Arrival of the golden bridge, a photo from Sodermanland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

This is a photo I took yesterday afternoon. It shows the M/S Zhen Hua 33 arriving in central Stockholm after a journey of more than two months from southern China. It carried the heaviest and widest load ever brought along the narrow straits between the islands of the Stockholm archipelago.

Here is a larger (almost too large) version.

The heavy load resting on pontoons on the deck is the steel bridge that will connect the Old Town (Gamla stan) with Sermalm island. The bridge has been painted golden to harmonize with the buildings on both sides of the new sluice system (Slussen) being built to regulate the flow of water between Lake M舁aren and the sea.

The new bridge is 140 meters long and 45 meters wide and weighs at least 3.500 tons. The delicate process of putting it in its place is expected to take about two weeks. The area under the deck will be filled with water, making the Zheng Hua sink so low that the pontoons carrying the bridge can be moved by tugboats. After the ballast tanks have been emptied, Zheng Hua can start its long journey back to China.

A news site reported yesterday that the Chinese crew would refuse to go ashore during their stay in Stockholm. They were said to be afraid of the corona epidemic now spreading rapidly in Sweden, especially in Stockholm.

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to join the crowds watching the "golden bridge" from the heights of Sermalm...

Two more photos in the WS, perhaps more in my ordinary style. One is a close view of a part of the Zheng Hua, the other shows a glimpse from the crowd of spectators.

Fis2, johnjmoe, pajaran, ikeharel, pierrefonds, jhm, Royaldevon, jean113, mcmtanyel, macjake, PaulVDV, PaulVDV has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (170669) 2020-03-12 1:19

Witaj Gerrit my neighbour today :)
Very interesting reporter photo.
An excellent document.
I like POV, composition and colors.
The ship makes impression.
Well done.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

pajaran (115805) 2020-03-12 1:28

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep transportni brod.
Lepo pokazano sa fotografijama u radinoci, dobro uhvacen trenutak.
Brod uspesno nosi, veliku konstrukciju mosta.
Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Greeting.
Nice view, interesting and good text ...
Nice transport boat.
Beautifully shown with craft photos, well captured moment.
The ship successfully carries, a large bridge structure.
I wish you a nice and successful day, all the best.

mesutilgim (0) 2020-03-12 1:28

Hello Gert,
Another nice capture in your gallery.
Both photographycally and informative perfect TE job done.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Silvio1953 (221493) 2020-03-12 2:25

Ciao Gert, lovely composition with great ship, superb Grey sky, excellent clarity, fine details, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao

ChrisJ (171818) 2020-03-12 2:49

Hello Gert,

This will be an historic photo in 40 years time long after most people have forgotten all about the construction of the bridge. Good sharpness and the pilot boat adds scale. Tfs!

lousat (139198) 2020-03-12 3:38

Hi Gert,pay attention to the risks that can lead to the virus, older people are at risk! Here everyone was joking and now I'm at the cemetery. You documented this interesting event and we thank you, yesterday the main span of the new bridge was laid in Genoa after the collapse of 2 years ago, a metaphor for hope for the future, but for now the situation is very serious, they put curfew. Have a nice day...at home! Luciano

ikeharel (113273) 2020-03-12 4:01

Hello Gert,
Indeed a remarkable heavy-load and a picture that show the arriving vessl was a great occassion for photographers. Taken full advantage of the event, Great stuff.
Good afternoon,
Ike

pierrefonds (114371) 2020-03-12 4:48

Hi Gert,

The ship and its cargo is impressive. The point of view is showing the details of the Zheng Hua ship and of the golden bridge. The cloudy sky does not the colours output. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2020-03-12 7:24

Hello Gert,

The floor of the golden bridge is fantastic solution par ship
Wonderful picture nice sharp and clear.
Excellent photography
Very well done, TFS.

Warmest regards,
John

rychem (72187) 2020-03-12 8:42

A very interesting documentary photo, a very informative note, I like photos in WS too and I hope to see a photo of the bridge after the montage :)
regards Ryszard

Royaldevon (85862) 2020-03-12 8:54

Hello Gert,

TE is becoming like a personal news service!
I didn't learn this on our national news!

I can understand why this one was your main post, to explain the arrival of the bridge by boat and it has been taken using a nice, diagonal composition, with surrounding information to show where it is happening.
I love your w/s, getting in close to the action and to the people. It must have been quite an exciting event, drawing lots of attention from the locals.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

jmdias (115072) 2020-03-12 10:01

gert

an historical image for the city. nice details of the boat taking the new bridge I want to know someday when I will visit this city...if I will escape for corona.. haha.
probably the iron of the bridge is brazilian..

take care

jorge

Tue (92312) 2020-03-12 13:29

Hej Gert,
Et udm誡ket, og meget journalistisk, billede af ankomsten af det store skib, der havde den imponerende del af den nye bro med sig. Stockholm danner en smuk baggrund, selv om det var en gr蛆ejrsdag.
Lars

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-03-12 14:04

Gert, that huge ship is going to enter in Stockholm after having crossed half of the globe. It is carrying a spectacular load coming from China. This heavy section belongs to the new golden bridge. A journalistic shot useful to present the project. Fine colors, good sharpness, interesting photo note, regards.

jean113 (27819) 2020-03-12 14:05

Hello Gert, a sight that you do not see every day, a very special event. Possibly unique.
Three shots that add up to an interesting whole. All in excellent sharp focus.
It makes me think how wonderful technology is; the size and weight is incredible.
I hope that you might be able to show the next stage in the process(?)
Kind regards, Jean.

GyurMaster (24818) 2020-03-12 16:07

Dear Gert,

You did, what a real photographer shall do: took the risk! Joking apart, unless you went closer than 1 metres to anyone, dispensed with picking your eyes and nose and washed your hands after reuting to home, you will be fine. Have I mentioned that I recently became observant how many times people picking their eyes and nose during a travel on public transport? If the coronavirus had a Facebook account, it would like a photo series on that topic!

Best Wishes,
Gy

PS: I like the WS with the two man watching the event! That would sell as a main upload too!

Gerrit (62042) 2020-03-12 16:16

Hello Gert,
excellent view on this bridge that is coming in. Lively scene in a good composition.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

mcmtanyel (68421) 2020-03-12 23:20

Hello Gert,
Very nice news reportage. This is a historic photo, as the crowd of spectators suggests. 👍🏻👍🏻
Regards,
MT

ifege (47993) 2020-03-12 23:34

Hi Gert
An amazing sight and equally amazing process still to come.
cheers
Ian

macjake (98408) 2020-03-13 4:12

Hi Gert
I guess this gives new meaning to FLOATING BRIDGE - sorry I just HAD to hahaha. As for the Coronavirus - first off, I'm concerned mostly for Malgo as she continues to travel, and bc of her age, sigh. and its also spreading in Canada, but in time, it will get better and in longer time it will be forgotten. Sadly, it will have to get worse first though in the short term. Very interesting pics here...imagine if they find out they got the paint color wrong and now it has to be sent back to China hahaha...Good ws photo of the two men working, gives scale to the huge ship. Now you know you've set yourself up - Now you know you must update us all in 2-3 weeks time, i'll be waiting :)
cheers
Craig

saxo042 (38078) 2020-03-14 9:33

Hej Gert,

Intressanta och v舁tagna bilder! Uppenbarligen detta mer uppm舐ksammat 舅 leveransen av de stora brodelarna till den nya Hisingsbron i julas.

H舁sningar
Gunnar

PiotrF (54572) 2020-03-14 17:13

Hello Gert,
An interesting series of photos from this event.
Everyone will remember that the bridge was built during the crown epidemic.
Fine presentation
Regards
Piotr

kasianowak (17676) 2020-03-14 18:14

Hi Gert
How ironic, a few weeks ago everyone was scared to go to China and now Asians fear to step on to the European shore. I've just read the news that the epidemic is slowing down in China and Korea, so maybe that's actually positive and a sign that the disease will soon run its course on our continent as well?
I hope you are well, you may have noticed from our conversations in the last couple of weeks that I don't worry too much about myself. But I do worry about friends and family.
Best wishes
Kasia

Nicou (193806) 2020-03-14 22:28

Hello

quelle vue sur ce port et image quel navire imposant un autre bateau en tout petit passe et donne bien l'馗helle en fond tout la ville ce car jaune en premier plan fantastique ensemble
bravo et belle journ馥
Nicou

emka (158058) 2020-03-24 2:26

Hi Gert, How could I miss these photos! A very interesting moment in the rebuilding of the sluice systems. It would be a great opportunity to observe the works if it would be possible to do longer walks in the present situation with the coronavirus. Spectacular view. I like most the tiny figures in the Workshop picture.
The ninth day of quarantine :)
Cheers

MAlgo

PaulVDV (62846) 2020-03-25 10:04

Hello Gert,
Once a journalist, always a journalist. I understand you wanted to witness this event although I think it was a risk to your health. My stay in Asia may have worried me more than it should about the corona virus. But I see the future as worrying.
I note that the three Scandinavian countries were able to limit further contamination. At the outbreak of the virus in Europe, Sw., N. and D. had each more people infected than Belgium. In the meantime, this situation has changed considerably and this while we have a lockdown here.
Regarding your pictures: excellent reportage.
A bridge between Gamla Stan and Sermalm. Did you ever expect this? Or was it discussed in Stockholm for quite some time?
When will the construction be completed? Hopefully there will also be a pedestrian section on the bridge.
I'd like to see that bridge someday and walk over it.
Best regards, Paul