mv African Rook - 14th May 2016

I joined this 12 month old ship in Geelong. She is Indian-crewed, very clean and well maintained and has delicious food! We sailed at 1630h and I disembarked with the pilot outside the heads at 2100h. A lovely sunny and mild Saturday afternoon to be on the bay.

Tugs making fast.

 

Lifting off the berth - the ship's Captain (L) and the Port Phillip Sea Pilot - Captain Ronnie Jones (R).

 

Oil tankers at the Shell Refinery.

The tugs heading back into Geelong.

Other shipping at Corio Quay.

Sunset in the Geelong channel.

mv CMA CGM Jade - 31st March 2016

I boarded CMA CGM Jade at Swanson Dock, Melbourne on 30th. March to prepare for a compass adjustment on departure the next morning. I stayed on board in a spare cabin until the ship sailed at 0400 and disembarked with the pilot off Queenscliff at 0830.

CMA CGM Jade at 3 West Swanson Dock on 30/3

Other ships at Swanson Dock.

Tasty Burmese food on board

mv ICS Allegience - 14th March 2016

I joined the bunker ship ICS Allegiance at 0600 on March 14th at her berth at 33 South Wharf in order to perform a magnetic compass adjustment after she finished refuelling Diamond Princess (one of my favourite ships) at Station Pier. It was a very interesting day watching the operation from on board the bunker ship.

Approaching Diamond Princess at Outer West Station Pier.

(L-R) The First Mate,Michael Carswell, the ship's Master, Captain Daniel Gadd and the attending Port Phillip Sea Pilot, Captain David Porrett.

Bunkering underway.

The captain manoeuvring the ship so the deck crew can release the mooring lines.

Containership Maersk Garonne sailed from Swanson Dock while I was performing the compass adjustment off Appleton Dock.

Berthing back at 33 South Wharf.

mv Hammonia Antofagusta - 2nd December 2015

On 2nd December I joined mv Hammonia Antofagasta at Swanson Dock for a compass adjustment in the bay, disembarking with the pilot at 1845h outside the heads.

mv Hammonia Antofagasta outside the heads on 2/12/15. (photo Graham Flett)

HS Shackleton, another ship I adjusted sailing from Swanson Dock.

Maersk Olaf sailing from Swanson Dock.

Other ships at Swanson and Appleston Docks.

The ship's Master (L) at the controls and the Port Phillip Sea Pilot (R) piloting the ship out of Swanson Dock.

Heading downriver, approaching the VTS (port control) tower.

Approaching the heads with the pilot launch (photo Graham Flett)

Just after the pilot and I disembarked onto the pilot launch. (photo Graham Flett)

mv Grand Eagle - 24th November 2015

On 23 November, I attended a car carrier, mv Grand Eagle, at B Appleton Dock to prepare for a compass adjustment the next morning. I spent the night on board in the pilot cabin and the ship sailed at 0645 the next morning. I disembarked with the pilot outside the heads at 10.30 on the 24th.

At Appleton Dock B.

Looking astern from the monkey island.

A ship sailing from Swanson Dock at 0600.

Looking across Swanson Dock from the ship's bridge wing.

We didn't need tugs but the agent had already booked them.

This was just a part discharge of Grand Eagle's cargo from Germany, the remainder to Port Kembla. before she heads to Korea for her next cargo. While by no means what is considered a large car carrier these days, she still carries 1600 cars.

Sailing downriver past Webb Dock.

Passing Queenscliff at 1000h.