Our Latest Eco Visitor

Almost 6:30am - can you see the Eco visitor ? [30/08/2012]

This time of the year in Bundaberg, the days are glorious, but 6:23 in the morning, although beautiful as you can see, it is still a little fresh.

However, the ship on the righthand side of the above photo is the latest sugar ship to Bundy, the "Eco Vanguard". She is 169m long and 27m wide and her last port was Darwin.

The "Eco Vanguard" sailing up the Burnett River, assisted by "PT Monto" and local tug "Ballina" [30/08/2012]

These days two tugs are required for ships in our port, and on this occasion, the local tug "Ballina" was assisted by "PT Monto" which was on her way from Gladstone to Brisbane.

"PT Monto" alongside the "Eco Vanguard", preparing to take on a bow line [30/08/2012]

Loading a ship this size can be completed in under 24 hours, and so the next morning, "Eco Vanguard" sailed down the Burnett River, heading for Kinuura in Japan with 25000 tonnes of our finest sugar.

"Eco Vanguard", somewhat lower in the water - next port, Kinuura, Japan [31/08/2012]

More April News from the Bundaberg Port

Queensland Fisheries vessel "K I Ross"

Well, it's April 7 and "New Ambition" is due to sail shortly, but the attractive "K I Ross" momentarily distracted me.

The pilot is onboard, the lines have been cast, and another load of sugar sails down the Burnett River.
 

"New Ambition", escorted by local tug "Ballina"

 

***********************************************************************

It's now April 8 and a few of us are at the Burnett Heads Marina awaiting for "Doris" to arrive - but, wait, here she comes!!

"Doris" at the entrance to the Burnett River, with the waving crowd!!




Swinging the ship on the port anchor, aided by "SMIT Leopard" and "Ballina"





Almost there, the first lines are there. "Ballina" and "Smit Leopard" are easing "Doris" in.


 Further April port news in the next instalment - bye for now.

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 Stranded In Bundaberg

Well, my post about the sugar ship "Ocean Victory" yesterday has proven to be not accurate, but not my doing. The ship is all loaded up and ready to go, but, alas, there is no pilot available to take the ship back out to sea.

Because of the infrequent visits of ships to our port, the pilot who navigates the ship into the river and to the sugar terminal drives down from Gladstone for the occasion. The Port of Bundaberg is controlled by the Gladstone Ports Corporation. The Harbour-Master for the Port of Bundaberg is also in Gladstone.

So we have the "Ocean Victory" in port until the scheduled departure on 7 Dec 2011, weather permitting.

In the meantime, here is another photo of the ship, swinging off the port anchor.