AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: Heavy-lift ship carrying 4 huge cranes, seen from West Seattle

12:22 PM: For everyone interested in sights at sea – those four huge cranes headed for the Port of Tacoma are now coming into view from West Seattle. (We’re glimpsing them from west Charlestown hill, looking north.) They’re being carried by the heavy-lift ship Zhen Hua 28 – here’s its position via MarineTraffic.com; here’s the preview we published earlier this week. Updates to come.

12:29 PM: Visible from Alki, too.

12:45 PM: It’s currently pointed more southeast, as if it was headed for Elliott Bay rather than directly south.

12:55 PM: Clearly headed into Elliott Bay. So don’t be looking for it from west-facing WS.

(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson)

1:04 PM: Just called Tara with NW Seaport Alliance. She says the ship turned into Elliott Bay to change pilots.

1:15 PM: Headed west out of the bay now. And if you are waiting along Beach Drive, NB orcas are reported to be in view.

1:35 PM: Southbound, with a good view from west Alki. Should be in view off Beach Drive in a few more minutes.

(Added: Photo by Gary Jones)

1:46 PM: Just passing Alki Point Lighthouse.

From Constellation Park. Listen to the wind. pic.twitter.com/n1lP7XEllG

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 23, 2018

2:05 PM: Now between here and Blake Island. Our in-person tracking ends here. Pic to share? editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

(Added: Photo by Mark Dale)

2:35 PM: One last glimpse for us, through the trees, as Zhen Hua 28 passes east Vashon.

flynlo February 23, 2018 (12:41 pm)

This is bizarre – looks like they are “detouring” into Elliot Bay!!

WSB February 23, 2018 (12:44 pm)

I’m watching near the west end of Alki Beach Park and just tweeted that it turned SE. Interesting.
M February 23, 2018 (1:38 pm)

Almost as if they mistook Seattle for Tacoma😄😄
Hard to believe as they must have a Puget Sound Pilot aboard

flynlo February 23, 2018 (12:52 pm)

I’m on California Ave, due East of Blake Island. They’ve totally disappeared behind the Alki bluff heading SE!

WSB February 23, 2018 (1:07 pm)

I just called NWSA’s spokesperson. They came into the bay to change pilots. But she wasn’t sure how much further east it’ll sail before that happens. It’s now pointed almost directly south IN the bay.

dsa February 23, 2018 (1:06 pm)

Without that Elliot Bay, I would have missed it.

proudpapa February 23, 2018 (1:18 pm)

Probably stopped to ask for directions. You can’t trust GPS these days.

dsa February 23, 2018 (1:18 pm)

The new pilot is making up for lost time. The ship is traveling much faster from my peek view vantage point.

Joe Puckett February 23, 2018 (1:34 pm)

It is now passing Alki headed south to Tacoma.

Franci February 23, 2018 (2:19 pm)

Just now watching it pass by house.

zephyr February 23, 2018 (2:34 pm)

I saw it from West Seattle Hill in upper Gatewood as it passed in front of Bainbridge Island. Very impressive—the height of those cranes. Great to have known about this ahead of time via the WSB post. Thanks!

HappyOnAlki February 23, 2018 (7:04 pm)

Thanks, WSB, for braving th Arctic chill to get photos for us! Above and beyond once again!

WSB February 23, 2018 (7:08 pm)

Thanks for the thanks, and even bigger thanks to the cool folks who sent much better photos than I could get with the iPhone. Covering “sights at sea” is one of our specialty missions along with “what’s the helicopter doing?” among other things … TR

Jim February 23, 2018 (7:58 pm)

How does that ship not tip over in a turn?

WSB February 23, 2018 (8:29 pm)

Or gale-force winds. Until I called to ask, I first wondered if they were turning into Elliott Bay to get out of the wind, although I realize that was a silly thought given what they likely faced at some point in the open Pacific on the way here.
Mark47n February 24, 2018 (11:30 am)

In a word, ballast and a lot of it.

Sorry, comment time is over.