San Antonio, Chile - unable to leave port

We were due back on-board ship shortly after 3:00pm, in time for a 3:30 sail away, and made it back with time to spare, but were unaware of the quickly rising seas beyond the harbour wall.
Shortly after reaching our cabin we were made aware that the Port Authority had closed the port at 2:30pm because of the high seas, pounding waves and the danger presented in the very narrow entrance/egress channel. We   also learned that the ship might be permitted to leave around 11:00pm.

We hoped that all would be good, while thinking that leaving at such a late hour probably would not happen; considering the very narrow, and constricted, entrance to the harbour, congestion created by ships not having been allowed to leave, very high swells rolling into the channel, and all of those issues further compounded by darkness.
All berths were occupied and maneuvering around all of those vessels could be quite problematic, even dangerous, in the darkness.

In mid evening, our captain announced that our revised departure time would be 6:30am the following morning. We went to bed fully expecting to be woken, the next day, by the gentle rocking of our ship on the open ocean.
Not to be! We spent another full day in port and finally left at 1:30pm of the third port day.
The Port Authority, apparently after much negation with the Chilean Government and the higher ups of ‘Princees Cruises’, granted the Island Princess permission to be the first vessel to leave the port. We had two tugs, attached to us, one at the bow and the other at the stern, which pulled and pushed us into a safe position for heading out to sea.

It was both exciting and scary to watch the intricate dance, between the tug boats and our ship, to get us on a safe heading to exit the harbour. On our way beyond the harbour wall we passed six ships riding at anchor, waiting for other ships to leave port, and then be given their approval to enter the harbour.

Finally we were heading out to sea while listening to multiple announcements regarding planned
stops not happening, a revised itinerary, a plan B being determined, and we would be informed as soon as ..........

Things happen, we are ok, and will happily ride the waves until we are made aware of what is coming next.

Bon Voyage eh?

  
View from the pool deck of the Island Princess.
Overlooked by, one of the many, massive mobile cranes used to load, and unload,  the thousands of shipping containers to/from cargo ships.   

   
 Not much room for error, in this navigation channel, when moving such large ships around.

        
Cargo ship anchored just off the stern of our ship.

   
 Tug attached to bow is hauling our front end into alignment in the channel,
while the tug at our stern, holds the rear of the ship in alignment, in mid channel.
Look out, jagged rocks behind you.
I have my fingers, and toes, crossed

      

Tug boat, attached to our bow - preventing our front end from pivoting back towards our birth, 
while a tug attached to our stern hauls the rear end into alignment in the Chanel 


  
Treat of the week - we got some really nice fresh flowers on board.
Thank you San Antonio, Chile.
Very much appreciated.







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