Welcome

We'll periodically post images of vessels that drift past our perch on the Bosphorous. If you are a new arrival, the Bosphorous is the waterway (straits) that divides Europe from Asia and cuts right through the middle of Istanbul. You could swim from Europe to Asia (or vice versa) in about 30 minutes - if you could survive the boat traffic and/or the pollution.

The blog's perch is about half way up (or down) the Bosphorous - not the city's most supreme view. Yet, it's not too high, not too low - good enough to afford a decent view. Then again, anything better in terms of view will cost you upward of a million. Dollars. No... more. Much more. This view is free.

The aim here is to provide regular images and - where possible - further details regarding boat traffic between the Black Sea, the Marmara and points beyond.

It's not CIA - although they used to maintain a prominent viewing location (and probably still do) - The transit through the Bosphorous is Russia's traditional outlet to the world's oceans - most other Russian outlets ice over in the winter. But, there is no hidden blog agenda, no intent to spy. This is just our view and publicly available data related to those views: Boats on the Water. Passing by. Happened to catch them ....

Saturday, February 27, 2016

IVS Kinglet

Note the helipad mid-way back on the deck in front of the bridge.

Name: IVS Kinglet
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Singapore
Date: 27 Feb 2016
Weather: little fog

Atlantic

We had a bit of fun with this one. She's got another vessel on her deck, and while the quality of the images aren't great, with a little photoshopping/ contrast ... brightness ... we were able to mostly make out the name of the vessel on the deck. It appears to be the Thorolf Kveldulfson (see the link for evidence)

Name: Atlantic
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Netherlands
Date: 27 Feb 2016
Weather: light fog

Sahil Guvenlik 90

Couldn't locate anything specific to this particular vessel, but it appears to be one of the Turkish Coast Guard boats in the "80" class - see the link below for details and a standard image.

Name: Sahil Guvenlik 90
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: navy
Flags: Turkey
Date: 27 Feb 2016
Weather: minor fog

Barla

The light fog limits the quality/visibility unfortunately.

Name: Barla
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Sierra Leone
Date: 27 Feb 2016
Weather: light fog

Friday, February 26, 2016

Zinnet Cavusoglu

Look closely at the the closeup of the aft section and you'll see a man on deck.
(As we noted earlier, "oglu" is son.) Cavus - that's C cedilla and s cedilla - and g with a "hat" - is sergeant = son of the sergeant.

Name: Zinnet Cavusoglu
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Turkey
Date: 26 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast

H. Can

On the mast is the yellow "clearance/health" flag. There is a man in hi-vis jacket visible in the closeup up the bow. The M/V appended to the name could mean Motor Vessel? Commonly used in Turkish boats.

Name: H. Can
Heading: South/Marmara Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Malta
Date: 26 Feb 2016
Weather: getting dusky

Med Tekirdag

The weather on the Bosphorous can change pretty rapidly.This morning, the fog made it virtually impassable. This afternoon, as you see in the other two vessels from today, it turned gray in a matter of a few minutes - both evening setting in and the overall weather (headed towards tomorrow morning's mist?)
Tekirdag is a port about 50 miles south/southwest of Istanbul. The port city of the vessel (clearly visible on the aft closeup)- Izmir -is also a bit south of Istanbul.

Name: Med Tekirdag
Heading: South/Marmara
Type: container
Flags: Turkey
Date: 26 Feb 2016
Weather: sunny now, dusky in 15 minutes

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Marianne Danica

Clear view of both the Danish and Turkish flags ...

Name: Marianne Danica
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo/hazardous
Flags: Denmark
Date: 25 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast

Finnborg

A closer look at the flag on the mast reveals the yellow "health OK, clearance requested" flag. And a look at the stern flag clearly show the tri-color flag of the Netherlands.
In addition, while you are zooming in, notice the 4 or 5 men in hi-visibility jackets at the back of the boat (in the stern close-up).
BTW: nice paint job, no? Typically Dutch?

Name: Finnborg
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Netherlands
Date: 25 Feb 2016
Weather: gray

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Genco Ocean

Name: Genco Ocean
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Liberia
Date: 24 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast, light drizzle

Tian Fu

Professor Katsman in the background
One shipping database reports:

NANTONG COSCO KHI

(Ship name as reported by AIS: TIAN FU)
Read more at http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3727266/mmsi:477588500/imo:9704738/vessel:NANTONG_COSCO_KHI#lp67ruL4i7m38CEp.99

Name: Tian Fu
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Hong Cong
Date: 24 Feb 2016
Weather: light drizzle

Professor Katsman

Professor Katsman came along just behind the Tian Fu, which you can see in one of the shots. Check out the link to see what she has been up to!

Name: Professor Katsman
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Russia
Date: 24 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast, spitting rain

C 140

Some days, you wait and wait and almost nothing passes by. Other days, they come back to back so fasst you can hardly keep up.
C 140 appeared almost immediately after first Tian Fu, followed by Professor Katsman. Almost caught all 3 in the same frame!
Notice: we caught a man (again) working on the sat. antenna of a building in the line of sight. Also notice the Turyol local Bosphorous tour boat in the background.

Name: C 140
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: navy/landing craft
Flags: Turkey
Date: 24 Feb 2016
Weather: almost a drizzle, spitting rain

Monday, February 22, 2016

Nazim Imamoglu

Actually, that is an "undotted i" in Nazim and a "soft g" in Imamoglu, but the Internet isn't especially friendly to non-ASCII characters unless your computer has already been "internationalized" so as to recognize non-US character sets. The resolution of the image isn't great, but you can maybe make out the "hat" above the g.
Incidentally "oglu" equates to "son" and the "imam" is the "pastor" - so ... this is named for Nazim, the Son of the Pastor - look back at the previous Apostle Andrew - lots of religion floating by today.

Name: Nazim Imamoglu
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Turkey
Date: 22 Feb 2016
Weather: chilly but clear

Aspen

Name: Aspen
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Marshall Islands
Date: 22 Feb 2016
Weather: chilly but sunny

Apostol Andrev

Apostol Andrev is the Apostle Andrew: patron saint of several countries, including Russia - no special maritime association that we can find.
If you look closely, you'll see a seagull right edge of the close-up - just next to the mast.
Also notice the flag at the fore-mast - seems to be the Turkish flag (usually at the aft mast)?
Also notice the "yali" - Bosphorous waterfront "min palace" just behind on the the Asian shore.
Nice evening lighting colors, but it seems to have affected the final quality of the photo: mildly out of focus.

Name: Apostol Andrev
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Russia
Date: 22 Feb 2016
Weather: clear, mild chill with sun

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Clipper Triumph

Pilot on Board - see the read and white flag

Name: Clipper Triumph
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Bahamas
Date: 20 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast

United Journey

Name: United Journey
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: tanker
Flags: Marshall Islands
Date: 20 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast

Friday, February 19, 2016

Azov

Not your regular "tanker" = carrying veggies! in oil.
Check out the men caught inadvertently on the roof-top

Name: Azov
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: vegetable oil tanker
Flags: Russia
Date: 19 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast and very mild drizzle

Can Yucel

Name: Can Yucel
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: bulk carrier
Flags: Turkey
Date: 19 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast and very mild drizzle

Y68

There isn't too much data online about this vessel:
Possibly understandable considering its military/naval nature
but the link seems to indicate that we got it right.
Small but sleek. Hardly looks military at first - except the color.
It was headed against the direction of CanYucel and they passed each other going opposite ways right in front of us.

Name: Y68
Heading: South/Marmara
Type: Navy
Flags: Turkish
Date: 19 Feb 2016
Weather: brisk, some mist, cold rain coming in

Adalady

Name: Adalady
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Turkey
Date: 19 Feb 2016
Weather: overcast and very mild drizzle