An early job

Ships come and go in Wellington around the clock but I most enjoy the early morning arrivals and departures.

Lady in red heads out to meet a ship.

The pilot is onboard and has called for the tugs to standby for and aft. Usually two tugs meet a ship to berth her, one fwd and one aft, which ever is the duty tug meets the ship at the bow.

The ship still has considerable headway on her at this stage and the bow wave laps and curves smoothly over the bulbous bow.

The other tug meets the ship at the stern and makes fast.