Dead Whale Attached to Bow of Cruise Ship in AK

[com_op_2000]

Checkout this article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireSt...uise-ship-entering-alaska-39485336?yptr=yahoo

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

This is sadly not a very unusual event. It happened on one of my ships 35 years ago. We were heading inbound at Sabine, Texas and one of the tugboats coming along side to help us dock, saw it first. Quite often it is a whale that is already dead, which is why they don't just swim out of the way.

This is a photo of the bulbous bow on the Zaandam. Note how it hooks up, making it fairly easy to catch a dead whale, if this one was dead at the time.

AKK

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

This is sadly not a very unusual event. It happened on one of my ships 35 years ago. We were heading inbound at Sabine, Texas and one of the tugboats coming along side to help us dock, saw it first. Quite often it is a whale that is already dead, which is why they don't just swim out of the way.

This is a photo of the bulbous bow on the Zaandam. Note how it hooks up, making it fairly easy to catch a dead whale, if this one was dead at the time.

AKK

Thanks Skipper for that amazing picture, it really gives perspective to how huge cruise ships are. Those 2 people look like little gnats next to the ship.

One question for you, what is the purpose of the bulbous bow, as in why is it a big hook looking thing?

Thanks Skipper, I love when you talk maritime stuff, it fascinates me.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Thanks Skipper for that amazing picture, it really gives perspective to how huge cruise ships are. Those 2 people look like little gnats next to the ship.

One question for you, what is the purpose of the bulbous bow, as in why is it a big hook looking thing?

Thanks Skipper, I love when you talk maritime stuff, it fascinates me.

Hi there Buddy,

The bulbous bow is designed to start to spread/ part the water in front of the ship and smooth the wave cycle, which makes it easier as the bulk of the hull passes though the water, making the vessel more fuel efficient and a bit faster.

They are designed as a simple cylinder ( more cheaper to build), or kinda odd like this one which is known as a complicated or techno design. They are not really a new bit of ship architecture, they have been around in various forms since the 1890's with the types we see today starting around the 1950's.

AKK

 

[tink1970]

Interesting-thanks for taking the time to educate us

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Hi there Buddy,

The bulbous bow is designed to start to spread/ part the water in front of the ship and smooth the wave cycle, which makes it easier as the bulk of the hull passes though the water, making the vessel more fuel efficient and a bit faster.

They are designed as a simple cylinder ( more cheaper to build), or kinda odd like this one which is known as a complicated or techno design. They are not really a new bit of ship architecture, they have been around in various forms since the 1890's with the types we see today starting around the 1950's.

AKK

Cool, thanks for the info!

 

[hanscarlet]

wow thanks Skipper, fascinating