As I watched the dolphins, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Could it be? Is it? About a couple miles up the channel, I spotted something. Something BIG. At such distance, I had to stop watching what was in front of me, and leave the scene to get back to the car and dig out my binoculars from the trunk. Now, where are they? Ah yes...I actually had them stored in my pack already, so I had to dig through the other things and pull them out of the bag. It was a hot sultry morning, but no sweat! The open trunk kept me in the shade. lol Okay, so I closed everything up, secured the car with the lock mechanism and walked back to the channel's edge and focused on what I was hoping I'd see through the glasses' lenses. Sure 'nough, it was what I thought it was!!! Dropping my binoculars and grabbing my camera, the shutter button went to work again!!
It's been over two years since the first of its kind arrived in our channel. The maiden arrival, I was there!! That one was from France [flag ship]. This one today is from? But, will it ever leave port? When did it arrive? Just a few hours ago, a couple of days ago? When? I had no idea. And, more questions came to mind as I was looking thru the binoculars. I saw a tugboat boat on the port side...then, a 2nd boat came to the starboard side!! Maybe it was preparing to leave. I waited, and waited some more. I walked a while along the channel, every once in a while, I'd stop and glance toward the ship....finally, looking into the bow, I saw it....the water below was churning....it's picking up steam. Here it comes!!! Two years and more, and this is the 2nd one I've watched go out to sea. It's massive, impressive, stealthy, mystical and mythical, beautiful!!! I would LOVE to go aboard. Here's a bit of the 'turn of events' as I followed the procedure as it made its way beside me all too soon.
The 3rd photo from the small photo series shows the comparison of a speed boat to the supertanker. Even the tug boats are dwarfed beside her. The boat behind, on the tow line is a rescue boat ...and one of the anchors, keep in mind, is about the size of an American compact automobile!!! Oh, and ship was HOJO from Antwerp Belgium. It's a toss up for me which was more exciting, the dolphins or the ship!
If your interested in some general stats. [each ship type is different]
A super tanker of this size can carry 2,000,000 barrels of oil.
displacement: over 500 tons with full load
length 1250 feet [rounded off]
beam 223 feet [rounded off]
draught 61 feet [rounded off]
HOJO Antwerpen [Dutch for Antwerp]
by clicking on the link provided, you can read her stats, and follow her current position at sea [or port].
"Supertankers" are the largest tankers, and the largest man-made mobile structures.