"BLUE RIBAND" Restaurant on board PRINCESS SEAWAYS

"BLUE RIBAND", A La Carte Restaurant aboard DFDS cruise ferry PRINCESS SEAWAYS, photos 20.10.2016

Offshore support ship "EDT JANE"

EDT JANE is an offshore support ship, built in 2013 she is just under 5000 G.T. and is registered in Cyprus, photos taken at Ijmuiden, 27.10.2016

Pipe Layer "AUDACIA" at Ijmuiden

"AUDACIA" is a Pipe Layer ship operated by ALLSEAS, she was originally a bulk carrier built in 2005 and later converted to her present role, she arrived at Ijmuiden in Holland mid October for a refit that will last until March of next year, she is docked at the "Felison Cruise Terminal", the ship has a G.T. of 52000 with a crew of over 220 people, at present she has only 30 crew members working on the ship for the maintenance taking place, "AUDACIA" is operated all over the World. Photos 27.10.2016

"PRINCESS SEAWAYS" cruising at 16 knots

"PRINCESS SEAWAYS" of DFDS is seen here during her final approach to Ijmuiden, the ship was cruising at 16 knots just about an hour before reaching the breakwater of the Port of Ijmuiden, nearing the end of her crossing from Newcastle in the UK, it was a night of some movement when the ship encountered force 7 winds, early morning on our approach, we were greeted with a wonderful warm sunshine for the delight of the passengers, many passengers on board, the ship was nearly full, which is always very good to register, photos 21.10.2016

IJMUIDEN fishing vessels photography

Every time I am at Ijmuiden after disembarking my cruise ferry from the UK, last Friday was the "PRINCESS SEAWAYS, I had the opportunity for some ship spotting, I just love to spend some time photographing the fishing vessels, they are always plenty and so inviting, Friday was the day that many returned from a week at sea, fishermen going home for the weekend, before returning to sea on Monday, not an easy life, as one of the fishermen was telling me, we both watched his vessel maneuvering, last photo in this selection, taken 21.10.2016

"MARKO POLO" of JADROLINIJA at Ancona

It was such an occasion to be able to photograph this ship, a first for me, the "MARKO POLO" of 1973, she has been operated by JADROLINIJA on the Split to Ancona route since 1988, she is just over 10.000 G.T., the ship reminded me straight away of my beloved EAGLE of Southern Ferries built in 1971. "MARKO POLO" is registered in Rijeka, over 40 years old now the ship really looks very well looked after, not exactly showing her age, photos taken at Ancona on the 23.9.2016

REGINA DELLA PACE arriving Ancona

"REGINA DELLA PACE" was built in 1979 as the TURELLA, she was used on the Baltic and North Seas by different cruise ferry operators until 2010, the year she was sold to BLUE LINE, a Croatian based company, the ship is used on the Split to Ancona route, she is seen here early morning arriving the Italian Port, she usually sails back to Croatia at 20.15 the same day. Photos 23.9.2016

Ship spotting at Harwich before boarding my next cruise ferry

One of my trips this month on cruise ferries was from Harwich to Hoek Van Holland, before STENA BRITANNICA, time for some ship spotting at the very attractive ports of Harwich and Felixstowe, these photos were taken from Harwich during low tide and Dovercourt, a marvellous advantage point for the Ports breakwater, photos 17.8.2016

STENA HOLLANDICA arriving Harwich

Super Cruise Ferry "STENA HOLLANDICA" arriving Harwich, photos taken at the end of the day of 17th of August, the ship arrived at 19.45 from Hoek Van Holland, HOLLANDICA was the first of the two very identical super ferries built by NORDIC YARDS, WISMAR in Germany, she entered service in January of 2010, her sister the BRITANNICA debuted in October of the same year. Some technical details of both ships

TONNAGE: 64.039 GT
CARGO CAPACITY: 5500 lane meters
ACCOMMODATION: total of 538 cabins for a maximum pax capacity of 1200
PUBLIC SPACES: A La Carte and Buffet Self Service Restaurants, shop, cinema, Bars, Lounge areas
                               Business Lounge, Internet Room, Gaming area, Children/Teenage area, Sundeck,
                               Newsroom/Meeting room
MAIN ENGINES:  4 MAN with a total of 33.600 kW
                               22 knots service speed, she cruises at an average of 18 knots.
STENA HOLLANDICA is Dutch Registered, BRITANNICA, British
MAXIMUM LENGTH: 240 meters, BEAM 32 meters, DRAFT 6.4 meters

Photos 17.8.2016

PRIDE OF ROTTERDAM shining at Europoort

Clear blue skies, 34 degrees temperature and a shining cruise ferry was the scenery at Europoort yesterday, it was my fourth trip of the year on PRIDE OF ROTTERDAM, really good to see the ship full with passengers and freight, passengers some ending their holidays, others on their way to the UK to begin theirs, modern cruise ferries are the present day liners, transporting people and cargo to their destinations, the photos above show the ship ready for her passengers and sailing on her way to the UK, 24.8.2016.