IMG_7446

IMG_7446
Originally uploaded by Captain Smurf

The floating dry dock from a different perspective

Balsa 63

Balsa 63
Originally uploaded by Miguel Mc Conell

This photo from Miguel Mc Conell's Flickr album probably shows the scale of Valparaiso better than my own shots.

IMG_7013

IMG_7013
Originally uploaded by Captain Smurf

So many Pelicans

IMG_6812

IMG_6812
Originally uploaded by Captain Smurf

A particularly popular pelican

IMG_7202

IMG_7202
Originally uploaded by Captain Smurf

Is it Nessie's South American cousin?

Answers on a postcard please...............

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Some more Pelicans

Masses of Pelicans on this part of the Chilean coast

Busy at the chart table

CCTV picture of the Azimuth thruster being lowered into position

Siobhan

Wearing my Siobhanathon t-shirt in memory of Siobhan who died a year ago today on her 9th birthday http://siobhanathon.110mb.com/new_page_2.htm

Chris the Computer up the foremast

Titus deep in contemplation

Reflection in the sun shield inside a bridge window

The sea, the clouds and the sun. Lovely weather we're having.

Looking up at the Starboard Gantry and the Bridge

The Foremast/Meteorological Platform

Buoyancy supporting one of the big guns as the gun is hauled in.

Another shot of the bridge from the Foc'sle.

The OBS (ocean-bottom seismometer) has spent a while on the seabed (some as deep as 4000m). After the Seismic Survey is completed the OBS must be recovered. A signal is transmitted, the OBS releases a weight which had it anchored to the seabed and it rises to the surface. We manoeuvre the ship up close and a grapple is thrown to snag the rope.

Rescue Boat

Our rescue boat poised ready for launching

Fruit for Easter Island

The coaster, "Samson", ahead of us is loading cargo for Easter Island. It is the height of the fruit harvest here.

About the James Cook

You might have noticed that I do not write a great deal. Pictures are my medium (pretentious - moi?).

There are people aboard this ship who do a good job of explaining what we are up to. Here's links to 2 of them:

Dan, Able Seaman and a Kiwi

Mick, Ship Systems Manager

Night shot through the aft windows of the wheelhouse.

Big Bubbles

Looks like an Iceberg. It is in fact a bubble created by the firing of an airgun underwater. We are making loud bangs to bounce off the seabed as part of a seismic survey.

Red Sky at Night

More evidence of the fire. Sailing from Valparaiso at sunset the sky is red

View from for'rd

View of the James Cook from the foremast

The Fire Still Burns

The fire still burns in the hills above Valparaiso. This shot near sunset shows the smoke in the atmosphere

Looking over Valparaiso

View of the docks in Valparaiso

Working Area

We are working between Chile and Robinson Crusoe Island. (Chart extract Courtesy of Admiralty Hydrographer)

Me at the Con

This is the DP desk - from here I can drive the vessel with an incredibly high degree of accuracy, apparently!!

Ship's Bridge

Finally we got aboard. This is the bridge of the James Cook.

Took a while to get the ship alongside - as they could't see the dock wall coz of the fog

Waiting for the Ship

We had a bit of a wait on the docks whilst the ship was being tied up.

Holiday Season in Chile

It's the end of the summer holiday in Chile. There were loads of folk enjoying the pleasures of Vina Del Mar

RRS James Cook waiting outside Valparaiso

Ship couldn't get alongside, so they had to wait outside, whilst we sat in the hotel.
RRS James Cook is the ship on the left, nearest the headland.

01032008(001)

01032008(001)
Originally uploaded by Captain Smurf

Landed in Chile this morning. 100km bus ride through the mountains and vineyards to Vina Del Mar. Popped out in the afternoon for fish and beer. Here's a picture of my hand, some beer and a palm tree. Think I've got a touch of sunburn.