Messages

1

Shipping News and information / Re: Refloating of Costa Concordia started this morning

« on: July 21, 2014, 12:38:28 AM »

I totally agree with you, but even so, he does make a few interesting points about the Costa Concordia incident (not raised elsewhere), as well as some interesting charts and graphics.

2

Shipping News and information / Re: Refloating of Costa Concordia started this morning

« on: July 20, 2014, 07:33:39 PM »

Ooops! Check out this link http://heiwaco.tripod.com/news811.htm for Bjorkman's comments on the sponsons.

3

Shipping News and information / Re: Refloating of Costa Concordia started this morning

« on: July 20, 2014, 07:24:57 PM »

Anders Bjorkman has a very interesting and detailed take on the Costa Concordia incident. Click http://heiwaco.tripod.com/news8.htm if you have the time to go through his entire commentary. His comments on the sponsons is near the end. He points to a resinking as a result of a vessel breakup soon after refloating and early into the towing.

In addition, Bjorkman places the massive amount of blame on the ship's owner - not the vessel's Master. He claims vessel was unfit to sail and the crew was under trained. Bjorkman states that "The Capsize was apparently caused by open watertight doors and progressive flooding of intact compartments followed by Sinking (a third incident ending at ~03.00 hrs) and loss of lives caused by down flooding of all hull compartments."

Worth taking the time to read!

4

Help and Advice / Re: Fred Vloo

« on: July 04, 2014, 04:48:21 AM »

Skip,

I think there was some kind of a dispute with the owners/managers of this web site. Fred still publishes on You Tube. You can subscribe to his channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/fredvloo

His top notch ship spotting videos are there, as well some other excellent videos.

I've subscribed to his videos on his channel.

To quote Fred, "Cheers"

maripaul

5

Trip reports / Re: Shipspotting Rotterdam 7&28 March 2014 Video

« on: April 02, 2014, 06:03:38 PM »

Fred,

Welcome back. Long time no see. Hope you are doing well. It is so good to watch your quality videos. Not seeing your videos for a long time has certainly made me appreciate the quality of your videos over all of the others that pop up here.

I so appreciate your:

Choice of locations for the various angles you do.
Your fine equipment, combined with intelligent use of it.
Stable/solid panning - not jerking or zooming just for the sake of zooming.
Editing to create a story - including vessel selections.

Thank you Fred,

Very best regards,

maripaul

6

Shipping News and information / Re: USCG to assist Chinese and Russian Icebreakers stranded in thick Antarctic ice

« on: January 05, 2014, 07:08:14 PM »

My bet is that she can get the job done quickly!

GO USA

Installed power:

Six Alco 16V-251F diesel engines (6

7

Shipping News and information / Boom in energy production sends US shipyards into overdrive

« on: September 20, 2013, 09:51:44 PM »

Boom in energy production sends US shipyards into overdrive
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/20/boom-in-natural-gas-production-sends-us-shipyards-into-overdrive/

8

Trip reports / Re: 130305 Shipspotting Rotterdam Video

« on: March 07, 2013, 05:34:03 AM »

Fred,

Welcome back! Wonderful to see your quality videos.

Was worried that you had given up on shooting the fine shipping videos.

Hope all is well.

Very best regards,

maripaul

9

Trip reports / Re: 121216 Shipspotting Rotterdam, VIDEO

« on: December 21, 2012, 02:32:04 AM »

Fred,

Thank you so very much for all of the wonderful videos you have provided. Your time and the expense you have expended are so much appreciated. The equipment you use combined with the marvelous job of editing you do result in so very many wonderful videos.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones Fred, and may 2013 bring you much happiness.

Very best regards,

maripaul

10

Shipping News and information / Re: Pros and Cons about making sea time as a deck cadet on a Cruise Ship

« on: April 20, 2012, 03:27:17 AM »

Speaking as a Kings Point Deck Cadet from the mid '50s, I feel about three months on multiple  types of ships is best. On a passenger ship, you'll need to wear your uniform most of the time, and always be on your best behavior. You won't learn anything about cargo handling and operations, and the second mate on smaller vessels will generally take you under his wing and show you great details of navigation.

Ports are certainly more varied on the non passenger vessels as well. Shore time with the crews of the non-passenger vessels is always more "colorful".

11

Trip reports / Re: Balder leaving Rotterdam Europoort for Stavanger at night

« on: April 19, 2012, 12:38:57 AM »

Fred,

Superb job. I viewed it at 1080P on a 25" monitor, and was very impressed with the overall sharpness, dynamic range of the displayed light levels, and saturation levels that seemed to appear when it looked as though you were shifting ISO levels. I don't know enough about current specifications of the newer camera systems, but your system performed professionally in my opinion.

I got the impression that if a photon of light was there, you captured it.

Thanks Fred.  Keep up the fine work.

maripaul

12

Trip reports / Re: shipspotting Rotterdam, 120108, Vale Rio de Janeiro at 14:10

« on: January 09, 2012, 02:36:16 AM »

Thank you Fred.

Cheers.

maripaul

13

Shipping News and information / Re: Vale Rio de Janeiro Begins Loading Today!

« on: January 09, 2012, 02:34:20 AM »

Superb job Fred.

Thank you.

maripaul

14

Trip reports / Re: shipspotting Rotterdam, 111230

« on: December 31, 2011, 10:22:13 PM »

Fred,

I have failed to thank you for so very many wonderful videos you have provided.

THANK YOU FRED!

Your use and command of high quality equipment combined with marvelous composition, editing selection, smooth zooming, vessel selection, camera location, steadiness, and so much more gives one the feeling of riding the seas with the vessels. On some of the smaller vessels in the rougher seas, it seems as though one can actually see or feel the ship bending.

Thank you also for the pilot boarding selections. There is not enough money to pay those pilots for the risk they take with each vessel boarding.

THANK YOU AGAIN FRED FOR THE MARVELOUS VIDEOS DURING ALL OF 2011.

Happy New Year, and I look forward to many more of your quality videos in 2012.

My very best regards,


maripaul

15

Shipping News and information / Re: Big Vale bulker is coming to Rotterdam on 8 or 15 dec.

« on: December 02, 2011, 10:52:06 PM »

Fred,

Here is my vote for your being able to get the video.  If anyone can, it will be you, and the result will be very professional. You have a marvelous ability to acquire, edit, and post the very best maritime videos out there.

Thank you for all of the effort you put into the fine videos you publish.

Very best regards,

maripaul