Cruise ship coming to Gran Tarajal - Sunday

[Archer]

Yeah. Bad news. It got delayed as it needed a tug to get it clear of the pier. This took longer than planned. The Ayuntamiento are now lobbying government for the promised work to the harbour which includes a longer dock and protection against winter/southern storms.
We'll see what happens to the next scheduled arrival of Balmoral later this month. Will it go elsewhere?

[Johnrgby]

She was due to leave at 18:00 on the 2nd, it is normal for a cruise ship to leave its berth around this time if it is a one day scheduled stop, as they spend the evenings and overnight at sea, it save port charges,  I do not know what time she actually left her berth in GT, but I saw her passing Caleta at around 11:00 on the 3rd

[windermeregolfer]

Re looking at the photos I took - 

   

I wonder why the ship didn't bearth all the way into the dock and also why didn't it reverse in as the cruise ships do in PDR?

[Johnrgby]

Morning John

What is that 20/30 Feet? I wonder if they can be that precise when docking, I have seen them be a couple of feet wide of their berth and then had capstans pull them alongside, and again reversing in it looks a bit tight, as for the next ship I suppose it depends on its length, but I would be surprised if it went to GT, the problems the delay must have caused would have cast a lot of Dinero, I have an old friend who used to be a ship's master, he is retired now but he told many stories about delays caused by all sorts of things from the Weather, to engine troubles, he will tell you that for a cargo ship it is not a problem with docking on time as they can stand off and wait for a berth to become available not so with Cruise ships they run to a tight schedule and while an hour or two is no issue a day is it can mean missing a layover, to stay with the itinerary, I do not know wher The Balmorals next stop was, but I assume iit missed it to stay on plan. But again he would say that a voyage that was delayed by a day could be extended by weeks as you would miss booked berthing times and have to wait for one to become available and no little cost in fuel and crew wages.

[Archer]

This view shows the aparent problem, although the ship length was judged to be within GT berthing limits.

   

[windermeregolfer]

This view shows the aparent problem, although the ship length was judged to be within GT berthing limits.

Thanks Archer, from the shore side you couldn't see that issue.  Presume that picture was taken by the microlite we saw flying around that day.

[the_jg]

This view shows the aparent problem, although the ship length was judged to be within GT berthing limits.

There is no problem. The berthing technique was perfectly standard for that harbour.
Many ferry and oil terminals are designed to berth even bigger ships in that way and going in bow first is standard when there is a possibility of shallow water as it makes final manoeuvring easier and propeller and rudder damage less likely.

[Archer]

The problem was it is very shallow there, and the wind was strong. The tug was used for a clean reverse from the dock. The tug had to be brought in from elsewhere. Lond delay.
The Ayuntamiento (and the captain) say a longer dock will resolve the issue.
Wait and see whether Fred Olson come again in a week or two.

[Johnrgby]

I saw The Balmoral is berthed in Rosario, GT is a no no then

[windermeregolfer]

I saw The Balmoral is berthed in Rosario, GT is a no no then

Some friends have relatives on board they are meeting today and the passengers have been told that due to the Weather they are docking in PDR rather than GT