As the Baltic is a very busy sea, due to ships crossing North – South and the extensive traffic going East –West; shipping lanes have been established to avoid too much chaos. Chaos that can be created if all these ships change course at different times and then run into collision situations, just due to the sheer volume of traffic. Hence the traffic lanes, which nicely separate East from West bound Traffic and also ensures that the North- South traffic flow crosses at right angles at the right locations. Thus the Prinsendam joined the endless stream of ships in the East bound lane and shortly after midnight we changed course to the North heading for the entrance of Drogden channel.

By 1 am., I was called out of bed by the navigator as there was an “issue”. Nothing dangerous but more about uncertainty of what might happen. From the East (on our starboard side) was a very fast craft approaching, navigation lights running and identifiable on the radar as a military craft. His coming from starboard meant that we had to change course or slow down to let him pass by. The uncertainty came from the fact that this ship/craft was heading directly for the shallows, so we were expecting it to change course, but where to ?. Military craft normally keep radio silence and although we called, there was indeed no response. As it was a clear night we could see from his lights that it was not a big ship when it came closer, more a shore patrol boat. That made me realize that this boat could probably sail over the shallows without any problem. But to make sure we gave him some extra room and continued our voyage as soon as he was past us. We tried to follow him on the radar but he just disappeared in between other ships near the shore line. By 01.30 I was back in bed again but the navigator on duty had made a good call by taking into account what another ship might have done, due to the area it was sailing in.

Two hours later I was back on the bridge; now according to plan, to be present when passing a sort of round-a-bout area south of the Drogden channel. Here ships from the North West, North, South West, South and East meet, coming or going to the Drogden channel. As not all ships seem to comprehend or are interested in knowing how a round-about works, interesting situations can develop. Thus I prefer then to be on the bridge; to back up the navigator as a witness and if needed as a helping hand incase a strange situation occurs. We had all watertight doors closed, the engines on instant maneuvering and the quartermasters on a sharp look out at each side of the bridge. This time it all remained quiet, only a single Russian cargo ship came sailing by, no doubt back on his way home as he was Eastbound.

At 5 am., we had the pilot on board to go through the channel. In the days that I was captain on the Noordam (III) the channel only had a depth of 7 meters and we had to go 200 miles around the island on which Copenhagen is located and approach the port from the North. Since a few years the channel has a depth of 8 meters and most cruise ships, including the Prinsendam, fit through. Still with only 4 to 5 feet under the keel, the transit was very slow, to avoid the squatting of the ship. (Sinking in of the stern due to the ships speed, in the same was as with a speed boat)

By 06.30 we entered the port of Copenhagen and were happily docked shortly after at the dock nearest to the downtown area. The weather was distinctly overcast and not much later it start to rain and kept doing so for the remainder of the day. So I saw the Aida Cara, a German cruise ship, and also part of the Carnival Family of company’s docking ahead of us in the drizzle. Also into the port came the Kristina Regina, a small Baltic cruise ship, which looks like an old ocean liner with two funnels. Unfortunately she is in her last year of service, as she can not pass Solas 2010. Her interiors and wall paneling having been made of real wood.

We are staying overnight here but it does not look like it that the weather will improve.