||| BY LIN MCNULTY, theORCASONIAN EDITOR |||
A few days (weeks) ago, on the afternoon of Wednesday May 4, actually, an oversized vessel was spotted in East Sound. When a resident called the Sheriff’s Office to report this unusual incident, the call was referred to a Lopez (?!) Deputy.
Being the good reporter that I am, I watched The Ocean Victory sail into Eastsound and eventually back out again. I was so mesmerized that I didn’t even think of taking a photo or ‘calling it in.’ I did, however, check the info on the Vessel Tracker to see who this lovely watercraft.
The Ocean Victory is touted as:
The first-ever ship built to ensure the perfect comfort of guests and the ultimate protection of the delicate environment in which we will explore. Join us as she embarks on a landmark expedition to the pristine wilderness of Alaska in Spring 2022. The unique design of this extraordinary ship announces her commitment to excellence in expedition cruising. Spacious suites and staterooms with panoramic views — most with private balconies. Expedition decks that make it easy to step into a Zodiac for up-close exploring or launching your kayak. Sliding overwater viewing platform to intimately observe nature and marine life. And after a day of exploring, you’ll find a place to relax that puts you in the center of 360-degree panoramas.
Here’s the rest of this story:
The call to the Sheriff’s Office was referred to a Lopez Deputy because that’s where the Sheriff’s speed boat was located. The Deputy did not respond, but rather notified his supervisor who could find no reason that the large ship could not make a side trip through East Sound if it wanted to.
So that’s the tale. You should have seen it!!
Photo of Ocean Victory in East Sound. Courtesy of an alert Orcasonian reader.
Beautiful ship … came up the West Coast from the Antarctica cruises. Overnighted in Echo Bay, Sucia Island.
I think it made a port call in Sitka, Alaska. My home town!
It’s nice you got to enjoy the siting of the big ship without thinking beyond the moment. You should be able to enjoy life’s wonders without reporting on every sliver.
Ugh.
Name the photographer please?
My thoughts reading this:
1) Yikes that boat is big! So glad I did not have to experience the fear of it unexpectedly appearing and coming right towards me!
2) I wonder what kind of wake it kicked up. It could have been fun to have my surfski out ;-)
The ocean is big and all ships are small in a storm. But that thing is the size of the Samish… kind of feels out of scale around here to me. And for all the environmental greenwashing in their advertising, it still burns diesel and I expect the fuel economy is measured in feet per gallon, so it’s essentially taking people who can afford $5000 per person for a 12 day boat ride while burning vast amounts of fossil fuel for their entertainment. Next time you laugh at Bubba in his MAGA hat at the Alabama monster truck rally, ask yourself what is actually wasting more fuel; six cartoonish trucks or a 342′ sightseeing ship polluting the last pristine coastline on the continent?
Hi Lin, I did get photos of the Ocean Victory but I didn’t get her name at the time. So thank you so much for the article and information on her. With gratitude, Lilli Pavonis. Enjoy the photos.
I live in view of Rosario Strait, and I often follow vessels on Marine Traffic. Anytime something unusual comes through and I have a chance, I’ll check it out. One night my bedroom was illuminated by the lights of a large vessel between here and Cypress Island. I looked out and the ship was lit up like a birthday cake for a 100 year old! A quick Marine Traffic search told me it was a cruise ship, and that recently it had arrived in Ketchikan with a dead humpback whale lodged on its bow. No kidding. You’ll never catch me on a cruise ship. Call me a curmudgeon but after reading David Foster Wallace’s excellent essay on the excesses of cruise ships, I’m even less of a fan.
What worries me more, or equally, is when I see ships clearly outside of the shipping lane and heading in the wrong direction. This happened recently. I saw a barge that looked to be a petroleum service vessel or something, clearly headed directly east toward Blakeley Island. Guess who got on the phone and called the Coast Guard? Living in view of these incredibly valuable and beautiful waters, makes one freak out a little when a potential threat is observed. Luckily, an extra tug arrived and the two tugs steamed into action and straightened out that barge. But believe me, I watched its path the rest of the day until it was out to sea.
It’s hard not to feel invaded when a ship as large as the Ocean Victory decides to cruise up Eastsound on a mini joy ride. Everyone should be vigilant and watching what goes on in our waters. So many container ships and petroleum ships come through Rosario Strait and I worry about the whales and their impact on those creatures, and of course what a disaster it would be if one of those ships sank or ran aground.
Oops. I meant to share the link about the “Grand Princess” and the unfortunate humpback that got in its way.
https://hakaimagazine.com/features/leviathans-in-the-harbor/
Tracy: Thank you very much for the link. Folks who don’t want to or can’t read the lengthy piece can also listen to it.