Kilbrannan on 11 November 1882. She was a three-masted, full-rigged, iron-hulled ship built by Russell and Co. (the same company that built Falls of Clyde) at Port Glasgow for Kerr, Newton and Co. of Glasgow. At a length of 248 ft., beam of 38 ft., and depth of hold of 22 ft. 9 in., she was slightly smaller than the Falls.
On the afternoon/evening of 4 February 1896, during a voyage from Callao (Peru) to Port Townsend, Washington, Kilbrannan encountered rough weather. While attempting to make the anchorage at Port Townsend, the ship ran aground at Point Wilson despite all the efforts of her crew. She was refloated 22 days later.
She was purchased, repaired, and refitted at considerable cost by the Seattle company Barneson and Chilcott. She was renamed Marion Chilcott and was allowed (by law), due to the amount of money spent on her, to be registered as an American vessel.
In 1900, Marion Chilcott was purchased by Captain William Matson and added to his fleet of vessels sailing between San Francisco and Hilo. Captain Matson had her converted to an oil carrier in 1902 (The Falls was converted in 1907).
“Fuel oil is here to stay, and within a few months there will be established by the Matson Navigation Company at Honolulu [a] thoroughly up-to-date oiling station. The American ship Marion Chilcott, which arrived yesterday with a cargo of sugar from Hilo, has been selected as the pioneer of a line of oil transports which will be employed in keeping full the oil tanks of the Honolulu depot.” — San Francisco Call, May 3, 1902, p. 10
The work was done by the Risdon Iron Works in San Francisco.
“The Risdon people have engaged to complete the transformation in ninety days after the ship is turned over to them.” — San Francisco Call, May 3, 1902, p. 10
“Her tanks were tested and passed [by Lloyd’s surveyors] after having been filled once. There was neither leak nor imperfection and the Risdon people were complimented by the inspectors on the completeness of the work. The Chilcott is provided with twelve tanks, with a total carrying capacity of nearly 18,000 barrels. She can fill or empty all her tanks in twelve hours. She has two separate sets of pumps, which can be worked simultaneously or independently. One set is worked by steam generated in the donkey boiler on deck; the other set is operated by a 21 horsepower gas engine. The ship is fitted throughout with electric lgihts [sic], and in the arrangement of her oil tanks every precaution has been taken to insure perfect ventilation and to provide ample room for any expansion.” — San Francisco Call, October 17, 1902, p. 10
Soon after this, she sailed for Honolulu.
“The fine ship Marion Chilcott, Captain Nelson, of the Matson line, arrived in port Sunday with the first cargo of fuel oil, in bulk, brought to Oahu. The vessel had a tempestuous passage of sixteen days from San Francisco. The ship is loaded very deep in the water, having 17,000 barrels of bulk oil stored in the twelve tank compartments of her hull. She was berthed at the Railway wharf and will discharge her oil into the huge tanks recently built at Iwilei.” — The Pacific Commercial Advertiser [Honolulu], November 24, 1902, p. 10
Captain Nelson was quite proud of his ship:
“‘We could have a half dozen holes in the bottom of this vessel and it would still float,’ said Captain Nelson yesterday, ‘as each compartment is a separate affair, and should one get a hole punched into it, the others would still keep the vessel seaworthy. You see we have electric lights, and no smoking is allowed on deck, although men are permitted to smoke in their quarters. There is a steel hatch over each compartment, and a small valve fitted into each from which oil gas may escape, although but little gas forms from this oil.
“‘We can pump the 17,000 barrels of oil out of this ship, by using both pumps, in sixteen hours, but by using only one pump it would take twenty-four hours. We require no stevedores, as all we have to do when we wish to discharge cargo is to get out a big hose and connect our own pipes with the pipe line on the wharf. The engineer starts his pumps and gets our cargo out in a lively manner. We are not quite a man of war, but we come pretty near to being one as everything done aboard has to be done just so, although conditions are such that we run but little danger.'” — The Pacific Commercial Advertiser [Honolulu], November 24, 1902, p. 10
Some details from the engineer regarding ballasting the ship:
“No, we don’t have to buy ballast. We do not pay any longshoremen to put the ballast into our hold, as we have no gang down below trimming ballast, for the ballast we carry trims itself. When we wish to take ballast preparatory to sailing back to the Coast we simply dump the big hose you see yonder over the side and this pump will take enough water out of your harbor to keep this vessel steady during her return trip to the Coast. We will fill four of our twelve tanks with salt water and that is sufficient ballast. This, of course, is a very inexpensive proceeding.” — The Pacific Commercial Advertiser [Honolulu], November 27, 1902, p. 10
Marion Chilcott was sold to the Associated Oil Company (along with the Falls and a few of Matson’s other vessels), and continued carrying oil from California to Hawai‘i.
“THE TWO OIL VESSELS, the Marion Chilcott and the Falls of Clyde, both left this morning from here on their way to Gaviota. As they are both headed for the same place, there will probably be somewhat of a race.” – Evening Bulletin [Honolulu], March 21, 1908, p. 2
“In the Pacific service there are two very well-known sailing ships, namely, the ‘Falls of Clyde’ and the ‘Marion Chilcott.’ About two years ago their owners—the Associated Oil Company of San Francisco—were seriously considering installing auxiliary oil-engine power. But, for some reason known only to themselves they did not do so, so the ships have remained in service without power.” — Motorship, September 1918, p. 9
Marion Chilcott and the Falls were eventually sold to G.W. McNear, Inc. in 1919. Details get a bit fuzzy after this. She apparently continued sailing as a tanker during the early 1920s until she was taken to Trinidad to be used as a barge. I haven’t been able to find any definitive references as to what finally became of her.
If anyone knows, please comment.
(I’ll continue to research.)
The last day of my vacation arrived all too soon. My flight home was early in the afternoon, so I had some time to kill.
Morning light on the Golden Gate Bridge:
A series of gull photos:
More ship spotting…
CMA CGM Centaurus:
Pichincha, which arrived the same day I did, heading out to sea:
Interesting that the US Army Corps of Engineers has boats.
John AB Dillard, Jr:
Hanjin Hamburg:
Fishing boat Mya Nicole with hopeful seagulls:
What not to eat:
Great blue heron:
Eppleton Hall:
Ferry arch at Pier 43:
Tracks leading up to the arch:
Jeremiah O’Brien:
Piles at Pier 41:
Sticker art:
Pilot boat Golden Gate:
I stopped by the Musée Méchanique. It’s a coin operated arcade full of a lot of antique machines. Fascinating, but also a bit creepy at times.
Here’s one machine with a maritime theme, which invites you to “Laugh with Jolly Jack”:
More sticker art:
Time ball at the SFMNHP Visitor Center:
I wish I could have wandered around a bit more, but it was time to say goodbye and head off to the airport.
I had intended to swing by the SUP building (having passed it while a passenger in my friend’s car) first thing in the morning to get a closer look at it. A late start and a glance at MarineTraffic.com squashed that idea.
Ooo Manoa arrival! Time to make my way back to the waterfront. (Yes, I am a sad ship geek.)
I found the solar powered MUNI bus stop shelters fascinating:
We need stuff like this here in Hawai‘i.
I got off the bus and waited for a cable car.
One going in the opposite direction from where I wanted to go:
I know. Touristy. But, hey, it’s fun!
Across the street from Hyde Street Pier:
Sadly, the Park store is no longer there in the building on the corner. I remember happily stocking up on nautical books when I visited while it was still open. It’s a shame, really.
And…there’s Manoa!
I’m so used to seeing her in Honolulu Harbor, it’s nice to see her in San Francisco Bay for a change. (It’s that perspective thing.)
I had quite a bit of time before my 1300 appointment at the Research Center, so I lingered to do more ship spotting.
APL Philippines:
USCGC Bertholf:
Sirius Voyager:
Seal (as opposed to sea lion) spotting:
On the way to get something to eat, I stopped at the Aquatic Park Bathhouse building to see if there was anything new. On the street level, some things had been moved around. There was also an exhibit on the history of the U.S. Customs Service.
The upper floor was still sadly underutilized. Apart from the radio exhibit, there was only a display of some photos related to the America’s Cup (not my cup of tea).
Some details:
After lunch, it was a short and pleasant walk over to Fort Mason, for the “work” part of my trip. I went to check out what FOC materials the NPS has. I must say the three hours I was there went by all too quickly.
One of the reference photos (not the greatest because of my shadow) I was allowed to take with the fancy phone:
Building E at the Fort Mason complex:
The stern of the brigantine Galilee in the parking lot area:
After leaving Fort Mason, I went back to Hyde Street Pier.
Crane for the work being done on the pier:
Shhhhhhhh…One of the highlights of my vacation was being allowed to go aboard Eppleton Hall or “Eppie,” as she is fondly called.
The familiar-looking details were strangely comforting.
CA Thayer (ongoing work):
Balclutha:
Another shot showing repairs (doubler plates) to the hull:
A mellow day that started off in the Potrero Point area.
Sheila Ann:
USNS Wally Schirra in the BAE dry dock:
Lihue laid up nearby:
Cranes:
Altered sign, should read “Public Shore”:
A former navy tug, Dekaury (YTB-178) between Piers 48 and 50:
Tug fenders on shore:
From there, it was over the bridge to Oakland.
Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is located amidst Oakland’s container terminals. It has an odd industrial feel, sort of like Sand Island State Park. It’s also a ship spotter’s dream.
Looking toward Potrero Point (spot the dry dock and Lihue) from the park:
Distinctive skyline:
TraPac Terminal:
Ben E. Nutter Terminal:
Oakland International Container Terminal:
NYK Atlas at the Oakland International Terminal with Matsonia just visible through the cranes at left:
The park is also a designated wildlife area.
Kildeer:
Unfortunately, there are a lot of Canada geese gathered in the park:
A lot of geese means a lot of geese poo. Ick.
Sticker art and donuts:
(If you look at the Google Maps satellite view of the area, you can see the donuts more clearly.)
From the park, it was on to the Oakland Museum of California. It is a very nice museum that consists of three main galleries: Art, History, and Natural Science.
Marine debris display and activity area:
There was a lot to see, but not enough time! Well worth visiting again.
After exploring the Sutro Baths, it was back to the city.
I was on a mission. I had promised a friend from back home that I would check out Specs, a place he used to visit when he worked for Matson. He was curious to know whether they still had the Matson flag that he had given them.
Unfortunately, when I got there, I found they were closed and wouldn’t be open until 1700. Bummer.
So what’s a girl, who loves books, to do? Head across the street to City Lights of course.
I was tempted to buy, but restrained myself because I didn’t relish the thought of trying to stuff books into my carry-on bag for the flight home (my SF friend had already given me one book).
I enjoyed reading the various signs on the walls:
I was amused by this:
(Yes, I’m easily amused.)
I left City Lights and wandered down the street toward the Transamerica Pyramid:
From there, it was a short walk to the waterfront. Starting at the Ferry Building, I headed north along Embarcadero.
Pier 7 is a public access pier, so I went out to the end to take some photos.
At Pier 3, Hornblower’s San Francisco Belle:
Picturesque, but not really my sort of thing.
On the south side of Pier 9 was one of the pilot boats, California:
Tug Baycat, pushing a barge:
While I was out on Pier 7, I came across a couple of gentlemen who were fishing. Feeling brave and sociable, I asked if they had had any luck. Unfortunately, they hadn’t caught anything yet. He asked where I was from and of course that led to questions about the hurricanes.
On the north side of Pier 9 was the pilot boat, Golden Gate:
Star Princess heading out:
In the water between Piers 15 and 17, there was this interesting NOAA buoy:
For more information about the buoy, see PMEL CO2 – Carbon Dioxide Program (It seems there are PMEL CO2 buoys here in Hawai‘i as well.)
In the same area, there were curious structures on some of the piles that seemed like elaborate anti-seagull devices:
I found out later on that they were part of an art installation.
Detail:
At Pier 17, a lovely new tug, Delta Audrey:
At Pier 33, Hawai‘i-related stuff on the windows of the take-out section of Butterfly
Hm. Looking at the menu, maybe I should have eaten there!
The obligatory shot of Coit Tower:
On to the touristy Pier 39!
The famous (+ noisy, smelly) sea lions of K dock, lounging about:
It isn’t always just peaceful slumber and bliss:
Pelicans:
Looking out over the water, I saw a stack with familiar colors and M:
It’s Moku Pahu! (Due in Kahului soon.)
It was getting late, so I hopped on a MUNI bus:
Back to Specs. It was open but I was feeling shy (probably because I was tired). So I walked in and looked around long enough to spot the Matson flag (over the bar near the door), and got a pic (not very good) of it:
Mission accomplished!
A few more images of the area, just because…
City Lights:
Garden of Eden:
On Broadway:
Notes From the Wooden and Iron World 