USS Mount Whitney And M/V Sigrid Passed Through Bosphorus

Today two interesting ships passed through the Bosphorus, what a lovely way to celebrate my 1000th blog post.

M/V Sigrid passing through Bosphorus.Seen through a webcam

The first ship was M/V Sigrid. She is a Swedish flagged merchant ship. I believe she is on her maiden voyage to from the Daamen Shipyard in Galati, Romania to her home Sweden. She is designed to carry 12 twelve nuclear waste containers.

M/V Sigrid is equipped with a double hull, four engines and redundant systems for safety and security. It is designed to be more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly than its predecessor.

Jenny Holmstrom, SKB’s project manager for the construction of vessels, noted that much work still needs to be completed before the Sigrid can enter service. “Among other things, the installation of all equipment is to be completed and put into operation, and staff spaces on board will be completed,” she said. The ship will include accommodation for 21 people and will feature a sauna, gym and library for use by the crew.

Test voyages on the Black Sea are scheduled to be conducted in March 2013, after which the Sigrid will set sail for Sweden. The naming ceremony for the vessel will take place when it arrives at its home port of Oskarshamn in Sweden around mid-2013.

I am glad that she was not carrying nuclear fuel or waste as she passed through my city.

The second ship to pass through the Turkish Straits today was the flag ship of the US Sixth Fleet, LCC-20 USS Mount Whitney.

USS Mount Whitney passing the construction side of the third bridge over Bosphorus at the northern end of the Strait. Photo: Kerim Bozkurt. Used with permission.

USS Mount Whitney passing the construction side of the third bridge over Bosphorus at the northern end of the Strait. Photo: Kerim Bozkurt. Used with permission.

Despite her age USS Mount Whitney managed to pass through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus on the same day. She was on Dardanelles around 09:30 in the morning and on Bosphorus around 15:30. Her cursing speed must over 20 knots.

I would welcome any information about her destination.