I wonder if he'll ever get the Hubble Glacier run in Alaska. Now was interesting. Not that the glacier was dangerous to navigation. Just all the other cruise ships in there. :O:

http://www.alaskatours.com/imagescru...ndamerica1.jpg

My mistake Neal, the ship is propelled by the Azipod Propulsion System consisting of a fixed pitch propeller mounted on a steerable gondola ("pod") which also contains the electric motor driving the propeller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azipod

Because of the flexibility of the above, the ship doesn't have the traditional propeller and shaft as well as the rudder and therefore rarely needs the services of tugs, only at times of fast tidal currents and high winds in enclosed harbours etc.

He's sitting with me now and say "Thanks" :cool:

Yeah, he says he has done that cruise four or five times thus far and the Americans and Canadians are most interested in viewing the humpback whales during mating season :cool:

Boy left the Tyne yesterday afternoon heading for Copenhagen then on to Kiel but dropped a real bombshell on his mom and me when we picked him up in the morning.......because of illness, the Chief Officer left the ship a few days ago and he (James) has been promoted to First Officer on a temporary basis.

His mom and I are obviously hoping the promotion will be made permanent :sunny:

Pictures to follow tomorrow hopefully.

Nice one Jim, fingers crossed for you all.

Kind of reminded me of when, back in the late 50s, there was a strike by the tugs in San Francisco Bay and my father was working on a liner, Matson IIRC. The liner had gotten to the pier before the strike, but getting under way was a bit stickier. A decision was mad to cast off all lines at the turn of the tide and let the tide take her out to mid-bay and then try to steam away under her own power. There were several other ships, passenger and freight, who were doing likewise. It was impressive and a bit nerve-wracking to watch the liner slowly pull away, backwards, and ease out into the bay. It was also a bit of a nail-biter to watch the ships sort of dance around each other as they tried to make way...

It's good you and the missus had an opportunity to have your son home and break bread together. All the best to all of you...


<O>

A couple of pictures before supper.

Berthed on the north side.
http://i.imgur.com/pehJbdP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0V5WSnl.jpg

Finished writing up his logs and quick to come ashore.
http://i.imgur.com/PilphG5.jpg

View from our (south) side of the river.
http://i.imgur.com/ORuB01V.jpg

Couldn't find a big ship, then?...


<O>

I would have been proud if it was my son.

She's a real beauty.

Wonder if I should tell you what my father once told me, when I was in my youth, regarding being a captain on a passenger ship.

It's not any negative stuff.

Markus

Please do, love to hear it.

Carrying on...

This is the DFDS Tyne to Holland ferry (every other day meaning one day outward bound and the next inbound) aft of Eurodam and approximately one third the size.
http://i.imgur.com/XiEDF1g.jpg

Another view from a bridge not far from James house.
http://i.imgur.com/ST9WBuH.jpg

There was no overnight stay like three years ago so come late afternoon she set off for Copenhagen.
http://i.imgur.com/pHpUcyh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/f65uiYW.jpg

Someone on the starboard bridge wing spotted us standing on the groyne and decided to wave.
http://i.imgur.com/xr6AVOe.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FeNmMEX.jpg

Even used binoculars at one point for a closer look.
http://i.imgur.com/S8wvaKP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/B3YNl4W.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/BmiMRti.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/J1qsIWM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uPmwRh5.jpg

His mom, sister and her boyfriend seeing him off.
http://i.imgur.com/LxUVc5w.jpg

Lots of loving cuddles in this one.
http://i.imgur.com/kxMX7N4.jpg

Fair winds and folowing seas bonny lad :salute:
http://i.imgur.com/2NNgKg9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cXmI0SZ.jpg

It has been a long time ago, must have been when I was between 17 and 20 years of age.

My Dad and I was out fishing, in my dad's boat.

We talked about my fathers early job as skipper on a North sea trawler.

I said. Dad, being a captain, having control of your own ship sound very interesting.

Here is what i he said, and what I can remember.

Son, almost everyone can by study and practice be a good captain and take a ship safely from a to z. But being a captain on a passenger ship, demands more than just have your head filled with stuff regarding sea safety, plot a course etc.

You have to be like a father, priest, judge etc, remember you have hundreder if not thousand soul in your hand and they trust you.

Could have missed some part or could have put words in he didn't say.

Markus

Good show for your son!

Great pictures ... looks top heavy though.

I wish I had a son that good, but I love the one I have anyway :up:

It is the dream of my life.

World cruise on a luxury cruise ship.

Hiring one of their best suite.