A catch up from past few weeks, inc Disney Magic at Liverpool

Yet another "new" camera! well new to me anyways, traded my Sony A200 kit in for a Panasonic Lumix FZ200 and have been very pleased with results so far.

As usual lots of Mersey movements, with at least one chem/product tanker now discharging in ALfred basin to the UM tanks nearby.

The Bulker Pride had to abort her lock in at Alfred lock, Birkenhead due to draught issues in the basin and she is now anchored at the Liverpool Bar presuming to await a "higher" high water 

Disney Magic at Liverpool for the day on 7th Sept.

Pride

 

Pride

 

Kotug/Smit tugs Sandon and Belgie with Pride off Alfred lock

Kotug/smit Belgie

New build Arklow Villa

MSC Malin on L2 berth 

Tanker Brent swinging for Langton lock, she aborted??

Tanker Hong Kong Dawn passing the EGG bouy

Svitzer Stanlow trail tug for the tanker

RFA Fort Austin

Spanaco Loyalty discharging in West Float

RFA Fort Rosalie

Besiktas Orient discharging at Alfred basin

Chem/prod tanker Besiktas Orient

Disney Magic and Manannan at the Pierhead, Liverpool

Disney Magic and the "liver birds"

Disney Magic

Pride, having aborted lock in about to sail out of the Mersey

RRS Sir David Attenborough "boaty macboatface" launched on the River Mersey

British Polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough was launched from the Cammel Lairds yard on the River Mersey today 14th July 2018.

the vessel is also known as "Boaty Mcboatface" after the naming was put to a public vote!! One of the submersables that will be used by the ship will carry the Boaty name!!

She is the largest commercial vessel launch in the UK for over 30 years, with a tonnage of 15000 tons (when complete), she has now been berthed in the wetbasin for the fitting of topside sections and fitting out.

Technical features

• Length: 129; beam: 24m; weight: 15,000gt
• Scientific cargo volume of approximately 900m³
• Endurance – up to 60 days (Polar Regions)
• Range 19,000nm at 13 knots (24 km/h) cruising speed; more than enough for a return trip from England to Rothera Research Station, or to circle the entire Antarctic continent twice!
• Ice breaking capability – up to 1m thick at 3 knots (5.6 km/h)
• Bow and stern thrusters for excellent dynamic positioning in challenging conditions
• Launch and recovery of aerial and ocean robotic systems
• Crew approx. 30
• Accommodation for up to 60 scientists and support staff

More info here..   https://www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operations/sites-and-facilities/facility/rrs-sir-david-attenborough/

RRS Sir David Attenborough on the slip at Cammel Lairds

RRS Sir David Attenborough hits the waters of the Mersey for the 1st time

RRS Sir David Attenborough

RRS Sir David Attenborough

RRS Sir David Attenborough

RRS Sir David Attenborough

RRS Sir David Attenborough

RRS Sir David Attenborough being taken into wetbasin by Smit Tugs

A very busy Sunday on the River Mersey

After a few days of very heavy fog on the river and liverpool bay there was a backlog of over 20 vessels awaiting entry to the Mersey over the weekend, they were all anchored off the Bar in Liverpool bay. Today, sunday 30th, the fog had cleared and most started there entry into the River. 2 large tankers "Tove Knutsen" and the "Overseas Sophie" (both over 100.000GT) came in and onto the Tranmere terminal, large cargo carrier "Ever Mighty" went into Liverpool docks. The ACL "Atlantic Compass" was on her way out bound for Canada.

A quiet week!

Not much going on this week...............for me anyways, only managed 1 river visit. Got floating crane "Mersey Mammoth" at work in Birkenhead docks and small carrier "Rodau" was on the old Clan line wharf, east float.

Rumour has it that another RFA is on its way to NSL, arriving Saturday, will update if its true (or turns up)

River Mersey 20th...back to normal ;-)

After the weekends RN visitor today was business as usual on the river, quite a few tanker movements. Here is tanker Stolt Cormorant entering Birkenhead docks and one of her sister ships Stolt Egret on her way out of the mersey

QE2 arrives in Liverpool for the last time

The world famous Cunard liner QE2 arrived in Liverpool today for the last time. Great weather today too. She made an impressive sight and is now berthed at the new liner berth near the pierhead, She sails tonight at 10pm bound for belfast.

Tallships arrivals 18th July

Some of the larger entrants for this years race arrived on the Mersey this morning, it was quite busy. MIR, Eendracht, Dar Mlodziezy were amongst the arrivals in "crap" weather....lots more pics to come over the weekend!! The RFA Lyme Bay was on the pierhead, she visiting for the Tallships event