May-June 2012 - The International Organization of Masters, Mates ...

news briefs (continued)
MM&P Members in San Francisco
Pilot Supersize Containership
Capt. John Carlier and Capt. Ed Melvin of the San
Francisco Bar Pilots were at the conn of the giant
containership MSC Fabiola on March 22 when it
made a port call in Oakland, becoming the largest
vessel ever to enter San Francisco Bay.
At 1,201 feet MSC Fabiola is longer than an aircraft
carrier and has a capacity of approximately 12,500
20-foot-long containers. At full load, the ship moves
166,000 tons. On its arrival in San Francisco, it drew
36 feet of water while only half full.
A total of 19 pilots were involved in the five-daylong
simulator study to prepare for the ship’s arrival
and departure. Capt. Carlier brought MSC Fabiola in
from the sea, carefully timing its entrance with the
currents in the bay. Capt. Melvin turned it around
in the estuary, a particularly complicated maneuver
MSC Fabiola, the world’s largest container ship. Nineteen members of the San Francisco
Bar Pilots were involved in planning for and executing the ship’s arrival and departure
from Oakland in March.
because the turning basin is about 1,500 feet wide, leaving only 150 feet of clearance at each end of the ship.
The pilots carried special computer navigation devices so they would have their own information as to course, speed and heading.
Equally critical was another data set elaborated by the independent pilot computers: the rates of turn at the bow and the stern. It’s very
important that both ends move at as close to the same speed as possible so that the ship remains in the center of the turning circle without
gaining headway, sternway or sliding away from the center.
MM&P Members and Officers Salute Captain Neal Nyberg
Captain Neal Nyberg, who has retired after 32
years of service on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
hopper dredges, was honored by his shipmates
and the members of the Masters, Mates & Pilots
for his years of service to the nation, the Army
Corps and the union. Essayons Third Mate Steve
Perry and Nyberg’s shipmates aboard the dredge
presented him with a plaque from the union that
reads: “In Appreciation to Captain Neal Nyberg,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Outstanding
officer, gentleman and tireless advocate for
the members of the Masters, Mates & Pilots
Federal Membership Group.” The plaque was
signed by the MM&P International President on
behalf of the union’s General Executive Board.
Nyberg graduated from the California Maritime
Academy in 1979 and worked for a short period
on ocean towboats, then shipped out of the
MM&P hall on tankers. He has worked on five
army dredges out of the Portland District, the
past 22 as captain of the Essayons.
Dredge Essayons,
pictured on the
cover of this issue
of The Master,
Mate & Pilot.
Nyberg has been
captain of the
Essayons for the
past 22 years.
Capt. Nyberg receives a plaque in honor
of his years of service. (Left to right) Ladell
Ashley, Troy Ertzberger, Third Mate Larry
Young, Terry Geroux, Capt. Nyberg,
Chief Mate Larry Hibbs, Navigation/
Dredge Control Officer and MM&P Ship
Representative Steven Perry, Capt. Jim
Holcroft (master of the other crew) and
Second Mate Jay Stene.
May - June 2012 - 6 - The Master, Mate & Pilot