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 RECENT SIGHTINGS: RIVER MERSEY, UK - MAY / JUNE 2009
 Above: Norfolk Line's LIVERPOOL VIKING approaching the River Mersey en route from Dublin to the Twelve Quays Terminal, Birkenhead.
Halifax shipping pages: [Halifax Shipping (General)] [Early Container Ships] [Tallships 2004] [2003 Cruise Season] [2004 Cruise Season] [Blue Marlin - Big Lift] [What Became of Them?] [Visiting Warships] ___________________________________ |
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| CONTAINER | GENERAL CARGO SHIPS |
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) ATLANTIC CONVEYOR |
) ACHIEVER |
) BELUGA ELEGANCE |
) BEN ELLAN
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Briese Schiffahrt's WYBELSUM operating on a CMA CGM Northern European feeder service entering the R. Mersey bound for Seaforth Docks. IMO number: 9386976. Flag: Gibraltar. Gross tonnage: 15,597 (17,083 dwt) - 1,368 TEUs. Completed: 2008-06 by Weihai Shandong Shipyard, China (yard no: CZ048). Dimensions: loa: 161.1 m b: 13.9 m draught: 9.9 m. Main engine(s): Hudong 6S60MC-C 2-stroke diesel. Power: 13,560 kW. Speed: 19.5 kn
ATLANTIC CONVEYOR, as familiar on the R. Mersey as it is at Halifax, approaches Seaforth Docks with a gale force wind driving the incoming tide. IMO number: 8215534. Managed by ACL Ship Management, Skarhamn. Flag: Sweden. Gross tonnage: 58,438 (44,988 dwt) - 2,908 TEUs. Completed: 1985-01 by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd., Wallsend, U.K. (yard no: 121). Dimensions: loa: 292.0 m b: 32.3 m draught: 11.6 m. Main engine(s): B&W 9L90BG diesel 2-stroke diesel. Power: 17,500 kW. Speed: 17.5 kn. SMIT LIVERPOOL, the assisting tug, appeared to suffer some kind of mechanical breakdown as she turned the container ship with the strong tide running. It was some two and a half hous later before the ATLANTIC CONVEYOR was locked with the help of Svitzer's THORNGARTH (see further down the page).
The small container ship ACHIEVER (ex KATHERINE BORCHARD-05, GRACECHURCH JUPITER-02, JUPITER-99) is managed by Alexandra Management AS, Averoy, Norway, and plies a feeder service between Rotterdam-Cork-Dublin-Liverpool for Evergreen. IMO number: 9045089. Flag: Gibraltar. Gross tonnage: 5,025 (6,545 dwt) - 510 TEUs. Completed: 1992-05 by J.J. Sietas KG Schiffswerft GmbH & Co., Hamburg (yard no: 1069). Dimensions: loa: 116.8 m b: 17.9 m draught: 6.9 m. Main engine(s): MAN 6L48/60 4-stroke diesel. Power: 4,750 kW. Speed: 16.0 kn.
Freese Shipping's multi-purpose dry cargo ship BELUGA ELEGANCE (ex BBC MARYLAND-04) arriving for Liverpool's north docks. IMO number: 9260378. Flag: Antigua & Barbuda. Gross tonnage: 9,611 (12,840 dwt) - 639 TEUs; 2 x 120 t cranes. Completed: 2004-02 by Jiangzhou Shipyard, Rui Chang, China (yard no: A458). Dimensions: loa: 138.1 m b: 21.0 m draught: 8.0 m. Main engine(s): Caterpillar Motoren 6M43 4-stroke diesel Power: 5,400 kW Speed: 14.0 kn
Ramsey Steamship's diminutive coaster BEN ELLAN (ex RIVER TAMAR-90) passes the outbound DUBLIN VIKING as she heads for the Liverpool dock system. IMO number: 8018936. Flag: Isle of Man (Ramsey). Gross tonnage: 538 (824 dwt). Completed: 1981-08 by James W. Cook & Co., Wivenhoe, Essex, UK (yard no: 1465). Dimensions: loa: 49.9 m b: 9.3 m draught: 3.4 m. Main engine(s): Callesen 427EOT 5 cyl diesel Power: 344 kW Speed: 10.0 kn. Photo 2
(Click on the thumbnails for enlargements)
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| MISCELLANEOUS DRY CARGO SHIPS | RO-PAX FERRIES |
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) UNION MARS |
) CLIPPER PACE |
) LAGAN VIKING & CLIPPER RANGER |
) EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR
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The German managed self-discharging bulk carrier CLYDENES (ex ARKLOW BRIDGE-05) inbound from Hunterston for the Ship Canal. IMO number: 9101546. Managed by AF Ship Management, Leer. Flag: Malta. Gross tonnage: 4,783 (7,182 dwt). Completed: 1996-01 by Appledore Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd., Appledore, UK (yard no: 161). Dimensions: loa: 99.9 m x 17.1 m x 6.7 m draught. Main engine: Krupp MaK 6M32 diesel. Power: 2,640 kW. Speed: 12.5knots.
UNION MARS (ex ESPRIT-05) IMO number: 9229166. Managed by Union Transport Group PLC, Bromley, UK. Flag: Isle of Man. Gross tonnage: 2,601 ( dwt) - 138 TEUs. Completed: 2001-03 by Tille Scheepsbouw, Kootstertille, Netherlands (yard no: 333). Dimensions: loa: 91.2 m x 13.7 m x 5.2 m draught. Main engine: Wartsila 6L26A 4-stroke diesel. Power: 1,950 kW. Speed: 13.0 knots.
New to me is Seatruck's CLIPPER PACE shown here approaching the Mersey from Dublin. IMO number: 9350678. Flag: Cyprus. Gross tonnage: 14,759 (5,125 dwt). Completed: 2009-02 by Astilleros de Huelva, Huelva, Spain (yard no: C821). Dimensions: loa: 142.0 m b: 23.0 m draught: 5.2 m. Main engine(s): 2, Wartsila 8L46 diesels. Power: 16,000 kW. Speed: 22.0 knots.
Norfolk Line's LAGAN VIKING inbound from Belfast passes Seatruck's CLIPPER RANGER outbound for Dublin. LAGAN VIKING - IMO: 9329849. Gross tonnage: 27,700 (7,000 dwt). Completed: 2005-06 by Visentini, Donada, Italy (yard no: 212). Dimensions: loa: 186.5 m b: 25.6 m draught: 6.6 m. Main engine(s): 2, MAN-B&W 9L48/60B diesels. Power: 21,600 kW. Speed: 24.0 knots.
Another new to me ferry is P&O's EUROPEAN ENDEAVOUR (ex EL GRECO-07, MIDNIGHT MERCHANT-06) seen arriving from Dublin. IMO: 9181106. Flag: United Kingdom (London). Gross tonnage: 22,152 (7,477 dwt). Completed: 2000-09 by Astilleros Espanoles SA, Seville, Spain (yard no: 290). Dimensions: loa. 180.0 m b: 25.2 m draught: 6.5 m. Main engine(s): 4, Wartsila 9L38 diesels. Power: 23,760 kW. Speed: 23.0 knots.
(Click on the thumbnails for enlargements)
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| MERSEY TANKER TRAFFIC |
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) NICKSTAR |
) BRO GENIUS |
) STOLT AVOCET |
) VULCANO M
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The sidebar photo could be described as "the one that got away - almost!" I returned to my usual photography spot at New Brighton following a coffee break in time to see the veteran edible oil tanker GLENNSTAR (ex FJORDTANK-97, BITANK-94, TITAN-93) disappearing into the distance for Aberdeen. The photo is terrible but the ship is worth recording! IMO number: 6903498. Managed by Hundseid Shipping, Stavanger. Flag: Cook Islands (Rarotonga). Gross tonnage: 872 (1,516 dwt). Completed: 1969-02 by N.V. Scheepswerven V/H H.H. Bodewes, Millingen, Netherlands (yard no: 678). Dimensions: loa: 64.5 m b: 10.4 m draught: 4.4 m. Main engine(s): Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz RBV8M545 4-stroke diesel. Power: 780 kW. Speed: 11.0 kn.
A marginally older "oldie", but no relation to the above despite "STAR" in the name, is the ex-Whitaker bunkering tanker NICKSTAR (ex WHITSTAR-09, FURENA-91, FURENAS-90, STARDEX-79, LONE WONSILD-75), photographed in a corner of Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead, May 16th, two-days before she undertook an epic voyage to Lagos, Nigeria, under new ownership and the flag of Equatorial Guinea - a new one to me! (Wikipedia shows the country's merchant marine to stand at 1 ship over 1,000 gt as at April, 2009 - maybe 2 now!). IMO number: 6828820. Managed by Akoto Ventures, Lagos, Nigeria. Flag: Equatorial Guinea. Gross tonnage: 1,116 (2,000 dwt). Completed: 1968-10 by Frederikshavn Vaerft, Frederikshavn, Denmark (yard no: 286). Dimensions: loa: 74.3 m b: 10.2 m draught: 4.8 m. Main engine(s): 6 cyl 4-stroke diesel. Power: 809 kW. Speed: - knots. PS: Port Arrivals shows her arriving Lagos on June 18th at 23.00h.
The other three products tankers in this sequence are relatively mundane in comparison. The BRO GENIUS is Dutch-flagged (Delfzijl) and built, managed by Marin Ship Management BV of Farmsum. IMO number: 9263605. Gross tonnage: 4,107 (7,600 dwt). Completed: 2003-06 by Scheepswerf Ferus Smit, Hoogezand (yard no: 341). Dimensions: loa: 114.7 m b: 15.0 m draught: 6.7 m. Main engine: Wartsila 6 cyl 4-stroke diesel. Power: 2,430 kW. Speed: 12.0 knots.
Stolt Tanker BV's STOLT AVOCET departing for Antwerp. IMO number: 9004310. Gross tonnage: 3,853 (5,749 dwt). Flag: Cayman Islands. Completed: 1992-07 by Fukuoka Zosen K. K., Fukuoka, Japan (yard no: 1167). Dimensions: loa: 99.9 m b: 16.8 m draught: 6.7 m. Difficult to avoid those d......d windmills!
The Spanish products tanker VULCANO M about to pass the Brazil Buoy en route for Stanlow. IMO number: 9251743. Managed by Augusta Due SRL, Rome. Flag: Spain (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). Gross tonnage: 13,740 (21,297 dwt). Completed: 2004-02 by Factorias Vulcano SA, Vigo, Spain (yard no: 478). Dimensions: loa. 161.1 m b: 23.5 m. Main engine(s): Caterpillar Motoren 9M43 diesel Power: 8100 kW Speed: 15.0 kn
(Click on the thumbnails for enlargements)
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| MORE TANKERS ON THE MERSEY AND ONE DREDGER |
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) CURZOLA |
) STELLARIA |
) ENERGY CENTAUR |
) WD MEDWAY II
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PEMBROKE FISHER (ex MONTE BELLO-02). IMO number: 9146546. Managed by James Fisher, Barrow-in-Furness. Flag: Bahamas. Gross tonnage: 9,356 (14,204 dwt). Completed: 1997-06, Cantieri Navali Orlando, Leghorn, Italy (yard no: 161). Dimensions: loa. 135.2 m x 20.4 m x 7.2 m draught. Main engine(s): Stork Wartsila 8L38 Power: 5280 kW Speed: 13.0 kn.
CURZOLA. IMO number: 9033907. Managed by Novella O., Genoa. Flag: Italy. Gross tonnage: 11,352 (14,070 dwt). Completed: 1993-09, Brodogradiliste Uljanik D.D., Pula, Croatia (yard no: 408). Dimensions: loa: 142.3 m b: 23.0 m draught: 7.8 m. Main engine(s): Uljanik MAN-B&W 7 cyl 2-stroke diesel Power: 5950 kW Speed: 14.5 kn.
STELLARIA is the identical twin to the above. IMO number: 9033919. Same shipyard as above and the next one off the line in terms of yard no. (409).
ENERGY CENTAUR arriving for the Tranmere Terminal with the SVITZER STANLOW escorting. (The catamaran work boat WINDCAT 5, which carries personnel to the offshore wind farm, is in the foreground). IMO number: 9387281. Managed by Golden Energy Management, Athens. Flag: Isle of Man. Gross tonnage: 42,296 (74,995 dwt). Completed: 2008-06, Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Tongyeong, S. Korea. Dimensions: loa: 228.3 m b: 32.2 m draught: 12.2 m. Speed: 14.25 knots. WINDCAT 5 is a product of Nova Scotia having been built at Theriault's, Meteghan River in 2007. She is of aluminium construction, measuring 16 m x 6.1 m x 1.8 m with a gross tonnage of 35 gt. Power is provided by two 750 bhp Volvo diesels giving a top speed of 28 kn.
WD MEDWAY II . IMO number: 7504500. Managed by Westminster Dredging Co., Ltd., Fareham, UK. Gross tonnage: 3,122 (3,400 dwt). Completed: 1976-11, Verolme Scheepswerf, Heusden, Netherlands (yard no: 912). Dimensions: loa: 77.7 m b: 19.0 m draught: 5.1 m. Main engine(s): 2, Caterpillar 12 cyl 4-stroke diesels. Power: 2,236 kW. Speed: 10.5 knots.
(Click on the thumbnails for enlargements)
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| MERSEY ROUNDUP |
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) SVITZER STANLOW |
) SMIT LIVERPOOL |
) LADY OF HILBRE |
) ROTTERDAM
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THORNGARTH (ex TENZAN-91) one of Svitzer's Japanese-built ASD tugs (bollard pull: 45 mt) operating on the Mersey. IMO number: 8311998. Gross tonnage: 365. Completed: 1983-09 by Hanasaki Zosensho K. K., Yokosuka, Japan (yard no: 191). Dimensions: loa. 36.3 m b:10.0 m draught: 3.2 m. Main engine(s): 2, Niigata 28BXE diesels. Power: 2,502 kW. Speed: 14.0 kn.
SVITZER STANLOW escorting a tanker to Tranmere. IMO number: 9352793. Gross tonnage: 656. Completed: 2006 by ASL Shipyard Pte Ltd., Singapore (yard no: 500). Dimensions: loa. 37.6 m b:13.5 m draught: 3.0 m. Main engine(s): 2, MAK 8M25 diesels, running at 750 rpm. propulsion: 2, Voith Schneider 32 RS/265-2 cycloidal propellers, each with a blade orbit of 3.2m. Power: 5,280 kW. Speed: 15.0 knots
SMIT LIVERPOOL (ex BRAMLEY MOORE-07). Gross tonnage: 336. Completed: 1984-10, McTay Marine Ltd., Bromborough, U.K. (yard no: 54). Dimensions: loa. 33.0 m b:10.0 m draught: 4.6 m.
The Hoylake lifeboat LADY OF HILBRE in action, towing a 32 foot yacht to moorings at Tranmere after the yacht's skipper had become exhausted by the weather and sea conditions off New Brighton. Photo 2
ROTTERDAM at the Landing Stage on May 26th having departed Halifax on May 18th (see last month on following page). IMO number: 9122552. Holland America Tours, Seattle. Flag: Netherlands. Gross tonnage: 59,652 (6,354 dwt) - 1,620 passengers. Completed: 1997-11, Fincantieri Italiani, Breda, Italy (yard no: 5980). Dimensions: loa: 237.95 m x 32.25 m x 7.50 m draught. Main engine(s): 5, Sulzer-Fincantieri 16ZA40S diesels. Power: 37,500 kW. Speed: 22.0 knots
(Click on the thumbnails for enlargements)
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