Tropical Storm Sean is still active in the North Atlantic Ocean but moving very slowly and I do not expect that it will have much effect on the weather around Florida. It will be a breezy day but that is nothing to worry about. For the time being, the weather is great, we are sailing between the Bahamas and Cuba and the numerous islands, reefs and keys are really doing a good job with taking the momentum out of the windy weather coming from the North. The only thing that I do not like is that the wind has already turned to the NNW. And that means it is a head wind and I am losing the free knot of pushing current that I had hoped for. The area North of Cuba normally has easterly winds, part of the flow generated by the trade wind system. If that flow is not interrupted it nicely starts to push the water to the North West and that gives the ship a knot to 1.5 knots of extra speed in the back. As soon as that wind stops, the current diminishes and if the wind then turns to the West or North West, it falls away completely. The ship loses that free speed and instead has to start heading into the wind. This was the case today and now I was not saving fuel but spending it, as the ship now had to push harder while going against the wind. Hopefully I will get some extra free speed tonight when we enter the Straits of Florida, although with the NNW wind blowing there, the Gulf Stream might not be running that fast as with following winds.

The old Bahama channel is a fairly busy traffic lane and because of the Vessel Traffic Separation Zones or highways at sea, that have been implemented at various locations above Cuba, the ships are coming quite close by. This is done in a regulated way and so we know what the intentions of that ship will be when it is coming closer. We were going North West and that meant hugging the right hand side or north side of the system and ships going South East were hugging their right hand side and thus staying on the South side of the system.  It gave the navigator on duty something to look at while ascertaining that the ships were also doing what they were legally required to do.  One of the more unusual sightings today was a tug and barge employed on the regular service to San Juan Puerto Rico. Unusual in that way because we only see these kind of barges in this area. I think that they have been especially designed for this San Juan service. You find sea going barges in many parts of the world but not of this particular design.

crowley

A Crowley barge entering the port of San Juan. Courtesy unknown source on the internet.

Most barges carry the name Crowley, so I assume that Crowley Maritime is the regular line service operator here. Although San Juan is also an important container terminal, it seems that most of the East coast freight to and from San Juan goes with these barges. While in port they are handled by agile and quick harbor tugs but when out in the open the big sea going tug goes in front and pulls the barge to its destination. As the weather around the Bahamas’ can be quite nasty during the hurricane season, these barges are fully sea worthy to weather a storm in the same way as a normal sea going ship would. When looking on the radar you quite often see the echo of the barge showing up first as it gives the largest reflection and then when it comes closer a smaller echo in front appears. Then you can easily see that it is a tug and tow and how they are heading. When looking out of the window, that is not always so easy, as the barge might not look as if it is doing the same thing as the tug. Due to the weather it might yawn behind the tug on the towing line and look as if it is going in a totally different direction.  As one tugboat captain once said to me; “with big tows on a long wire it is as if you are walking with a dog on a lease. You are both going in the same direction for your walk but if you look at the dog you would not think so.”

This barge had the wind in the back, coming from the North West and so the tug boat skipper must have had an easier pull with the wind helping him to push the barge forward.

By 6 pm. We left the old Bahama channel behind and entered the Santaren channel which is the body of water west of the Bahama chain of islands, before you come to the Straits of Florida. I have made arrangements to be at the pilot station at 05.45 tomorrow morning and we will follow the Noordam in.

They are going to berth 26 and then it is easier for them to go first, as we are at berth 25 and would otherwise reduce their passing by room.

Weather looks good for tomorrow, breezy in open waters and with mid day temperatures of 76oF. and sunny all day.