How Do They Do That?

For a long time I've been a follower of Great Lakes shipping including everything from design and assembly, to economics and right down to cooking for the crew.  Face Book is good at that technical and fun sort of stuff.

And ever since Mr. Trump chose to go to war with Iran I have cast my net wider and taken-in global shipping trends and markets; and with the closure of the of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Straits I've been paying closer attention to the strain this has placed-upon global security and supply chains jeopardizing various economies across the globe including our own.  

And somewhere along the line I learned something; namely how do ships burn fuel that looks like asphalt?

The short answer is they heat it, thin it and atomize it into microscopic particles before burning it.  The thick, black fuel used in many large ocean-going ships can look like roofing tar or asphalt than something that belongs in an engine. 

What gives?

First-off it is known as heavy fuel oil (HFO), or bunker C or residual fuel oil.  This is what is left after refineries extract more valuable products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from crude oil.  At room temperature some grades of HFO are extremely thick and viscous.   

They are rich in hydrocarbons, sulfur and other impurities; and can resemble asphalt. 

The process to get it to burn involves heating it by means of steam to about 120–150°C (250–300°F), this makes it flow easily.

Separators remove water and solid contaminants.  Additional filters remove additional particles.  The fuel is heated and high pressure injectors reduce the hot fuel to tiny droplets to an engine cylinder where heated air and high compression ignites it driving the pistons.  

This kind of fuel is relatively cheap and contains a significant amount of energy per gallon.  When your vessel consumes hundreds of tons a fuel each and every day the savings can be substantial. 

This comes a a price which is the resulting pollution.  HFO produced sulfur and nitrogen dioxides, particulate matter and other harmful emissions.  Nowadays, ships must comply with international sulfur limits by means of low sulfur fuel or exhaust scrubbers. 

Fast Fact - Ships start their engines using marine diesel and after operating temperatures rise then switch to heated heavy fuel oil.  Before entering certain ports they are required to switch back to cleaner diesel.  Here, some specialized tankers operating on the lower Great Lakes utilize dual-fuel diesel/LNG propulsion.  Interlake Steamship Company's  newest bulk carrier, M/V Mark W. Barker, was intentionally "future proofed" and pre-engineered to accommodate LNG systems or alternate power conversions down the road if and when regional infrastructure catches-up to cleaner fuel technology.

If Only The Dead Could Talk

Of all the veterans in my extended family only a couple are from my generation.  My cousin Robert (Rob) has been gone for sixteen years already.  Tragically, he was lost to suicide; a condition that occurs at a much higher frequency among our veteran community than the general population.  

What follows is a true story.

I number of years ago Jill and I traveled to San Diego for a business conference.  We added some vacation days to hang-out, see the sights and take-in what the southern California city had to offer.

Highlights of this short trip included time with my cousin Pete and his family along with a concert and terrific food.  We also spent the better part of a day climbing all over the USS Midway.   The first of the Midway Class of carriers - CV-41 was commissioned at the close of WW II and decommissioned in 1992 following a deployment in Operation Desert Storm  Among many assignments, cousin Rob served on the Midway.

San Diego has so much to offer.  It is easy to hop on the city bus or the train to visit all sorts of other points of interest on terra firma.  If you were to take a bus to the end of the line - Point Loma affords the casual observer one of the most stunning panoramas of San Diego Bay.  It also happens to be home to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.   One of the most beautiful of veteran cemeteries I think it rivals Arlington National Cemetery.

Unable to attend the funeral we took the opportunity to visit the resting place of my cousin Rob.

Rob was the third son and fourth child of my mom's older brother.  We were the closest in age of four siblings.  As a member of the 'west coast family' my time with Rob was limited to his visits here or my visits there. 

One of my fondest memories of Rob was a beer-soaked Summerfest weekend in 1977.  What a pair of young Turks we were.  I was just out of college and working on a Masters Degree while Rob had put ROTC behind and was embarking on a career in the US Navy.  On a short visit to Milwaukee we seized the opportunity to make up for lost time.

Back to the aircraft carrier.

When visiting a museum I like to avail myself of the audio tour.  With a headset the disembodied voice provides the details of the impressionist painting I am gazing-upon or some long dead pharaoh wrapped in crumbling linen.  The Midway Museum allows you to do the same with five dozen interpretive points throughout the ship and a couple of dozen restored aircraft.

While strolling-about the flight deck I approached an aircraft poised for launch.  Pressing the appropriate code the narrator had this to say –  Here is Lieutenant Commander Robert McNulty to explain the operation of the forward catapult.
 
In his own recorded voice I listened to my deceased cousin Rob detailing the preparation and launch routine for fixed wing carrier aircraft.  Including how the timing of the launch had to precisely match the momentum of a pitching ship at sea.  Talk about something both creepy yet remarkably amazing.  

Yikes!  I suppose the dead really can speak to you.

Risk of death by suicide is real. And like I said, the incidence is higher among veterans than the general population. 

If you, or a veteran you know, is in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988, then press 1, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net.  These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Today we pay homage to our veterans. 

Live long; and prosper. 

On This Day In History

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the most famous shipwreck to occur on Lake Superior.

Of the 29 sailors lost to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald two were natives of Sturgeon Bay.  The connection to Great Lakes maritime shipping history goes a bit deeper yet.

The USCG tug Naugatuck was the first Coast Guard vessel to respond on the scene of the missing freighter.  The crew recovered life rings, jackets, life boat oars and other debris over three days on the scene.

The former Naugatuck, now the Jimmy L, is still working on the Great Lakes. 

In 2022, the vessel was acquired by Great Lakes Towing. After undergoing major refit and restoration work—transitioning from its traditional Selvick green-and-white paint scheme to Great Lakes Towing's signature maroon/red—the 86-year-old tug remains a hardworking asset. It is frequently stationed near the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where it breaks harbor ice and moves massive winter-fleet ships.

Small maritime world.

Ringnecks

A week ago A buddy and I arose promptly at 5 AM and by 5:30 were "wheels-up" and driving home following another successful pheasant hunt.  It was a white knuckle drive for the first couple of hours as South Dakota and Minnesota got clobbered with 2.5 inches of rain.  Trust me, Steve and I drove thru the worst of it.

Our early and carefully choreographed departure was largely on account of reaching our limit of birds on Sunday by 1 PM or thereabouts.  We would have finished earlier but were inconvenienced by yanking a vehicle out of the mud.  In any event, the early finish allowed ample time for a leisurely happy hour, dinner, decompress and orderly packing for the return trip.  Consequently, I have a vision of pheasant recipes (old and new) this autumn/winter.  Pheasant pot pie is right up there on the list.

Did I mention that this was our twentieth anniversary chasing ringnecks?  Yep, two decades of chasing South Dakota birds.  We missed a year due to COVID and I skipped a year or two between dogs; nevertheless, some of the same guys I hang with to fish or hunt deer are part of the pheasant crew.

On the almost ten hour drive we got to talking about the history of pheasants and their arrival on the Dakota landscape; they're from Asia after-all which makes them an invasive species.  But in a good way.  The story goes something like this.

The introduction of the ring-necked pheasant near Doland and Redfield, South Dakota (Spink County) in 1908 is considered the first successful release that eventually established the species in the state

The the latter 1800s multiple attempts were made by private individuals to breed these birds in the wild.  They all failed largely as a consequence of less-hardy pen-raised birdss failing to thrive in harsh winter conditions, natural predation and illegal shooting.

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By 1908 agriculture and natural cover in Spink County provided sufficient food and habitat resources convincing neighboring farmers A.E. Cooper and E.L. Ebbert to acquire wild breeding pairs of birds for release.  It worked and over the next several years 2-4 pairs of breeding birds were released on neighboring farms with the agreement that participating families in the same general area would provide cover and food resources particularly over the winter.  Hunting was not allowed and the birds quickly adapted to the local habitat.

Recognizing the success in Spink County the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks purchased 250 breeding pairs of pheasants releasing more in nearby Redfield and additional locations across Spink and Beadle counties.

By the time 1919 rolled-around South Dakota held its first official hunt on October 30 in Spink County.  The season extended over one day and hunters killed 200 birds.  The pheasant population exploded over the next couple of decades as a consequence of wild fence row habitat combined with grain farming.  By 1935 the bird population was estimated to have reached 12 million birds. On February 13, 1943 the ring-necked pheasant was designated the South Dakota State Bird.  

During WWII the rationing of gasoline, rubber tires and ammunition restricted hunting opportunities leading to an estimated population of 16 million birds; an all-time high. The post-war era of the 50s and 60s brought a boom in out-of-state hunting tourism throughout the state.

Nowadays, pheasant hunting remains one of the principle economic engines of the South Dakota economy.  Out-of-state hunters (primarily from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Texas) account for roughly $250 million to $300 million in direct spending on pheasant hunting alone.  As part of the broader hunting/fishing sector wild-life related recreation is responsible for an estimated $700 million of direct spending with an overall $970 million economic impact across the state.   This supports 11,00 local jobs in hospitality, guiding and retail sales yielding an additional $60 million in state and local taxes.

It's sorta a big deal.

               

November Night Skies

Both the Southern and Northern hemispheres host the Taurid meteor showers. This event includes slow-moving meteors worldwide during late October and November and are best viewed on dark moonless evenings. 

As the earth passes through the debris of Comet 2P/Encke they're not known as an event that produces a large number of shooting stars like the summertime Perseids or December's Geminids.  The Taurids are famously known for producing slower-moving, exceptionally bright, fireballs.  They ramble along and are best viewed when conditions a right. They are named as a consequence of appearing to emanate from the constellation Taurus. 

In our hemisphere the Northern Taurids became active around October 20 and will continue thru December 10; peaking overnight November 11-12.  There is a new moon this evening and with the absence of interfering moonlight tonight and tomorrow are the best window of opportunity for viewing. Remember, the rates are low, possibly five per hour, but there is the possibility of fireballs.  

Some years have been better than others; displays were better in 2008, 2015 and 2022 when earth passed-thru larger concentrations of debris.  The next near impossible to predict swarm of debris isn't expected until 2032.  Good luck with that.

That doesn't mean there isn't anything worth waiting-for as you need to be patient. If you catch a slow-moving brilliant fireball it just might be the most memorable shooting star you see all year.

Fingers-crossed.  No mosquitoes this time of year.  

                  

Footwear

Moccasin:  Derived from the Powhatan word makasin and Algonquin maxkeseni.  The Potawotami people of Wisconsin fashioned soft-sole moccasins from a single piece of deer hide featuring a puckered u-shaped seam or gathered toe to wrap around the protect the foot in a woodland environment.   Other tribes wore similar footwear across North America for thousands of years with some archaeological specimens dating back roughly 3,500 years.  

Growing-up as a child I received an official Boy Scouts of America moccasin kit for Christmas or a birthday.  Consisting of a pair of pre-cut leather blanks with a factory rubber sole attached, instructions were included to attach a top and sew the whole shebang together.  From that day forward I always wore moccasins; and likely made progress towards a leather work merit badge. 

Well into adulthood I would purchase the BSA kit and take pride in largely assembling my casual footwear. With a hard rubber sole, mocs are near-perfect footwear for three-season use.  Indoor winter use too.  All they required was a treatment a couple of times a year with a leather conditioner to keep them supple and weather resistant.  If a stitch broke repair was simple.  After the soles wore-out I would make another pair with the knowledge that within 4 to 6 years (or thereabouts) I would assemble a replacement pair.  

In the last thirty years I switched to purchasing my mocs from LL Bean; fully assembled.  Virtually identical to the BSA mocs of yore this hand-sewn version shares a similar maintenance routine and lifespan.  I'm uncertain as to why I made the switch from the BSA kit all those decades ago; although a web search as to their current availability yielded a clue. 

KIWI Mink Oil is my go-to leather treatment of choice.  Formulated from mink oil, silicone and lanolin it keeps smooth leather soft, supple and water-resistant.  Perfect for boots, belts, saddles and moccasins.  It will darken your leather goods a bit and it's not suitable for delicate leather goods or suede; nevertheless, it keeps your casual footwear and leather goods in working order.

The other day I finally used-up the last of the contents of this tin to perform a biannual treatment of my moccasins. 

They're good to go for the winter season and coincidentally a replacement pair arrived on the porch directly from LL Bean.  When the current pair reaches the end of their useful life sometime next year I have replacements ready to go waiting on the shelf.

Of immediate concern is a decision as to purchasing another tin of Mink Oil.  Retailing for around $11 it isn't the cost as much as it is the longevity.  Inasmuch as I don't run a stable and have a dozen saddles to maintain a tin of this stuff seems to last about thirty years.  Which means the replacement ought to get me to somewhere north of 100 years of age.  Presuming I live that long and still wear moccasins.  Always the optimist I'm springing for another tin.

In case you're wondering, you can still purchase an official BSA moccasin kit online.  Although it appears to be a soft-sole version and better-suited to indoor wear. 

Consider The Larch

They’re late this fall for some reason; so from our walk this afternoon is the last hurrah of fall color in our woods. 

I cannot get enough of my favorite tree.  The tamarack or larch - Larix laricina.  Also called the hackmatack.

The larch can tolerate cold temperatures better than any tree in North America which is why you'll find it in the northernmost tree-line regions of the continent.  Rot-resistant they make excellent shingles and fence posts.  Historically, the bark was used in the leather-tanning industry.  It's a damn useful tree.

I suppose I'm biased since we've nurtured several nice stands of tamarack here.  They're well-suited to some of the soil types and as evidenced by seedlings and saplings popping-up here and there they are thriving.

They sport some crazy branches that would almost make you think they belong in a Dr. Seuss story but the part I like best is the fall color found in this species.

The needles turn a blazing golden color - then they drop.  It's done.  In the spring the tree grows an entire new set of needles and begins the process all over again.

Functional and good-looking; and as Monty Python once said, “Consider the Larch.”