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.