Belfast Sightings 12th Oct 2009

Todays sightings at Belfast were.

Pollock Dock: RMS Neudorf, Berthold K and Corystes

Pollock Dock entrance: Maersk Exporter and Rona

Stormont Wharfe: Wilson Rouen, Arklow Sky, Ulrike G and See-Stern

Albert Quay: Express and Stena Navigator

Ship Repair Quay: Lagan Viking and Floating Transformer

Dry Dock: Aberdeen

Musgrave Channel: Bugsier 9 and Taucher O Wulf 4

VT1: Maersk Anglia

VT3: Coastal Deniz

VT4: Stena Caledonia

OB4: Fiona Swan

Belfast-birkenhead-Belfast ferry trip Sept 2009

Thursday 23rd September 10:30 sailing with Norfolk Line Belfast to Birkenhead. A trip to Pudsey West Yorkshire to see my family. Our ferry was the Lagan Viking. Sightings included RFA Wave Ruler, Saargas, Moscow, MSC Suez, Clipper Panorama, Clipper Pace and a few others too far off to identify. The return journey on the 27th was on the Mersey Viking. Sightings included the tugs Oakgarth, Ashgarth and Svitzer Stanlow, MSC Jordan, Velserdijk, Arklow Rogue, Norbank, Clipper Pennant, Believer, Sand Swan, Stena Leader, Marco Polo, Sea Shannon, Lagan, Nordstrand, Saligna and Snaefell.

As usual photos are available on my website.

Belfast today

First sighting of the day was Muuga in York Dock with Verity in Barnets.

Pollock Dock was empty so I took a stroll round to Thomson Dock. Stormont and Sinclair Wharves were both busy with Vissersbank, Arklow Wave, Ben Maye and Maike. Maersk Exporter was just departing BT1 with Mersey Viking on BT2 and Coastal Isle on BT3 with Ice Runner.The Trawler Rona was inbound with one of Mcloughlins tugs outbound. The Oil Berths and Scrap berth at Musgrave were empty. Photos as usual on the website.

Belfast Tall Ships Event 2009

Thursday 13th August 2009 and it's down to Belfast Docks for the long awaited Tall Ships Event.
First visit of the day was to Pollock Dock were RFA Mounts Bay and Irish Navy Patrol Ship Le Eithne were berthed.
Round at York dock we had the Portugese Naval Training Ship Sagres and the customs cutter Seeker.
Along Albert Quay and Donegall Quay we found the Bounty, Cisne Branco, Capitan Miranda, Atlantis, Oosterschelde and an old friend of mine the Stavros S Niachos.
Queens Quay was home for Tenacious, Belle Poule, Etoile, Jolie Brise, another old friend Europa and the Tecla.
Abercorn basin house the smaller vessels including Ranger One.
Tugs running the line were Farsey and Michael Francis.
There was plenty to see and do with fun fairs and continental markets on both sides of the river. Food and drink was available in abundance, the only let down for me was not enough maritime stalls.
A great day out and not a bit of rain. Sadly I will be worjing Sunday so I won't see the parade of sail. Enjoy the photos on my website. http://ricks-ship-photos.fotopic.net/

Belfast 3rd August 2009

A wet and windy day but that didn't deter me from a trip down to Belfast. First port of call was Pollock Dock were we had the dredger Norma and the general cargo vessel Lisa. York Dock had the usual tugs. Round at Stormont Wharfe Grand Oji Pioneer was still there along with Joalmi, Jerome H and Arklow Rebel. Saga Moon was just visable at Pollock entrance. Maersk Exporter and Lagan Viking were at the ferry terminal with Coastal Isle and Deneb J on the container berths. Thomson Wharfe had HSS Discovery, Sea Energy coming in to berth there just before I left. Nordstrand was unloading scrap round at Musgrave. All in all another good day dispite the weather. Photos are on the website as usual.

Belfast Thursday 30th July

A day off work on Thursday so I took a trip down to Belfast Docks.

Sightings for the day were.

Norton Cross, Willowgarth and Poet in York Dock.

Kamsar and John Paul K in Pollock.

Grand Oji Pioneer, Global Garnet and Ben Varrey on Stormont Wharfe. Opposite on Thomson Wharfe was HSS Discovery and Tornator with European Causeway in Dry Dock. Round on Musgrave Channel Clyde Fisher was unloading Fuel and Medal was on the scrap metal berth.

Down at Norfolk Line Terminal Lagan Viking and Maersk Exporter. Just before leaving Willowgarth came out to collect the cruise ship Minerva. Photos are available on my website.

Hoping to get back down on Monday. then we have the Tall Ships Event at Belfast 13th-16th August. I have a trip accross the water on one of the Vikings planned for next month.

Belfast and Dublin

Finaly got out and about yesterday. Went down to Belfast and had quite a good day with a nice selection of ships about.

Have added the photos to my website along with a few I took in Dublin back in November.

Hope over the next couple of weeks to get back into the swing of things and get a regular update going.