River Mersey and Birkenhead docks + stanlow refinery explosion

Testing out my "new" Panasonic TZ60 over last few days, on the mersey and around the docks, also by pure chance caught the explosion that happened today (22nd Aug) at the Stanlow refinery at ellesmere port, there were no injuries thankfully

BBC Seattle

Ventura

 

Jackup vessel Wind

BBC Seattle and Ventura

Johann in East float, Birkenhead

Explosion at Stanlow

Major fire at the Stanlow refinery 

Sichem Lily

Stella Orion

Celtic Ammbasador

River Mersey shipping February 11th 2016, A tanker day!

Weather not as good but still cold on the river. A rare sight of 2 BP tankers on the Mersey today, British Eagle (BP Bird class) was outbound from Tranmere and passed a sister vessel British Serenity (BP Virtue class) inbound for Tranmere, they greeted each other with horn/whistle blasts

Also here is the tall ship Stavros Niarchos having left Canning dock and on her way to Langton lock before going into Liverpool docks proper. Dredger Arco Beck is here on her way to Garston docks

Dredger Arco Beck

British Eagle dwarfing the Dazzle Ferry Snowdrop at Seacombe

British Eagle

BP Tankers British Eagle and British Serenity

British Eagle

British Serenity

Mersey regular Stolt Kestrel

Stavros Niarchos

Wilson Mersin out of Alfred lock

Stavros Niarchos

Ships in Birkenhead docks 7th December 2015

Unique looking cargo vessel Oceanic is currently unloading in East float today, Large bulker Mandarin looks like she has finished unloading as all here hatches are now closed

Oceanic

Oceanic

Mandarin

Oceanic

Cargo ship Ostbence into Alred Lock today with Smit Sandon

Small cargo ship the Ostbence arrived for Birkenhead this morning in good weather, chance to try out my "new" Fuji X10..

Ostbence

Smit Sandon

Prodromos Ex Most Sky finally on the move in Birkenhead docks 27th April 2015

The small cargo ship Most Sky arrived in palls of black smoke in a very sorry state over 4 years ago, it was strange as she is not an "old" vessel! She was arrested within days of arrival for various issues, the crew had no heating or the means to cook food to name but 2!!
She was pretty much abandoned by her owners and the small crew was taken in by local charities until the ship was sold and the men recieved their wages and were able to return home. Most Sky was sold and renamed Prodromos and continued to reside in the West float dock, Birkenhead. for a long time there seemed to be no "life" onboard.
On the 27th April 2015 2 Smit tugs arrived (Sandon and Zeebrugge) to move the vessel to the Cammel Lairds yard for work/service having bieng sold again! to  Ege Maritime Inc. of Istanbul, now renamed NUR. 
She was moved "dead ship" through Birkenhead although she did have some working winches for and aft, she did have some "minor" collisions with the quayside on her journey out

River Mersey shipping 14th September

Some inbound vessels today, mainly for Garston and Eastham. Bonus today was catching the 1960 built cement carrier Cementina on her way to Ireland from Garston. Light was poor at times, hope for better tomorow when the Queen Mary 2 arrives

Name: Cementina
MMSI: 616259000 [KM]
IMO: 5067077
Callsign: D6CH6
Speed/Dir: 10.9 kts / 268° W
Status: Underway
Dest: Dublin
ETA: Sep15 01:00
Type: Cargo (70)
Details: Cement Carrier
Size: 76m x 10m x 3m
Tonnage: 899gt, 1205dwt
Built: 1960

Patras

 

Esprit

 

Levania

 

Cementina and Stolt Gannet

 

Stolt Gannet

 

Cementina

 

Cargo ship Pinta into Birkenhead docks 13th Sept

Small cargo vessel Pinta came into Birkenhead docks this morning after battling a heavy swell at the Alfred dock entrance. Also in the East float was the BBC Aramis, the chemical tanker Clyde Fisher was on her way out from Eastham.

Name: Clyde Fisher
MMSI: 311855000 [BS]
IMO: 9298416
Callsign: C6TZ4
Speed/Dir: 12.3 kts / 263° W
Status: Underway
Dest: Gotaenburg
ETA: Sep16 18:00
Type: Tanker (80)
Details: Chemical / Oil Products Tanker
Size: 127m x 20m x 7.9m
Tonnage: 8446gt, 12800dwt
Built: Feb 2005

Name: Pinta
MMSI: 236180000 [GI]
IMO: 9063299
Callsign: ZDFC8
Speed/Dir: 0 kts / 0° N
Status: Moored
Dest: Birkenhaed
ETA: Sep11 20:00
Type: Cargo (70)
Details: General Cargo Ship
Size: 82m x 13m x 5m
Tonnage: 2190gt, 2795dwt
Built: Feb 1993

Name: BBC Aramis
MMSI: 236261000 [GI]
IMO: 9313620
Callsign: ZDGN2
Speed/Dir: 0 kts / 0° N
Status: Moored
Dest: Birkenhead
ETA: Sep12 13:00
Type: Cargo (70)
Details: General Cargo Ship
Size: 90m x 12m x 5.5m

Pinta

 

Pinta

 

BBC Aramis

 

 

Clyde Fisher