Sometimes the ocean can be more angry than we dare imagine. This is another shot from the 2007 grounding and subsequent helicopter evacuation of 22 Filipino and Korean crew members form the Pasha Bulka. The extra-tropical cyclone or east coast low as they are known on the east coast of Australia, was well forecast and the Newcastle port corporation radioed the 56 ships waiting off the coast requesting they move further offshore before the arrival of the approaching storm. Ten of the ships ignored the warning and the Pasha Bulka subsequently became beached with both bow and stern stuck in the sand almost parallel to Nobbys beach in Newcastle. Record ocean swell heights of 14.13m (46ft) were recorded at the deep water buoy 10km (6.2 miles) off Sydney with 296mm (11.6 in) of rain falling in the 24 hour period causing widespread flooding. After two failed attempts the ship itself was eventually salvaged on its third attempt many weeks later at a cost of $1.8 million. The 225 m (738 ft) long, Panamax bulk carrier, was then towed to Japan where the extensive damage to the ship itself was repaired. It was subsequently renamed the MV Drake. New South Wales, Australia. A particularly humbling experience to watch; and one I will never forget.
I had previously posted the wider angle landscape shot below as my very second post here on Steemit !
Rob Downie
Love Life, Love Photography
All images in this post were taken by and remain the Copyright of Robert Downie - http://www.robertdowniephotography.com
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So dangerous happened be aware as a sailors
Very true
yes, you are quite right : humility is a "must feel" in our deep self when witness nature's power. The second photo, I have seen it... But not the first : such a good shot, as usual. It makes me feel like looking of some movie's picture, very professionnal one ! Thank you Rob for this post !
Thanks. As humans we often think we have more control of the situation than we do.
you are right.... it has been a long long time I'm not thinking like that, mostly with the Tai Ji Quan practice : moving with the Wind and not against. The funny is I do feel like more human than before, when letting go on controling.
Wow, that second shot is properly epic! What a thing to see! The power of nature is pretty obvious in these shots!
Thanks it was an amazing scene unfolding.
Wow! The sky, the water, the helicopter, the color of the ship...all just so wonderfully captured. Thank you for sharing it, and the story.
Thanks ! Appreciate the time taken to stop and have a look !
Great photos!
I love storms. I've never been in a hurricane or cyclone but close to with winds at 80-100kmh. Being outside near the water during that time is seriously frightening and exhilarating at the same time. Weather like that can easily make us feel small and weak. ! I was nearly blown into the water off of the pier by one big gust of wind. I survived but my mitten blew out of my coat jacket! lol
46' swells....no I have not experienced that!!! Your photos are incredible at showing the might and force of the water, wind and menacing sky. The tankers were simply play toys.
Thanks. It was one crazy storm.
Awesome capture!!!
Cheers
Woow, haven't seen this one before - amazing scenery - great stormy dark clouds and the ship in shallow waters - dramatic view! Great shot!
Thanks mate !
No idea why I didn't go through your profile before. Your landscape photographs are gorgeous. This, though, is sublime!
Thanks mate. Appreciate you having a look and your support. Your work is amazing and has been of some inspiration for me to branch out into other areas of photography. That’s what I love about Steemit as there is no algorithm to narrow down your feed to your own niche .