Tuesday, 31 May 2011

MV BRETAGNE advantage viewing point


When travelling on MV BRETAGNE from BRITTANY FERRIES you can get to the prow of the ship, an incredible advantage point for amazing views and great photography, or even for a TITANIC scene, photo November 2010

The VISION OF THE SEAS in Lisbon

Photo of the VISION OF THE SEAS during a call at Lisbon in April 2011, a very elegant ship for some of today´s standards

Monday, 30 May 2011

PRAISE FOR PEOPLE THAT SAVES LIVES AT SEA

When I was in Portugal last month I had the opportunity to visit Peniche, just 80kms north of Lisbon, it was a marvellous hot sunny day, did plenty photos of the local marina, here included is a photo of a vessel of the portuguese navy dedicated to save lives at sea

MSC POESIA LEAVING LISBON


The MV MSC POESIA seen here leaving Lisbon in April, is the third ship from the MUSICA CLASS, she has 93.000 GT and entered service in 2008

Sunday, 29 May 2011

TALL SHIP OOSTERSCHELDE IS A UNIQUE VESSEL FOR THE DUTCH


The T S OOSTERSCHELDE is seen here at Liverpool early in May, she is a special ship, please click on first picture to get an update on the vessel´s history

VENTURA IN LISBON


During my last visit to Lisbon, I had the opportunity to photograph the VENTURA, here she is bathed in sunshine, April 2011

Model of the new P & O cruise ferry SPIRIT OF BRITAIN

A splendid model of the new cruise ferry SPIRIT OF BRITAIN can be seen on board the actual ship, I am a regular passenger, during a recent trip I´ve taken the photo included, she is a very fine ship, the best operating on the Dover/Calais service

Steam tug KERNE


the steam tug KERNE is a remarkable testimony of the work of some enthusiasts that keep the ship steaming today around the North West of England waters, all charitable work from the STEAM TUG KERNE PRESERVATION SOCIETY LTD, the vessel was originally built in 1913, for all information about this incredible work, history of the ship and participating events please visit http://www.tugkerne.co.uk/. Photo included was taken during the recent SPRING ON THE WATERFRONT in Liverpool

BRITTANY FERRIES MV MONT ST MICHEL AT SEA

the picture included shows a distant MONT ST MICHEL at sea on her way to Portsmouth, the photo was taken from the NORMANDIE mid channel on her way to Ouistreham, 10th May 2011

Saturday, 28 May 2011

Pilots ready to assist LD LINES BALTIC AMBER

Pilot at Saint-Nazaire ready to go on board the MV BALTIC AMBER, a beautiful Pilots Ship, one of the best I have seen, photo taken on the 20th May 2011

WHY NOT GO FOR A CRUISE ON THE MERSEY THIS BANK HOLIDAY


The best way to see the city of Liverpool from the river Mersey is to take a cruise with MERSEY FERRIES, the options on offer are plenty, so please visit MF website and go on your own or take the family to a great day out, photos of the ROYAL IRIS leaving for a cruise, May 2011

PHOTOS OF SHIPS JUST OUTSIDE PORTSMOUTH




During my recent crossing from Portsmouth to Caen on board BRITTANY FERRIES NORMANDIE, I had the opportunity of taking a few photos of cargo ships just outside the port, the date 10th of May 2011

Friday, 27 May 2011

SHIP SPOTTING AT POOLE



After going through customs back in the UK, just arrived from France, my first job was photograph the BARFLEUR off Poole on her way back to Cherbourg, during that short hour there was still time to capture a few ships on this beautiful place, 21st May 2011

THE BARFLEUR AT POOLE



Few images of BARFLEUR at Poole, approaching her berth and one hour and fifteen minutes later starting another crossing to Cherbourg her home port, 21st May 2011

BRITTANY FERRIES BARFLEUR






I was so pleased to go back onboard the BARFLEUR, I have not sailed on the ship for four years, she was built in 1992 in Finland for the Cherbourg/Poole service, she has about 20.000 GT and a cruising speed of 19.5 knots, last year she was laid up at Caen because BRITTANY FERRIES was loosing money with the service so the ship was withdrawn, in February this year the company decided to resume the route, so the BARFLEUR is back in business and I am really pleased about this, there is a market for the ship, the crossing only takes 4 hours and Cherbourg is very well located for travelling France either on business or holidays, going back to the vessel she can still show signs of being laid up for one year,  but knowing BRITTANY FERRIES this will soon be surpassed, during the crossing it was good to see the crew taking care of the outside decks, inside the ship looks immaculate and I just love the combination of colours and the cleanliness symbol of all BF ships, it´s a shame the main restaurant is no more, replaced by the "games planet" not sure of the profitability of the room, I know the crossing is short but passengers expect " A LA CARTE SERVICE " onboard BF vessels, several images included, taken on the 21st May 2011, near the navigation bridge, drivers lounge, TV showing the progress of the ship during the crossing, the self service restaurant and the main bar

FERRY TERMINAL AT CHERBOURG AND THE BARFLEUR



May the 21st, beautiful sunny day, ideal conditions for a sea voyage, this time I was about to embark on the BRITTANY FERRIES BARFLEUR, images of the Ferry Terminal, the ship ready to take on passengers and freight, and away from her berth

TALL SHIP POGORIA AT CHERBOURG



The Polish T S POGORIA was visiting Cherbourg during my recent visit to the city, few images here included, date the 20th May 2011

REPLICA OF A VIKING SHIP AT CHERBOURG



Photos taken on the 20th May 2011, please visit http://www.happybirthdaynormandie.com/ to access all information about the foundation of Normandie

Thursday, 26 May 2011

SHIP SPOTTING AT CHERBOURG




I am sure you´ve noticed by now that everywhere I go, I always head for the coast, I just need to have ships in sight, it´s my greatest passion and I love them at all shapes and sizes, here included some photographs taken in Cherbourg on the 20th May 2011

CHERBOURG AS SO MUCH TO OFFER




I was back at the city of Cherboug on the 20th of May 2011, I was going to sail the following day back to England on the BARFLEUR, this is a splendid city with much on offer, if you there for a few hours you can enjoy fine architecture enjoy fine exhibitions and of course finish the day with a nice meal, for that I recommend the CAFE DE PARIS by the marina, nice food at decent price, to stay overnight you have the HOTEL DE LA CROIX DE MALTE, lovely friendly owners, very competitive price and of course very clean with a fantastic location, right by the CAFE DU THEATRE in the city centre, for me the main attraction of the city is LA CITE DE LA MER exhibition, I will be doing a post soon about this marvellous place, in the meantine you can visit their website. Photos taken on the 20th May 2011
suggested websites apart from the one on the first picture, http://www.hotelcroixmalte.com/ and http://www.citedelamer.com/