Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the wharf at Barangaroo
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This was the last container ship ever to enter Sydney Harbour. I was permitted to paint it, not only from the wharf, but from the bridge of the ship, courtesy of the Captain, Mark Carter.
On my easel is the completed oil painting of the
'Maersk Gateshead' which I sold to the Captain.
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I spent 4 days painting from different vantage points on the ship, knowing that I was witness to the end of an era.
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the wharf at Barangaroo
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The 'Maersk Gateshead' only made her unplanned visit to Sydney Harbour because her engines became disabled. Rather than return to Port Botany or sail further into Sydney Harbour to dock at Glebe Island, as originally planned, the Captain decided to make use of the recently vacated wharf at Barangaroo
DH255 'Early morning, the Maersk Gateshead at Barangaroo'
2010 oil on canvas 31 x 61cm
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The 'Maersk Gateshead' was not originally intended to enter Sydney Harbour at all. It had been near Botany, when it was discovered that the engines were disabled, and after some discussion, it was decided at first to send it to Glebe Island.
I was painting the ex-Hmas Adelaide and the OES Barge which were both then docked at Glebe.
DH257 'The Maersk Gateshead, preparing to depart Barangaroo'
2010 oil on canvas 40 x 120cm
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On the 7th June the OES Barge was waiting for the weather conditions to permit it to go to Botany, where it was to start the trials for laying cables.
There was quite a big swell at Botany- a wide windy shallow bay at the best of times.
Suddenly the OES people were told to move the barge from Glebe to neighbouring White Bay, to accomodate the disabled ship.
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the
bridge of the ship at Barangaroo.
An unfinished oil painting of the panorama
from Pyrmont and White Bay to Balmain 25 x 152cm
But the expected ship did not arrive at Glebe - the captain had decided to instead move his ship, the 'Maersk Gateshead', to the vacant lot at the former DH5.
Painting the 'Maersk Gateshead' from the
bridge of the ship at Barangaroo.
A central view of the prow of the ship
featuring its rows of containers.
The Sydney CBD and the heritage terrace
houses of Miller's Point are in the background.
Oil painting on canvas 38 x 76cm
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DH256 'The 'Pacific Jewel at wharf 7 from
the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead'
2010 oil on canvas 38 x 76cm
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The ship was not unloaded at the wharf, but waited for repairs and finally left at 3pm Monday 14th June. I understood the historical significance and made sure that I took advantage of the situation.
As well as painting from the dockside, after a bit of negotiation I was permitted to paint from the bridge of the ship itself.
"Night, 'Pacific Jewel' from the bridge of the Maersk Gateshead"
2010 oil painting on canvas 61 x 91 cm
Enquiries about this painting From the bridge of the "Maersk Gateshead"at night. The "Pacific Jewel" Cruise ship is turning in the background, ready to depart Sydney Harbour.
This was a historic moment - the last time that a cruise ship would dock at the old cruise ship terminal at Darling Harbour Wharf 8.
It is highly unlikely that any other container ship will ever be allowed to dock at Barangaroo again.
If the recent article by Paul Keating in the Sydney Morning Herald is any indication, the cruise ships will be evicted to White Bay as soon as possible.
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