Seattle to SE Alaska on the Pacific Titan

I bought a trip on Western Towboat's Pacific Titan at an auction for Children's Hospital (Seattle).We departed Fremont Friday 10 June at 1500.

She is powered by two Caterpillar 3516-B LS diesel engines, turning at 1,600 RPMs. Turning two 100(in) by 120(in) Schottel propellers, mounted in Ulstein z drive units, for a rated 4,500 horsepower.

Definitely a stand up engine room.

Made our way down to the Western Waterway and made up with our barge, the Southeast Provider (Alaska Marine Lines). Completed loading and got underway at 1800, next stop Ketchikan.

Pacific Titan's pilothouse

How are the accommodations (food, bedding, entertainment)?

Pad even, sounds like a great trip. Enjoy!

markpierce said:

How are the accommodations (food, bedding, entertainment)?

Click to expand...

I had a crew stateroom to myself with it's own head & shower. Very comfortable, if not glamorous.

Endless food, very tasty....I probably gained 5lbs.

You can get a sense for the arrangements in this video.

https://youtu.be/jgH1CWmSYX4

Approaching Ketchikan....cruise ships and more cruise ships, including the one anchored out in the main channel on account of the Celebrity Infinity mishap.

The Potlach Bar......

Shortening up the tow for the Wrangell Narrows, on approach to Petersburg, 14 June 0900.

Narrow waters for a 100' wide barge in tow.

14 June, 2030 hours: Frederick Sound in route to Juneau.

Probably saw about 30 whales in total off Cape Fanshaw.

Pad-I am so jealous! But first-thanks so much for supporting Children's. Our daughter has spent more time than we would have wished for there and they are really the best!

I have seen that tug probably a hundred times over the years, and have always liked seeing her. She is always clean, beautiful and will maintained. Your shots only confirm that. That had to be just an awesome trip!

While I definitely wouldn't want to pay the fuel bill, have always found engine rooms like that to be fascinating. Am definitely envious of your trip!

Ted

What a great trip. I echo THD, it was for a very good cause. Did the crew have any comments on conditions that require a weather wait?

OMG do I see a turbocharger on that engine?

Weather waits are almost unheard of. It's typically inside all the way to SE.....on rare occasions they will time passages for QC Sound and Dixon Entrance for the weather.

Another interesting contingency: what if the wire parts and they lose the tow? A ~100' safety line is streamed off the stern of the barge while in tow. This is connected to a contingency wire that is tack welded along the starboard side of the barge from stern to bow. If the wire parts, they grab the safety line and secure it to the winch, then make up a new tow.

Refer check

Refer Check Video: There are many refrigerated containers on the barge. Once a day, the crew needs to check on these containers to make sure they are operating correctly. There is a central generator(s) on the barge powering these units.

While the tow is proceeding at ~10 knots, the tug cuts power and swings out to the side of the barge. There's ~500 yards of wire out at this point and the wire just droops out while the tug comes along side and transfers two crewmen over to the barge so they can conduct checks. Once crew transfer is complete, the tug resumes the tow for ~30 minutes, then repeats the transfer process to reclaim the crew.

The video of this transfer was shot off Sarah Island.

Hi Padeen, I posted last night but must have forgot to clickit. Anyway, this is great fun for me as I worked at WTB for around 10 years, back from around 1981 to I think '92. When I started there they only had 4 boats, and I think only one of those remains, the WASP. The company has really grown over the years, I am still in contact with the owners as they were friends of the family for years. I probably only know a few of the employees now. Who was skipper on your trip? You can PM if you prefer. I made a lot of trips north while there and few south as well on a lumber run and occasional other trips. Went all the way to Nome and Kotzebue on the Ocean Mariner. Great boats and as you say great feeders too. Glad you had a good time, its interesting work. Well some of the time anyways.

The captain of the Pacific Titan on this trip was Sonny W. You may know him....I think he's got close to 30 years in with WTB. Great guy, excellent mariner, and a gracious host.

No, afraid I don't know him. I was working there a lot in that time frame and sure don't remember anyone by that name. However the company was really taking off then too and growing and its possible he was working there then, possibly at a lower rating.