freighter up close - too close

Comment

Comment by Ocean Girl on January 28, 2010 at 11:18am

Sorry I have been away so long and just saw these great comments.
Cliff, That is great so cool that they helped you guys. What goes around comes around. The coast guard helped me out one delivery. It was kinda the same situation - delivery, water tank leaked, but we also had contaminated bottled water. I was counting what water we could salvage when a big fat navy ship comes steaming right up to our beam and announces "prepare to be boarded". As they scoured the vessel looking for drugs and illegals I asked if we could bum some water? Why sure they say. And some bread please? But of course they say. And even a little ice cream??? Sorry miss, ice cream machine is broken. Life is so tough:) As it tuned out we were still a week to 8 days from land at that point (if I remember correctly) so thank God they came when they did.

Comment by Cliff on January 23, 2010 at 7:36pm

During a trans-Atlantic delivery and three days out of Horta our fresh water tanks developed a leak during a F7-9 storm that contaminated our drinking water. We had plenty of bottled water so elected to continue on. Two days out of the Chesapeake we break out our last two liter bottle for three guys. I'm on watch thinking of our canned vegetables, etc that we could use as alternate sources of water when I spot a container ship coming up behind us. Contacting them via VHF we explain our problem. They reply "Sorry it's against company policy to stop and we're at full sea speed". We reply "No worries, we're sure we'll see someone soon". With the ship now well ahead of us we suddenly hear "Oh Hell!", "We can't leave you boys out here like this". At that point the ship turns to starboard, then continues turning eventually heading right at us. Moments later they come to a stop several hundred yards away. We throw out fenders and pull along side. With one hand on their hull I look up, and up, and up to see the entire crew on the rail then a trash can with two cases of bottle water and a case of UHT milk come over the side and lowered to us. Of course we thank them profusely and pull away. Moments later they're on their way and soon out of sight. They sure saved out bacon from a couple thirsty, uncomfortable days!

Comment by Jozua Hattingh on January 23, 2010 at 4:58pm

Wow, did not know that there are mountains on the sea:-)

Comment by Terri on May 26, 2009 at 6:45pm

Yes indeed! Don't think I'd ever be able to sleep...think they usually all are sleeping on the tanker! They do move very fast! Faster than us unfortunately.

Comment by Ocean Girl on May 26, 2009 at 6:11pm

He came up so fast and crossed my bow, Iuckly I did'nt have to alter course:)

I think a lot of collisions happen because the watch forgets to look all the way 360 degress, a ship can cross horizon to horizon in what? 5-8 minutes?

I have had two "near collision" one was with a tanker such as this one, I was in a 37 ft almond pilothouse cutter, at night. He came up from the stern in high seas. I was down below sleeping and woke up when we changed course, he never saw us or changed course.

Comment by mike bowman on May 26, 2009 at 10:27am

Makes the hair on your neck stand up! Don't they know to stay away from us?