WE WILL TAKE THIS SHIP ON SEPT. 17-18, 2016, A LONG TRIP (2 x 210 miles) ACROSS THE GOM:
It seems there is quite an interest in the various commercial ferries and steamships which have crossed the GOM between Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia over the decades ( Yarmouth, Nova Scotia ), especially since the legendary BlueNose started in 1955, which I was on several times and loved ( MV Bluenose - Wikipedia ). More on this history next month (note that this new 2016 CAT is NOT the same ship as the old 1998 and 2002 CAT's), but first, here is what is happening in mid-2016 as we try to determine how birder-friendly the newest ship is.... the new ferry ( aka USNS Puerto Rico and called the Alakai Hawaiian SuperFerry before that ) which just arrived from its Hawaiian work last month and began its first GOM crossings on June 15, 2016...
FIRST REPORT FROM THE FIELD -- CROSSING THE G.O.M.!
Here is the first in-person report I have received (on July 14th) about this new ship from T.Home and S.Wahlstrom, from a trip taken the first week in July 2016, during the new ships third week of operation since leaving its Hawaiian route:
" I thought it relatively smooth, though sea conditions determine most of that... Open rails are provided in the stern and in two sections on each side without obstruction. They are near midship so motion is minimized. It moves at close to 35 knots, so the side rails are quite breezy with eddies that can buffet you. I spent a fair amount of time out there with binoculars looking for anything of interest. ...It was a reasonably stable platform overall."
Our research on this new ship is continuing, to determine its pros and cons for bird observations, bird photography, whale watching, marine surveys, etc. Will publish results here.
Note the opening on the port side of the ship, on the right side of this photo....
There seem to be outdoor viewing areas on both sides of the ship, near the rear...
Here is the video for advertising this ship...
The new CAT ferry's first trip crossing the GOM, on June 15, 2016...
Here is the new CAT ferry, heading for New England as of June 2, 2016... This is the ship for our September Gulf Of Maine trip...
One month in, here’s how the new Nova Scotia ferry is doing as of July 12 and 13.
Portland-Nova Scotia ferry service off to slow start, but it's picking up steam << Update as of July 15, 2016.
Here is our new ship, in its previous life, in Hawaii (2007-2009), when it was called the Alakai ( Alakai Hawaii Superferry )...
Here is a five minute video about this ship's service in Hawaii: Hawaii Superferry - YouTube
Hawaii Superferry Ride - Kahului to Honolulu - YouTube << Another video about this ship.
Hawaii SuperFerry Megastructures Documentary National Geographic Documentary - YouTube << the construction of this ferry.
More news next month, and probably next week...
