The Blog is Moving!

I am excited to announce the launch of my brand new blog at www.thewanderingsailor.com! Check it out and subscribe on the new blog. All future posts will be from the other site. Follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thewanderingsailor and on Instagram @thewanderingsailor

Winter Storms

As winter approaches, the storms and swells are starting to build in the North Pacific. For some frame of reference, our freeboard, or deck height above the waterline, is 16 meters or over 54 feet. The seas aren't actually as calm as they appear from the bridge... 

Anchor the Tanker

We dropped the hook in San Francisco Bay to take on bunkers (aka fuel). We are loading 9,000 barrels. If there are 42 gallons in a barrel, that's quite a bit of fuel!

From the Tug

One of the tug operators captures some great shots! Here we are approaching the dock Valdez with our lines out ready to tie up.

Taking a screenshot was the only way to post this photo. Sorry for the weird format. 

Sunset and Rain Clouds

Here is my favorite sunset from our most recent trip north to Alaska. I always make sure I have the camera on the bridge for moments like these. 

For Those in Peril on the Sea

This week saw the greatest US maritime disaster in my lifetime and it was a tragic loss. 

Eternal Father strong to save

Whose arm has bound the restless wave

Who bids the mighty ocean deep

It's own appointed limits keep

O hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in Peril on the sea

Views from the "new office"

Sunsets and northern lights are a great bonus to my job which has me looking out a window for 8 hours every day! Here are a couple of my favorite shots from the past few weeks.

The first is at anchor in Anacortes, WA with a view of the sunset out the window over the bridge instruments. The second is my first ever view of the "northern lights!"

Raise the Flag

Our 18' x 24' looks small when it's hoisted up on the crane, but we were all proud to fly it today while discharging cargo at the Shell Anacortes Puget Sound Refinery.  

Why I Want To Be A Captain

KWhile supervising cargo ops on a Matson container ship in the Port of Honolulu this evening, I needed to run up to the navigation bridge to read some weather data and silence some alarms. I walked by the chart table and came across this wonderful essay, which according to the editor's note was written by a 10 year old. It makes me smile every time I read it!