Quaysides

Hot off the press

Due to the local port authority ceasing photographic permits from the end of 2003,
new additions to this page will be severely limited from now. I will try to keep it
running but updates may be few and far between.

October 2009
Benelux Trip Part 1
(large page warning)
Benelux Trip Part 2 (large again)
Benelux Trip Part 3 (large)
Benelux Trip Part 4 (large) - the final day.

Sunday 24/05/09
River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal

For the Bank holiday weekend we decided on a day out to Eastham and Ellesmere Port Maritime Museum.
High water was just before 11:00 at Eastham and we got there around 11:30, just in time for a few inward
vessels. However at this time of the day, the sun isn't quite far enough round for nicely lit shots.

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First vessel shortly after arriving was the "Cape Esmeralda", inwrd for the QEII dock at Eastham.

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The Japanese built tug "Thorngarth" asssisting with the berthing of the "Cape Esmeralda".

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Next inward for the ship canal was the Nassau registered "Pembroke Fisher".

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Assisting with "Pembroke Fisher" was the "Ashgarth" - also seen returning back to base at a fair rate of knots.

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Next inward, believed for the QEII dock was the Dutch registered "Bro Goliath".

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Also inward for the ship canal, the Barrow registered "Forth Fisher".

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We then moved on to spend a pleasant afternoon at the Maritime Museum at Ellesmere Port. Seen in the basin is the
Weaver Packet "Cuddington".

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Also in the basin is the "Basuto" - dating from 1902 she is an original steam puffer.

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While in the museum we saw the "Pembroke Fisher" pass assisted by two MSC tugs, so when we had finished in the museum we waited on the canalside to see
if they would return past. The first movement though was the Mersey ferry "Royal Iris" sailing down from Manchester at a fair lick - however she came to a stop
shortly after these shots, mooring at Ellesmer Port to disembark the passengers, presumably as it was five hours after high water because she couldn't enter
the river.

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Not too far behind her, the first of the two tugs approached. The very smart "M.S.C. Victory" bowling along back to the tug base.

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She was followed by fleet-mate "M.S.C. Viking".

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A surprise late inward vessel, the 1974 Yorkshire Dry Dock built "Calemax Enterprise" inward for Manchester.

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Saturday 16/05/09
Aberdeen

A visit to the harbour at Aberdeen, this page may take a while to load.