Announcement

**Ted Davisson** · 12-27-2010, 04:30 PM

A Few More Local And Current River Pictures !

Greetiings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more pictures of a tractor tug assisting in the un docking of an inballast crude oil tanker off the Exxon/Mobil dock in Baton Rouge .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Originally posted by Ted Davisson View Post

Greetings From New Orleans ( Actually Baton Rouge )
Just a few local and currrent River Pictures of an inballast ( empty ) crude oil tanker in the process of making its departure from the Exxon/Mobil refinery in Baton Rouge .
I was on another ship directly in front of the ship in the pictures and got these shots as she was turning on a " Left Helm " , off of the Exxon dock and starting her long trip down the Mississippi River to the Gulf Of Mexico .
What I find interesting in the first two pictures is the maneurviability of the modern day " Tractor Tugs " that were on this assignment . Tactor Tug is some what of a generic term , but implies a twin screw tug boat with lower unit propulsion systems , without rudders , that have the ability to rotate a full 360 degrees , to allow the tug to operate at any angle . In this picture , for example , it shows the tug boat on the bow of the ship , backing out at a true and full 90 degree angle inorder to literally pull the bow of the ship off the Exxon dock and at regardless of the velocity of the existing river current . The temperature this morning in Baton Rouge was a balmy 34 degrees . Would our good and close friends in the Norther barren and frozen tundra of this country please keep their weather to themselves !!
Smooh Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Happy New Year , To One And All !

Attached Files

**Roger Prichard** · 12-29-2010, 08:08 AM

Fascinating as always, Capn Ted, thanks. Does your port have a separate profession of "docking pilot" or do you do it all?

**Ted Davisson** · 12-30-2010, 07:26 AM

Negative , No Docking Pilots !

Roger ,
First of all , thanks for your posting and question . To answer your question , negative , there are no docking pilots on the Mississippi River to speak of . It is also my understaning that " Docking Pilots " , are essentially an East Coast practice and are present in only the major ports of that region . I have riden ships with other pilot associations both on the Gulf Coast and the West Coast and they do not have docking pilots as well . Futhermore , it is also my understanding that the " Doocking Pilots " , on the East Coast evolved from the pressure of the local maritime unions in the respective regions .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Originally posted by Roger Prichard View Post

Fascinating as always, Capn Ted, thanks. Does your port have a separate profession of "docking pilot" or do you do it all?

Attached Files

**Ted Davisson** · 01-05-2011, 07:09 PM

A Few Baton Rouge Pictures !

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few Baton Rouge harbor pictures . Hope you enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Originally posted by Ted Davisson View Post

Greetings From New Orleans ( Actually Baton Rouge )
Just a few local and currrent River Pictures of an inballast ( empty ) crude oil tanker in the process of making its departure from the Exxon/Mobil refinery in Baton Rouge .
I was on another ship directly in front of the ship in the pictures and got these shots as she was turning on a " Left Helm " , off of the Exxon dock and starting her long trip down the Mississippi River to the Gulf Of Mexico .
What I find interesting in the first two pictures is the maneurviability of the modern day " Tractor Tugs " that were on this assignment . Tactor Tug is some what of a generic term , but implies a twin screw tug boat with lower unit propulsion systems , without rudders , that have the ability to rotate a full 360 degrees , to allow the tug to operate at any angle . In this picture , for example , it shows the tug boat on the bow of the ship , backing out at a true and full 90 degree angle inorder to literally pull the bow of the ship off the Exxon dock and at regardless of the velocity of the existing river current . The temperature this morning in Baton Rouge was a balmy 34 degrees . Would our good and close friends in the Norther barren and frozen tundra of this country please keep their weather to themselves !!
Smooh Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Happy New Year , To One And All !

Attached Files

**Ted Davisson** · 01-15-2011, 08:58 PM

Just A Few More Local River Pictures !

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more local River Pictures !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Originally posted by Ted Davisson View Post

Greetings From New Orleans ( Actually Baton Rouge )
Just a few local and currrent River Pictures of an inballast ( empty ) crude oil tanker in the process of making its departure from the Exxon/Mobil refinery in Baton Rouge .
I was on another ship directly in front of the ship in the pictures and got these shots as she was turning on a " Left Helm " , off of the Exxon dock and starting her long trip down the Mississippi River to the Gulf Of Mexico .
What I find interesting in the first two pictures is the maneurviability of the modern day " Tractor Tugs " that were on this assignment . Tactor Tug is some what of a generic term , but implies a twin screw tug boat with lower unit propulsion systems , without rudders , that have the ability to rotate a full 360 degrees , to allow the tug to operate at any angle . In this picture , for example , it shows the tug boat on the bow of the ship , backing out at a true and full 90 degree angle inorder to literally pull the bow of the ship off the Exxon dock and at regardless of the velocity of the existing river current . The temperature this morning in Baton Rouge was a balmy 34 degrees . Would our good and close friends in the Norther barren and frozen tundra of this country please keep their weather to themselves !!
Smooh Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Happy New Year , To One And All !

Attached Files