Transshelf (1987)
Transshelf tied up at Pier 9, Honolulu Harbor. 8 September 2018.
The arrival of the Boskalis* ship, Transshelf (IMO 8512279), on 6 September 2018, provided visitors to Honolulu Harbor with a rare, close-up view of a semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel. She was on her way to Asia when she developed an engine problem and had to make the unscheduled stop in Hawai‘i.
Vessels like Transshelf are designed to load and transport heavy cargo, including other ships. (See: Of Heavy-Lift and Four-Masted Sailing Ships).
The following photograph, taken by Captain Ed Enos of the Hawaii Pilots Association, shows how large Transshelf is:
Transshelf at Pier 9, with Aloha Tower and downtown Honolulu in the background. 8 September 2018. (Photo courtesy of Captain Ed Enos)
The ship is nearly 568 ft (173 m) in length. The size of her deck area is 433 ft x 131 ft (132 m x 40 m).
Recent and old marks on the deck create an interesting pattern. 8 September 2018.
View of part of the ship’s superstructure that overlooks the deck. Note the draft marks and the crew member for scale. 8 September 2018.
Buoyancy towers, located at the stern of the ship, equipped with winches and bitts for securing mooring lines. 8 September 2018.
Transshelf, repairs complete, departed on 9 September 2018. She was assisted away from Pier 9 and out of the harbor by Foss Maritime tugs Pi‘ilani and Mikioi.
Longshoremen (Rocky Tahara and Nelson Ko) from McCabe Hamilton & Renny waiting at the bow of the ship, ready to cast off lines. 9 September 2018.
Crew members hauling up a mooring line from the top of the port buoyancy tower. Note the draft marks on the tower. 9 September 2018.
Captain Tom Collins (Pilot 20) of the Hawaii Pilots Association on the bridge wing. 9 September 2018.
Transshelf outbound from Honolulu Harbor. Tug Pi‘ilani is at her stern and Mikioi is at her bow. 9 September 2018.
*Boskalis acquired Dockwise in 2013. According to the company’s website, the former Dockwise ships will all be rebranded during the course of 2018.
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