Check out this parking job...

[Brian D]

OK... I'm impressed. Nice use of the anchor @ :25 into the video.

 

[Tally Ho]

Well sure it looks impressive, but it's easy with a bow thruster!

It also looked like his rear props (or whatever that boat has for propulsion) could turn more than 90 degrees.

Greg

 

[kloudie1]

Those guys use "Azimuth Thrusters".. basically a pair of humongus saildrive units that can rotate independently .. a computer does the work of managing direction and power, and the pilot drives with a joystick.. Very neat system. https://www.rolls-royce.com/~/media/Files/R/Rolls-Royce/documents/customers/marine/propulsors.pdf

 

[Tally Ho]

Over kill for docking my 32-footer!

 

[bletso]

Still very good seamanship skills. That was impressive

 

[Bill Roosa]

I did not see a bow thruster, I did see the anchor chain splashing in the water though. A bow thruster would not be very useful with the anchor down. And I think that the Captain just used the two props, starboard in forward and port in reverse to generate a torque and pivot around the anchor.
Clearly a seaman of great skill in any case. Heck, I'd be wetting my pants if I was coming into port on a ship that size at those speeds.

 

[DayDreamer41]

Looking at something like this under that bad boy

 

[Brian D]

@Bill Roosa, look around 2:58. You should see some minor bow thruster activity. Not much, but there is turbulence in the water at the starboard bow.

 

[Jackdaw]

Greek ferrys are the roads of the Greek islands. They run in all conditions. People depend on them. Those guys are crazy good pros.

 

[Brian D]

Think I will try that to back into my slip. Just run down the fairlane, drop my anchor and see if my stern spins around to line me up with my slip, then back in. LOL I can see the dock master now screaming and yelling. LOL

 

[WayneH]

They weren't in port very long at all. The water was still roiled up when the ship was leaving port.

 

[AWalker]

Certainly takes some skill!

 

[The Garbone]

That hook is all nice and shiny when the lift it. Gets a lot of use is my guess. Nice.