Preparation for Removal of Propeller Blades - Freedom of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas

Good morning,

We are in Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Freedom of the Seas.  What you see on the dockside below is a pair of giant cranes that will move equipment ashore to be used to help divers remove four, two tons (each!) propeller blades from the ship.

The cranes were on the dock when we arrived.

The entire process was extremely well planned and executed.

The ship was tied up...

 ...the divers were here.  The are standing under the shelter on the left of this image.

 Across the channel is the famous Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island.  An aside:  before being renamed Paradise Island, this was Hog Island because the pigs were kept here.  My, how things have changed!

 Security was quickly set up on the dock so guests could go ashore and visit Nassau.  We remained here overnight so guests had a chance to sample the night life of Nassau.

 Back to the aft part of the ship, the crane was moving into place to move ashore the heavy equipment the divers would use.

 I had the perfect place to take pictures of the action from deck 4 of Freedom.

 The gangway is now in place.

 The flat bed truck you see on the dock is in place to receive the propeller blades when they are out of the water.

Stay tuned!  This is quite a process.  More images to come tomorrow....

Lois