Cruise ships come in all sizes from multi-thousands of passengers to a few dozen. But they divide into two general groups. The big mega ships with endless entertainment onboard and the more rugged small expedition cruisers capable of getting into the interesting nooks and crannies of a coast.

In late April of 2020, the Bristol Bay sockeye gillnet season was being eyed with much trepidation. Covid-19 had much of the US in lock down to one degree or another. The challenges of bringing hundreds of cannery workers and fishermen to Bristol Bay in time for the month of June sockeye-opener was being discussed in detail. In late April there were reports that some fishermen had decided not to risk the expense of getting their boats ready for the season.

As sometimes happens with boats in the maritime world, the recent repower of a tug shone a light on a pair of well-known independent companies. The tug Gretchen H.

Marshall Alexander has been fishing the Gulf of Maine for over 50 years. He knows the seas, the fisheries, and the boats that make up his way of life. When he got his first boat, he named her De Dee Mae. She worked well for him.

At 128.9 by 24 meters, the RRS Sir David Attenborough is not a large ship, but she is a wondrously complex ship. Designed and built to meet the contemporary science requirements as a seagoing science platform the ship can also provide support to land-based polar science.

With all systems checked out and tuned to perfection, the big catamaran’s GPS display read a crisp 25 knots. This met her design speed and the tastefully appointed galley and accommodation area matched the renderings approved by the owner. Another Powerplay boat was ready for delivery.