Did I mention that the wheelhouse is collapsible? Because we pass under innumerable bridges of every imaginable vintage, the wheelhouse has the option of lowering itself if clearance isn't up to modern standards. First choice is lower it part way and open a hatch in the roof. Then the Captain ducks his head at the last second. If that isn't enough he can lower it even further and steer the ship from the side, outside the wheelhouse entirely. To help in identifying when lowering is going to be required, the bridge pillars are marked with the inverse of the water depth poles we are familiar with.
And there is no wheel in the wheelhouse. Back in the day there was, hence the name, but now steering is accomplished with a joy stick, not unlike a video game. Just to continue with that theme, the ship is rudderless. That is not to imply that they can't steer it, but that the steering is accomplished by directing the valves, thrusters, coming out of the Caterpillar engines. And yes, that is a one meter level laying on the dash.
Well how about that? We just passed under the bridge that was the lead in the movie,
A Bridge Too Far. If anyone cares, it is still standing.
As such that means we will be passing out of Dutch waters and into German. So I wonder if the blogger software is going to switch from Dutch, of which I understand nothing, to German, of which I understand next to nothing. Or will I even be able to tell?
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