Check out the Lyra Leader, a massive box-like car-carrying ship as it heads down San Diego Bay toward the National City Marine Terminal. These cool, very unusual type of roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships are often seen passing close to downtown. They’re bringing in thousands of new cars from Asia–Japan and South Korea–which are driven off a ramp into a massive parking lot. Many of the vehicles are then loaded into car-carrying freight trains and sent off toward their final destinations.
In this photograph, note the active aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson docked at the North Island naval base on the left.
UPDATE–I finally got a couple more pics of another ship while I was crossing San Diego Bay on the ferry. All the passengers were excited to be so close to the massive thing!
Sailboats, skyscrapers and one super enormous ship!Swift Ace car transport ship leaves San Diego Bay.
ANOTHER UPDATE–Here are more photos that I took at later times…
This plaque, a memorial to our nation’s merchant seamen, is located in San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park North between a popular walking path and the edge of the big bay. You’ll find it just steps from Seaport Village.
It reads:
Dedicated To the Merchant Seamen
Who Lost Their Lives At Sea
Donated by the Propeller Club of the United States
Port of San Diego
The Women’s Propeller Club of San Diego
Port of San Diego
A great place to watch small commercial fishermen unload their catch or load up with ice is the dock just north of Seaport Village, opposite the Chesapeake Fish Company. Folks walking past can also peer through a glass window nearby and see workers in a refrigerated room cleaning and processing the fresh fish that ends up at restaurants throughout the region. I once heard the Chesapeake Fish Company is the largest fish broker west of the Mississippi.
The sign in this photograph details the history of San Diego’s fishing industry–tuna fishing and canning in particular. At one time San Diego had the largest tuna fishing fleet in the world. Many of the fishermen were Italian migrants, which gave rise to the Little Italy neighborhood, about a mile to the north on downtown’s waterfront.
Tuna Harbor, adjacent to this dock, now is home to a ragtag group of local fishing boats. It’s also a great place to spot sea lions!
Working Waterfront sign shows photographs from San Diego’s rich fishing history.1915 photo shows immigrants cleaning and canning locally caught fish.Sign contrasts abundant catch of 1980 with the decline of tuna fishing in mid 80’s.Fishing boat passes by the dock and crane.
There’s a surprise around every corner in Seaport Village. The inviting place, with its meandering paths, specialty shops, eateries, historic merry-go-round, tranquil duck pond and fountains is a fine place to spend a sunny afternoon. Even native San Diegans enjoy it! One can fly a kite in the neighboring Embarcadero Marina Park, barbeque by a picnic bench, and watch buskers perform. One can walk along the water and gaze out at the sparkling blue bay, sailboats and Coronado Island, or walk out on a working public pier for sweeping views from the Coronado Bay Bridge to the USS Midway, and beyond to Harbor Island.
Child takes delight at the Kite Flite shop in Seaport Village.Candied apples in window of the Seaport Village fudge store.Cookie shop lighthouse at Seaport Village.
You can see one of the Manchester Grand Hyatt towers in the background.
Folks board the Seal Tour amphibious vehicle for a harbor adventure.People sit on wall near the Pier Cafe.Pirate stands guard outside a Seaport Village nautical shop.Seaport Village street performer prepares to swallow fire.
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Sailboats pass live bait fishing boat docked at Tuna Harbor pier.
Venture anywhere along San Diego Bay and you’re in for a show!
Look at these pics of huge blue fishing boats, colorful sailboats, and the big gray Navy ships glimpsed in the distance!
Of course, sailboats are easily recognized, and everyone loves watching them dance on the big bay. On any given day you’ll see many white sails. Often you’ll see a group of sailboats racing together, tacking, tilting, running on the sea breeze.
The big blue fishing boats with the square wells that we seem to be standing beside are commercial live bait boats docked at Tuna Harbor’s G Street Pier. Seine nets are utilized to gather schools of small fish, which are then dumped into the deep wells. The live bait is then used by fishermen who depart from several sportfishing locations around San Diego. Pelicans, egrets, black-crowned night herons and gulls often perch on the sides of idle live bait boats. Perhaps they think something tasty will magically appear!
The distant Navy ships are an oiler and two active aircraft carriers docked at Naval Air Station North Island, situated on the northern half of Coronado Island. The two homeported carriers that you can glimpse are the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan.
Sailboats pass a commercial live bait fishing boat.Seine net with floats stretches along edge of Tuna Harbor pier.Sailboats and a Navy oiler docked at North Island in the background.Pelican and gulls on the edge of the Tuna Harbor pier.Small sailboat passes live bait boat on San Diego Bay.The rusted bridge of a live bait catching fishing boat.Dangling ropes and the seine net coiled on a huge cylinder-like winch drum.Live bait boat Cougar docked at the picturesque Tuna Harbor pier on San Diego Bay.Snowy egret perched on square well perhaps hopes to find a fish.One live bait boat is named Rival.Cougar tied to G Street Pier between watery hunts for small fish.San Diego Bay and many colorful boats!
Here’s another look at the beautiful San Diego Marriott Marina. Hundreds of boats find safe harbor in this large expanse of water between a grassy park to the west and the silvery Marriott Marquis hotel. You can see boats of every size and description: sailboats, speedboats, small yachts…
Around Christmas, many of these watercraft are decked with strings of colored lights, glowing Santas, and other illuminated decorations, making for a festive scene at night. Dozens of boats participate in the holiday Parade of Lights, cruising merrily around San Diego Bay.
Throughout the year, it’s fun to watch individual boats gliding slowly in and out of the marina. You can also spot rented Jet Skis, people enjoying kayaks, and others standing on paddleboards.
Marriott Marina with nearby Hilton hotel in the background.Man on paddleboard enjoys calm water in the marina.One of several ramps to the San Diego Marriott’s marina.Watercraft for rent at the Marriott Marina.Inflatable Christmas dog decorates boat in the marina.
Fishing boats in Tuna Harbor and downtown skyscrapers.
The above photograph was taken near the public pier that stretches into San Diego Bay from the G Street Mole. It can be found next to the top rated Fish Market restaurant, a bit south of the USS Midway. The picturesque skyline rises behind a number of inactive fishing boats in the always interesting Tuna Harbor this fine sunny summer day.
San Diego’s Tuna Harbor decades ago was home to the largest tuna fishing fleet in the world. That was before fishing regulations and tuna populations shifted, sending most of the boats away. The American Tuna-Boat Association office is still located near the foot of the pier.
Here are a variety of pics taken at different times…
Fisherman heads to a boat in Tuna Harbor.Ramp down to docks in San Diego’s Tuna Harbor.Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton rise behind Tuna Harbor fishing boats.A number of fishing vessels docked inside San Diego’s Tuna Harbor.This typical small boat is part of the large local fishing fleet.Colorful floats of different sizes tangled over the railing along edge of the G Street Pier.Fishing boats docked in Tuna Harbor next to downtown San Diego.Turning a bit to the right. Lobster traps are lined up on a Tuna Harbor dock.Fishermen sort sea urchins from large tank, to be sold at nearby public fish market.Gazing down one dock at a line of fishing vessels in San Diego.Small boat painted with various names, including Rambo!A clutter of work gear all along the wooden dock.Downtown high-rises in the blue sky behind a Tuna Harbor boat.USS Midway aircraft carrier museum can be seen beyond the fleet of fishing vessels.Sun, wind, salt water and frequent use take a toll on these hard-working boats.I believe this is an old Navy boat which has been converted for civilian purpose.A couple more fishing boats tied up in beautiful San Diego Bay.Many boats are out on a Friday afternoon, seeking fresh fish for Saturday morning market.
That shiny cylinder-like drum will be mounted on the rear of a fishing boat, and used to unspool then haul in a very large net!
Sunday afternoon brought a gigantic crowd to San Diego’s sunny waterfront. The 2013 Festival of Sail appears to be a resounding success! This photo was taken at the annual event’s busy entrance just south of the Star of India.
A huge mass of humanity also surged along the Embarcadero in the vicinity of the sand sculpture event on the cruise ship pier, and by the USS Midway and Seaport Village. Lines were long everywhere, and street vendors and performers were raking in the money!
One often hears that America’s Finest City is a top destination for tourists on Labor Day weekend…I certainly believe it!
UPDATE!
It’s almost a year later and the 2014 Festival of Sail is a couple days away! This year I’ll actually attend, brave the huge crowds and take a bunch of pics!
Banner is up on Star of India a few days before the 2014 Festival of Sail!
The Greek muse Euterpe graces the bow of San Diego’s historic Star of India.
Here’s the oft-photographed figurehead of San Diego’s famous tall ship Star of India. I learned from a Maritime Museum of San Diego docent that the figurehead represents Euterpe, one of the Muses from Greek mythology. Euterpe was the muse of music. Euterpe was also the original name of the Star of India, when it was built at Ramsey in the Isle of Man in 1863. Her name was changed from Euterpe to Star of India in 1906 by the Alaska Packers’ Association, which had purchased the ship in 1901.
Closer look at Star of India’s classic figurehead.
During today’s morning walk I took a couple other photographs which I will share. Here’s a pic of San Diego’s beloved tall ship Star of India! Many visitors don’t realize that this iron-hulled three-masted bark is the oldest active sailing ship in the entire world! If you ever swing by America’s Finest City, you can go onboard and enjoy a memorable glimpse of maritime history.
With clouds of white sails fluttering in the breeze, she remains the queen of The Big Bay! She’s 150 years old and still appears to be in great condition!
Star of India’s California Historical Landmark plaque.
Bonus pics taken at various later times:
A familiar sight along Harbor Drive on San Diego’s Embarcadero.Bow of Star of India includes a classic female figurehead representing Euterpe. That was this ship’s original name.Early morning photo of San Diego’s Star of India.Star of India steering wheel.Beautiful sails and clouds.Maritime Museum of San Diego ticket booth next to the Star of India.American flag flutters in the breeze at stern of the historic old ship.People out for a stroll on San Diego’s Embarcadero by the Star of India.
Cool San Diego Sights! 