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| Date:
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July 4, 1998
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| Position: |
Latitude: 35d 13m Longitude: 137d 9m; Nagoya, Japan
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| Entered By:
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Teacher Aboard Leslie Bridgett
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Kon-nichi-wa (Good day or hello/Japanese) and Happy
4th of July!
THE 4TH OF JULY
In the absence of the hometown Fourth
of July parades and cookouts, Pride II did not let our special
day go unnoticed. During a reception, a representative of the
American Consulate quoted a line or two from the Declaration
of Independence and we sang the Star Spangled Banner.
Then Captain Parrott arranged for the crew to fire a cannon.
Having been immersed in foreign cultures for almost four months,
our national anthem was a wonderful sound of home. It was especially
meaningful to celebrate the 4th on Pride II which was
built as a modern replica (model) of an 1812-era privateer. Baltimore Clippers like Pride II helped defeat the British naval forces in the War
of 1812 when our nation was young and defending its freedom.
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It was while witnessing the defense
of Baltimore at Fort McHenry
that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that became
our national anthem. "Oh say can you see by the dawn's early,
what we so proudly hail at the twilight's last gleaming."
Imagine the joy Francis Scott Key must have felt at dawn to see
"those board stripes and bright stars" flying over Fort
McHenry which proudly showed that Baltimore had not fallen to
the British during the night. Standing on the 100 foot deck of
Pride II knowing she had crossed the Pacific Ocean, it seemed
to me that the crew truly represented people from "the land
of the free and the home of the brave." Together we shared
a free spirit worth protecting and celebrating.
A SISTER PORT WELCOME
| The day was gray, but the spirits
were bright as Captain Parrott skillfully sailed Pride II past
the spectators on the dock. Since the Port of Nagoya offers an
open bay area rather than a narrow river, Captain Parrott could
take advantage of the space to demonstrate Pride II's graceful
lines under sail. Making a pass of the dock, Pride II fired her
cannons in response to the warm welcome by Baltimore's sister
port. Spectator boats, helicopters, fireboats, flag drill teams,
and a marching band added to the festivities.
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 | After securing
the dock lines, the crew came ashore for a ceremonial welcome
by local officials. Captain Parrott was presented with beautiful
gift box containing elegant statues of emperors, and each of the
crew members were given flowers. Afterwards everyone was welcomed
aboard Pride II for a tour and a glimpse of 1812 history.
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The next evening a reception was
held at the top of the Nagoya Port Building. This venue (place
for an event) offered a lovely view of the harbor and of Pride II docked just below. Maryland Secretary of Transportation, David
Winstead, joined the celebration to say a few words on behalf of
Maryland's Governor, Paris Glendenning. I find it interesting
to note that Pride II, a replica of 1812 technology, serves as
a wonderful catalyst (starting point) for the promotion of 20th
century business contacts. In technology the two seems worlds
apart, but in the spirit of venturing, both ships and businesses
must take risks to reach a destination or goal. After watching
Pride II's role as a port ambassador, it seems that she is well
suited to serve the modern business community by the very nature
of her spirit of adventure.
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THE PORT OF NAGOYA
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As a sister port to Baltimore, the
huge container port of Nagoya is extensive. It has facilities
to meet the demands of 122 vessels arriving daily. The port spreads
out over a wide delta which is fed by 16 rivers. Major exports
include transportation equipment (cars), machinery, electrical
equipment, petroleum products (plastics), paints, rubber products,
chemicals, ceramics (pottery), textiles (clothes), and metal products.
Like Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore, Nagoya also has a steel mill
along the waterfront in the harbor. Some of the numerous imports
handled by the Port of Nagoya include iron ore from Australia
and Brazil, timber from Malaysia, petroleum (oil), corn, and wheat.
From any vantage point above the harbor, it is obvious that the
Port of Nagoya is highly industrial and has a huge network of
roads, bridges, and trains to move goods in or out of the area.
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"DOWN HOME" AT THE GARDEN PIER
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Surrounded by the
huge expanse of this active port, Pride II is docked at the Garden
Pier, which is a waterfront recreation area offering a warm small
town feeling to visitors. Visited mostly on weekends, this pocket
of the city keeps a quieter profile (image) during the week as
it sits nestled between the container terminals across the harbor.
This unique waterfront oasis offers an aquarium, a Ferris wheel,
a shopping complex, a maritime museum, a beautifully landscaped
park, an Antarctic exploration ship, and scenic cruises of the
harbor. The Port of Nagoya should be complimented on its success
in creating a charming waterfront area in the center of an industrial
port. On a smaller scale, it is much like Baltimore's Inner Harbor,
where folks come to enjoy the waterfront on weekends. You only
have to look at the crowds of people streaming off the subway
into the harbor on a sunny day to know everyone agrees that this
was a great idea!
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Go To Part 2 of the July 4th Log
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