Jimmy Rocha sits at the helm of Fortress Marine’s mooring tender at Hoppy’s Landing, waiting for Tom Johnson to get back so they can go out and tend to some moorings in Round Cove, on Saturday, 4/28/18. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
This rather different looking work boat graced the dock at Hoppy’s Landing on Saturday morning, 4/28. Although the rest of the world was sunny and bright, some pretty thick fog surrounded West Island and environs. The boat belongs to Fortress Marine and Moorings. It is used to tend to moorings. “Mooring tender” is probably the best way to describe this boat, said Fortress owner Tom Johnson.
L-R: Tied up at Hoppy’s Landing, Tom Johnson and Jimmy Rocha lower the A-frame on the mooring tender so they can take it under the causeway to inspect some moorings in Round Cove on Saturday, 4/28/18. Photo by Beth David.
The company tends to about 70 moorings from Dartmouth to Bourne. On this day he and Jimmy Rocha, helmsman and diver, were heading out under the causeway to check on moorings in Round Cove. The metal A-frame collapses back into the boat so the vessel can get under the bridge, and can be transported on the road easier.
L-R: Tom Johnson and Jimmy Rocha of Fortress Marine, head out in the fog at Hoppy’s Landing, bound for the causeway to insepct some moorings in Round Cove on Saturday, 4/28/18. Photo by Beth David.
By 10 a.m., they had already put a marker on Elephant Rock, moved the buoy at Hoppy’s Landing back to the end of the sandbar, after the storms of this winter had moved it, and checked on about six moorings.
Mr. Rocha said the A-frame and winch can pull up more than 1,000 pounds. A diver takes the hook down to the mooring and hooks it up to get hauled. •••
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