mv Lefkes - 29th May 2015

Lefkes was discharging soymeal from Argentina at Geelong

Tankers at Geelong

Late night sailing

mv CS Caprice - 2nd April 2015

CS Caprice at Yarraville

With the friendly Third Mate. Unusually, she's from the Bahamas.

The pilot and the ship's Master.

In the South Channel

 

 

Pilot transfers outside the heads

 

mv Rivertec - 12th March 2015

On 11th March I took the train and bus to Portland to do a compass adjustment aboard mv Rivertec the next day. She was deeply laden with logs for China.

Waiting for departure - 0700 12th.

A woodchip carrier at an adjacent berth.

The tug arrives.

The Chinese Third Mate and helmsman.

Lashings to keep the logs in place.

The Captain (L) and the pilot.

Another woodchip carrier loading.

Job done and back to shore by launch.

mv Glory Atlantic - 3rd February 2015

I did a compass adjustment aboard this cement carrier on 3rd February.

Glory Atlantic at the cement berth, South Wharf.

Just rounded the Hovell.

The pilot's navigation laptop.

The pilotage information card for the captain.

Ship's checklists.

mv CMA CGM Azure - January 2015

I joined this containership in Melbourne on 29/1/15 and sailed with her to Adelaide, doing a compass adjustment en route. The mainland Chinese captain and crew were all very welcoming and affable and we had good weather across to Adelaide. I flew home the morning of arrival on 31/1/15. The ship's next ports were Singapore, Mumbai and others in Europe before returning to Australia..

CMA CGM Azure arriving at Melbourne from Sydney on 28/1/15, taken from my balcony.

Sailing from Swanson Dock at 1930 on 29/1/15.

(L-R) The pilot, Captain John Carroll (another friend of mine from Port Phillip Sea Pilots), the Third Mate at the bridge wing controls and the ship's Master.

Swinging out of Swanson Dock.

Looking up river past Appleton Dock towards the city.

Passing the Harbour Control tower.

(L-R) The helmsman, Fourth Mate and Third Mate.

The pilot and the Captain.

Tug PB Plenty heading back up river after assisting Spirit of Tasmania 1 sail from Station Pier.

One of the new helicopter carriers under construction at Williamstown for the RAN.

Passing an arriving containership in the Port Melbourne channel.

A sunny morning at sea 30/1/15.

The view from my cabin porthole.

All fast in Adelaide 31/1/15.