#3: [25-Jul-09]

#2: [04-Mar-09]

28-Apr-2007 -- After three and a half weeks discharging and loading on the Río Orinoco, we are in salty water again! After discharging the Mexican iron ore we loaded steel slabs for Río Haina (Dominican Republic) and Port Arthur (Texas). As fuel was no longer sufficient to perform this voyage, charterers decided to deliver the necessary quantity at Pointe-à-Pierre in the Gulf of Paria (Trinidad & Tobago).

Operations were completed this morning and subsequently we left the Gulf of Paria through its main northern exit, the Boca Grande, heading straight towards 11N 62W.

On its northern end, the Gulf of Paria can be entered or left through three narrow channels, known as Bocas del Dragón (Dragon's Mouths), named from East to West

• Boca de Monos (between Trinidad and Monos Island)
• Boca de Huevos (or Umbrella Channel; between Monos Island and Huevos Island)
• Boca de Navíos (between Huevos island and Chacachacare Island)

The main inlet, and used by all larger ships, however, is Boca Grande, between Chacachacare Island and the Peninsula de Paria, which belongs already to Venezuela. Boca Grande can be well seen from the Confluence. Left is Trinidad, in the middle are Chacachacare and the minor islands, and right the Peninsula de Paria with its easternmost tip, Promontorio de Paria.

Further views with well visible land are to

• SW
• South
• ESE

The Peninsula de Paria, which extends for about 120 km in E-W direction, is backed by mountains more than 1,200 metres high and is completely covered by trees.

In the ocean but with a view of land.