Charles W. Morgan on the Synchrolift Photo: Mystic Seaport Museum

The Synchrolift is a wonderful invention. It is a shiplift and transfer system which according to Rolls Royce, the Synchrolift firm’s owner, is “used to increase efficiency and reduce drying-docking times at many of the world’s leading shipyards.”  Mystic Seaport Museum has a Synchrolift of its very own, the Hays and Ros Clark Shiplift, which was used yesterday to launch the whale ship, Charles W. Morgan, after its five year restoration.

For all its other virtues, a Synchrolift does not make for an exciting launch. After the Morgan was christened by Sarah Bullard, Saturday, it took another twenty minutes for the shiplift to slowly lower the ship into the Mystic River.  Then again, slow and careful is probably not a bad idea when handling a 172 year old ship.

For those who missed the launching, the music, ceremony speeches and slow lowering of the mighty ship is available on-line :  CHARLES W. MORGAN Launch