Maritime Flavour
 

I would not claim to be a good photographer, but the pics illustrate what was an unusual Sunday afternoon.

It was a nice sunny Sunday afternoon in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, in the early 1980s. We were sitting at an outside table at the La Perla Bar by the side of the river enjoying a local beverage. The river traffic was busy as tankers and cargo ships navigated up and down the river. As the LPG tanker Reynosa came up the river she suddenly veered off to port, and the air was filled with the loud shrieking of the metal hull scraping over and up the rocky embankment.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ynosa%2001.jpg

People at tables on the other side of the river scattered in all directions as it looked like the gas carrier was going to join them. She came to an abrupt halt and settled over to starboard, stuck fast on the rocks.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ynosa%2002.jpg

Even with the engines going full astern the ship refused to budge.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ynosa%2003.jpg

Amazingly the river was kept open and other ships sailed past unperturbed.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ynosa%2004.jpg

Tugs arrived, and one started pushing on the bow without much effect.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ynosa%2005.jpg

With tugs either side of the ship, pulling and pushing, they got the stern moving round to the middle of the river and she broke loose.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...ynosa%2006.jpg

Quite enough excitement for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Not far from the previous location, at the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos River, the LPG tanker Sarrat was proving to be a major attraction for the locals. When the tide went out, families would walk all round the ship to have a closer look.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...Sarrat%201.jpg

You can see the accommodation ladder is lowered, and when the tide was out the crew could walk to the shore to go shopping etc.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...Sarrat%202.jpg

She was stuck fast for quite some time.

Buoy oh Buoy!

:D:D:D

While sitting here in the cold I was thinking it would be nice to be somewhere warmer.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...at%20Night.jpg

Not as hot as this though. Taken in the Zakum oil field off Dubai in 1975 through my cabin port on the Oil Dragon, a well-head testing vessel. It was during a night time bleed down, and the heat from those burners was intense.

Queen Elizabeth 2 at Gypsy Cove, Falkland Islands. January 1993.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...alklands_2.jpg

During the QE 2's stay in the Falklands a party of children from Stanley School were invited on board. Their tour and comments were broadcast live on the Falkland Islands Broadcasting Station (FIBS).

When the group reached the bridge, one lad asked the Captain if he was the captain when the ship ran aground in America. The Captain, embarrassed, replied, "Yes, but I'm still here." Unfortunately, a little while later he wasn't.

Great pictures, Jim.

The "Eye Of The Wind", a Cape Horner, seen moored at the Falkland Islands Port And Storage System (FIPASS).

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...the%20Wind.jpg

Eurasian Reindeer at Stromness, Islands of South Georgia. Summer 1991.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/Reindeer.jpg

Three herds were established in 1913 to give the whalers fresh meat, and sport. One herd died out, leaving two distinct herds separated by the mountains. A couple of years ago all the reindeer were culled, apparently because they were not endemic to the islands.

King Edward Point and the Post Office. South Georgia Islands.

http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/o...t%20Office.jpg

Before it closed, it was the most southerly British Post Office.

That's Brexit for you!
G:}:}