The Cat Walk
The majestic view from my bay window reflects a kaleidoscope of color and lush vegetation: rainbow-colored rhododendrons, periwinkle blue and pink hydrangeas, vibrant ruby and purple azaleas and the variegated hues of the mighty evergreens. Woodland creatures and countless birds including his majesty, the bald eagle, are daily visitors. However, the view I treasure the most is of the breathtaking Straits of Juan de Fuca and its shipping lanes.
I have spent so many hours watching and documenting the “cat walk” of marine vessels from my prospective: titanic ocean tankers and cargo ships, magical cruise ships, ferries, coast guard vessels, pleasure boats, fishing boats, sailboats, pilot boats and tug boats, that it seemed like an appropriate venue for a post.
FYI
A cargo ship or freighter carries goods and materials from one port to another. These work horses of the sea handle most of the world’s international trade. Cargo ships include general cargo (packaged goods such as chemicals, food and automobiles) tankers (petroleum or other liquids ), dry bulk ships (coal, grain, and ore), multipurpose ships (different classes of cargo such as liquid and general at the same time) and reefers (refrigerated cargo). (1)
A passenger ship transports primarily passengers and includes ferries, cargo liners, cruise ships, cruise ferries, and ocean liners. The Blackball Coho ferry in Port Angeles runs to and from Port Angeles to Victoria, British Columbia everyday. It is a beautiful excursion and takes about an hour and half each way, longer if the marine traffic or seas are heavy.
Pleasure boats, fishing boats, sail boats and sspecialized boats such as tugs, pilot and barges of all size, also frequent the Juan de Fuca straits.
In season, three to four cruise ships a week come and go from Seattle with passengers leaving or returning from Alaska right in front of my window. It is amazing to watch them float by in absolute domination of their world.
A pilot boat ferries licensed pilots to and from foreign or domestic ships. The pilot then takes over the ship and directs it into or out of the harbor or difficult waters such as the turbulent transfer from ocean over the Columbia river bar. (2)
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A barge is a large flat-bottomed boat with a very shallow draft (the depth of water a ship needs to float), used to transport goods along rivers, canals and coastal waters. In many cases a barge has no power and has to be moved with the assistance of a tugboat.
The PA coast guard air station serves as home to many of the patrol vessels protecting the vast coastal range of Washington. It is also responsible for conducting Search and Rescue and Resource Protective activities in the area. This station is just a bird’s view away.
Submersibles and Polar Pioneer Oil Rig
More Work Horses of the Ocean and Coast
Port Angeles–You Are A Beauty!
*This post will be periodically updated with new sightings of interest on the shipping lanes from my window inspiration.
(1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship
(2)http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=main…load…Pacific…
(3) Thank you YouTube for all your fantastic videos.
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