Olympic water ship, June 2010

[davidfromhastings]

A bit of nostalgia here from June 5, 2010 as water carrier Olympic departs the harbour after unloading. I missed seeing the water ships on my visit last year -they had always seemed so much part of the island (along with the water being cut off from time to time). I presume the new desalination plant produces enough water to supply the island at all times? Or might there be a need to supplement with water boats from time to time?
This photo was taken from the balcony of the Petros Apartments (up) which provided a great view over the harbour. It was from there that I spent an interesting fourty minutes or so watching Olympic attempt to leave the harbour that year. Every time it moved forward it would come to an juddering halt with a horrible scrunching sound (I presume that was the bottom of the boat grounding in shallow water?). It kept reversing back and then trying again with the same result. I almost thought I'd should give it a cheer when it finally made it out  Maybe I misinterpreted what happened there as surely the captain would have known the correct channels to take when leaving? Question for our nautical experts there......

[Deleted]

Nothing so exciting as touching the bottom. There is more than enough water in the harbour for a vessel with much greater draft than Olympia. Merely a bit of trouble getting the anchor up. Has happened to other vessels leaving Halki (& not only Halki!!!!). It can be caused by a couple of things namely, the windlass (anchor winch) being basically c*****d out which would not be surprising on the Olympia. Or, and more likely in view of your description, the anchor was fouled on the bottom. There is quite a bit of detritus down there and I have watched all manner of craft struggle to free anchors including the big ferries on a few occasions. What happens is that the anchor chain is happily coming clanking up the pipe when suddenly it can't go any more and the whole operation comes to a juddering, clanking, grinding halt. The usual procedure is to slack it away again, reverse the ship and then have another go, using the rudder to cant the ship one way or another. Fortunately, this eventually results in the offending "hook" breaking free. It can be a noisy business. Believe me it is a time to clear the wheelhouse as the resulting Captain's language and foul temper is not something to behold. I have been there a few times. Oh yea!
Sorry to overturn your mental picture of ships running aground but - not in this case. I'll dig out the old faithful picture from my files of the disastrous evening when it did happen-big time.

[Deleted]

Yes, sorry "Olympic". I was thinking of a big ferry about 309 years ago which used to serve Halki. Below is the picture I referred to - V.Kornaros alongside the harbour front villas. Not a happy Captain that night!!!!!

[Deleted]

309 years ago?? Typo sorry - 30.

[davidfromhastings]

Many thanks sth for the detailed explanation -which makes much more sense than what I thought was happening. Happy to have my mental picture overturned in favour of an accurate one!Great photo of the V.Kornaros -is there a thread about that incident you could point me towards? I'd like to know more. Regards, David. ETA found it (I forgot there is a search feature here!)

[Deleted]

Yes there is something in here somewhere. From my point of view that evening as I sat on my balcony watching her come in, it was all a bit bizarre. As someone who in earlier years had actually "driven" that same ship when she was British, I instinctively knew something was not right. Sure wasn't!!!

[Deleted]

For your further interest, the Olympic was built in 1968 as the "Percy Dawson" for the NW Water Authority as a Waste Disposal or Sludge vessel to operate out of Manchester. The task of these "Bovril Boats" was to transport human waste out to designated areas at sea and dump it. This activity is now not permitted.
She served them until she was sold to Effluent Services of Macclesfield in 1988 and was used for exactly the same purpose from a variety of UK ports on contract.
In 2000 she was sold to her current owners in Greece who use her for fresh water for direct human consumption. Needed a good wash out I expect! The majority of the fleet of water carriers in Greece have come from the waste disposal industry. There have been a few ex oil tankers. How the wheels turn. Thirsty anyone?

[davidfromhastings]

Thanks for the further info (I think). Hopefully, it did get a rinse out between the different tasks

[Deleted]

Feb 27, 2016 18:07:55 GMT @sth said:

For your further interest, the Olympic was built in 1968 as the "Percy Dawson" for the NW Water Authority as a Waste Disposal or Sludge vessel to operate out of Manchester. The task of these "Bovril Boats" was to transport human waste out to designated areas at sea and dump it. This activity is now not permitted.
She served them until she was sold to Effluent Services of Macclesfield in 1988 and was used for exactly the same purpose from a variety of UK ports on contract.
In 2000 she was sold to her current owners in Greece who use her for fresh water for direct human consumption. Needed a good wash out I expect! The majority of the fleet of water carriers in Greece have come from the waste disposal industry. There have been a few ex oil tankers. How the wheels turn. Thirsty anyone?

I recall an amusing if somewhat "risque" true story told by the Captain of a regular trading tanker to Stanlow when the "Percy Dawson" (mentioned above) was going about her lawful business on the Manchester Canal.

"As a young master on vessels visiting Stanlow Island I thought it very jovial to write the following on my night orders regarding the Bovril boats, " be extra vigilant 2 hours either side of high water Eastham, ensure the moorings are tight in case the Percy Dawson comes flying by and sucks you off".

When I used to sit watching the Olympic approaching Halki, I found the oncoming smile hard to control. Sorry folks.