I was back in Liverpool yesterday morning. 

Following my usual route South into the city I saw the General Cargo Ship BBC Nile (IMO 9571375, GT 12980, 2011) at Seaforth, there were quite a number of other ships in the basin but the view of the docks was almost totally obscured by vehicles waiting to board an ACL vessel presumably heading for sale in North America. 

Further towards the city centre I turned onto the dock road where in one of the Canada Docks two Dutch registered dredgers and a tug were moored, the two dredgers were Johan Van Veen (IMO 9098971, GT 869, 2007) and Jetsed (IMO
8804505, 237, 1988). The tug was Afon Alaw (IMO 9298935, GT 200, 2004) a twin screw 25m shallow draft seagoing vessel operated by Holyhead Towing. 
 
The cruise ship terminal was also occupied by a new cruise ship I had not seen before in the form of Crystal Serenity ( IMO 9243662, GT68870, 2003), she departed Liverpool later in the day for Cobh.

Closer to my destination Norwegian registered Chemical / Oil Products tanker Ekfjord (IMO 9356622, GT12162, 2009) was at moored at Tranmere, this vessel has also since left port and is en-route to Gothenburg.

Six new ships in one day is quite good, I also managed to get a few pictures.

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

Chrijeco (DP.651307) was a wooden hulled fishing vessel we saw in Le Treport.

I believe that she was withdrawn from service in June 2006 .

MMSI - 227125300
REG - FR, Dieppe
IMO - 
Call Sign - FIAQ
Fishing Vessel
Built - Lefevre Etaples
Yard No. 
L 17.55m W 5.4m
GT - 58
Year - 1986
le Treport, 10 August 2013

During our holiday we passed many First World War cemeteries from both sides. 

Driving through the quiet and peaceful French countryside it is impossible to imagine the conflict and massive loss of life that took place in the Somme nearly a hundred years ago.

Above and below are photographs of Serre Road Cemetery No. 2, one of three cemeteries along this stretch of road. 

There are now 7,127 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery mostly dating from 1916. Of these 4,944 are unidentified.

In the last three weeks 55 new ships have been added to my list.

Four of these were seen in Liverpool but the rest were seen either in Purfleet, Dover, whilst crossing the English Channel, Calais or in le Treport.

List of new ships is below.

Ship list has been updated - Just needs uploading.

Seychelles Pioneer (Tanker) 9255517 GT 22346, 2005
Catherine (Ro-Ro) 9209453,  GT 21287, 2002
Palatine (Ro-Ro) 9376701, GT 25235, 2009
Saga Sapphire (Cruise Ship) 7822457, GT 37012,1981
Spirit of Britain (Ferry) 9524231, GT 47600, 2011
Berlioz (Ferry) 9305843, GT 33940, 2005
Sand Falcon (Hopper Dredger) 9151553, GT 6534, 1998
Calais Seaways (Ferry) 8908466, GT 28833, 1992
APL Melbourne (Container) 9431812,GT 40541, 2010
DHB Doughty (Tug) 9190468, GT 304, 2000
Rodin (Ferry) 9232527, GT 7766, 2001
Finnsun (Ro-Ro)  9468918, GT 28002, 2012
Pride of Caterbury (Ferry) 9007295, GT 30635, 1991
Delft Seaways (Ferry) 9293088, GT 35923, 2005
Summer Wind  (Ref.Cargo) 8410574, GT 12660, 1985
David Church (Dredger) 9112193, GT 671, 1995
Spirit of France (Ferry) 9533816, GT 47592, 2012
Coralwater (Tanker) 9004164, GT 1895, 1998
Dieppe Seaways (Ferry) 9211511, GT 30285, 2002
Pride of Burgundy (Ferry) 9015254, GT 28138, 1993
Navios Luz (Bulk Carrier) 9481295, GT 92715, 2010
DHB Dauntless (Tug) 9190456, GT 304, 2000
Pride of Kent (Ferry) 9015266, GT 30635, 1992
Dunkerque Seaways  (Ferry) 9293076, GT 35923, 2005
Aquamarine SW (Bulk Carrier) 9597666,GT 22850,2012
Hispania (Container Ship) 9176682, GT 16211, 1998
Rig (Cargo Ship) 8801137, GT 2351, 1989
Maersk Windhoek (Container Ship) 9515591, GT 17280, 2009
DL Bellflower (Tanker) 9246138, GT 61653, 2003
HS Paris (Container Ship) 9526502, GT 75015, 2012
Jurmo (Tanker) 9255270, GT 15980, 2004
Dover Seaways (Ferry) 9318345, GT 35923, 2006
Nord Pas De Calais (Ferry) 8512152, GT 7264, 1987
Maersk Elba (Container Ship) 9458078, GT 141716, 2011
Stolt Fuji (Asphalt Tanker) 9468528, GT 5539,  2010
Jork Rider (Container) 9322566, GT 7852, 2006
MSC Cristina (Container) 9465241, GT 141635, 2011
Donegal Spirit (Crude Tanker) 9312846, GT57325, 2006
Ile D Aix (Cable Layer) 9009310, GT 12518, 1992
Lady Amalia (Cargo Ship) 9624847, GT 2544, 2012
Joline (Ferry) 8743969, GT 642, 1988
Sardius (Cargo Ship) 9518256, GT 3739, 2011
Maersk Lins (Container Ship) 9527025, GT 89505, 2012
Cabot Aviva (Bulk Carrier) 9496276, GT 20924, 2012
Hanjin Buchanan (Bulk Carrier) 9537563,GT63993,2011
Virginiadiep (Cargo Ship) 9439216, GT 4990, 2008
Blue Diamond (Bulk Carrier) 9330654, GT 32578, 2006
Bulk Japan (Bulk Carrier) 9310290, GT 42887, 2006
MSC Filomena (Container Ship) 9447861, GT 140259, 2010
Dimitry Varvarin (Cargo Ship) 9518402, GT 2997, 2009
Halifax Express (Container Ship) 9200823, GT 54437, 2000
Ronja (Cargo Ship) 9434046, GT 2979, 2008
Belorus (Cargo Ship) 9340855, GT 4182, 2005
Veerseborg (Cargo Ship) 9184653, GT 6130, 1998
Nord Strength (Tanker) 9629691, GT 29850, 2013

Calais was quieter than I thought it would be and most of the ferries that were in port I had already seen from my afternoon in Dover. I was also expecting to see quite a number of tugs, dredgers and bunkering vessels but sadly this was not the case. 

In total there were three large ferries, Dieppe Seaways, Pride of Burgundy and Nord Pas De Calais in port together with the cable layer Ill de Aux and a small Latvian registered ferry called Joline which unfortunately was too far away to photograph.

Dieppe Seaways is shown above. She is a fast Ro-Ro passenger ferry operated by DFDS Seaways between between Calais and Dover. 

She was built in 2002 at Kiel in Germany for Superfast Ferries as Superfast X.

Between 2007 and 2008 she was owned by Veolia Transport and sailed for SNCM, OTUNAV & ANEK Lines. In 2008 she was acquired by SeaFrance and she served on the Dover to Calais route until their liquidation in January 2012.  After a period of layup, during which she was sold and renamed Molière, she was chartered to DFDS Seaways entering service as Dieppe Seaways on the Calais-Dover route on 7 November 2012.

She is powered by Wartsila NSD Type: Sulzer 16 ZAV 40 S (4 X 11’520 kW @ 510 rpm) engines. 

Cargo capacity is 1,923 metres of vehicle lanes.

MMSI - 226269000
REG - FR, Le Harve
IMO -  9211511
Call Sign - FNKG
Passenger Ro-Ro Ferry
Built - Howaldtswerke-DW, Kiel, DE
Yard No. - 360
L 203m W 29m
GT 30285
Year - 2002
Calais,  5 August 2013

Alongside Dieppe Seaways was Pride of Burgundy. She was originally planned as a freight only vessel but due to demand on the Dover to Calais route the ship was converted to a multi-purpose ferry (passengers and freight) prior to completion with the addition of extra superstructure. 

She is one of the smallest Dover to Calais ferries, only accomodating 1,420 passengers and 530 cars over two cargo decks.

Her maiden voyage was on the 0630 Dover to Calais run on 5 April 1993.

On the 27 October 2012 the Pride of Burgundy collided with the MyFerryShip Berlioz in high winds. The Pride of Burgundy sustained damage to its right bridge wing which was quickly fixed. Berlioz was not so fortunate and due to damage to her lifeboats she had to be put out of service until repairs could be completed.

She is powered by four 7,100bhp Sulzer Diesel Engines (5280kW) via twin screws giving a service speed of 21 Knots 

MMSI - 232001470
REG - UK, Dover
IMO -  9015254
Call Sign - MQSQ9
Passenger Ro-Ro Ferry
Built - Schichau Seebeck, DE
Yard No. -1074
L 179m W 28m
GT 28138
Year - 1993
Calais,  5 August 2013

Nord Pas de Calais is a freight ferry operated by MyFerryLink. She was built in 1987 by Chantiers du Nord et de la Mediterranee SA, Dunkirk (Yard No 325) for Societe Nationale des Chemin de Fer Francais (SNCF) as a multi-purpose passenger and roll-on roll-off ferry for lorries and railway vehicles.

After the introduction of Eurotunnel there was no need for a train ferry and as a result of this she was acquired in 1989 by SNAT and Stena Sealink who operated her until December 1995.

From 1 January 1996 SNAT operated as SeaFrance and the vessel was renamed SeaFrance Nord Pas-de-Calais. SeaFrance operated her until November 2011 before going into liquidation. Following a full refit she resumed cross channel service this time for MyFerrylink in November 2012

She could originally accommodate 80 passengers, 45 vehicles and 600m of rail freight, following refit she now accommodates 85 vehicles.

Powered by 2 16 Cylinder Sulzer ZAV40 diesels (24,500hp, 18022kW) she has a service speed of 21.5 knots.

MMSI - 227011500
REG - FR, Dunkerque
IMO -  8512152
Call Sign - FNBN
Ro-Ro Ferry
Built - Ch.du Nord et de la Med, Dunkirk, FR
Yard No. -325
L 159m W 24m
GT 7264
Year - 1987
Calais,  5 August 2013

The photograph above is of the Tug Bremen Fighter and was taken in Liverpool Docks on the 24 May 2013, this vessel is actively working on the new wind farm off the North Wales coast and is a regular visitor to Liverpool.

Designed by Worldwise Marine she was built in 2004 as Primus by Mützelfeldtwerft GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany as Yard Number 250 and delivered to Harms Offshore AHT Primus GmbH & Co KG under management by Harms Bergung Transport & Heavy Lift GmbH & Co KG of Hamburg.

In 2011 she was sold to nterweser Reederei AG – Bremen, Germany and renamed Bremen Fighter.

The tug has a length of 48.81m a beam of 13.80m and a draft of 7.00 m.

She has two Caterpillar 9M25 main engine developing a total output of 5,940 kW (8,078 bhp) and can achieve a speed of 16.5 knots and a bollard pull of 108 tons.

MMSI - 304742000
REG - AG, St.Johns
IMO - 9321287
Call Sign - V20YI
Tug
Built - Mutzelfeldwerft, Cuxhaven, DE
Yard No - 250
L 48.81m W 13.8m
GT - 1262
Year - 2004
Liverpool 24 May 2013

Photograph of a drinking fountain located in Liverpool's Dock Boundary Wall.

Originally 33 fountains were inserted along the length of the dock boundary wall in 1859. Fountains were located on both sides of the wall although the above example is on the outside 

I have seen two types of fountain constructed out of either granite or cast iron as the photograph. I have also read that the fountains were installed to provide drinking water to the dock workers in the hope that this would keep them out of the pubs, how effective this was in practice would be interesting to know.

Whether this worked effectively or not the fountains would have supplied drinking water to people working in and around the docks, they are certainly a remnant of a bye-gone era.

Alongside our berth in Calais was the General Cargo Ship Lady Amalia operated by Wijjne Barends. I took the photos of her before heading back inside the ship and heading down to the car deck.

Wijnne Barends is one of the world’s oldest shipping companies being founded in 1855. Based in Delfzijl the company supports its own fleet and affiliated captain owners by offering chartering services, technical management and crewing. 

A member of the Spliethoff group Wijnne Barends is a short sea operator with a fleet of over 30 vessels, its key activities are maritime management and chartering  specialising in the transport of timber, peat moss, steel sheets and cable, as well as a range of other dry cargo. 

It operates in Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Western Europe, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

MMSI - 246685000 
REG -  NL, Delfzijl
IMO -  9624847
Call Sign - PCNV
General Cargo Ship
Built -Groningen SY, Waterhuizen, NL
Yard No. - 130
L 88m W m
GT 2544
Year - 2012
Calais, 5 August 2013

Dover Castle taken from the stern of the P&O ferry Pride Of Kent.

This is one of the countries great medieval fortresses and was created by King Henry II and his Plantagenet successors. At its heart stands the mighty keep or Great Tower which is 25.3m high about 30m square with walls up to 6.5m thick.
The grandest and among the last of the keeps raised by the kings of England during the 11th and 12th centuries, it was designed by Henry II’s architect ‘Maurice the Engineer’ and built between 1180 and 1185.

Just visible to the right in front of the church is the 24m high Roman lighthouse overlooking the port.

Leaving Dover and the white cliffs behind

Seagull who followed the ship all the way to France - Hopefully he or she got back ok.

Passing the dredger Sand Falcon Mid-English Channel.

Passing Spirit Of France (IMO 9533816, GT 47592) heading back to Dover. She was built by STX Finland at their Rauma Yard in 2011.

Pride of Kent's funnel with P&O colours

Heading towards Calais - Its a shame that they limit you to a very small area at the stern of the ship leaving a lot of potential space unused. I'm sure there must be a good reason for this as I have experienced similar issues on other large ferries.

On one of our day trips out we visited the small port of Le Treport. 

In the inner harbour was the General Cargo ship Sardius.

Sardius is owned and operated by Bock Maritime BV a relatively young company with four ships based in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.

She has a single screw propeller with controllable pitch and is powered by a 
Wartsila 8L26, 4 stroke, 8 cylinder diesel engine (1800kW, 2414hp) giving a loaded service speed of 12 knots.

Bock Maritime BV operate mainly over Europe, the Mediterranean, Middle East and West Africa. 


MMSI - 246798000
REG - NL, Alkmaar
IMO - 9518256
Call Sign - PLCD
General Cargo Ship
Built - Scheepswerf Peters, Kampen, NL
Yard No. - 1103
L 100m W 13m
GT 3477
Year - 2011
10 August 2013, Le Treport