Quaysides

Benelux break October 2009

Part 3

Terneuzen / Walsoorden

The forecast for our third day was not good. If the heavy rain materialised we were considering driving
to Antwerp for closer views of the ships. However the day started grey so we stayed on the riverfront.
The first two vessels passed us in considerable gloom so we decided to get what we could in the canal
then head to Walsoorden where the ships pass closer.

Berthed in the canal at Terneuzen the Dutch flagged "Marietje Deborah".

Berthed down a side arm off the canal at Terneuzen the "Baltic Excellent" was used on the NSF service from the Tees as "Norcliff".

Also berthed along the canal the Antiguan registered coaster "Karina G.". From here we headed to Walsoorden.

Having taken some very poor shots at Terneuzen, first vessel passing us at Walsoorden was the
"MSC Hina". Ships are even closer in passing here, with the poor conditions this helped a little.
This is really an afternoon location - this shot was taken just after 10 am.

She was followed by the smaller "MSC Jilhan", possibly used as a feeder to the Antwerp hub.

The Belgian dredger "Manzanillo II" was the first vessel seen this morning at Terneuzen
but these shots are much better.

Next inward was the feeder "Margareta B".

Inward at 11:30 as the rain continues to stop and start, the "Saint Roch" is one of a quite
distinctive class of ro/ro containership.

After waiting for over an hour the next movement was the large Italian flagged ro/ro "Repubblica Argentina".

As the tide was now flooding quite rapidly more movements started, first inward bound the Peters built
"Peikko".

Two container feeders outward next, leading was the JR Shipping "OOCL St. Petersburg", another product
of the Sietas shipyard....

..closely followed by the "WMS Groningen".

Next inward was another Sietas built vessel, the Dutch flagged "Roelof".

As the rain started again, next inward was the Dutch coaster "Novatrans".

The next departure was the Peter Dohle mini-bulker "Celina"...

..followed by the Russian "Mikhail Lomonosov".

Inward at 14:30, the "Rathrowan", registered in Bergen in Gearbulk funnel colours.

Following "Rathrowan" closely, the "MSC England" unusually without the MSC logo on the hull.

Outward for Zeebrugge the inland feeder "Tripoli".

Next inward was the tanker "Pacific Pearl", taking quite a heel to starboard on the turn.

Next inward was the "Cremona" - a sister to the "Celina" seen outward a short while ago.

As the light and conditions started to fail rapidly again, next in was Spliethof's "Achtergracht".

SeaTrans "Trans Exeter" was next inward, one of the better styled vessels in this fleet.

This view of "Kristin Schepers" inward shows the rain falling quite heavily again.

As does this view of the tug "Tumelaar" - inward towing a crane barge.

Two further vessels were seen outward then we decided to return to Terneuzen at 16:15.

This turned out to be a good idea - the weather was slightly better by our return and we got better
photos of the last two vessels. First out was the forest products ro/ro "Pulpca".

She was followed by the reefer "Star Standard" - built 2009 and almost in the Blue Star colour scheme.

We then enjoyed some brighter spells - the next two vessels catching the sun on their way to us, only
for it to fail when in camera reach. "Maersk Bristol" passes very close in at Terneuzen...

.. to allow room for the outward BP tanker "British Cormorant".

Returning to the base at Terneuzen the "Union Ruby"...

... followed by the "Multratug 9". With very little else in sight we decided to call it a day just after 18:00.

However, as we headed to the locks we could see movement, so headed just into the canal area
to get shots of the outward bound "Cielo di Tokyo".

Bow tug on the bulker was the "Multratug 11"...

..and stern tug the "Hemiksem".