Liverpool Visit & ALBERT DOCK

I was in Liverpool again yesterday and had the best part of an hour spare before my meeting near the Albert Dock. Hong Kong registerd bulk carrier CMB Maxime was moored in Liverpool Docks near the scrap metal facility. Built in 2010 by Tsuneishi Cebu in Balamban, Japan (Yard No. sc-120) she is 185m long with a beam of 32m and GT 32296.

Some of the cube shaped compressed metal blocks that have been slowly becoming an enormous mountain of scrap over the last month or so can just be seen to the left of my photograph. These build up and disappear on a regular basis via visiting bulk carriers. Unusually CMB Maxime was moored opposite the pile of scrap (I can't remember seeing a larger ship ever being berthed here)and doesnt seem to be involved in sending another consignment of metal to the Far East. She did have her hatches open but while I was there was not involved in any loading or unloading operations.

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At the Mersey entrance to the Albert Dock Westminster Dredings Norma was hard at work in front of the main dock gates. According to the internet this versatile vessel can operate in either water injection mode or as a plough boat. Water injection is achieved via two low pressure water pumps which circulate water to a specially designed injection head fitted with multiple water jets, the combined output of these pumps being up to 7400m3 per hour. The injection head is brought into contact with the seabed and a pre-determined thickness fluidised. Accurate horizontal positioning and track plotting is achieved using DGPS to enable targeted dredging. 

Vertical control is achieved using tidal data transmitted from shore together with digital ladder depth indication. Twin Scottel azimuth thrusters permit a high degree of manoeuvrability with the ability to dredge accurately and in confined areas.

Year of construction 1981 with major upgrade 2008 
Length overall 27.00m
Length BPP 18.80m
Width 9.50m
Depth moulded 3.00m
Draught 2.15m
Main propulsion 625 kW (850 h.p.)
Manoeuvring Propulsion 2 No. Schottels 2 x 220 kW (2x300 h.p.)
Bowthruster 120 kW (160 h.p.)
Jetting Head -- maximum depth 19.00 m - width 8.80 m

I managed to do a complete circuit of the Albert Dock and there were a number of interesting vessels moored. One of my favourites was the tug France-Hayhurst which was has a GRT of 46 being built in 1938 by W.J.Yarwood & Sons, Northwich (Yard No.613) for the Weaver Navigation Trust. I think she was restored some years ago and is now a common site within the basin.

Surveyor 6 - I cant find any details on her at the moment but she looks an 'older' vessel. 

A good view of Albert Dock from one of the two swing bridges which provide access into the basin. The dock was built in 1846 and reminisent of that era three tall ships were moored together.

Closest to the camera is the Glaciere a 1899 built Baltic Trader once used to carry stone between England and Denmark. The Glaciere was recovered as wreckage from the bed of Liverpool's Collingwood Dock in 2003 and restored to its former glory in six monthsby a team of volunteers.

Second in line is Ruth a Gaff Rigged Baltc Trader built in 1914 by the RAA Ship Yard in Sweden. Constructed from Pitch Pine over an Oak frame she has a length of 28m, draft of 2.2m and 51 GRT.
 
Final ship in the line up is the Zebu a Fore and Aft Ketch built in 1938 by AB Holmes in Sweden and launched as the Ziba. Until 1972 she was used in the transport of wood, grain and salt before passing into private hands. She has a length of 31m, width of 6.1m and a draft of 2.3m.

I took a few more pictures which I will add to my site in due course.

In total the visit added four new ships to my ship list these being.

Neverland Angel (Crude Oil Tanker) IMO 9413688
Laima (Chemical/Oil Products Tanker) IMO 9260031
Flagship Iris (Chemical/Oil Products Tanker) IMO 9447768
CMB Maxime (Bulk Carrier) IMO 9425875