Capt.
Craig's
World - Working the Rigs
The
yacht "Traveler" gave me the tonnage I needed to sit for a bigger license. I went to
Morgan City, Louisiana and attended Morgan Memorial Trade School for three months, and
aced my 500 ton Masters License. I needed six more months to get my full 1000 tons
so I went to work for Acadian Marine in New Orleans. I was employed on several of
their vessels, the "Acadian Patriot", and the "Acadian
Victory", which were 175 foot Supply Boats. The "Acadian
Mariner", and the "Acadian Seafarer", which were 220 foot new design,
at the time,
Supply/Anchor Boats. They had a new system of diesel electric propulsion that
used a silicone rectifier to convert AC to DC. As many as 6 2,000hp
generators could be installed to created up to 8,000hp. The DC motors
and bow thrusters made the boats extremely maneuverable
and easy to operate. We supplied oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico,
carried cargo to Bermuda, and military cargo to Puerto Rico, St. Croix and Antigua.
It was one of the few times I ever had to do celestial fixes every day.
I haven't used this method of navigating seldom since. It was interesting work and I learned a lot but I needed to get back to towing.
|
|
 "Acadian Mariner" |
