UPDATE: 21 February 2022 - The Hulk II tug is now out of range. Unless I can find another source this would be the end of the road for tracking the Orca.
UPDATE: 18 February 2022 (16h07 SAST) - Position of the Hulk II tug pulling the Orca Drilling Rig from Mossel Bay to Alang in India. Image: Marine Traffic #OrcaDrillingRig #MosselBay #SouthAfrica #India
Image: Marine Traffic (filtered) via ZS1HB (Source) Click on image for larger view.
We all know that Amateur Radio is versatile and has many divisions, interests, aspects etc. A local Mossel Bay radio amateur Beat Strecheisen ZS1HB is currently tracking the Orca Drilling Rig that is being towed by the Hulk II tug from Mossel Bay to Alang in India. Beat has an AIS Receiver setup via the Internet at his QTH in Danabay. He forward tracking information via the Internet to Marine Traffic that publish the information on their Web-Site for ships and interested parties. Beat regularly update radio amateurs in this area about interesting marine vessels that he spotted on the AIS Receiver. Another interesting aspect is that Beat uses the AIS Receiver as a propagation indicator for VHF. The receiver is a good indicator that tropospheric ducting conditions are good or bad. The information supplied in this article was downloaded from Marine Traffic and was made possible by the AIS Receiver as forwarded by Beat ZS1HB. Many thanks to Beat for the service he renders to the local maritime community and the World at large.
What is the Orca and where is it going to?
Read more at:
Orca rig sold for R22M for Scrap Metal
Marine Traffic in the Mossel Bay Area - Marine Traffic
Images: Click on images for larger view.
Thank you to the following Sources:
Mossel Bay Advertiser
George Herald
Marine Traffic
Beat ZS1HB
Cristiaan Stopforth
Vessel Finder . Com
MosselBayontheline
