NAVIGATION-Cruising and Maritime Themes

Cruising the River Mersey on board Mersey Ferry "SNOWDROP", a ship built back in 1959 to see the World famous Liverpool waterfront. Photos 14.7.2016

Ancona is quite possibly a unique place for ship photography, I have been visiting the place on regular basis for the last twelve months, a big advantage spot for photography is the lighthouse at the end of the pier at the entrance of the Port, I have been before, the place was a bit unsafe because there was no railings, so it could look quite unsafe, not anymore, as the photos show, brand new railings are now in place and even the luxury of a bench overlooking the entrance of the harbour, this is an example to follow, these days the easiest option would be to shut the facility down, not here thankfully, the lighthouse is actually known as the "new attraction" of the city, a couple that was enjoying the views and the amazing warm weather, had to leave to some compromise, they turned to me and quite clearly in a very said mood mentioned...... "It's a sin we have to leave", I couldn't agree more, well done to the local authorities, this is a s...

Harwich is a great place for maritme history, after disembarking the STENA BRITANNICA yesterday at 6.30 am, I went to the waterfront and waited for 7 am for breakfast to be served at the very popular, and publicity apart, for a good reason wonderful PIER HOTEL, after breakfast as usual decided to wait for the departure of my cruise ferry back to Holland, shame about the weather, that was simply awful, what a contrast to the last time I had been, back in September of 2015, here's a few photos taken yesterday, 31.5.2016

"VIKING SKY" the third ship of VIKING OCEAN CRUISES seen at her builders yard, the prestigious FINCANTIERI, a bright sunny day with a very nice springtime light, it has been for me really exciting to be able to follow the construction of these marvellous cruise ships. Photos 28.5.2016

                                            KONINGIN BEATRIX                                       MODEL OF THE STENA SEMASTER STENA LINE's Ferry terminal at Hook Van Holland has excellent facilities for passengers, beautiful model ships of the fleet, a shopping store and a Japanese Restaurant. Photos 30.5.2016

"It's shorter by water", is the GOSPORT FERRY Motto, the Ferries take only three minutes to cross from Gosport to Portsmouth, by land, the voyage could take 45 minutes to do 14 miles, the HARBOUR SPIRIT resting at Gosport, photos 22.5.2016

RFA "WAVE KNIGHT" is a Wave-Class tanker built by VSE in Barrow-in-Furness, construction started in 1998 and the ship came into service in 2003, she is like a "Supermarket" at sea, she has the task of providing fuel, food and fresh water, she has a sister ship, the WAVE RULER. Photos at Portsmouth 22.5.2016

HMS "ENDURANCE" has reportedly being sold for scrap and she will be towed to Turkey soon, she seems to be ready looking at these photos taken recently at Portsmouth, the ship was built in 1990 in Norway as the POLAR CIRCLE, she was chartered one year later by the Royal navy and purchased in 1992 when she was renamed "ENDURANCE", history tells us that, due to an error during maintenance, she was flooded in such a bad way that she's been out of service since 2008, the cost to repair the ship is so high that she is no longer viable. Photos taken 22.5.2016

M.S. "VOYAGER" is a small cruise ship at 15.396 G.T., she was built in 1988 and has capacity for 540 passengers, the ship is operated by VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY...... "For life's adventure" is the company motto, "VOYAGER" sails her guests straight into smaller ports, like Portsmouth on the photos above, offering a true sense of adventure, the ship is registered in the Bahamas, photos 22.5.2016

Portsmouth was once again my selected Port for my next trip by sea, I am writing this "post" in France after another trip on BRITTANY FERRIES "MONT ST MICHEL", my selected sailing the 22.45pm to Ouistreham ( Caen ), prior to embark plenty of time to wonder once again with the many ship spotting options on offer, two cruise ships in Port , the SERENISSIMA and the VOYAGER, BRITTANY FERRIES ships were the BRETAGNE, NORMANDIE, ETRETAT, CAP FINISTERE, NORMANDIE EXPRESS and my "own" MONT ST MICHEL, various war ships and cargo vessels completed the choices. Portsmouth Waterfront never ceases to amaze me, it is an exciting place for ships enthusiasts that are kept busy on daily basis, it makes me think every time, that..... I was born for this..... to follow, detailed entries of this memorable day. Photos 22.5.2016

Tomorrow, 22.5.2016, I am back on MONT ST MICHEL, my second trip of this year on the ship, these photos were taken in February of 2015 at Portsmouth after just arrived from Saint-Malo on board the ARMORIQUE, weather permitting before boarding the ship tomorrow it will be a busy day ship spotting, two cruise ships are in port, the VOYAGER and the SERENISSIMA and NORMANDIE and BRETAGNE will also call for their afternoon and evening departures to France, respectively Ouistreham ( Caen ) and Saint-Malo, stay connected for new entries on the blog.