The above photo was submitted by gCaptain charter member Eric Miller and was taken by John Dunaway, 2nd mate of the 8,000 DWT US Flagged heavy lift vessel M/V Ocean Atlas. The ship has a 400 metric tons lifting capacity, 11,500-cbm bale, box-shaped holds, and 16.5 knot service speed. The ship was designed for the movement of project/heavy-lift and military cargoes such as heat exchangers, turbines, generators, locomotives, refinery equipment and the like.

The above photo was taken on the Gatun Locks northbound in the Panama Canal and sent to us when the ship reached Houston. Next stop for John and Eric? Back through  the Panama canal followed by a voyage to Hawaii and Papua New Guinea. We wish them fair winds and a following seas… and hope they take more photos along the way!

(c) 2010 Robert Almeida Photography

Image taken by Rob Almeida at Galena Park, Houston.  This bulk carrier was taking on grain bound for Port Sudan.

In August 2001 the Bulk Carrier Windoc was lined up on the Welland Canal’s Bridge 11 in Ontario Canada. After recieving the flashing amber approach light indicating that the bridge operator was aware of the vessel the captain lined up on the centerline and maintained a speed of 5 knots. Minutes later while the vessel was half way through the bridge started descending.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Bridge Team’s Story

When the vessel was approximately halfway under the bridge, the third officer observed that the bridge signal lights were solid red and the lift span was descending. At 2053, the master sounded a few blasts on the ship’s whistle. The master, without identifying himself or the bridge in question, called the TCC on VHF channel 14 about the lowering of the bridge. The master quickly stopped the engines and ordered an evacuation of the wheelhouse.The master and third officer left the wheelhouse by the starboard navigation bridge wing. As they proceeded down the external bridge access ladder, the span of the bridge struck the vessel in way of the wheelhouse front windows, subsequently destroying the vessel’s wheelhouse and funnel. The wheelsman remained at his station in the wheelhouse and lay down on the deck as the bridge span passed overhead. He freed himself from the debris and descended by the deckhouse stairwell alive.

Miraculously no one was killed in the event.

For detailed information on the incident visit:

• Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada’s Report
• The TSB’s brief synopsis
• TSB Photos of the incident.
• Huge list of Windoc Related Photos
• Photos of the bridge before incident.

Damage To The Wheelhouse

Remains of the Ship’s Radar

The Windoc During Better Days: