This sequence was taken by the Chief Mate on a tanker,
which was broke down about 300 miles due east of Cape Henry, Va. We ventured out to tow
the ship back to port, but barely made it back ourselves. The ship eventually sailed in
under its own power. It was one of the few times at sea that I actually feared for my
life. I literally had to be strapped to the console in the wheelhouse to steer the tug
back to port.
This picture and the following were taken off
the New Jersey coast in Feb. of 1995. We were pushing a loaded oil barge from Philadelphia
to Boston. The barge is at times completely underwater in winds that were gusting up to 50
and 60 kts. with a steady 40kt. gale. I took these pictures leaning out the wheelhouse
window in between rolls.
Heroically, Ron, Jim, and Bullet went out on
deck to close some hatches that had come loose. They timed the seas and clung to pipes so
they would not get washed overboard. Needless to say, this is not an occupation for the
"non-robust".
Someone once told me they saw Jesus in this
picture.
This is what we call "bluewater",
primarily because, well, because it's blue. The deck at this point is totally covered by
water, notice the pipes and the railings that are no longer visible.