Photographed leaving the Mersey on 10 July 2013 barge UR 7 was loaded with wind turbine components at Cammell Laird before being towed at high tide by Union Fighter out to the new wind farms being constructed off the North Wales Coast.

It is good to see activity like this on the River.

She is owned by J.J. Ugland who have their headquarters in the historic shipping town of Grimstad in southern Norway, the family owned business provides worldwide shipping services through numerous companies.

UR 7 is owned and operated by Ugland Construction SA which is based in Stavanger and she is one of numerous flat top and specialist barges. 

She was built in 1999 by the Sevmash Yard in Severodvinsk, Russia. Her signal letters are LK6683 and she has a gross tonnage of 4068.

She is 91.44 m long with a beam of 27.43m and 6.096m draft.

Total deck area is 2508m2 with the deck able to take 25 tonnes/m2.

She has 20 ballast tanks and is constructed with 3 longitudinal and 4 transverse bulkheads in addition to a pump room bulkhead which also has a double bottom.

Equipment on board consists of 2 x Mitsubitshi 72Kwh at 1800 RPM pumps, 2 x Ballast pumps, (Pumpteknik 800m3/h)  + 1 Portable submersible pump with two Busck 10 kw/3x400v/50Hz generators providing power.

Last Saturday we went for a walk along the Bridgewater Canal in Worsley, below are a few pictures and notes from our trip.

Named after Francis Egerton the Third Duke of Bridgewater who built the canal to transport coal from his mines at Worsley to the industrial areas of Manchester, the Bridgewater Canal was the forerunner of the UK canal network.

The Act of Parliament that authorised the Bridgewater Canal was passed in March 1759 and work began immediately. It was opened on 17 July 1761 and was the first canal in Britain to be built without following an existing watercourse. In 1765 the canal was extended to Castlefield followed in 1776 with a branch to Runcorn and in 1799 a branch to Leigh.

The canal’s total length is approximately 40 miles and is spanned by 78 bridges.

Unlike many later canals there are no locks along its length and the canal runs at the same level throughout.The only locks are at Hulme providing access to the River Irwell and at Runcorn which provides access to the Manchester Ship Canal.

Boathouse built by Lord Ellesmere to house a barge built specifically for Queen
Victoria’s visit to Worsley in 1851. The popular story goes that the boat was pulled by two grey horses, one of which became so perturbed by the cheering crowd that it jumped into the canal. I believe that they eventually got the horse out of the canal, not sure how though. 

Neptune, not the usual type of vessel I photograph. 

I believe she is a converted British Waterways mud barge.

A picture of the Packet House with steps down to the canal. Both the building and steps date back to 1760. The black and white timbering was added to the building about 1850 by the 1st Earl of Ellesmere. 

It is from here that passenger services along the canal started in 1769 and by 1781 there were daily sailings (excluding Sundays) to Runcorn, a journey of eight hours and to Manchester which took two and a half hours. Faster vessels carrying first class passengers were also used and could be drawn by three horses and get up to 6mph, the crew of these boats used a horn to warn other vessels of their approach enabling them to get out of the way.

A ‘Swift Packet’ service was introduced in 1843 with lower prices. It was possible to travel from Worsley to Manchester for 3d in the Best Cabin and 2d steerage.

Heading West from Worsley. The canal has a natural rusty colour caused by iron in the mines. The canal here is elevated with steep embankments on both sides, these are behind the trees and out of sight. When I was a 'lad' I used to spend a lot of time riding my bike along this canal. In those days it was quite different, there were not many trees and little grass or undergrowth, there was also no path to speak of.

Crane near Worsley village. This looked to be of some age but was still in working order. The crane is in place to drop a timber wall into slots in the sides of the canal to avoid total water loss incase of a breach in the canal system, 

View under a bridge in Worsley showing how the original relatively narrow bridge was widened on both sides possibly at different times.

View of the road bridge. It is through here that the barges carrying coal would have entered the canal from the mines. On the other side of the bridge are the entrances to the mines cut into a sandstone cliff. Unfortunately we could not get across the road due to blind bends in both directions and fast moving traffic.

This is one of the oldest buildings in Worsley, dating from the 17th century. Originally a residential dwelling, it became the Nailmaker’s workshop when construction of the canal commenced. 

Another view of the bridge.

Worsley dry docks, these are probably the oldest living example of a dry dock associated with a canal in the UK and date from about 1761. 

There are currently two dry docks which are still in use sheltered by 19th century sheds, a third dock has long been filled in. Here boats were both built and repaired for use on the canal and within the mines.

Despite a clear bright start to the day it has now clouded over and we have just had heavy rain and a thunderstorm.

Driving in along the docks this morning I saw one new ship this being the General Cargo Ship Saga Future (IMO 9613836, GT 38000, 2012).

From the carpark (I am parked on level 13) I also saw a warship departing the docks which AIS confirmed as HMS Mersey.

I took the above picture on my way into the office, five vessels can be seen.
 
Moored at the pilot headquarters is Pilot Vessel Kittiwake and Afon Goch (IMO 9150781), a twin screw, shallow draft, seagoing multitug operated by Holyhead Towing.

Passing heading North is the Mersey ferry Royal Iris operated by Mersey Travel which was built in 1960.

In the distance can be seen Stena Mersey (IMO 9329851, GT 27700, 2005) which had recently arrived from Belfast and just visible in the distance on the right is Pilot vesel Skua which is one of the two new Interceptor 48 pilot boats now working the river and estuary.

I am in Liverpool for the rest of the day, hopefully a few new ships will make an appearance.

Edible Oil / Vegetable Oil Tanker Safe Hand seen in Liverpool on 10 June 2013. 

As far as I can determine she is still active around the docks, not bad for a 63 year old vessel.

MMSI - 
REG -  UK, Liverpool
IMO -  5214967
Call Sign - GRHC
Vegetable Tanker
Built - WJ Yarwood, Northwich, UK
Yard No. - 837
L m W m
GT 205
Year - 1950
Liverpool, 10 June 2013 

It has been a busy week and although I have spent most of my time in Liverpool I did mange a trip to Birmingham on Wednesday. 

As result over the last few days I have seen quite a few new ships in addition to a great many that I have seen before.

The above picture shows the crude oil tanker Aegean Power at Tranmere. 

A list of the new ships seen and added to my list are noted below.

Spirit Of Fairbridge (Sail) IMO 1004106, GT 81, 1985
Loach (Grain Carrier) IMO 6815196 GT  191, 1968
Seaoath (Crude Oil Tanker) IMO 9290361, GT 57162, 2005
Americaborg (Cargo Ship) IMO 9365659, GT 11864, 2007
Ocean Trader (Cargo Ship) IMO 9123099, GT 19354, 1996
Queen Asia (Bulk Carrier) IMO 9587636, GT 17010, 2011
Aegean Power (Crude Oil Tanker) IMO 9338905, GT 61473, 2007
Peru (Cargo Ship) IMO 9017410, GT 2993, 1998
Toli (Tanker) IMO 9479670, GT 2617, 2009
Sea Lynx (Offshore Supply Ship) IMO 9178410, 2556, 1999
Smit Barracuda (Tug) IMO 9345506, 230, 2006
Sound Of Seil (Ferry) 2013

Of particular interest was the ferry Sound of Seil which is a new build spotted on the slipway at Cammell Laird, after the incoming tide lifted her off her cradle she was moved into the main basin.  

I am back in Liverpool on Monday so hopefully a few new ships will arrive over the weekend.

Photograph I took yesterday of a capstan on the Liverpool riverfront near the now infilled Kings dock.

These were located both on sailing ships where they were used for lifting sails and heavy spars, transferring cargo and other similar activities as well as on shore to move large ships in and out of the docks by hand.

Bearing in mind its location near to a historic but now sealed entrance into the dock system from the River Mersey I suspect the latter.

A couple of anchors also near Kings dock.

A picture of Pendigo lake in Birmingham. Wednesday was a bad day weatherwise and an early start found me driving for over 100 miles through constant thunderstorms. I took the above picture before lunch just as the rain was easing off, later in the day from this spot I saw quite a number of large carp swimming close to shore just below the surface.

I saw the Sound of Seil being launched today and after a bit of investigation found out that she is one of two ferries that have been launched this week.

Link to the Liverpool Echo page is below.

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/cammell-laird-launches-first-complete-5171359

Its good to see new ships being built in the NW and not merely repaired.

Hopefully I will get to see both vessels as they leave the Mersey for sea trials.

Photographed 10 July 2013 heading out of the River Mersey Spirit of Fairbridge is a replica of a Mersey pilot schooner.

She is operated by a company called Fairbridge who as part of their young persons development programme take up to 12 young people at a time from all over the UK to sea. 

Built as a gaff schooner by Merseyside Trust she has a hull constructed of oak frames and larch planks. Length overall is 28m with a 5.1m beam and 3.4m draft. Mast height is 26m.

She has a Mermaid Manta II 140hp engine which enables her to make 8 knots. 

Accommodation consists of 6 staff berths and 12 crew berths.

MMSI - 232003794
REG - UK, Oban
IMO - 1004106
Call Sign - 
Sail Training Ship
Built - Merseyside Trust, UK 
Yard No. 
L 28m W 5.1m
GT 81
Year - 1985
Liverpool, 10 July 2013

Seen here in Liverpool Docks on 9 July 2013 Mersey Endurance arrived under tow on the River Mersey 21 February 2013 from her builders Veka Shipbuilding BV (Czech Republic and Netherlands).

She measures 86m x 11.45m and is powered by a Caterpillar C32A engine. 

The vessel was built following investment by World Oil who have been proprietors of Henty Oil since it acquired the 25 year old business in 2009.

She is currently actively working around the docks and up and down the River. 

Henty Provider and Progress whom she presumably replaces are moored together in the docks behind the detained Dyckburg and have not moved for some time.

MMSI - 235099933
REG - UK, Liverpool
IMO - 9568122
Call Sign - 2GJY7
Tanker
Built - Veka Shipbuilding
Yard No. - 
L 86m W 11.45m
GT - 
Year - 2013
Liverpool, 9 July 2013

On my Glasgow trip last Wednesday I stopped at BAE Systems facility on the Clyde, I was hoping to see at least one warship but the place was sadly deserted. 

Chartwell is a research vessel and is here seen in Liverpool on 9 July 2013.

Built by McTay Marine on The Wirral Chartwell is a purpose built 106t dispacement mono-hull survey vessel which was commissioned as a survey launch in 1989 and was extensively re-fitted in 2009 to enable her to undertake coastal geophysical survey operations.

She has a length of 26.5m, 5.8m beam and draft of 2.2m providing an efficient and stable working platform with secondary slow speed water-jet propulsion and automated line keeping facility.  Her normal cruising speed is 15 knots.. 

The vessel provides round the clock operational capability for up to nine personnel for up to nine days at sea without replenishment. Accommodation is arranged into three twin cabins and three single cabins. There is a fully equipped galley and mess area, shower room and separate WC below along with storage space and laundry facilities.  

The on-line survey room is configured with easy access to the working deck and handling equipment with remote control of sonar winches, CCTV monitoring of all on deck activities with multiple monitors at each work station allow data display to be configured to suit various applications.  

The main bridge has direct communication with the survey room and survey navigation displays are repeated on the bridge.  The rear working area is approximately 20m2 and incorporates access to the rear enclosed dive platform.

Other deck equipment includes a 6m hydraulic A-Frame with a SWL of 1 ton, hydraulic capstan, hydraulic side scan sonar winch, hydraulic crane and purpose built over-the-side mounts for deployment of over side sensors.

Safety equipment carried on board complies with the MCA code of practice for Small Commercial Vessels (SCV Code) and is supplemented by a full complement of immersion suits.  Chartwell carries Category 1 certification under the SCV code allowing her to operate up to 150 miles from a safe haven on a 24 hour basis. Two 10 man life rafts are carried on board.

MMSI - 235005152
REG - UK
IMO - NA
Call Sign - MHGV6
Research Vessel
Built - McTay Marine, Birkenhead, UK
Yard No. - 
L 26.5m W 5.8m
GT - 106 (t displacement)
Year - 1989
Liverpool, 9 July 2013