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, August 26, 2017

Ottoman Equity
















One of several "Ottoman"s (all of them tankers) that are operated by Gungen Maritime.



Name: Ottoman Equity
Heading: South/Marmara
Type: Tanker 
Flag:   Turkey
Date:25 Aug 2017
Weather: very pleasant evening
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Friday, August 18, 2017

Fleves


















Coming up right behind Volgo Balt 217, we saw Fleves. Again, the view is from right down on the water next to her.
In the second shot, you can see Volgo Balt in the distance.
Also, on the left (European) shore, you can see part of the Rumeli Hisar castle, built around 1450.

 Name: Fleves
 Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: Tanker 
Flag:   Liberia
Date:17 Aug 2017
Weather: very pleasant evening
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Volgo Balt 217

















Once again, we found ourselves right down on the water in among the ships themselves rather than catching them form our perch above the water.
We have previously caught several different ships from the Volgo Balt fleet, but it looks like this is our first viewing of #217. Looks pretty much like the others we've seen but it's cool to see it at this range.

 Name: Volgo Balt 217
 Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: Cargo 
Flag:   Panama
Date:17 Aug 2017
Weather: very pleasant evening
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Propontis
















 Name: Propontis
 Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: Tanker 
Flag:   Greece
Date:15 Aug 2017
Weather: very pleasant evening



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Fugro Scout / Kazan City



















Kazan City has been hanging out in more or less the same spot for about a week. Earlier, she was a lot closer to the far (Asian) shore and then moved over near thre Arnavutkoy point about 3 days ago. She is attended by coast guard vessels - currently it it coast guard #8.
As we went for the photo today (slightly north of our usual spot), we also caught first Kazan City heading north on the inside lane, and then caught one of the local tour boats cutting across as well. Lots of action.

 Name: Kazan City   and Fugro Scout
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: Tanker / Research Vessel
Flag:   Russia / Singapore
Date:13 Aug 2017
Weather: very pleasant evening
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)