An Andriaki Shipping master has received widespread acclaim on social media for his photograph of seals relaxing on the bulbous bow of his tanker.
Ioannis Kleitsinaris, who has been with the Greek owner for 13 years, spotted the group sunning themselves while the unnamed ship was at anchorage in the port of Long Beach in the US.
He posted the picture to LinkedIn and received a spate of favourable comments, not all entirely serious.
"Always wondered what the bulbous bow was for!" one user commented.
Another said: "Hope the mate has allowed this in bodily sinkage and change in trim."
The bow was also described as the "ultimate bronzing spot", but another observer pointed out: "Just nowhere to keep the beers cool." Well, that depends on the sea temperature, TradeWinds reckons.
The photo certainly gives a new meaning to navy seals.
And it definitely makes a change from seeing pictures of dead whales speared on ships' bows.
Athens-based Andriaki has a fleet of 10 tankers, including two VLCCs and four suezmaxes.
Good Samaritan
Anti-piracy patrol organisation EU Navfor is better known for guiding vessels safely through dangerous seas.
But this month it popped up as a Good Samaritan when its Spanish frigate ESPS Victoria came to the aid of an injured crewman on the V. Ships-managed, 8,814-teu boxship Northern Jade (built 2005).
The vessel had called EU Navfor for help.
The watchkeeping team reacted immediately and passed the request to force commander Commodore Vizinha Mirones, who contacted the frigate as the nearest vessel to the containership, it said.
The warship was tasked with intercepting the Northern Jade at high speed, and launched a medical team as it approached.
Once on board, the team provided first aid to the 30-year-old seafarer, who had fallen from a four-metre stairway.
He had suffered severe injuries to a shoulder and a foot.
The vessel is owned by Norddeutsche Reederei of Germany.
