Saturday, October 3, 2009

Turning Ships

Crown Ruby container ship, LivornoManeuvering ships is not easy and maneuvering them inside a confined space is an art. The show begins with the pilot's boat and a pair of tugs approaching the ship.Crown Ruby container ship, LivornoShips usually turn just inside the port, in the large basin protected by the “Diga Curvilinea” (curved sea wall), better known as “Molo Novo” (New Quay).
Crown Ruby container ship, LivornoThe “Crown Ruby” with her 152 meters isn't a match for this space, where ships twice her length can turn quite easily.Crown Ruby container ship, LivornoModern ships and ferries can do this on their own because of additional thrusters, a kind of side propellers, which make docking easier. But the dance of the tug boats is more spectacular...

Search labels: tug

23 comments:

stromsjo said...

Somewhat humiliating for such a proud ship, isn't it?

Great slow dance though. Let's just hope they don't start raving anytime soon!

Martha Z said...

An interesting series, looks like it would be fun to watch.

brattcat said...

That is a very 'Cool' ship.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Very interesting catures! Fun to look and think about. I just read The Wheels of Darkness, where turning a big ship is pivotal to the story.

Kcalpesh said...

This is cool! I love these pictures. They kinda give me a lesson about picturing moving boats and water sports which I'm soon going to try out!

- Pixellicious Photos

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

A wonderful series. There is something about watching boats and ships glide across the water that is mesmerizing.

I loved your photo yesterday replicating the scene of the old postcard. I like to buy paintings and when I travel and take photos of the same scenes.

Tash said...

You get a "SUPERCool" for such great photos of the action.

tapirgal said...

I love this series! Our river is so big, I've never seen this dance. It's interesting that the modern ships can turn on their own. This is a whole new ballet for me. Nice, nice, nice!!!

tapirgal said...

I must be sleepy. Of course, the big ships don't turn here anyway. I wonder if they do anything like this in Portland. I'll be thinking of it next time I go there.

James said...

When I was in the Navy my ship was over 900 feet long and I remember some really wide turns. You really got some nice shots!

Gunn said...

Nice action shots!

Cezar and Léia said...

Very interesting post. It has a lot to do with my previous work...
God bless you!
Cezar

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Beautiful series of lovely photos !! Ships are simply lovely !!Unseen Rajasthan

cieldequimper said...

I could spend hours watching these ballets.

Hilda said...

"the dance of the tugboats" — I love how you put it! Now I wish I could watch too…

Thank you so much for your visits and expressions of concern, Mr Poet. They really meant a lot to me. It's been a terrible week for the entire Pacific region and I pray that all the countries that experienced the horrible typhoons, earthquake and tsunami are able to recover soon.

Lowell said...

I love these photos; the colors, the water, the sky, and especially the boats.

Tugs are very important to any well-functioning port and I enjoy watching them work, also.

Beautiful scenes here, VP! Grazie!

B SQUARED said...

Always fun to watch the tugs at work.

Unknown said...

What an interesting sequence!

Ilse said...

You seem to know so much about boats. And particularly these big ships & merchant vessels which you photograph.

tapirgal said...

Maybe you should link your good Theme Day reflection photo to James's new meme so we could see it again and it would help him kick off the project :) I wouldn't complain.

VP said...

@ Mary Stebbins Taitt - I'm looking for it now, it must be an interesting thriller. Thanks for the suggestion.
@ James - Now I'm curious, not many ships this long, may I know the name?
@ Ilse - It's a long story, the port is a sort of quiet and ordered spot in a chaotic city, a refuge of sort.
@ tapirgal - I did it, I hope it is correct...

joo said...

I love this post!!!!

Tinsie said...

The dance of the tug boats - I love this expression (and the photos are pretty good too).