Nice sharp image. I can't pick the port - that looks a lot like Old Women Island (with Mt Coolum in the background) form the seaward side; Brisbane would be the nearest port from there.
Thanks, Richard. The clue is the name of the ship. It's coming into Mackay to pick up a load of sugar. It looks as though it will need a higher tide to get out when loaded.
Nicely caught. The island in the BG just adds that bit of depth.
Nice image...blue green water in the foreground and blue water at the other end...is that an optical illusion or...?
Tiny image Tony, good composition!
Very energetic composition , I can feel the operation as if I'm on the small boat![]()
Nice shot. I take it that's the pilot boat alongside?
Pilot boats seldom have a line to the vessel being piloted.
In this case it would appear that a tug has been stationed to assist with steering on a windy day. It would try to control the direction of the bow of the vessel and allow the big boat to apply the power as needed. I suspect this one needs to make a hard turn to starboard at slow speed somewhere on the way to the dock.
Big ships have relatively small rudders and need other assistance to make large changes in direction particularly at low speed. This may take the form of thrusters or azimuthal propellers but most need a bit of string to a powerful small boat.
Thanks for all the comments.
Nandakumar, the water is bluer further out because it is a lot deeper. The water is shallow where the ship is and is stirred up quite a bit by the wind and the waves coming in from the deeper water. The tides at Mackay are high, like 5 metres at half moon and more at full/new moon.
The tug is to help control the ship. When it approached the wharf, which was on the lee side, the tug had moved round so that it was holding the ship away from the wharf. Brian, you are right about the starboard turn as it approached the wharf but first it had to turn a little to port to get through the rather narrow entrance to the harbour.