Last Week in Bundaberg Port

On 13 Dec 2011 at the morning high tide, "Doris" left for Melbourne with a load of raw sugar, aided by the tug "Ballina". The tug "Wilga" returned to Brisbane a couple of days earlier. Our next sugar ship is not due until the middle of January 2012.





 

Last mooring line is gone, and "Doris" sails off to the Coral Sea - 13 Dec 2011  ©2011 WoJo12

The dredge "Everglade" came to  Bundaberg from Port Douglas in April this year to restore the shipping channel following the floods. It appears that the dredge is now being prepared to leave Bundaberg following completion of the works. The spud poles have been removed and the cabin is sporting a new lick of paint



The business end of the dredge "Everglade" earlier in the week ©2011 WoJo12

And now finally, in earlier post I related and illustrated the demise of the former navy patrol boat "HMAS Aware". Now there is nothing left at all. Here are a couple of photos of the last pieces being carried away.



The rear section, showing the rudder mechanism ©2011 WoJo12



Below - the last piece of history, off to the scrap yard ©2011 WoJo12



Doris Graces Us With Her Presence

"Doris" arrived from Sydney yesterday. At this morning's high tide, the pilot steered the 182m vessel up the river aided by the tugs "Ballina" and "Wilga".

 




In the Burnett River , from left to right - "Tharion", "Wilga", Doris and "Ballina  11 Dec 2011            ©2011 WoJo12

Now some of my blog followers may be asking about shipspotting in Bundaberg and how to find out the information of arriving and departing ships. My main source of ship schedules are various pages from the Port of Gladstone website. Remember that the Port of Bundaberg is under the control of the Port of Gladstone.

So for the longer forecast, the shipping comapnies nominate approx when the ship might be due - up to 3 weeks in advance http://www.cqpa.com.au/webscripts/ShippingNotifications/ShippingNominations.asp?terminalid=92  Remember that there are two berths in Bundy and sometimes they sneak in a molasses ship at the other berth.

Closer to the estimated arrival time, I check qships for finer information selecting the port of Bundaberg in the top right corner http://www.qships.transport.qld.gov.au/Public/PublicMovements.aspx

Then 2 days out, I check the Duty Pilot Vessel Movements, looking for notations "BDB" or "sugar" - sometimes it is not obvious!!! http://www.cqpa.com.au/webscripts/Pilots/Schedule.ASP

So there you have it - all you would be shipspotters, come on down and see it happen. The best viewing area is between the Bundaberg Port Marina and Wallace Creek - the ship channel is closest to the bank at that point.

One last thing - to find out about a ship that is coming into port, or anywhere else in the world goto http://www.marinetraffic.com/ . Here is a link to the page on "Doris" http://marinetraffic2.aegean.gr/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=215080000

See you there.

   



Ocean Victory for Bundaberg

 

Tug "Wilga" at the entrance to the Burnett River 04 Dec2011          ©2011 WoJo12




Well, after the strong winds in the Wide Bay have subsided sufficiently, today finally saw the arrival in port of the "Ocean Victory" from Yokohama.  Scheduled originally to dock on Friday's daylight high tide, the 169m ship was escorted up the Burnett River by the Tug "Wilga" from Brisbane, and locally-based tug "Ballina".

The "Ocean Victory" entering the Burnett River 04 Dec 2011                                             ©2011 WoJo12

The most technical part of the docking is turning the ship around in the confines of the river. At the swing basin, the ship dropped its port anchor, and then the tugs began the job of swinging the ship about the anchor.

The "Ocean Victory" almost about, while the line boat awaits the mooring lines 04 Dec 2011        ©2011 WOJO12

The final step is to ease the vessel to the Bulk Sugar Terminal, gently pushed by the assisting tugs.

Tug "Ballina" pushing the "Ocean Victory" to the dock, pilot vessel "Kareela" already tied up                      04 Dec 2011                                                                                                                      ©2011 WoJo12

If everything goes according to plan, loading should be finished in time for the ship to leave on tomorrow's daylight high tide.