Quaysides

Benelux break October 2009

Part 1

Dover / English Channel / Dunkirk

As I needed to use up some holidays and my partner had very few available, I contacted my friend George and
we set about planning a foreign break. After a little discussion we decided on the Schelde at Ternuezen, via
Dover and Dunkirk with options for Walsoorden and Antwerp.

So, after an early start from Hull we were on the White Cliffs of Dover overlooking the Eastern docks by 12:30.
This however meant the days bright light and sunshine was directly opposite and on processing these photos there
is a degree of heat haze blurriness.

On arrival on the viewing area the "Seafrance Moliere" was already underway outward bound. She was built in 2002
as the "Superfast X".

The next movement twenty minutes later was the arrival of the "Pride of Burgundy".

Just before 1pm the "Pride of Canterbury" slipped away from her berth.

A few minutes later saw the arrival of the "Maersk Delft" from Dunkirk. As she was berthing directly in front of us we
got a good selection of views of her arrival.

Ten minutes later saw the arrival of the "Seafrance Berlioz".

Next arrival at 13:30 was the "Pride of Calais"

Next movements at 14:00 were the sailings of "Seafrance Berlioz" and "Maersk Delft".

Again a 15 minute wait for the arrival of the "Pride of Kent"...

..with a further 10 minutes before the arrival of the "Seafrance Nord Pas-de-Calais".

With our checking in time rapidly approaching, we just had time to get the arrival of the the ferry we would be boarding
for the 16:00 sailing to Dunkirk, the "Maersk Dunkerque", with the white cliffs of Calais in the background.

Once on board we went straight on deck. Berthed at the Eastern breakwater was the Dutch tanker "Coralwater", possibly being
used for bunkering services. In the background are west bound MSC and MOL container vessels.

Bowling in just as we prepared to depart, the "Pride of Dover" nears the entrance.

Berthed at the Western end of the docks, the cruise ship "Braemar". The photos from on the cliffs had too much heat haze to be useable.

On passage across the channel we passed astern of the West bound cement carrier "Cemvale".

Further vessels were sighted but out of range, including the Dover bound "Maersk Dover", but one we did pass close enough to
was the "Safmarine Mafadi", registered under the British flag in Bristol.

Anchored off Calais awaiting a berth at Dunkirk was the 2009 built bulker "Federico II".

Also in the anchorage of Calais was the 2009 built tanker "Phoenix Ambition". She had been catching the sun very nicely as we approached
but this faded when in camera range.

As we entered the breakwaters at Dunkirk outward was the small Dutch dredger "Amazone", the light was now fading quite rapidly.

Berthed at Dunkirk West was the bulk carrier "Ascanius".

After disembarking we headed to the main port area for a quick viewing, at the tanker berths the "Harlequin" was just preparing to sail.

We then headed off to the hotel to prepare for an early start in the docks at Dunkirk the next day...