It is 1030h Thursday, Jan. 22/26
The tow is still in Tehuatepec Baie about 50 50 miles offshore of Puerto Madero
Ocean Tower is makingabout 3 knots on a course of 137 deg. I believe that would be a S to ESE magnetic direction.
They are still operating with gale warnings posted. Winds are E 20 - 25 knots with gusts to 30. Seas are running as swells of 6 - 9 feet.
Seems they are marking time until this system blows itself out and/or moves on.
port of Manitowoc shipment
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:29 EST Tues. Jan. 20/26
Ocean Tower has not moved forward since my last report here at about this time Monday.
She is about 45 -50 miles offshore roughly abreast of Tapachula Mex.
Gale warnings remain in the region with wind readings in the area of 30 -35 knots.
Seas are running at wave heights in the range of 15 -25’.
Daytime temps are in the high 80’s. At night they are 68- -70 deg.
I posed the question yesterday as to why on the ais/tracking map the track line makes it look like they are moving back and forth but not ahead on their intended course line. I ask again ; why would this be? Any experienced ocean tug people who can explain this? Does it help quell the force of winds and waves or maintain towline tension to somehow steady the barge?
The weather service is saying the rough conditions may be in the region until week’s end!
Ocean Tower has not moved forward since my last report here at about this time Monday.
She is about 45 -50 miles offshore roughly abreast of Tapachula Mex.
Gale warnings remain in the region with wind readings in the area of 30 -35 knots.
Seas are running at wave heights in the range of 15 -25’.
Daytime temps are in the high 80’s. At night they are 68- -70 deg.
I posed the question yesterday as to why on the ais/tracking map the track line makes it look like they are moving back and forth but not ahead on their intended course line. I ask again ; why would this be? Any experienced ocean tug people who can explain this? Does it help quell the force of winds and waves or maintain towline tension to somehow steady the barge?
The weather service is saying the rough conditions may be in the region until week’s end!
-
Guest
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
As of 7:30am today it appears that they are turning back to Guatemala with a heading of 132 degrees. Are they doing so due to weather maybe?
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:30 EST Mon. Jan. 19/26
The tow seems to have been on hold as a result of the adverse wind and sea conditions that caused the posting of gale warnings late yesterday and into the best part of today.
The ais track map on shipinfo.net shows them moving back and forth on a repeating straight ine path 40 - 50 miles off the Guatemalan coast and roughly abreast of the border of Guatemala and Mexico. This line looks to be roughly 50 - 60 miles long from end to end and they just kept retracing it but not really making any directly forward progress.Similar track lines were seen at times back in November rounding Nova Scotia and waiting for tough conditions to subside in the Chesapeake Bay Area before they could get into New York. Perhaps someone reading this who has more experience than I in such situations; could chime in on the reasons for doing such movements in stormy conditions at sea.
The tow seems to have been on hold as a result of the adverse wind and sea conditions that caused the posting of gale warnings late yesterday and into the best part of today.
The ais track map on shipinfo.net shows them moving back and forth on a repeating straight ine path 40 - 50 miles off the Guatemalan coast and roughly abreast of the border of Guatemala and Mexico. This line looks to be roughly 50 - 60 miles long from end to end and they just kept retracing it but not really making any directly forward progress.Similar track lines were seen at times back in November rounding Nova Scotia and waiting for tough conditions to subside in the Chesapeake Bay Area before they could get into New York. Perhaps someone reading this who has more experience than I in such situations; could chime in on the reasons for doing such movements in stormy conditions at sea.
-
Luth
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
AIS has a destination of San Diego on the 28th. I’m sure that’ll change a little, but that gives some idea on the timing.
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:50h EST Sun. Jan.18/26
Our tow has not made much headway these last 24 hrs.They are just getting into Mexican coastal waters- the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
The progress has been so little due to a cold front which swept in on Saturday. This front has forced NWS and NOAA to post gale warnings due to N winds of 25 - 35 knots. As you might imagine, the seas are responding. Waves are running in the 9’ - 15’ range. Ocean Tower and Crane will be rocking and rolling tonight! These conditions are expected to last as much as 48 hours.
Temperatures overnight are mid 70’s; daytime 80 -88 deg.
To the guest asking about an ETA....I think we’re best to go by the hour and hope for moderation from the ongoing chaos out there. There is a long way to go!
Our tow has not made much headway these last 24 hrs.They are just getting into Mexican coastal waters- the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
The progress has been so little due to a cold front which swept in on Saturday. This front has forced NWS and NOAA to post gale warnings due to N winds of 25 - 35 knots. As you might imagine, the seas are responding. Waves are running in the 9’ - 15’ range. Ocean Tower and Crane will be rocking and rolling tonight! These conditions are expected to last as much as 48 hours.
Temperatures overnight are mid 70’s; daytime 80 -88 deg.
To the guest asking about an ETA....I think we’re best to go by the hour and hope for moderation from the ongoing chaos out there. There is a long way to go!
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:49h EST Sat. Jan. 17/26
Ocean Tower and Crane are about 45-50 miles off the west coast of Guatemala abreast of Guatemala City. This morning they will come into Mexican waters.
They moving at 2 knots on a northwesterly heading.
There is no wind and the sea is calm.
Nighttime temperature is running 55-57 deg. Daytime mid afternoon is in the 75-82 deg. range.
Ocean Tower and Crane are about 45-50 miles off the west coast of Guatemala abreast of Guatemala City. This morning they will come into Mexican waters.
They moving at 2 knots on a northwesterly heading.
There is no wind and the sea is calm.
Nighttime temperature is running 55-57 deg. Daytime mid afternoon is in the 75-82 deg. range.
-
Guest
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Thanks for the update. The weather reporting makes me feel warmer than the winter weather here!
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 1233h EST Thurs. Jan.15/26 as I write. Itis1133h local time at the tow position.
The OceanTower is northbound in the Pacific Ocean about 85-90 miles at sea off the coast of El Salvador enroute to Puget Sound.
The wind and waves are coming out of the South. Winds are generally 20-22 mph with gusts to 25. Seas are running about 4’.
The temperature this afternoon will be 85-90 deg F. It is sunny.
The OceanTower is northbound in the Pacific Ocean about 85-90 miles at sea off the coast of El Salvador enroute to Puget Sound.
The wind and waves are coming out of the South. Winds are generally 20-22 mph with gusts to 25. Seas are running about 4’.
The temperature this afternoon will be 85-90 deg F. It is sunny.
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 1233h EST Thurs. Jan.15/26 as I write. Itis1133h local time at the tow position.
The OceanTower is northbound in the Pacific Ocean about 85-90 miles at sea off the coast of El Salvador enroute to Puget Sound.
The wind and waves are coming out of the South. Winds are generally 20-22 mph with gusts to 25. Seas are running about 4’.
The temperature this afternoon will be 85-90 deg F. It is sunny.
The OceanTower is northbound in the Pacific Ocean about 85-90 miles at sea off the coast of El Salvador enroute to Puget Sound.
The wind and waves are coming out of the South. Winds are generally 20-22 mph with gusts to 25. Seas are running about 4’.
The temperature this afternoon will be 85-90 deg F. It is sunny.
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:05h EST Wed. Jan. 14/26
Ocean Tower is about 90-100 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. Nearest settlement is Liberia, Costa Rica which looks to be about 100 miles inland. The time there right now is00:09h.
The tow is making 6-7 knots on a course of 5 deg. The temp is near 70 and 10-12 mph east wind is up. Waves are flowing in an easterly direction. The sea is close to calm with waves 0.6‘-1’. A much more stable sailing than they had 2 to 3 weeks ago on the leg to the Panama Canal on the Atlantic coast!
Ocean Tower is about 90-100 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. Nearest settlement is Liberia, Costa Rica which looks to be about 100 miles inland. The time there right now is00:09h.
The tow is making 6-7 knots on a course of 5 deg. The temp is near 70 and 10-12 mph east wind is up. Waves are flowing in an easterly direction. The sea is close to calm with waves 0.6‘-1’. A much more stable sailing than they had 2 to 3 weeks ago on the leg to the Panama Canal on the Atlantic coast!
-
Steamboater 66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 1233h EST as I write Tues. Jan.13/26...
Ocean Tower and Crane barge are on a course of -1 deg. making 8 knots. They are roughly 70 miles west of Parque National Corcovado which is a peninsula jutting out from the mainland. It is another night of calm seas with a 3’ swell The temp. is about 6 deg. A North wind is at 6-8 knots.Great conditions! It is 1133h at their position.
Ocean Tower and Crane barge are on a course of -1 deg. making 8 knots. They are roughly 70 miles west of Parque National Corcovado which is a peninsula jutting out from the mainland. It is another night of calm seas with a 3’ swell The temp. is about 6 deg. A North wind is at 6-8 knots.Great conditions! It is 1133h at their position.
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 00:42h EST Sunday, Jan. 11/26
The Ocean Tower crane transit is complete. They are a little over 110 miles into the Gulf of Panama moving at 7-8 knots.
They are over 100 miles SSW of Ghatre, Panama which is the closest landmark of civilization on my map.
Temperature is 25C with scattered showers. Wind is low at 9 km/h, sea calm.
It is rewarding to see other members and new guests responding on this forum to a major maritime/transportation endeavour.
I appreciate the thanks that several have made to my reports. In answer to a guest’s question on Saturday is yes, I plan to follow this happening to its end.
The Ocean Tower crane transit is complete. They are a little over 110 miles into the Gulf of Panama moving at 7-8 knots.
They are over 100 miles SSW of Ghatre, Panama which is the closest landmark of civilization on my map.
Temperature is 25C with scattered showers. Wind is low at 9 km/h, sea calm.
It is rewarding to see other members and new guests responding on this forum to a major maritime/transportation endeavour.
I appreciate the thanks that several have made to my reports. In answer to a guest’s question on Saturday is yes, I plan to follow this happening to its end.
-
Guest
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Are you going to keep reporting all the way to the Naval Yard? Hopefully so as this is interesting
TIA
-
Steamboater66
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
It is 0152h EST Sat. Jan.10/26
The crane tow with Ocean Tower has been in the Panama Canal since early Friday.
Since my second view of the day at about 1900h EST Friday, they have been at rest at the junction of the canal and the Chagres River.
I am wondering if the Canal has restricted their transit sailing times to daylight hours only.
Good to see that others have looked at other sites and have contributed here. The photos are particularly worthwhile. They not only relate the size of this crane; but they also give those who have never been to the canal an idea of its environment and a sense of its size.
The crane tow with Ocean Tower has been in the Panama Canal since early Friday.
Since my second view of the day at about 1900h EST Friday, they have been at rest at the junction of the canal and the Chagres River.
I am wondering if the Canal has restricted their transit sailing times to daylight hours only.
Good to see that others have looked at other sites and have contributed here. The photos are particularly worthwhile. They not only relate the size of this crane; but they also give those who have never been to the canal an idea of its environment and a sense of its size.
-
guest
Re: port of Manitowoc shipment
Thanks for all your updates. Nice to know where our Manitowoc built stuff goes