Jim and Lyndi ZR-1 Road Trip 2019 - Back to Alaska

[QB93Z]

Day 17 Ferry to Valdez continued

We left Whittier at 1:30 and sailed across Prince William Sound to Valdez. The ferry, MV Aurora, smaller than the MV Columbia that we rode thru the Inside Passage. There is only 1 car deck and no passenger cabins.



Along the way we spotted some wild life near the ship, dolphins and and Harbor Seals:





As we approached the port of Valdez, we passed the Valdez Oil Terminal, the end of the Alaska Pipeline, on the south bank of the Sound:




There was a medium size cruise ship in port waiting loading for an evening departure. The Alaska Ferry terminal was just ahead of the cruise ship, so I got to evaluate the ship handling skills of the Captain and the line handlers:



The approach to the berth was satisfactory. The Captain used his bow thrusters to get parallel to the berth:




Once we were close to our position the Bow Line Handlers sent the mooring lines over. First to be sent over was a messenger line with a monkey fist to make the throw easier. Lyndi got a picture of the throw for line 2:




The Line Handler on the pier pulled the mooring line to a cleat a strain was taken to position the ship:



Based on my experience mooring submarines, I would rate the landing as Very Good.


We made a short drive to our hotel and Lyndi really liked the desk clerk's sweater. Lyndi likes Bats:



Jim