(Click for larger image)
Monday happened to be the Port of Seattle‘s 100th birthday. With port operations along eastern West Seattle, from the Duwamish to Elliott Bay, it’s easy to get to the point where you seldom give cargo ships a second look. But this view of an outbound ship, the dry-bulk carrier Diamond Harbour, caught West Seattle photographer Bill Bacon‘s eye:

I was on my way home yesterday evening, Labor Day – 2011, and had to stop at the swing bridge to witness this container ship coming down the river near the entrance to Elliott Bay. I think this is the tightest squeeze I’ve seen here as the ship is maneuvered through and between the BNSF railroad’s river crossing bridge. Of course there were tugs fore and aft ferrying the ship along downstream. Of course these ships go up and down the Duwamish River all the time. It’s the 1st time I’ve seen one, though, so close. I had to take the photo.

According to MarineTraffic.com – with ship info here, including its current track – it’s headed for Longview, on the Columbia River.