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As most of you know I am a Captain here in the great PACNW. I have been working regularly for a compnay called Waterways Cruises in Seattle. Well this weekend I will be doing my last regularly scheduled runs with them and have given notice that I am taking a new job.

I have been hired by Hornblower Marine http://www.hornblowermarine.com/About/philosophy. I will be piloting the ferry boat for Pierce County, she is a double end controllable pitch vessel that is 99.9 GT according to the USCG system and 1757 GT ITC, meaning internationally. They have two ferries for this run only one runs each day as the other is a back up...I am looking forward to stepping aboard a vessel that is taken care of, has an engineer and deck crew. I will be in traing for two weeks first on the deck and then ER and then PH.

One of the reasons I am doing this is as HMS has boats around the world and I can be assigned to almost anyplace, therefore I can gain my needed Oceans seatime to increase the scope of my license. I am looking forward to this and I will be posting some images as I get them over the next weeks. it terminal is 25 mins from the house, home each day! I am not a fulltime employee...and that is great with me.

THX for your indulgence AND it is a BIG METAL BOAT!!!

Good Luck Capt PJ

Thank you Captain, For sharing your new adventure. I look forward to reading to what the future holds. How many hours are needed???? What license is your goal????

Good luck. That is a sleek looking ferryboat.

You can look up on Hornblower...the ferry that runs right where I fish, across the river in Mayport, Fla.

Hmmmmmm, yep. They just received an extension since the city wanted to bag the ferry. Can't afford it, because all the currupsion costs more. Like a 10 billion Courthouse? And of course all the kick-backs.

Yepper. We have the same double enders here.

First report, Been on duty for two days...going thru all the postions as Captain the purpose is to know all the crews' duties and understand there functions. I tell you I truely have a respect for the loaders/deck boss/car jockey...getting a feel for what you have to get on and distribution of the mass is an art with some skill thrown in...did it twice today and the first was real good then the second was a bit more tricky with the heavy trucks full of logs..oh my! I did it! And gotta thumbs up from the Senior Decky even if he is 40 years younger...good group of fellows!

The current captains are very anxious to have me get to the bridge as they are looking for some time off. Thx for the comments and pics will follow in the days to come. tomorrow I got to be there at 0500 for the morning shift and to learn the "start up". This is interesting and fun.

As for other locations in HMS, I hope to be able to move around and pick up work in other locations. Oh something happened today that is very interesting..an internal audit report came out about this ferry operation...it was a 96.4% score...the best in the whole company worldwide...the crews are really happy with that news...it shows from the service and attitudes...I am happy to be with them. One for our captains does training for all the other locations and he wants me to get into that mode as well...that was unexpected and welcomed...I think this was a good move! YES HMS has some very cool craft. They just put into service a Hybryd. Something to watch andsee how that works out.

BTW, I appreciate your comments and following this! A safe day of boating is a GOOD day of boating! PJ

Finished my deck and ER training. The ferry is powered by 3508 Cats with NLights Deere Gens all air start except one gen which is electric 24V start...it has controlable pitch props (CPP)...did a fueling, sewage pump out and potable water fill...also the boats can power the dock ramps if the shore power goes out on the islands...now that would really mess the schedule up. Had a day of rest today and in the PH for 5 days before they let me loose...start on Sunday morning run, this is going to be good and actually I will be on the other boat on Sunday as they switched boats today. More later, yes I have pics but I haven't sized or downloaded them yet. PJ

Sunday I landed the ferry a few times, but today I was in command with a trainig Captain, he actually is taking his Puget Sound Pilot exam next week so he was doing some reading and watching me and giving me hints, but not many! I felt comfortable with the vessel...no I have not become one with her just yet! She did do some strange things on the appraoches which is caused mostly by the currents along the shore and the tidal currents coming form the differnt passages and Nisqually Reach. my trainer commented that "now you know what she will do and when a real situation occurs you'll have confidence in her and your ability" GOOD POINT!!! These are heavy vessels and can cause some real damage. The props are 4 blade 72". Had some tug traffic which slowed us and made us late for one departure, but made it up in one trip...all in all it was a good day. I am going to like this! Some real boat handling! Capt PJ

Here are some images of the bridge on the Steilacoom II. CA is sitting in her reserve position which is now in service when i went to work on Sunday..that is the bridge with me in pilot seat. CA Bridge smaller. PJ

ER(holy place) of SII. Both have 3508 Cats. PJ

One of the NL gensets on the SII is bust...saw it today as the mechanic had it apart...it sucked a valve and broke tip off the injector...both peppered the top of the piston and destroyed the cylinder head...what a mess!

today we had gusts to 30-35 and the landings were somewhat dicy for me as the first timer...the training captain provided much info and told me to lay into it and get it done...I did and it was good! I went off shift and was in the office when a call came in from the relief captain that the No. 1 end rudder was stuck at 20 to port, lucky she had only one car to drop off and she could come back to the main dock...the funny thing was that we had the steering guys aboard to see why she was turning slowly and they had just left...they were called and were back within 25 mins...the boat was wrestled into the dock...winds had dropped some to 20-25 kts...I was aksed to stay and help with a possible switch to the other boat...we got her started and prepared to move while the steering guys were checking everything frantically and found a wire had broken off of the relay to the activation pump switch easily fixed and the runs were now 45 mins late...but in the meantime the USCG was called and permission was bieng saught to use the boat that only had one genset working...that was canceled and car loading was started...she was underway...the SII was shut down and secured and I went home, gaining some valuable experience and saw how the company works...it was all good...plus I got another hour's pay.

Port Captain wants me to be on my own by the 20-21st...that will be fine! Hope you enjoy these reports. PJ

Looking Good Capt. Sitting in the chair all gussied up in your Uniform. The High winds blowing does make it a challange to operate a small boat never mind a medium size ferry with big flat sides that act like sails

Congratulations on the new job Capt. PJ. I like the pictures.

Mike

I am enjoying the report(s) immensly

I like the computer station reminding you what not to do.

On the serious side... Takes alot of skill managing windage and current with the right amount of throttle to the engines. The engine room is soooo clean

Glad you are happy and well on you way

I love hearing about the trials and tribulations you are having. I have trouble with my 16 and a 23 footers. Great picture of you at the helm.

Today was the last day of training. Swapped out the boats. I practiced with her some at all 3 docks...she's got the CPPrpos and sure does respond diferently than a fixed pictch prop. When reversing the pulling end the pitch goes flat and creates drag which is good but gives you no wash across the ruddder ahead for steering..need to spool it up more than a bit to get a response...took a little gettting used to....but she does walk nicely...that is when both rudders are turned with there ends in the same directions (think about this some) then applied engine revs to cause wash across the rudders (in other words both props are pushing toward the middle which then sends her sideways...AND if you do that while you have way on she slides to the side and gets in line with the ramp and wing walls.

Now there is another thing...I am already playing the game of seeing if I can touch the wing walls at the same instant and not bounce back...if you do bounce it counts as two landings

The very important thing to remember with these boats...they are HEAVY alone and then when fully loaded with folks and 54 cars, trucks, motorehomes,full dump trucks and logging trailers it gets really heavy and wants to keep going! Then you add current from the tides and wind...it is very demanding...

I had a situation yesterday that I call "washing the beach"...The tricky current took over as I didn't counter it fast enuf (we had a slow rudder for all the runs on one end for 3 days) so no slide could be done well...so I shot past the outer dolphin on the outside heading to the beach, this called for full push with the pulling end and full pull with the pusing end with a 3 to 5 second delay for the shaft brake between so when it finally spooled up the white water could rival most rapids and you could almost hear the stones on the beach being rolled over...nice recovery and into the dock with out any fuss...the engineer was on deck and called up after we were against the wingwalls "that was a little scary"...just another day on the ferry! (Not to be taken lightly, it can be very seriuos!)

I tell you...the forehead had some sweat on it and my eyes were wide! The traing captain smiled and said as we were leaving...don't worry we all have done it!

I consider a safe day of boating as a GOOD day of boating and I didn't kill anyone, brake stuff, sink the boat or go to jail! One of our captains says...it is a good landing if you didn't put any wood on the deck from the wing walls...but today that would be hard to do as the wing walls are faced with HDPE...same stuff I have on the sides of my little boat.

Tuesady I am on my own! FOR REAL!!!

It is fun and interesting...anyone who would like to come for a ride in the future, let's make arrangements...glad to have you aboard.

Signing off! Capt. PJ (I have to say I do feel like one...nice feeling!)

Had to do a few more drills yesterday for my final sign off...launched the fast rescue boat for MOB drill and did a fire sprinkler switch over for car deck fire...very interesting...no cars aboard...lots of salt water spraying down...sorry no pics as I was doing the drills. I am officially unleashed now...On the schedule for Fir and Sat this week! Looking forward to it. Capt PJ

Capt. Dennis is happy to see me as I am his relief...he's been on since 0515 hrs.

the next sequence of photos are approaching Anderson Is ramp. At .25nm out set puller at nuetral 0.0 and pusher at 2.0, she slows to about 5.5kts before you need to put power to the puller which is actually pushing and you start to see the white water. By the time you reach the outer dolphins speed must be no more than 4.0 kts or you are going to have an issue. I have had none of thise yet...others have..it most likely will only be time...but I am a soft touch captain which may take an extra minute to get in...and during the really busy months that minute can make a diff from what I have been told.

You get to use the forward rudder which cannot be active/swinging until you are at 4 knots...with it you can move side to side for the bow...the stern/pusher still has water rushing past the rudder so you have control there almost all the time.

So the point is line up at least .5 nm out to see what the wind and current are going to do and steer with the stern and hope by the time you are at the ramp outer dolphins you are still in line..if not take action using thrust and rudders at both ends but remembering that the front rudder cannot bre active until under 4 kts...IT IS INTERESTING FOR SURE!!!!

Now for pics which I know you like.

Stats on CA.

General layout of control station on Seilacoom II. She has the Controllable pitch props (CPP). The instruments show what is happening at each end. Note that the shifter/throttle handle are offset to give you a feel for which one is behind you and the closest is the puller always as that is the one you most to controll the landing. radar on the port sifde is always the master, one for each end.

This panel is for the engines, shafts and CCP's. The CA does not have CCP she is straight props. With the SII she goes to flat (most resistance) at nuetral so it helps to slow when appraoching, unlike the CA because she has to wait for the shaft break to engage about 3-4 seconds, if she didn't have the break you could bust a tranny real bad...so the point being you have to plan for the pause when appraching with the CA. The puller is always at less RPM's and the forward rudder is always LOCKED, so it cannot swing during cruise mode...there are switches to do all that stuff and you got to remember to do it...there is no alarm! Also when walking to the other end must remember to switch the running lights. Oh yeah and start the safey announcement recording.

AND don't forget to rasie the ramp off the deck...it makes a really bad loud and unforgettable noise as when it it resting on the boat it is in free fall (floating) mode...the raising rams are disengaged...NO I HAVE NOT left with it in float mode...hope not too!

This appraoch to Steilacoom was a bit too fast for my liking and this is called 'Wsashing the float'. At least I was in the middle of the walls. If you had a gear failure it can knock folks down and bend stuff.

Wow CaptPj you are not just navagating a ship ......that's a well maintained building with rudders. With time and experience I guess you can develop a feel for her dimensions. From her height, weight and hull I would be freaking out.... I am sooooo dependent on the hum of motor. Feel of every ripple on the water.

You have some serious skills my friend. I am so enjoying your posts. Almost like I am at the helm. Thank You

One day do you plan on running one of those huge cruise ships????? Talk about bigger shipitus

Mark, THX for the comments and glad you are enjoying the posts...the bigger shipitist all has to do with the USCG and the system of being licensed...too much to expalin, but it is so behind in the reality...it all has to do with USCG calculated tonnage system and CFR's! NOT Size or actual tonnage as the international cert sees it, but US. So if this boat was in CND I could not be Master as my license is not big enuf...go figure!

THX for the confidence vote! It is interesting and nothing to take lightly. PJ