17 August 2009, Stockholm, Sweden.

The summer is coming to an end and this time we did not approach the pilot station in daylight, as was the case during last call. No it was still dark at 3 am. When I arrived on the bridge and twilight only came by the time we were well inside the Archipelago that protects Stockholm from the open sea. The darkness was lit up considerably through by several cruise ships all approaching the pilot station at the same time. Ahead of me were the Celebrity Solstice and the Rotterdam of our own company. Far to the south were several other cruise ships that had planned to use the south (Sandhamn) entrance but were diverted due to the wind as the entrance was closed by the port authorities and the Pilotage Association. Two pilot boats were on station to serve the incoming stream of cruise ships. The wind was still blowing strongly with about 30 knots from the West. The good news for that was that a westerly wind at sea, blows half the speed in the harbour where there is shelter from the city. Further on it was blowing in line with the dock, so I could keep the wind on the bow. Things were looking good.

The North entrance is called Tjarven pilot station and is used by the ships that are coming from the North or by all the ships that are deemed too long for the south entrance. At the south entrance there is a 90o turn at the island Sandhamn and the pilots deem it a risk to take too big a vessel through there. It was also the reason that today this south Entrance was closed as with 30 knots on the beam you drift too much when lining up for the turn.
The Solstice was assigned a berth in down town, together with several other, smaller ships. The Rotterdam was allocated a location in the downtown area but on the buoys and thus had to land her guests with tenders. As these two ships were going to downtown, they had the pilot first as they had further to travel. The Prinsendam was allocated a berth in the cargo and ferry port of Stockholm called Frihamn. For that docking, the Prinsendam had to be first as we were going all the way in, in the far corner of the docking basin. After me arrived the Delphin Voyager and the Celebrity Zenith, followed by a container ship that was going to block me completely in later in the day. Due to the danger of wake damage you are not allowed to sail very fast through the inside passage and thus it takes four hours to get to the dock. Hence I had the gangway out only by 08.15 but just in time for the tours to go ashore.

Another group that went ashore that morning was the Indonesian community. Not far way, just off the ship for the Indonesian flag raising ceremony. It is a big event on each Holland America Line ship, where about 50 % of the crew consists of Indonesians. I have never seen it being done at non HAL ships so maybe our company is more open in recognizing National holidays and things. In the preceding weeks games and other competitions had been held, culminating to day in the highlight of the flag ceremony followed by tug of war, sack races and Indonesian skiing. I have attached a few photos for your perusal.

Guests of honor and the Lady Speaker of the Ceremony.
Raising the flag on the dock in Stockholm.

Saluting the flag. Here the contingent of Indonesian Officers on board.

The deck officers at the tug of war. Smart uniforms might look good but the normal uniform shoes did not help to win. As usual the engineers won the contest.
Indonesian skie-ing. Here the agile team of the deck sailors won the day.

All photos courtesy of Lesley Schoonderbeek

For departure we had the reverse in pecking order as I could only leave the dock, sailing around the container ship after the Celebrity Celebration and the Delphin Voyager had departed. From then on it was a real exodus of ships leaving Stockholm.

As there were so many, all sailing about a mile to two miles apart, I have listed those that I could see on my radar screen on a 24 mile setting:
First departed at 1700 hrs., the last one at 18.15 hrs.
Silja Europa (cruise ferry), Romantika (Tallin ferry), Celebration Century, Rotterdam, Delphin Voyager, Funchal, Prinsendam, Birger Jarl, Silver Cloud, Ocean Majesty, Celebrity Solstice, Cinderella (ferry) Gabriela (ferry) 13 passenger carrying ships in a row. It must have been a feast for the people on the various islands sitting in front of their summer cottages seeing the parade come by.

For us the parade ended at 21.30 when we were back in outside waters and the whole convoy dispersed into various directions. We headed directly south towards Visby where we will have an anchor call tomorrow. I am worried about the wind, because if it does not ease off fast enough and remain coming from the West, there might be too much swell to conduct a tender operation. The weather forecast is moderately positive but the weather has been lately not following the weather forecast as it should have.