When i run at 4:30am on the boardwalk, i count the tankers. The most I have seen are 13!

From what I understand, they queue there to await a security check from the Coast Guard before entering New York harbor. So I guess they "collect" overnight and wait for the CG to get to them.

Thanks, Brendan. That makes sense. The time I recall seeing the most tankers and other ships off the coast in Long Beach was right after Sept. 11, 2001. I don’t remember exactly how many there were out there, but it was far more than I had ever seen before.

They are an eyesore to what it is a beautiful horizon. They wait, and as they do, with their powerful engines on, keep polluting the ocean, which slowly creeps into our shore. Don't call it marine activity. Its more maritime commerce.

Most often the tankers are awaiting pilots, who must board them to guide them into the harbor, or awaiting port space at Port Elizabeth.

Anyone complaining about their polluting is drinking a bit much of the wrong Kool-aide. Maritime commerce is about the most efficient and safe means of transporting large commodities like fuel oil.

Since the US is now once again a net exporter of oil, exporting more than it imports, the appearance of tankers, especially empty ones like those in the photo are a good sign for our economy. When full, they sit deep in the water, standing tall when empty.

The ship to the right is an empty container ship, also a good sight, because it is probably awaiting a load of exports from the US, which still remains the world's largest producer of goods.

And what about the immense value of the product that those tankers deliver, to your life and all of our lives? You cannot have the values that it affords, at least not to the level that we enjoy them now, without a certain level of pollution. Man is part of this earth, too, and his tankers are a welcomed sight to me.

Maritime commerce has been ongoing for hundreds of years in every country around.the world. We are no different. Do you think shutting down the ships engines and restarting is.the same as a car?

Living on the beach, they have been part of my view of the world for ten years. At night, I count the tankers by the lights. There are usually about seven or so, but on three day weekends I have seen over twelve. One of my first purchases upon moving to Long beach was a high powered binocular. It is interesting to see the name of the tanker as well as clearly see what cargo is on board. Guests who come to our house love it. At night there lights are bright. When I wake up early in the morning, they are almost all gone. As they day goes by ,they appear to gather and get ready for the next day. I love this background to life. Where else in our country can one see snow skiing, surfers and tankers, a beach and a boardwalk.

Thank you, Eddie.

As most of you have already alluded to, I add these thoughts: these big guys connect us to a greater reality than an ethereal blank horizon; from the GNP & commerce and the wars being fought for those items to our connectedness to other cultures and peoples. I imagine these mariners getting to know LB - seeing our lights go off house after house as we settle in to sleep to prepare for another day. And so they do likewise....a common social norm that transcends national borders. Interconnectedness! I romanticize it as a step to World Peace.... don't burst my bubble please. I really don't wear rose colored glasses.

On the 12th of September, 2001, The U.S.S George Washington seemed to be within spitting distance of the beach at Pacific. It was an incredible sight in our waters, especially on that day.

If you go to marinetraffic.com you can see exactly what ships they are, origination, size,weight, where they are going, where they have been, if they are moving, how fast Plenty of pictures and info of them. You can also track any ship. Track any ship in the world.

Will try that site, Richie. Thanks.
Are you sure they are all oil tankers and not cargo ships?
Also, I tend to see more of them over the weekend than on weekdays. Like theyre waiting on line for a Monday morning delivery.

umm...just would like to add to this....rumor has had it for the past ten years...after 911...the ships that you see on the horizon ,all 7 of them....appeared suddenly, protecting our harbors due to the terrorists......we would like to think they are cruise ships passing through our shorelines...god bless our boys.....