Puffin S Prince Hadi

Back after a week away and  - at least today - the weather is clear.
We have two evening vessels for you - more or less passing at the same time:
Prince Hadi (above) and Puffin S (below)

Name : Prince Hadi
 Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: carrier
Flags: Sierra Leone
Date: 31 Jan 2017
Weather: nice and clear late afternoon

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Name : Puffin S (no current AIS data)
 Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: ??
Flags: ??
Date: 31an 2017
Weather: chilly but clear 

Gulf River

As an example of how difficult it can be to ID a vessel: Gulf River.
Visual conditions at their limits: cannot see the boats. Even with lens/optics visibility is very limited.
In fact, we thought this was a different vessel: likely Megalon (which it's not) . But that is what the AIS database said.

As before ,,, how do you ID a vessel? If you have a clear photo ... that is your starting point (you can see the name). If not ... you use the various AIS databases - generally accurate if you are careful about refreshing the data.

But if the weather is nasty and your visual data is limited ???


Name : Gulf River
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: cargo
Flags: Togo
Date: 18 Jan 2017
Weather: snow is going away- now drizzle rain

United Fortitude

Weather conditions on the Bosphorous are famous for changing - sometimes several times in a single day.
After the debilitating snows last week, when we couldn't even get out to take pictures, we now see nasty wet drizzle/rain. Can't even see the Asian shore.
But that, too, is a part of Boats on the Bosphorous. The boats come and go: rain, snow or shine,
So ... in weather like this, how do you ID your vessel?
If you are good with your tools, you might manage a clear shot (the United Fortitude shots are clear enough to make us sure).
Otherwise ... you try to match online data from AIS systems to ID the vessel - but you need to be careful. While the online data might say "2 minutes ago", you cannot be sure that 2 minutes ago on-screen is actually 2 minutes ago in real time.

Here for you, a drizzled shot of United Fortitude: Jan 18 @ the Bosphorous.

Name : United Fortitude
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: tanker
Flags: Greece
Date: 18 Jan 2017
Weather: snow is going away- now drizzle rain

Brave Leader

Nice light - it is getting light earlier
We've seen others of the same line (Brave ...)





Name : Brave Leader
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: carrier
Flags: Lebanon
Date: 13 Jan 2017
Weather: snow is going away

Zeynep A

We wonder who in Malta would name their ship Zeynep A.
Gong north ....



Name : Zeynep A
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: tanker
Flags: Malta
Date: 12 Jan 2017
Weather: after some serious snow

Orca 2

We have had major snow this week.
As a result, we have not been able to even get out to take shots.
(There would have been 0 visibility anyway)



Name : Orca 2
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: container
Flags: Sierra Leone
Date: 11 Jan 2017
Weather: after some serious snow

Alahan

Name : Alahan
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: tanker
Flags: Turkey
Date: 11 Jan 2017
Weather: after some serious snow

Tolunay (again)

Name : Tolunay
Heading: North: Black Sea
Type: bulk carrier
Flags: CookIslands
Date: 11 Jan 2017
Weather: after some serious snow

Pine

Still too late in the day to get a decent photo ...




Name : Pine
Heading: South /Marmara
Type: carrier
Flags: Marshall Islands
Date: 4 Jan 2017
Weather: evening with late sun