SST: June 28, 2009
28 June 2009
SST 2009 – Update #6 Departure Belfast
DEPARTURE REPORT –28 JUNE 2009/1830 LT
T/S EMPIRE STATE KKFW
LAT: 54° 42.1’ N LONG: 005° 42.9’ W
IN PORT DIST: 26.0 NM
MANUEVERING TIME: 5.6 HRS
MANUEVERING CONSUMPTION: 35.4 BBLS
ANCHOR TIME/TIME ALONGSIDE: 6.7 HRS/ 79.2 HRS
ANCHOR/ALONGSIDE CONSUMPTION: 44.6 BBLS/ 265 BBLS
IFO ROB: 7701 BBLS
MDO ROB: 563 BBLS
POTABLE/DISTILLED WATER ROB: 785/ 152 TON
SEA STATE: CALM
WIND: LT AIRS
NEXT PORT: New York, New York
DIST TO GO: 3209 NM
ETA TO PILOT STATION: 0100 LT/ 10 July 2009
Final Departure
Anticipation, excitement, and yes, maybe for some, regret. This afternoon, Sunday, 28 June, we made preparations, and got underway from Belfast, the last official port of call for summer sea term 2009, and began the crossing home. Although Belfast was not a scheduled port, it was a port that a number of cadets and crew alike thought was the best port. That is always a sign that cruise planning paid off – cadets having different favorite ports. At dinner tonight, for example, I got the chance to speak with Cadets Cruz Rivera, 2/c Engine, Brendan Marron, 3/c Deck, Nicholas Cottone, 2/C Engine, Andrew Fortunato, 1/C Deck and Daniel Woodstead, 3/C Deck. Three of the five said they loved Belfast because they got to play Rugby on a local pitch (more on that tomorrow), the other two however, felt that this cruise showed them unique places that they would never get to on their own. Cadet Rivera summed it up best by saying that he felt Iceland was great because his father had never been there, and that was “cool”. Four very different ports, in unique parts of the world, each leaving lasting impressions on these exceptional and hard working young men and women. That is part of what makes the cruise experience so valuable.
Departure from Belfast was on the afternoon tide, so it was a chance to ensure that all three watch sections had equal liberty – at least one full day, and a liberty night. It even gave a chance for a last chance to attend service at a local church or to get that last souvenir for that special someone back home. College Nurse Michael Brady, and his daughter, Anna (the ship’s medical yeoman), had a last “Irish breakfast ashore” perhaps their last special memory before Anna starts working full-time on her return home, and the return to reality. Cruise is an experience that affects everyone in different ways, but departure from the last port marks one thing for everyone, the final stretch.
The Giant’s Causeway
On Friday several cadets and I took the Giant’s Causeway tour to the north
coast of the County Antrim. This was an 8 ½ hour tour of the beautiful
northern region. Only 13 of us chose to go that day. It was unfortunate
for those who didn’t come along because we saw some of the most astounding
scenery of any of the ports of this cruise.
We traveled through peaceful, green farm country passing quaint cottages
and farmhouses. Reaching the coast, we traveled though the seaside
villages of Portstewart and Portrush and stopped at the ruins of Dunlucie
Castle on a cliff overlooking the sea. This castle was the ancestral
home of the McDonnell clan, the chiefs of Antrim. The day was clear and
warm and we could see all the way over to Scotland from the site.
Traveling further west, we came to the Giant’s Causeway itself. The
causeway is a natural formation of regularly shaped basalt columns formed
60 million years ago by volcanic activity. They extend out into the sea.
The weathered tops are so regular in shape that they look like floor tiles
making up a walkway to the ocean. The legend is that it was created by
the giant, Finn McCool so he could walk to Scotland to battle another
giant.
After exploring the Causeway for an hour we had a traditional meal of
Irish stew for lunch. Our bellies full, we moved on to the adventurous
part of the trip, crossing the rope bridge or Carrick-a-rede. The rope
bridge was first built centuries ago by fisherman so they could reach
their fishing spot on a small, rocky island 70 feet offshore. It hangs
precipitously 80 feet above the sea. Walking across on the narrow
planking was a harrowing experience to say the least. The bridge shook
and swayed while crossing it and some of us managed the crossing better
than others. My method was just not to look down. After walking around
the tiny island on the other side with cliffs dropping straight down to
the sea, we had to make a return crossing to the mainland. It was just as
thrilling.
Heading back to Belfast, we took the Antrim coast road passing through the
spectacular Glens of Antrim and the lovely seaside towns of Ballycastle,
Cushendall, Larne and Carrickfergus. Returning back to the ship that
evening, we were exhausted yet invigorated by the beautiful Irish sights
we had experienced.
Richard Delbango
Ship's Librarian
