Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There is ice from Nikiski on, but Tillion isn't worried. “It's sea ice, mostly brine, which
makes it thin and soft.” Tillion graduated from the California Martime Academy in 1983
with a BS in nautical industrial technology. He's been at sea “pretty much my whole life,”
as mate on Crowley Maritime tugs for three years, captaining a log tug for a year and a
Bering Sea crab processor for three years, and on a factory trawler as mate and captain for
three years. He's been a
SWAPA
pilot for fifteen years.
The ship hums past the string of petroleum production platforms that line the western
shore of Cook Inlet. A supply ship for the platforms notifies the
Horizon Kodiak
that it
will slow down to allow the larger ship to pass. With tact and patience Vermette points out
that if the supply ship maintains its course and speed, the
Horizon Kodiak
's vector will
take it across the supply ship's stern, not their bow.
Tillion says the supply ship is looking at their radar, not using their eyes. “The eyeball
is still the best navigation aid the marine pilot has,” he says, and the supply ship's master
didn't look or he didn't trust his eyes.
It gets very quiet on the bridge as the
Horizon Kodiak
crosses Turnagain Arm. A color-
ful electronic chart displays water depth, shoals and shorelines. Captain Engberg wants to
be at the dock to begin unloading cargo by seven a.m. The ship has ridden the flood tide
up the Inlet which also gives them more water under the keel over the Knik shoals.
“Do you have a danger bearing?” Tillion asks Vermette. A danger bearing is a line a pi-
lot draws on the chart over which he won't take the ship. Vermette does. Tillion nods, sat-
isfied.
At 0330 the
Horizon Kodiak
approaches berth 2 at the Port of Anchorage dock. A Tote
ship is docked at berth 1 and a barge with a tug at the opposite end. Two tugs,
Stellar
Wind
and
Glacier Wind
, approach the ship in single file, leaving a clear wake through the
ice that shines in the dock lights. Through binoculars Vermette repeatedly examines the
still water between the dock and the edge of the ice as the ship comes up starboardside to
the dock.
Vermette orders the tugs to port bow and port quarter, all three captains suit up in cold
weather gear, and Captain Engberg transfers thruster and propulsion controls out to the
starboard wing. Vermette calls out course changes through the door, echoed loudly by the
helmsman at conning station inside.
