UK Marine Transport
Marine Transport is not something which I've ever spent much time following from the photographic point of view, but over they years a small set of images has come together for this gallery. Many of the images taken are from my regular visits to Portland (near Weymouth) however a few others have been captured from around the UK while on other outings. www.marinetraffic.com also made the checking of information far much easier. As the sea has no boundaries, it's amazing to find where these vessels are working today!
PS Waverley
PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973. Waverley is powered by a three-crank diagonal triple-expansion marine steam engine built by Rankin & Blackmore, Engineers, Eagle Foundry, Greenock, Scotland. It is rated at 2,100 IHP and achieved a trial speed of 18.37 knots (34.02 km/h; 21.14 mph) at 57.8 rpm. Passengers can watch these engines from passageways on either side of the engine room. CalMac withdrew Waverley after the 1973 season.A public appeal was launched to secure funding for the return of the Waverley to service and the fund-raising operation was successful. Waverley underwent a £7m two-phase Heritage Rebuild in 2000 and 2003 at the shipyard of George Prior Engineering in Great Yarmouth, funded principally by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The substantial work included two new boilers, improvements to meet modern safety standards and to returning the ship to her original 1947 livery.
Waverley returned to the Bristol Channel for the first time in five years in 2023 for a month long visit
Waverley returned to the Bristol Channel for the first time in five years in 2023 for a month long visit
Southampton Marine Traffic - May 2023
Southampton is an incredibly busy port location for Marine Traffic with good viewpoints from both the Southampton and Hythe sides of the Southampton water. With regular traffic to and from the Isle of White, Container Ships visiting the port of Southampton Maritime, Cruise Ships arriving and departing for International destinations, and multitude of other marine craft.
I visited Southampton Maritime, Hythe Pier and Calshot Castle on the 27th May 2023 to view some of the interesting and varied traffic during the afternoon/ early evening period.
I visited Southampton Maritime, Hythe Pier and Calshot Castle on the 27th May 2023 to view some of the interesting and varied traffic during the afternoon/ early evening period.
The COVID Queens - Weymouth - June 2021
It was 8 months ago when I first ventured to Weymouth for a trip to see my first Cruise Ships up close. Another lockdown later and with restrictions on travel slowly lifting most cruise ships look like spending the Summer of 2021 anchored on the south coast of the UK. While P&O will be operating some domestic cruises, European and International cruises remain on hold. Ships are regually being rotated between Dover, Southampton, Weymouth and Torbay, and some new visitors have arrived to anchor in the sheltered waters.
I took advantage of an evening weather window on the 4th June 2021 to visit Weymouth and travel out into the bay onboard Supernova II with Skipper Lyle Stantiford. On the evening of my visit the Weymouth Bay contained:
I took advantage of an evening weather window on the 4th June 2021 to visit Weymouth and travel out into the bay onboard Supernova II with Skipper Lyle Stantiford. On the evening of my visit the Weymouth Bay contained:
A Christmas Cruise - Torbay - December 2020
On the 12th December 2020 I took the opportunity of a rare weather window to have another go at capturing the current Devon Cruise ships at anchor in Torbay and Babbacombe bay. I managed to book with Paignton Pleasure Cruises and as there were only 7 people on board, I had the whole bottom deck to myself. The sea was flat and calm, and the sun was wonderfully warm. The weather was forecast sunshine and showers which provided some wonderful contrast and lighting conditions during the two-hour trip. Currently, Torbay is playing host to Holland America Line vessels 'Zaandam' and 'Volendam' as well as TUI 'Marella Explorer' (with Marella Explorer 2 was due to arrive from Portland later tonight). Babbacombe was playing host to P&O's 'Azura' and 'Acadia' along with Cunard 'Queen Elizabeth'. In addition to the cruise ships several container ships were also anchored in deeper water 'MOL Gratitude' and 'NYK Rumina' were also visible.
The COVID Queens - Torbay - September 2020
Having visited both Weymouth and Poole in preceding weeks an opportunity arose on Monday 14th September 2020 to join an evening trip out of Paignton Harbour with Paignton Pleasure Cruises on board 'The Dartmouth Princess'. The late evening trip would provide a dusk and early evening setting for three cruise liners anchored between Torquay and Teignmouth outside of the Torquay Bay beyond Thatchers Rock. P&O liners 'Azura' and 'Ventura' were anchored with Cunard Liner 'Queen Mary 2'. Sadly fellow P&O liner 'Arcadia' departed just as I had arrived into Paignton.
The unpredictable nature of the ships departing to go to sea and dump grey water and take on salt water means every opportunity needs to be taken to capture these amazing vessels while they are at anchor in the protected bays on the south coast of the UK.
The unpredictable nature of the ships departing to go to sea and dump grey water and take on salt water means every opportunity needs to be taken to capture these amazing vessels while they are at anchor in the protected bays on the south coast of the UK.
The COVID Queens - Poole Bay - September 2020
Having visited Weymouth on the 29th August 2020, I booked on a second tourist boat from Poole for the penultimate trip by City Cruises Poole on Saturday 13th September 2020. For this visit to Poole Bay there was only two cruise ships at anchor in the, both were owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. The two hour tour from the dockside at Poole allowed passengers close of views of the largest cruise ship in the world 'Allure of the Seas' and a passing view of 'Anthem of the Seas'. Sadly Anthem of the Seas had dropped anchor outside the three mile offshore limit which out tourist boat was allowed to travel. However the crew on board did a great job of allowing passengers on board to enjoy the size of the cruise ships.
The COVID Queens - Weymouth August 2020
2020 will forever be know for a year in which the world was turned upside down with the first global pandemic sending a freely transmitting virus from Wuhan (China) around the world at alarming speed with dire consequences. Many industries suffered as a result, and the International Cruise industry was one of the first to experience the full force of the rampant virus early on. With up to 4000 people on board some of the larger ships it was easy to see how a virus could spread so quickly. With Cruise ships dotted all over the world the repatriation of British passengers was a huge logistical task. But once the passengers were safely delivered back to the UK, what happened to the cruise liners?. With all round the world cruise programs 'on hold', household names such as Cunard, Carnival, P&O and TUI needed locations to store their fleet of vessels for the the summer period. As the summer months progressed many of the colossal ships began to appear on the southern shores of the UK seafront.
European Marine Transport
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International Marine Transport
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UK Marine Transport
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Ben My Chree
Douglas 31st July 2018 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Passenger (Ro-Ro) Gross Tonnage: 12747 Length x Breadth: 117m x 24m Year Built: 1988 |
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Eddystone
Portland Harbour 19th May 2018 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Ro-Ro Cargo Gross Tonnage: 23235t Length x Breadth: 193m x 26m Year Built: 2002 |
RNLB Ernest and Mable
Weymouth Harbour 19th May 2018 |
WY37 Nicola L - Trawler
Weymouth Harbour 19th May 2018 |
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Helle Ritscher
Thames Estrury - Southend on Sea 18th September 2016 |
Flag: Libera
Type: Cargo Gross Tonnage: 17360t Deadweight: 22254t Length & Breadth: 178.57m x 25m Year Built: 2006 |
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SD Northern River
Portland Harbour 16th January 2016 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Other Gross Tonnage: 3612t Deadweight: 4550t Length x Breadth: 83.8m x 18.8m Year Built: 1998 |
Pentland Venture
John O Groats Harbour 12th July 2016 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Passenger Gross Tonnage: 186t Length & Breadth: 29.6m x 6m Year Built: 1986 |
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CS Sovereign
Portland Harbour 16th January 2016 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Cable Layer Gross Tonnage: 1142t Deadweight: 7445t Length x Breadth: 130m x 21m Year Built: 1991 |
Yeoman Bank
John O Groats 12th July 2016 |
Flag: Liberia
Type: Bulk Carrier Gross Tonnage: 24870t Deadweight: 43728t Length and Breadth: 204.96m x 27.26m Year Built: 1982 |
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'HMS Somerset'
Plymouth Royal Navy Dock 19th July 2014 |
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
Type: Special Craft Length x Breadth: 133m x 16m |
'HMS Bulwark'
Plymouth Royal Navy Dock 19th July 2014 |
Flag: United Kingdom (GB)
Type: Special Craft Gross Tonnage: 24471 DeadWeight: 16000 LYear Built: 2004 |
HMS Brecon - Brecon was built at Vosper Thornycroft, the lead yard for the Hunt class. She was launched by the Duchess of Kent and commissioned on 18 December 1979. She saw service in the aftermath of the Falklands War (1982) and the Gulf War of 1991. In 1998 she was assigned to the Northern Ireland Squadron. She acted as guardship to the tall ships race when it visited Greenock in 1999.
Brecon was the first Royal Navy vessel to be commanded by a woman. Lieutenant Charlotte Atkinson became her commanding officer in January 2004. "Charlie" was the only woman among the 45-strong crew of the ship. Her historic appointment came 14 years after the Royal Navy first began admitting female officers on equal terms with men.[3][4]
Brecon's assignment to the Northern Ireland Squadron required modifications from her traditional minesweeping duties to become a fully capable patrol platform. This included the addition of rigid-hulled inflatable boats and embarkation of a 10-strong Royal Marine boarding team.Brecon was scheduled to be decommissioned following defence cuts announced in 2004 by the British Ministry of Defence. The ship's company held a last divisions and decommissioning ceremony on 19 July 2005.
In February 2008, Brecon was taken in hand for use as a static training ship at Jupiter Point HMS Raleigh, where she is utilised to provide new recruits with their first taste of life aboard a Royal Navy ship.
Brecon was the first Royal Navy vessel to be commanded by a woman. Lieutenant Charlotte Atkinson became her commanding officer in January 2004. "Charlie" was the only woman among the 45-strong crew of the ship. Her historic appointment came 14 years after the Royal Navy first began admitting female officers on equal terms with men.[3][4]
Brecon's assignment to the Northern Ireland Squadron required modifications from her traditional minesweeping duties to become a fully capable patrol platform. This included the addition of rigid-hulled inflatable boats and embarkation of a 10-strong Royal Marine boarding team.Brecon was scheduled to be decommissioned following defence cuts announced in 2004 by the British Ministry of Defence. The ship's company held a last divisions and decommissioning ceremony on 19 July 2005.
In February 2008, Brecon was taken in hand for use as a static training ship at Jupiter Point HMS Raleigh, where she is utilised to provide new recruits with their first taste of life aboard a Royal Navy ship.
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RFA Sir Tristram is now decommissioned and recently relocated to Portland as a static training platform from Portsmouth. The ship saw service in the Falklands where is was extensively damaged, but was re-floated returned to the UK and rebuilt. After this the ship also saw service in the Bulkan Conflict and Gulf War before helping with humanitarian efforts after hurricane Mitch in 2000. The ship was retired in 2005 but because of it's sound rebuild was selected to be a floating training platform, and now resides in Portland Harbour.
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With the last public cruise Balloch Pier on August 30th 1981, the station became redundant with few passengers travelling beyond Balloch Central and the station closed from 29.9.1986. By closing the station rail authorities could also get close the level crossing at the west end of Balloch Bridge. To achieve this, Balloch Central closed on 24.4.1988 and a new station, simply called 'Balloch', was opened immediately to the south of the former level crossing which led into Balloch Central. The last steamer in service on Loch Lomond, the 'Maid of the Loch', was left to rot at Balloch Pier in 1981, it has since been restored becoming a static attraction during the 1990's, but the eventual aim is to return it to service on the loch. The platform at Balloch Pier still exists and the 'Maid of the Loch', the last paddle steamer to be built in Scotland – is berthed alongside it.
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'Island Scene'
Poole Harbour 12th September 2020 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Passenger Gross Tonnage: 135t Length x Breath: 27m x 7m Year Built: 1977 |
'Solent Scene'
Poole Harbour 12th September 2020 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Passenger Gross Tonnage: 131t Length x Breadth: 27m x 6m Year Built: 1974 |
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'Vigilant'
Poole Harbour 12th September 2020 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Patrol/ Law Enforement Gross Tonnage: 238t Length x Breadth: 42m x 7m Year Built: 2003 |
'Trinity'
Pool Harbour/ Hamworthy Dock 12th September 2020 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: General Cargo Gross Tonnes: 2102t Length x Breadth: 80m x 12m Year Built: 2007 |
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'Condor Liberation'
Poole/ Sandbanks 12th September 2020 |
Flag: Bahamas
Type: High Speed Craft Gross Tonnage: 680t Length x Breadth: 102m x 27m Year Built: 2010 |
'Bramble Bush Bay'
Sandbanks 12th September 2020 |
Flag: United Kingdom
Type: Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Gross Tonnage: 125t Length x Breadth: 74m x 16.5m Year Built: 1994 |
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Grand Uranus at Southampton loading with cars for Export to Eygpt on the 27th May 2023. Behind is Auto Aspire.
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