A Real ship!

Not preserved - but should be! Today I had the chance to join the Orange Star with the Pilot at Breaksea for passage to Avonmouth. This is one of the hardships of working for a port authority!! In fact the 0400 alarm this morning was a hardship but I soon forgot about it once onboard and breakfast was served!

 

And something for the engineers!

 

Sure is, a 9-Cyl S.C.S.A. Burmeister & Wain 9K74EF to be exact! It sounded great!!

 

Lucky you!

I would have been at Portishead for her this am if there was any chance of sun. Alarm went off at 6 but Iwas soon back under the covers! Off to Germany tomorrow for the plandampf so no doubt will miss her leaving.

Saw her leave in Sept in a lucky bit of light - if you pm me I can forward you a pic if interested.

Best regards,

David

 

No other welcoming her at Portishead Point, a little too early and as you say no chance of sun. We were at the point for 0730 and it was only just light. She's not booked an outbound pilot yet - would expect it to be Thursday PM or Friday AM.

 

ETD 0730 23/10/09 for Amsterdam, expect to see her pass the point approx 0830.

 

Google tells me it's rated at 15900 BHP. Put one of those in a Deltic.

 

Outbound from Avonmouth today.

 

She was converted to a juice tanker in the late 80's and lost 3 (?) cranes forward and her hatches. She does look a little bare forward but I'm not complaining - we usually get car carriers and bulkers!

 

Orange Star is back!

Hi all,

I thought you may be interested in pictures of two 'real' ships at Portishead yesterday. Old favourite Orange Star was first up with a cargo of juice from Brazil. As she arrived Russian 1979 built bulker Mikhail Kutuzov left in ballast.

Just as we were heading for lunch at the Wind Mill (with fantastic new lounge) Orange Star headed back out again. Not sure why but there was a 20 knot wind blowing so pilot might have aborted or tugs couldn't get on or there was a machine failue or none of the above? Should have taken my radio! But upside is we will get a second go at her on Tueday pm....

With two proper ships it was an easy choice over a Castle in the snow.... I think!

Cheers,

 

Orange Star was unable to berth as the tide had cut by over 0.5m and she was unable to enter Avonmouth. She departed outbound 0700 Saturday.

 

Orange Star currently south of the Scilly Isles northbound from Santos. Thats if its the US flagged Orange Star. (Two listed on my AIS site)

 

What a lot of chilled orange juice! I wonder how many gallons it carries? When it gets emptied at Avonmouth I'll have to increase my consumption and get totally Citrified.
Incidentally, there seems to be no evidence of the Helicopter deck and reverse osmosis plant (fitted into the plated over swimming pool) installed by the MoD. They chartered it as a stores vessel and it journeyed to Port Stanley in May 1983 apparently.

 

Her IMO is 7342976

She's in Santos just now having arrived last night loading more of the orange stuff for Europe. Drink up lads lets keep her going!!

Destination will be nominated shortly, here's hoping its back to Avonmouth. Understand her replacement is on order and due to enter service in approx 18 months.

 

Bound for Avonmouth. ETA 24/5

 

ETA now 17th a coming to Bristol first then Rotterdam second so earlier than previous ETA I gave.

Pilot order 0730 Monday so expect her at Portishead Point around 0845 at a guess although be warned she does have a habbit of racing up chanel!

 

Arriveg bang on time today and now in Avonmouth Dock looking as graceful as ever. No ETD as yet.