AMERICAN SPIRIT

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Vandals cut mooring line to cruise ship in Port Townsend

Security has been increased for this week's fourth visit of the American Spirit in response to vandalism in which two mooring lines to the cruise ship were cut last week. According to Port Townsend Police Capt. Don Johnson, two people approached the American Spirit at about 1:30 a.m. last Thursday, May 16, 2013. They attempted to come on board but were turned away. A few minutes later, crew members discovered that two of three mooring lines were severed. The lines were re­attached, and police were called. Police Department spokesman Officer Luke Bogues said that on the night following the initial incident, the crew reported that three additional mooring lines were cut, adding up to a total damage estimate of more than $1,000. Police declined to provide any further descriptions of the man and woman involved in the first incident. “This is an ongoing active investigation,” Police Chief Conner Daily said. “We are actively pursuing suspect leads and have several different suspects we are looking at, and we are trying to eliminate them,” Of the suspects, Daily said, “The descriptions we have can fit many people in the community.” http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130521/news/305219979/vandals-cut-mooring-line-to-cruise-ship-in-port-townsend

High winds delayed cruise ship

The threat of high winds and rough seas in eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca late on Mar 13 have again delayed the arrival of the"American Spirit" in Port Angeles. The vessel docked at City Pier around 10 next morning, roughly 12 hours later than originally scheduled. The master had decided to keep the vessel and its 50 passengers in port in Friday Harbor on May 13 after forecasts called for 25-35 mph winds and 4-6 foot seas in the eastern Strait. The delay, however, did not prevent passengers from taking any of pre-planned tours in Port Angeles. The "American Spirit", which can hold 100 passengers, was slated to leave Port Angeles on May 15 at 5 p.m., rather than noon, and arrive in Port Townsend about four hours later. The ship was to stay in Port Townsend all day on May 16 and leave for Poulsbo at about 4 a.m. May 17.

Gale delayed cruise ship

The "American Spirit" will leave Port Townsend early on May 2, 2013, after gale-force winds on the Strait of Juan de Fuca delayed its Port Angeles arrival. The delay was due to shorten its visit to Port Townsend later in the week. The "American Spirit" originally was due to dock at Port Angeles City Pier on Apr 30 night from Friday Harbor, which was the Day 3 stop for American Cruise Lines' 2013 Puget Sound/San Juan Island tour that lasts eight days and seven nights. But winds in the afternoon of Apr 29 gusting up to 40 mph — and consistently hovering around 28 mph — kept the ship at Friday Harbor and delayed the arrival at City Pier until around 9:30 a.m. May 1. The National Weather Service forecast winds in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca to diminish by morning to around 15 mph. The ship spent Apr 30 in Port Angeles, with visits to downtown merchants and tours to Olympic National Park, casinos and other Clallam attractions. It was scheduled to depart Port Angeles in the evening and arrive at Union Wharf in Port Townsend around midnight for a daylong visit on May 1 that ends with an early May 3 departure after spending all day Thursday in the Victoria seaport.