On request of the local authorities I arrived somewhat earlier than intended as I was advised that this would help beating the ferries going in and out. Upon arriving we found out that during the night port control must have changed their mind as we had to wait for 45 minutes. Not only me, but also the Westerdam, the Splendour of the Seas, the Costa Romantica and a few cargo ships. We never figured out exactly what was going on and what logic lay all of this but eventually we were allowed in and were docked on time for the tours to leave.

Tuesday must have been an off-day for the ferries, as all the docks were full and there was very little traffic going in and out during the day. We docked this time at the old passenger terminal; it also looks old from the outside and it is in dire need of maintenance. We fitted in with 30 feet to spare, fore and aft. Already docked next to us was the Sky Wonder who had an overnight stay and was disembarking passengers. The luggage offloading there necessitated the ship to be very far aft, almost sticking out, leaving a rather small hole for the Veendam to creep into. Just outside the pier, there were a number of ferries docked, who had used their anchor chains to keep their bow in position. As I had the pass by quite closely to them, to slide into the dock basin, I was a bit worried about my propellers coming close to those chains. So we entered the dock by using one propeller (the starboard one) and keep the port one on stop.

The Veendam is a diesel electric ship, which means that 5 engines generate electricity that is transferred to two electric motors that turn the propellers. Those are pitch propellers, which means that the propellers turn all the time and that we change the vane setting of the propeller blades to go faster or slower. More or less scoop, more or less speed. In the same way that you dig a spoon in a tub of ice cream, a deeper scoop, gives more ice cream on the spoon. Stopping the propeller, means two options. Put the blades in neutral, this reduces the draft of the ship (a phenomena called squat) or completely stopping the electric motor, so that the propeller itself comes to a complete standstill.

I spend the day going over the charts for our next cruise. Venice to Copenhagen. This charter cruise will be finished in two days and that will also be the end of the Mediterranean period for the Veendam.