Boatnerd Discussion Forum

1030h EDT. Wed, Sept. 16/26
Been having trouble getting my posts through the captcha submission process. Any body n here have advice on how to handle this? Anyone else had this happen?
I’m curious if anyone on here actually has a clue what where Ocean Tower s headed. Is the barge with her? I am guessing San Francisco if this gets through and posted n the forum.

Guest wrote: September 11, 2026, 7:42 pm Ocean Tower left Honolulu about an hour and a half ago, around noon Hawaii time. Now clear of all the bad weather around there. No destination given.....

Does it have the barge with it?

Ocean Tower left Honolulu about an hour and a half ago, around noon Hawaii time. Now clear of all the bad weather around there. No destination given.....

Steamboater66 wrote: September 10, 2026, 12:25 pm 1323h EDT Thurs. Sept. 10/26
US Navy has posted a summary of the crane tow from Manitowoc to Pearl Harbor.
Nothing new about Ocean Tower.

Do you have a link to that summary?

1323h EDT Thurs. Sept. 10/26
US Navy has posted a summary of the crane tow from Manitowoc to Pearl Harbor.
Nothing new about Ocean Tower.

It’s nice to see the April Fools post have made a comeback. I for one, have missed them.

Steamboater66 wrote: August 30, 2026, 9:47 am 1037h EST August 30/26
In response to Guest rcrvrp and the their post about barge return instructions written on the stern of the barge used for the tow of the crane from Manitowoc to Pearl Harbor. That’s unbelievable!! Any chance you could post that photo on here?

Its IS unbelievable isn't it!

Excellent coverage of this event. Thanks

1037h EST August 30/26
In response to Guest rcrvrp and the their post about barge return instructions written on the stern of the barge used for the tow of the crane from Manitowoc to Pearl Harbor. That’s unbelievable!! Any chance you could post that photo on here?

I now know what the deal is with the barge the crane was delivered on. If you zoom in on one of the photos of it you can see writing on the stern. It says, " Please keep this barge should you need to return the crane within the warranty period. Temu".

1520 h EST. Friday Aug. 28/26
Ocean Tower remains moored in Pearl Harbor HI. Cannot find local Hawaiian media coverage about her or the tow.
No www coverage either;other than what came out via Boat-nerd sources.
So it is a real guessing game ahead for those of ups who follow shipping action here on Boatnerd!

0032h EDT. Wed. August 26/26
I have continued to monitor Ocean Tower since her arrival in Pearl Harbor Hi on Thurs. August 13 with the crane tow.
Just finished a search for and local photo, video or print coverage. Nothing! Navy must have this all under wraps along with folks at Dann Towing.
Maybe navy’s site needs prep work. I would guess Dann would be hopeful of a return tow of some type…maybe waiting for that sort of thing.
I’m as puzzled as Guest rcrvrp!

Does anyone know if the barge will be returning to wherever the tug goes next or perhaps the barge was built especially for the crane transport and now belongs to the Navy. If it does not belong to them maybe it is owned by the crane builder or the towing company. If it is returned to an owner it must be equipped to go back in ballast I assume. Where does Ocean Tower go next? After all this time at sea delivering both cranes I hope the crew gets a long layover in Hawaii. So many questions....

1140h EDT. Saturday, August 22/26
Ocean Tower remains moored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii since her arrival there Thursday, August 13. Two things have been filling out the time. First the site for the permanent location of the crane is in the last stages of preparation. The second job will be to remove the fastenings that held her steady on the barge during the sea voyage will need to be removed. Can find nothing regarding timing for all of that. No indication of next move for the tug, Ocean Tower.

2200h EST Sun. Aug. 16/26
I’m writing to thank Guest for the appreciative post of .Fri. August 14.
Glad they enjoyed my posts covering the voyage of note to Hawaii by Ocean Tower and big blue crane p-82.
I enjoyed the ride as well.

Awesome journey and a great job reporting the progress. Thank You.

2146h EDT Thurs. Aug. 13/26
Checked for the Ocean Tower big blue crane p-82. They have reached Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In fact if they met the tracker stated time of 1423h. Mooring has likely just taken place. Congrats to Dann towing and the tug crews who made this happen.

1107h EDT Thurs. August 6/26
The Ocean Tower continues on a course of 259 deg. at 6.8 knots. Her basic position is 30 deg. N lat. x 127 W Long. Their local time now is -7h to US mainland.
Temperature is 19 - 21 C. Winds are NW moderate NW at 10 - 20 kts. Sea swells are running 1.5 - just over 2 metres.

0114h EDT Thurs. Aug. 6/26
Ocean Tower’s position at this time is 30 deg. N latitude and 127 deg. W longitude. The tow is moving at pretty well maximum safe speed of 6.8 knots. By my rough calculations the tow is around 600 miles west of San Diego.
Feel badly that the security system that is part of the Boatnerd posting protocol has for some reason been rejecting my posts for the last 5 days or so! I am still following the tow. Hope folks are still following this historic for our times event as well