Costa Mediterranea in Funchal

The massive presence of the M/V Costa Mediterranea as seen from the Funchal Pilot Station, approaching the Pontinha breakwater, early morning, on the berthing manoeuvre of the past 13 of May.

Picture taken with Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3.

Pilot Card:

Ships name: M/V Costa Mediterranea
IMO number: 9237345
Type: Cruise ship
LOA: 292.50 mts
Beam: 32.20 mts
Summer displacement: 44920 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 7.90 mts
Propulsion: Diesel-electric, two stern azipods, 35.2 MW total propulsion power
Pitch: N/A
Rudder: N/A
Bow thruster: 3 (total power: 5730 KW)
Stern Thruster: N/A

Busy Caniçal

The most recent Portuguese commercial port is located in the small village of Caniçal, in Madeira island. Before its existence, all the cargo operations took place in Funchal. By the time I started working as a Pilot in Madeira the port of Funchal was reaching its limits, with a North Pier crowded with containers and the South breakwater dividing its space between containers, general cargo and tourism. The decision to build a new port was obvious and much needed. And logistically speaking it was a move well done. However, today, almost seven years after Caniçal's full operational condition, this port remains the one, in Madeira, where we make our most "radical" manoeuvres. Three main factor contribute to that more "aggressive" pilotage: the ports narrow manoeuvring basin, its open exposure to the fresh NE winds (the most constant and common in Madeira) and the size of the vessels (they keep getting bigger). Counteracting these negative factors is not easy, however we have manage to do so over the past seven years. How? Well, although the vessels keep getting bigger, their manoeuvrability characteristics are also improving. Nowadays, even in the simplest cargo vessel, an asset as a bow thruster and/or a Becker-type rudder is quite common and so are the variable pitch propellers.

Besides these advances in marine technology that help us to do our job easier every passing year, we can count also with a fleet of four modern tractor tugs that, really, make a difference in most manoeuvres we do. With bollard pulls ranging from 10 to 40 tons, we owe to them and to their professional crews and tug masters, the success of many manoeuvres that, otherwise, would be impossible to accomplish.

Anyway, not all the days in Caniçal are difficult. Far from it. Since the Spring of 2011 until now I've been witness of the best weather in Madeira, in the past seven years. We simply didn´t have any Winter. More than one year of calm weather. And, naturally, that plays a major role on the manoeuvring dynamics in Caniçal.

Particularly in the beginning of the week. Caniçal is at its best on Mondays and on Tuesdays. Busy days, those two. Those are the liner days. When the port receives the feeders that, every week, supply the island (and all the islands worldwide, for that matter!) with all the goods we need to survive: from chocolate to wheat, from yogurts to meat, from fresh vegetables to consumption electronics. All that comes from sea (the cargo transported by air is negligible, even in worldwide numbers). And, like everywhere in the world, in Madeira the working week starts Monday.

So, as soon as our regular visitors are alongside, we are finishing our work and the stevedoring teams are starting theirs. And in a short time of one to two hours many of those goods are already in the market while the island awakes for a new week.

A regular visit to our port, every Monday morning, is the Monte da Guia, from Transinsular. A German construction, from the J.J. Sietas shipyard, the Monte da Guia is, together with her twin sister Monte Brasil, the largest unit owned by this Portuguese shipowner.

Pilot Card:
Ships name: N/M Monte da Guia
IMO number: 9123788
Type: Container carrier
LOA: 127 mts
Beam: 19.40 mts
Summer DWT: 8836 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 6.50 mts
Propulsion: Diesel engine, MAK 8M, one variable pitch propeller, 6000 KW total propulsion power
Pitch: Left-handed
Rudder: Conventional
Bow thruster: 1 (total power: 500 KW)
Stern Thruster: N

The N/M Monte da Guia, departing from Caniçal on a peaceful Spring afternoon, opening her stern  with the help of the Starboard side forward spring line.

From the Empresa de Navegação Madeirense, the oldest Portuguese (and centenary) shipowner still in activity, here is the container carrier Funchalense 5 leaving the central berthing position of the Caniçal North pier, on her departure to Leixões.

This vessel remains, presently, the most modern unit of the decaying Portuguese merchant fleet.

Pilot Card:
Ships name: N/M Funchalense 5
IMO number: 9388390
Type: Container carrier
LOA: 126.87 mts
Beam: 20.40 mts
Summer DWT: ?
Max draft on manoeuvre: 6.60 mts
Propulsion: Diesel engine, MAK 8M 43C, one variable pitch propeller, 7200 KW total propulsion power
Pitch: Right-handed
Rudder: Becker flap rudder
Bow thruster: 1 (total power: 500 KW)
Stern Thruster: N

Another view of the N/M Funchalense 5, after disembarking the Pilot and making way to Leixões.

The OPDR Cadiz, from the german shipowner OPDR, or Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Rhederei , is also a regular in Caniçal, making bi-weekly calls on Tuesdays.  Here she is, alongside by Port, on the South breakwater, several weeks ago.

Pilot Card:
Ships name: M/V OPDR Cadiz
IMO number: 9216858
Type: Container carrier
LOA: 127.95 mts
Beam: 20.60 mts
Summer displacement: 12222 tons
Max draft on manoeuvre: 7.50 mts
Propulsion: Diesel engine, MAK 7M43, 1 variable pitch propeller, 6300 KW total propulsion power
Pitch: Right-handed
Rudder: Conventional
Bow thruster: 1 (total power: 600 KW)
Stern Thruster: N

On the past week, however, she was replaced, due to dry-docking, in her routine call by the M/V Mistral. Bigger than the usual OPDR's we normally receive, the Mistral, with her massive 10000 GT and 135 mts long, imposes respect when alongside in such a small port:

After the cargo operation is done, another departure manoeuvre and off she goes, South bound, to the Canary islands:

Pilot Card:
Ships name: M/V Mistral
IMO number: 9376024
Type: Container carrier
LOA: 134.44 mts
Beam: 22.74 mts
Summer displacement: 15747 tons
Max draft on manoeuvre: 8.80 mts
Propulsion: Diesel engine, 1 variable pitch propeller, 8400 KW total propulsion power
Pitch: Right-handed
Rudder: Conventional
Bow thruster: 1 (total power: 750 KW)
Stern Thruster: 1 (total power: 450 KW)

A few visits from the past days

The MSC Armonia alongside Pontinha, on the past 4th of May.
Photo by Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3.
Conversion to B&W and post-processing in Adobe Photoshop CS3.

Pilot Card:
Ships name: MSC Armonia
IMO number: 9210141
Type: Cruise vessel
LOA: 251.28 mts
Beam: 28.80 mts
Summer displacement: 29715 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 6.80 mts
Propulsion: Diesel-electric - Two azipods - 28000 HP total propulsion power
Pitch: N/A
Rudder: N/A
Bow thruster: 2 (total power: 3000 HP)
Stern Thruster: N

The Balmoral was also among us on the same day. Here is she pictured alongside the Pontinha breakwater, berthed by her Starboard side.

Photo by Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3.

Pilot Card:

Ships name: Balmoral
IMO number: 8506294
Type: Cruise vessel
LOA: 218.05 mts
Beam: 32.30 mts
Summer displacement: 27476.6 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 7.10 mts
Propulsion: Diesel engines - Two shafts - Two inward turning variable pitch propellers - 20000 HP total propulsion power
Pitch: N/A
Rudder: 2 - Hatlapa independent rudders
Bow thruster: 2 (Power: 2x885 Kw)
Stern Thruster: N

The VaVa was, probably, the last mega-yacht of the season. Here she is, following our Pilot boat Ilhéu do Lido, entering the port of Funchal at 0700 LT, on the 6th of May.

The vessel belongs to Ernesto Bertarelli, an Italian-born billionaire, raised in Switzerland and educated in the States. One of the wealthiest persons on the world, according to Forbes, Bertarelli is the heir of a pharmaceutical empire, founded by his father.

Photo by Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3.

The ending of the season

That's it. The Winter cruise season in Madeira, for the present year, is nearly over. In great truth we don't, actually, have a cruise market in Madeira. The fact is we don't have a true cruise market in the Macaronesia islands. At least like we see in the Caribbean, in South America, in Scandinavia and the Baltic basin and in the Mediterranean. In these geographic areas, the cruise ships stay stationed for several months in a row, making round cruises around the same ports of call. In seven years of pilotage in Madeira the only two exceptions to this rule that I have known are the Aida Cruises and the TUI operator. Each one of these companies has the habit of placing one of their vessels in the Madeira waters, in a period that normally goes from the beginning of October until the end of March. So, during the Autumn and Winter season, we are graced with the regular and weekly visits of the Aida Bella (or Blue) and with the Thomson Destiny (or Celebration). Besides that, all the other cruise ships (and they are a lot!) that call our lovely port of Funchal behave, somewhat, like migration birds.

We are, mostly, a passage port. A stop in transit for the many cruise ships that are relocated, twice per year, in the regions that I've said before. So, we, in Funchal, basically, have two periods per year that we can call "cruise season". One starts in the end of September and goes all the way to the beginning of January. During these three and a half months (the end of Summer in the Northern hemisphere) all the cruise ships depart from the Scandinavian and Mediterranean waters and head on to the more warmer markets of the South Atlantic (mostly Brasil) and the Caribbean. The second one is exactly its contrary. Begins at the end of February and goes all the way 'till now, in mid-May. During this time, most of the cruise ships operating in the Atlantic leave the Winter waters of the South hemisphere and return to our Summer season, in European waters.

And almost all of them call Funchal, during their twice-a-year migratory movement. Just to give you an idea of the numbers involved, we normally end up each one of the seasons with 150 cruise ship calls in Funchal. However, the total yearly value is much more than the double of this amount. And I'm not counting with the regulars and with the mega-yachts that call on us normally for bunkers, fresh water and provisions.

These numbers makes us, presently, the busiest port of Portugal for the cruise industry, seconded by Lisboa. Meanwhile, year after year, the number of calls is increasing. And that is good news for our economy, but also for us, Pilots. It's good to see that, in a world dominated by a present economic recession, there are some markets that seem untouched by the crisis. One of them is certainly the cruise industry. The ships keep on arriving to Funchal with (most of the times) nearly full occupation. So you can easily imagine that when we have (and in some days we do) four cruise ships alongside in Funchal, the city's population increases by a number of ten thousand. And that, to say the least, is funny.

A regular visit to Funchal, since her younger days, the M/V Aurora, from P&O, also called us a few days ago, on her crossing to Southampton.

Pilot Card:

Ships name: Aurora
IMO number: 9169524
Type: Cruise vessel
LOA: 272.10 mts
Beam: 32.20 mts
Summer displacement: 43405 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 8.50 mts
Propulsion: Diesel-electric - Two propeller shafts - two fixed pitch propellers - Inward turning - 40 Mw total propulsion power
Pitch: N/A
Rudder: 2 - Independent
Bow thruster: 3 (total power: 4500 Kw)
Stern Thruster: 1 (total power: 1500 Kw)

Worldwide there are only a hand full of women that have the privilege of being a cruise ship's Captain. I guess you'll have more luck finding a woman as a head of state than in this particular function. This make it, probably, the most elitist job in the world. So imagine my pleasure in finding aboard the Aurora Capt. Sarah Breton as her Captain. I couldn't resist to ask the Staff Captain to takes us a picture. Always safe waters and calm winds to you and all your crew, Captain Breton.

Also a frequent visit to our waters, here's the M/V Aida Bella on arrival to Funchal, coming from Arrecife.

Pilot Card:

Ships name: Aida Bella
IMO number: 9362542
Type: Cruise vessel
LOA: 251.89 mts
Beam: 32.20 mts
Summer displacement: 37375.7 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 7.20 mts
Propulsion: Diesel-electric - Two propeller shafts - two fixed pitch propellers - Inward turning - 25 Mw total propulsion power
Pitch: N/A
Rudder: 2 - Independent
Bow thruster: 2 (total power: 4600 Kw)
Stern Thruster: 2 (total power: 3000 Kw)

The vessels of Holland-America Line are not the most common presence in Madeira. However, it's always a pleasure to manoeuvre one of them. In a time where the box-shaped design is dominating the world market of ship building, making, therefore, the modern cruise ships resembling more with floating hotels than with actual vessels, the fluid lines of the Holland-America vessels still try to bring to the present the elegant shapes  of the Atlantic liners.

The use of noble materials and finishing and the elegant interiors adds to this nostalgic sense and sends us to the golden age of passenger transportation by sea. Long before the commercial aviation, with their fast, but aseptic service, started to rule the world.

Here's Rotterdam alongside, by Starboard, on the pier nº2 of Pontinha breakwater, after the early morning manoeuvre of the past 26th of April. Passing by is the NRP Schultz Xavier, from the Portuguese Navy.

Pilot Card:

Ships name: Rotterdam
IMO number: 9122552
Type: Cruise vessel
LOA: 237.90 mts
Beam: 32.25 mts
Summer displacement: 33872 t
Max draft on manoeuvre: 8.20 mts
Propulsion: Diesel-electric - Two propeller shafts - two CPP propellers - Inward turning - 37.50 Mw total propulsion power
Pitch: N/A
Rudder: 2 - Independent - Seal Spade
Bow thruster: 2 (total power: 3440 Kw)
Stern Thruster: 2 (total power: 3440 Kw)

The Sea Cloud II is one of the few cruise sailing ships existing in the world. And normally we are graced with her visit twice per year. Here she is, moored by Portside, alongside the key nº2 of the Pontinha breakwater, on the 25th of April.

Pilot Card:

Ships name: Sea Cloud II
IMO number: 9171292
Type: Cruise sailing vessel
LOA: 117 mts
Beam: 16.15 mts
Summer DWT: 379 MT
Max draft on manoeuvre: 5.80 mts
Propulsion: Two main diesel engines connected to a single shaft by gear box - One variable pitch propeller - 2480 HP total propulsion power to the shaft. Sailing rig: three masts, 23 sails, 3000m2 sail area.
Pitch: Left-handed
Rudder: 1 - Conventional
Bow thruster: 1 - 500HP
Stern Thruster: N/A

During the last week of April we received the visit of several mega-yachts in Funchal. These smaller vessels also behave, somehow, like the bigger ones. So they normally spend our Winter in the Caribbean sea and are relocated during our Summer in the Mediterranean. Some of them travel on the deck of large mega-yachts carriers, but many also cross the Atlantic by their own power. However, Madeira is not exactly on the cross-Atlantic route of these vessels. Normally they sail thru a higher latitude, eventually calling Açores ports (namely Horta, in Faial) for mid-Atlantic stops, looking for bunkers, water and provisions.
However, in the last week of April several low pressure systems were complicating the navigation, making the ocean, near the Açores, difficult to navigate with such small crafts. Avoiding rough conditions and more than certain damage, the Skippers choose southern routes, navigating further away from the gale centres.
So, in the space of about a week, the following yachts payed us a visit: the M/Y Audacia (pictured, arriving to Funchal), the M/Y Pink Gin, the M/Y Gladiator, the M/Y Happy Days and the M/Y Seanna. 

Polar Star and Pico Ruívo

The Polar Star has been a faithful companion for generations of mariners. In a world dominated nowadays by the omnipresent high-tech of the modern equipments of electronic navigation, it's easy to forget the roots, the basics and the basis of our seamanship. To me, every time I look at her, she represents a voyage to the past. To my own. And also to our common one.

Since I was a student, in the Nautical School, during the early nineties, I've always felt that I was part of a tradition, of a science and a brotherhood that started thousands of years ago with the first navigators. This knowledge never knew any borders. We were already global before globalization was cool.

When I went to the sea for the first time (it was not long ago, but things changed quite a bit in almost twenty years) the satellite navigation equipments were giving their first steps in the Merchant Marine. My first vessel had the Transit. It was, so to speak, a primitive version of the GPS. It would give us a fix every thirty or forty-five minutes, meaning that it would be useless for restricted waters navigation but would be OK for the high seas. Later came the GPS. The system evolved so much that today the positioning is continuous and with errors of a couple of meters. Not affected by atmospheric conditions, this system is almost perfect. Nevertheless, and regardless the fact that the vessel where I served as a Cadet had already the system installed, I dedicated myself to put in practice the astronomy navigation that I've learn in theory at the school.

I was lucky. I had a somehow traditional Captain that considered it as important. And he taught me. So everyday, in high seas, you'd see me, at dawn, noon and dusk, in the bridge wings, sextant in one hand and seconds counter on the other, shooting at the stars and the Sun. The Polar Star was, therefore, a faithful companion that more often than not was an active participant in my nautical calculations.

So, once started that relationship never ends. And even that we come to work ashore, our beloved Polar Star is always there to lead us the way.

So one night I've decided to meet her again and since I wanted to be closer to her, I had to spend the night in Madeira highest peak: the Pico Ruívo. Backpack on the shoulders, a few snacks for the dinner time, camping mattress and sleeping bag for the night and there I was at 2100 mounting the photo equipment and aligning it to the North at 1862 mts.

After that, it was easy. I stayed awake a couple of hours more, appreciating my old cosmic friend and afterwards hit the sac. This was the timid attempt of that night. But I guess I can do better. So I'm planning already a new night in the mountains.

Star trails and Polar Star between the geodesic marks of Pico Ruívo at night time.

Photo taken with Nikon FM3A and Sigma 24mm f:1.8D EX DG Macro

Manfrotto tripod and ball-head

Exposure: 8 hours

Aperture: f8

Film: Fujichrome Velvia ASA 50

Scanned in Nikon Coolscan V ED

Post-processing in Adobe Photoshop CS3

From Pico das Pedras to Queimadas

A "levada walk for everybody". That's what it says in the sign, in the beginning of the path, close to the Rancho Madeirense bungalows, in Pico das Pedras.

And, in fact, it is. After leaving your car in the small parking area close to the hotel, you'll see in front of you the long levada that starts in Caldeirão do Inferno and goes as far away as Faial. However, if you are not feeling to athletic, if you are a newcomer to levadas, or if you are in those days in witch a short and peaceful walk might just be fine... then this short walk is the answer to your doubts.

The path along the levada is always wide enough and free from dangers. Just be careful with the muddy ground. Lots of people passing by together with the moist environment of the North coast makes the trail very slippery, to say the least. So, walk always looking to your feet, hence avoiding the typical levada walker pose (myself included!), which is walking around with your eyes looking at the air, trying to see the birds and the pretty flowers. That can cost you, at least, a sore arse. In extremes it can cost you your own life.

A Small Remark On Safety



Every year we face a few of these dramas in Madeira. A few persons that come to Madeira to enjoy this beautiful island end up by returning home in a coffin. It's a waste of life in a moment of it that should be all about enjoyment, fun and good memories to take home.

So, make no mistake. Madeira has a very steep orography. Which means that the levadas are, most of the times, carved in steep (sometimes plain vertical) rock walls. But this doesn't mean that they are dangerous. The danger is within us. You ever heard the saying "when in Rome, be roman"? That's exactly how you should behave in the levadas.

I'm living in Madeira for seven years. Not once I ever heard a story about a "levadeiro" (that's the name of the government professionals that take care of the levadas) killed from a fall in these water channels. Why? Easy: because they know what they are doing. Granted, probably during the construction of this magnificent engineering work of art there were a few fatalities. Those were different times, difficult ones. Safety procedures were not the most important things at that times. People just had to work... better... to sacrifice themselves to have a decent living. Nowadays things changed, thank God. And human life is very important. At least among us. So, why do people die in the levadas?

Easy: because they are not careful. You have only two main dangers in the levadas. Let's put this in mountaineering terms: one is objective (means that its generated by the surrounding environment), the other is subjective (meaning that is generated by you). The first one is the rock falls. And the second one is your fall. Rock falls are very uncommon in Madeira levadas. They normally happen in the Winter period. And during that season, if you are smart, you avoid the most dangerous and exposed ones. That leaves us with the subjective dangers.

And these are the ones that kill most people. You may be over-confident in your capabilities, you may lack the necessary technique to tackle a more difficult path, you may forgot the check the weather report before heading to the wilds, etc, etc, etc. Let's recognize one thing: people die in the mountains of Madeira mostly due to their faults. How to avoid this sad ending?

Easy! Watch your steps. Don't forget, levadas, by definition, are slippery. They pass by very wet areas and the paths along the water channels are, sometimes, very narrow and dangerous. Most of them don't have safety lines. So always look to where you are going to place you feet. If you want to take pictures of the birds keep on walking until you can find a place that is safe enough for you to rest a while, stop and then make your pictures.

Don't just walk around with your head on the air. If, by any chance, your are surprised along the way with a section of the levada that seems to much exposed for you, you'll have always two choices: give up and return back (sometimes, and more than once, this might just be the smartest move!) or prepare yourself to a wet pair of feet. That's right: jump on to the water channel... hiking boots and everything.

Why? Easy: in the Madeira levadas the water channels are almost always carved in the rock wall and the ground path that runs along with them (where you walk on) is always on the opposite side (the exposed one, facing the abyss). So, by walking in the water channel, with water in you knees, you are relatively secure by the protection of the nearby rock wall, instead of behaving like a rope-walker on the opposite side. Witch do you prefer? A wet pair of feet (they will dry out after an additional half'n hour of walking, anyway) and safety or an introduction to funambulism? Your answer. Just be safe. And never leave your mobile phone at home.

Contrary to many levadas in Madeira, this short walk between Pico das Pedras and Queimadas supposes no danger whatsoever, since the path is clear and wide. Just be careful with the muddy ground to avoid falling on your "arse".

Picture taken with Nikon D300 and Sigma EX 10-20mm f:4-5.6 DC HSM

Manfrotto tripod and geared 410 Junior head

Panoramic shot stitched together with Photoshop CS3

Anyway, this short walk, like I've said in the beginning, is quite safe. A pleasurable Sunday walk that you can do with everybody, from seven to seventy-seven years old.

And after a couple of kilometres and thirty minutes of walking you will find yourself in the Queimadas forest park, where you can relax by laying on the grass or just wandering around the several small forest roads that surrounds this park and leads you in an enchanted visit to the Laurissilva forest.

Before returning to the parking place of Pico das Pedras, by the same route, I advise you to stay awhile in the Queimadas forest park. Spend one hour there, walking around within the nearby forest paths. You'll be amazed with the enchanted forest within you are.

The wild flowers are always a constant presence in Madeira's many trails. This short one is no exception. Take your time. Stop and enjoy the views.

Photo taken with Nikon D300 and Sigma EX 18-50mm f:2.8 Macro DC HSM in macro mode.

Manfrotto tripod and 410 Junior geared head.

Funchal and the flower power

Every year, by this date, Madeira is invaded by tourists. Together with the New Year's Eve, the Carnival and the Madeira Wine Rally; the Madeira Flower Festival (or Madeira Flower Party, in a literal translation) is one of the most famous events that takes place in this small Atlantic island. Taking advantage of the richness of the island's flora, this festival is, among this group of four, the only truly representative of the island's most important and unique asset: its perfect and pristine natural world.

This, in fact, is the only reason why so many thousands of tourists search for Madeira, year-round, for their vacations.

Its natural world, preserved and well kept, together with a benevolent climate and a net of well designed mountain trails and paths makes this island a must for any nature-lover worldwide.

The Madeira Flower Festival is, therefore, the vehicle to divulge this unique characteristic. It's no surprise also that it takes place in the middle of the Spring. After the end of Winter, the colors start to return once again to the mountain peaks, to the valleys, to the agricultural fields, to the grass-lands, to the gardens.

This is simply the appetizer. Located in Funchal, the capital city of the island, the festival only shows to foreigners what they can expect to see everywhere in the island if they dare to stay until the end of the session, instead of leaving the room before the intermission.

Granted, the festival is lovely. The exhibition of flowers in the city, everywhere, is amazing. The colors, the perfumes invade the downtown of Funchal during these days.

However this is only a sample. An example of what you can see if you dare to leave the comfort of you hotel in the city, put on some walking shoes, and hike around amidst nature.

You can take my word for it.

The Avenida Arriaga, here seen from a sentry tower in the S. Lourenço fortress, is the epicentre of many cultural activities in Funchal. The Madeira Flower Festival is no exception.

In the Madeira Flower Festival you can have an overdose of perfumes...

... and colours.

You will see also lots of photography fanatics, like you and me. However, all the beauty present here is nothing compared to what you can see if you dare to immerse yourself in the natural Madeira...

...after buying a cheap Easy-Jet ticket, reserving a few nights in a middle-category hotel (it doesn't have to be the Reid's - unless you like it!) and don't forget your hiking boots at home.

Picture taken in Queimadas, North coast, with Nikon D300, Sigma EX 10-20mm f:4-5.6 DC HSM, Manfrotto tripod and head.