Polar Pioneer Float-off: Saturday

As I recorded in a previous article, Dockwise Blue Marlin arrived in Port Angeles with her dry tow, Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Polar Pioneer, on April 17th.

I learned that the float-off would take place on Saturday morning, April 25th. So I loaded up my doggie, Starbucked my thermos, and did the hour drive to Port Angeles, arriving early, about 8 a.m.

A few Foss tugs tied up here and there, but most activity was with one or two Arrow Marine launches shuttling between the Blue Marlin and the beach.

Since the Blue Marlin was on the hook closer to Ediz Hook than the Port Angeles Esplanade, I elected to park on the Hook a short distance from the Puget Sound Pilot Station.

To wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Black Ball Ferry Coho got back from 1st trip to Victoria, B.C.

The submarine escort vessels returned to port. Note rapid fire guns!

The Aiviq's launch returned from town and stowed aboard the tug.

By 7 p.m., it was apparent nothing would take place until the next day, Sunday. So I decided to wait for sundown to get shots with the vessels lit up.

I really didn't come prepared for a lengthy session, reasoning the float-off would have been completed hours earlier. With my Key Grip out of snacks, we packed it in and decided to drive back to Port Townsend.

I drove back through town, stopping at the Esplanade, grabbing a pretty decent night shot of the Blue Marlin, and returned to Port Townsend.

To be continued.