New port

[John Arton]

A couple of times when swinging in narrow rivers/canals I've stuck the bow into the bank and swung the ship that way. Did it once in the MSC and got done for knocking two bricks out of the coping around the brickwork of the pier at Carrington.
Mind you if yo do carry out this manoeuvre you have to be careful to do it in the correct area, unlike the case a number of years ago where a small Dutch coaster was swinging round (using the bank as an anchor) in one of the tidal rivers in East Anglia. It was normal practice to run the bow into the bank at a specific point where the river widened slightly to give enough room. Unfortunately the captain (no pilot) got it wrong by about 10 metres too far up river. The result was that he got stuck at right angles across the river on a falling tide. The stern took the bottom with the bow stuck up the bank and the ship broke her back. Bit worse than a couple of bricks knocked out of the pier.
rgds
JA

[Captain Kong]

That happened in Fleetwood about five years ago with a Spanish Trawler, bow and stern stuck fast on either side of the channel . the tide went out, I was watching from my bedroom window and suddenly a BIG CRACK and BANG. the house shook. and she broke, it had 600 tons of fish on board.
The men of Fleetwood Cheered as she went. They were not allowed to Fish but the euros could.
It was towed round the bend out of the channel and left on the beach. I went to get some things off her, , like a binnacle or anything. I was beaten to it. she was stripped. all I got was a Stainless steel snatch block which I have shackled to an anchor in my garden.
Good entertainment watching.
Brian

[j.sabourn]

#12 The turning point on the Yarm was just down from the Town Quays. Fortuanetley it was between 2 stone quays one on each bank. 9.999 times out of 10 all manouvering on a supply type ship is done from the after controls on the Bridge. You have full sight of the after deck and just have to imagine another 40 feet of ship behind you, and put the stern roller as close to the quay as possible knowing in which case you will have the same clearance hopefully on the bow. Having twin screws and a bow thruster was a huge advantage also twin rudders if didnt have would have had to use tugs to get around was that tight. Of course the current in the river is very irregular and can be running in different parts in different directions at times. Your trawler being caught out like that Brian must have been his unlucky day as had probably done the same manoeuvre many times before, no easy feat on a single screw vessel. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Maybe at times the pilot has a lot to answer for. Remember when the Windsor hot the quay in Las Palmas. he skipper was determined to blame the pilot for the hit.

[domitchem]

Really interesting to know about the new port!