PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN,CHILE
PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN, SOUTHERN CHILE
OCTOBER 27, 2006
After 4 days of sailing from Argentina, we arrived at Cabo Possession Pilot Station in the southern Chile. Offshore oil well installations appeared gradually on the radar screen. We reduced engine revolutions for the approaching transit pilots. Two Chilean pilots boarded. The pilotage fee for the passage throughout the Strait of Magellan costs at about U.S. $25,000. Some ships have chosen not to pass at the strait because of the costly pilotage fee. They navigated instead farther south via Cape Horn or Cabo de Hornos in Spanish where the seas are very rough and currents are strong. However, our charterers have paid the pilotage fee for the safety of the crew, the vessel, the cargo, and reduce the days of sailing.
The Strait of Magellan is a channel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, separating the southern tip of the South American mainland from the island of Tierra del Fuego. The strait is about 530 km (330 mi) long and between 3 and 24 km (2 and 15 mi) wide. It was negotiated by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1520, during his circumnavigation of the globe. Before the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, the Strait of Magellan had been one of the most important sailing routes in the region.
In the bridge, I was assigned by Captain to steer the ship. Throughout the narrow strait, headstrong current swerve the ship off course. I counterbalance the wheel from time to time in order to maintain the heading along the track. Merging waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is the primary reason why current are very strong. I gave the wheel to an Able seaman on duty after 3 hours of steering and shifted to plotting ship’s position in the nautical chart.
Ocean route sent a message thru INMARSAT telex. They recommended as conditions and safe navigation permit, the shortest route to our destination in ILO, Peru via Magellan Strait. Adjusting the course and speed as needed for safest vessel handling to near 40 degrees south.
The reason; on account of course adjustment to Peru, heavy swells are expected along all tracks after passing Magellan Strait, as series of strong lows move eastward along 60 degrees south through the south east Pacific. Weather forecast to develop along all tracks south of 40 degrees south after Oct. 30th, as very strong low center moves eastward.
Alternate routes to drift near Magellan Strait have been considered. Seven to ten meter swells are expected to persist in the area for the next 6-7 days. Recommended route to continuously sail north at best speed is still considered best to clear the roaring forties latitude.
On a cold and foggy Saturday morning of Oct. 28th, I was wonder struck of the sights I saw. Snow capped Alps, glaciers, steep rocky cliffs, Chilean fiords, and uninhabited islets. My mates took pictures coz that was the first time all of us passed the Magellan Strait. No houses and structures we have seen, maybe due to very cold atmospheric condition in the area. An idea flashed on my mind when Ferdinand Magellan sailed on the narrow strait centuries had passed on his way to Mactan Island where he was killed by Lapu-Lapu. A remarkable place that played a role in the history of circumnavigation and world exploration.
Start of a day’s work in a cold surrounding. Due to weather advisory received, Captain ordered to secure every movable equipment and must be lashed firmly. We tightened all watertight doors in every ship’s compartment to avoid water ingress. All things on deck were secured to prevent being washed out by waves, and re tightened fittings into cargo holds to avoid further damage to the cargoes. At 2 in the afternoon, skies became dark, minute snow fell on deck, wind velocity increased; ripples and sprays appeared on the sea surface.
The Chilean pilots gave the command of the ship to Captain and wished safe navigation and peaceful arrival to Peru. They off boarded at the Felix lighthouse, the exit point of pilotage in the Magellan Strait. We headed to the open sea of the southeast Pacific Ocean and altered course north en route to Puerto Ilo, Peru.
OCTOBER 27, 2006
After 4 days of sailing from Argentina, we arrived at Cabo Possession Pilot Station in the southern Chile. Offshore oil well installations appeared gradually on the radar screen. We reduced engine revolutions for the approaching transit pilots. Two Chilean pilots boarded. The pilotage fee for the passage throughout the Strait of Magellan costs at about U.S. $25,000. Some ships have chosen not to pass at the strait because of the costly pilotage fee. They navigated instead farther south via Cape Horn or Cabo de Hornos in Spanish where the seas are very rough and currents are strong. However, our charterers have paid the pilotage fee for the safety of the crew, the vessel, the cargo, and reduce the days of sailing.
The Strait of Magellan is a channel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, separating the southern tip of the South American mainland from the island of Tierra del Fuego. The strait is about 530 km (330 mi) long and between 3 and 24 km (2 and 15 mi) wide. It was negotiated by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1520, during his circumnavigation of the globe. Before the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, the Strait of Magellan had been one of the most important sailing routes in the region.
In the bridge, I was assigned by Captain to steer the ship. Throughout the narrow strait, headstrong current swerve the ship off course. I counterbalance the wheel from time to time in order to maintain the heading along the track. Merging waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is the primary reason why current are very strong. I gave the wheel to an Able seaman on duty after 3 hours of steering and shifted to plotting ship’s position in the nautical chart.
Ocean route sent a message thru INMARSAT telex. They recommended as conditions and safe navigation permit, the shortest route to our destination in ILO, Peru via Magellan Strait. Adjusting the course and speed as needed for safest vessel handling to near 40 degrees south.
The reason; on account of course adjustment to Peru, heavy swells are expected along all tracks after passing Magellan Strait, as series of strong lows move eastward along 60 degrees south through the south east Pacific. Weather forecast to develop along all tracks south of 40 degrees south after Oct. 30th, as very strong low center moves eastward.
Alternate routes to drift near Magellan Strait have been considered. Seven to ten meter swells are expected to persist in the area for the next 6-7 days. Recommended route to continuously sail north at best speed is still considered best to clear the roaring forties latitude.
On a cold and foggy Saturday morning of Oct. 28th, I was wonder struck of the sights I saw. Snow capped Alps, glaciers, steep rocky cliffs, Chilean fiords, and uninhabited islets. My mates took pictures coz that was the first time all of us passed the Magellan Strait. No houses and structures we have seen, maybe due to very cold atmospheric condition in the area. An idea flashed on my mind when Ferdinand Magellan sailed on the narrow strait centuries had passed on his way to Mactan Island where he was killed by Lapu-Lapu. A remarkable place that played a role in the history of circumnavigation and world exploration.
Start of a day’s work in a cold surrounding. Due to weather advisory received, Captain ordered to secure every movable equipment and must be lashed firmly. We tightened all watertight doors in every ship’s compartment to avoid water ingress. All things on deck were secured to prevent being washed out by waves, and re tightened fittings into cargo holds to avoid further damage to the cargoes. At 2 in the afternoon, skies became dark, minute snow fell on deck, wind velocity increased; ripples and sprays appeared on the sea surface.
The Chilean pilots gave the command of the ship to Captain and wished safe navigation and peaceful arrival to Peru. They off boarded at the Felix lighthouse, the exit point of pilotage in the Magellan Strait. We headed to the open sea of the southeast Pacific Ocean and altered course north en route to Puerto Ilo, Peru.
posted by Arez at 8:51 PM
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