At Castine Maine

Friday, 18 May     Day 15   Daily Log   Voyage #  0107

Here we are, transiting the Straits of Gibraltar after what has been about the smoothest crossing we have ever had on this ship.  A couple of bumpy days is all we experienced the whole crossing.  Not the best temperature and a bit of wind but pretty nice anyway.

We will spend a couple of days in the Med conducting training and observing the traffic flows in and out of the Straits and on to the many Med ports and trade routes to the East and on to Suez for many of the vessels.  (Probably circumnavigate Ibiza). The Straits, Gibraltar & Malacca are the two major East West straits that are highly traveled by the World's Merchant Fleets.  Our AIS (Automated Information System) had pages of ships headed in all directions.  In fact it had entries last night out to 200 miles, which is it's display limit.  This unit identifies all ships by the signal they are continuously broadcasting similar to an aircraft transponder.  It give, ship information, contact information, destination, cargo, status and also gives heading, speed and course over the ground.  It is also capable of text messaging directly to a vessel you have on your screen.

Just s reminder....In the U.S. next Tuesday the 22nd of May is National Maritime Day.  That day has officially been designated by our Government.  We may also celebrate World Maritime Day, which is set by the United Nations International Maritime Organization and is normally towards the end of September.

Check out our Question and Answer page.

Position at 1200 Local Time (LT)                                                   Zone Description +1 hours
Latitude  35-56.4 N  Longitude  005-30.5  W

Noon to noon (or Departure to Noon or Noon to Arrival):  
Distance:     299.9  Nmiles
Time run:     23 hrs  00  min
Average Speed.  13.0  Kts
Total passage distance:     3017.3    Nmiles       (to date)
Total passage Time:   09  Days   12 Hours   45  Minutes
Total Average Speed:   13.2   Kts

ETA Gibraltar  21 May  at 0800 Local time (ZT +2 hours) 0600 UTC

Daily Routine today.

Photos of the "Pillars of Hercules"

Wind:  ENE'ly   18 Knots
Sea:     Small NE'ly
Swell:  Low NE'ly
Sky:    Sunny
Temperature:  68 Air    65  Sea   

Synopsis:  Upper level systems are molding our weather.  Big low up North and another over Africa.

Straits of Gibraltar

Traffic

The North & South "Pillars of Hercules"

The Pillar of the 1200 to 1600 watch in front of the African Pillar

Dolphins enjoy paying around the bows of ships.

Gibraltar Info:            

Odessa Info:

Split Info:

Halifax Info:

Rockland/Castine  Excursion:

Rockland to Castine the day we arrive back at our home berth (30 June) has been designated as a possible "excursion day".  The U.S. Coast Guard has granted us a permit to take extra persons on board above our vessels certification.  To do this we have to have certain lifesaving procedures and equipment on board.  Accordingly the numbers we can take are strictly limited.  We, of necessity,  have limited our guests to 2 persons per upper class student on cruise (immediate family members only) plus official MMA invitees and crew member guests.  We can not offer more because we do not have the lifesaving capability.  Also this is always a tentative adventure which, because of weather, security, operational difficulties etc. may be cancelled up to the last moment.  The security issue is becoming a big item in how we offer and execute these excursions, so for those who are planning to attend please be patient with the necessary safety and security procedures.

Castine to Gibraltar

Gibraltar to Odessa

Odessa to Split

Split to Halifax

Halifax to Rockland / Castine

TOTAL Cruise Mileage:      

    3800   Nautical Miles (Estimated)

    2260   Nautical Miles  (Estimated)

    1530   Nautical Miles   (Estimated)

    4460   Nautical Miles   (Estimated)

       280  Nautical Miles   (Estimated)

    12,330  Nautical Miles  (Estimated)