2004 Review 

24th January - Winter Social

Our winter social this year was held aboard the preserved steamship Shieldhall at Southampton, between 12:00 and 17:00. A three course lunch was provided followed by a slide show by Ray Smith covering a recent trip to Piraeus in October 2003. 

The Shieldhall had been moved to 110 berth in the Western Docks and this provided us with excellent photographic opportunities of shipping using that area of the docks. Three container ship movements were witnessed by over 30 members. A fine, sunny, January day added to the enjoyment. 

Thanks to the staff of the Shieldhall and Ray Smith for the slide show.

KWINTEBANK berthed next to the Shieldhall

OOCL FREEDOM arriving during the afternoon

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

Over 25 members enjoyed a fine sunny weekend in Antwerp and Bruges. Coach travel was provided from London and Dover, with a ferry crossing to Calais. The hotel was in the scenic city of Bruges. A five hour private boat trip around Antwerp docks was the highlight of the weekend. This was undertaken in excellent weather with over 70 ocean going vessels photographed. 

ALKMINI A, APMAN II, CHINA STEEL DEVELOPER, DUNCAN ISLAND and ZULTAN berthed in Antwerp on 27th March 2004.

ILE DE SEIN at Dunkirk

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

CARONIA departing Southampton and the DOULOS

BALTIC TRADER at Southampton and the BOURGOGNE at Fawley Oil Terminal

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

17th April - AGM at Southampton

The Annual General Meeting was held on board the Ocean Scene in Ocean Village at Southampton. A three course meal was enjoyed by approximately 50 members, followed by the AGM. 

A three hour private cruise on the Ocean Scene around Southampton Docks and Fawley Oil Terminal followed the AGM. The veteran passenger ship Doulos was in port on the day as was Cunard's Caronia.

At Fawley we were lucky enough to see one of the VLCCs that occasionally visit the oil terminal - the Bourgogne.

Over 50 members enjoyed the cruise down the Thames and into the Medway. Southend Anchorage produced four vessels at anchor including the conventional cargo ship Daniel, and there were several movements of vessels witnessed in the River Thames including the P&O Nedlloyd Barossa Valley and the tankers Meriom Pride and Tellus. 

Unfortunately the Medway, including Sheerness and Thamesport was devoid of shipping so we ventured up to Ridham Dock - which was a first for the TSS - where there were two vessels berthed.

The cruise was rounded off by sailing back up the Thames as far as Tilbury and the container terminal where the S.A. Winterberg made a fine sight in the late afternoon sunshine.

DANIEL anchored off Southend.

TELLUS departing from the Thames.

S.A. WINTERBERG at Tilbury Container Terminal

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

The graceful QE2 at berth 106, Southampton.

The huge QUEEN MARY 2 at berth 38/39, Southampton.

A close encounter with the HELLE WONSILD at Fawley!

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

An additional Solent Cruise on Blue Funnel's Ocean Scene - arranged to coincide with the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 being in port on this day. Also the Sundream was in port at 101 berth.

Unfortunately the container terminal was empty and the rest of the port was quite quiet.

The cruise ventured up Southampton Water to Fawley, which had a few small tankers berthed and we also did a circuit of the departing coastal tanker Helle Wonsild (with the agreement of the pilot!).

The cruise finished by sailing up the River Itchen to view the various dredgers and tugs moored in the River.

A very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Travel was via the Harwich to Hook of Holland route on the Stena Discovery. A local coach met us at the Hook of Holland and was available to us during the week when required.

Although the weather was changeable we were lucky enough to have good conditions during our two private harbour cruises.  

The ever popular nine hour private cruise of Rotterdam and Europoort on board the Diane, allowed members to photograph over 100 ships in the busy port.

The five hour private cruise of Antwerp on our vessel the Kempenland also yielded many interesting vessels.

Other days were spent with optional coach visits to Terneuzen for photography from the river bank and a tour of the port of Ghent by coach.

MADDALENA D'AMATO passing Terneuzen for Antwerp

WEICHSELSTERN arriving at Europoort during our Rotterdam cruise

Indian tanker RABINDRANATH TAGORE at Antwerp during our port cruise

Heavy-lift ship MARIA passing our hotel at Vlissingen

VLCC AL-SALHEIA at Europoort during our Rotterdam cruise.

PRINCE OF STREAMS made a fine sight steaming past us during the Rotterdam cruise

Reefer SUMMER BAY berthed at Antwerp during our private harbour cruise

WEALTHY STAR makes a fine sight passing Terneuzen.

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

MARATHON arriving at Fawley

HMS INVINCIBLE at Portsmouth

CHERBOURG EXPRESS arriving at Portsmouth

A close encounter with the EMDEN in Southampton Water

OCEANA at her berth in Southampton.

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

Over 50 members enjoyed the annual six hour private Solent Cruise. Although we departed from Southampton in dull, grey conditions, very soon, we were blessed with sunshine, which stayed with us for the rest of the day.

We started by cruising up the River Itchen a short way to see the laid up tugs and dredger traffic. We then headed down to Fawley which was very busy with an interesting selection of tankers, with the LPG carrier Marathon arriving at the oil terminal.

Continuing on to Portsmouth we photographed the naval vessels in harbour, including the aircraft carrier Invincible. For the ferry enthusiasts, present in port were the Pride of Portsmouth and the Mont St Michel. We also witnessed the arrival of the fast ferries Max Mols (trading as the Caen Express) and the Express (trading as the Cherbourg Express), as well as several of the regular Isle of Wight ferries.

On our way back to Southampton, in Southampton Water, we encountered the arriving vehicle carrier Asian Parade and the departing vehicle carrier Emden, passing at close quarters.

Finally we took a short trip around Southampton Harbour to photograph the cruise ships QE2 and Oceana, and also witnessed the departing vehicle carrier G and C Parana, before returning to our berth in Ocean Village where the cruise ended.

All in all a very successful day with a good variety of shipping, a number of movements and bright sunny weather.

Fortunately the mist soon cleared as we headed down river, enabling us to see the inward bound pallet carrier Corner Brook and dredger Charlemagne. There were three tankers at Coryton, including Murmansk. In the anchorages were one dredger and two bulkers Handy Trader and Elwine Oldendorff.

At Sheerness, reefer Wild Heather was between two small general cargo ships and moving on to Thamesport, we were able to watch Lykes Navigator leaving with two tugs.

 Sailing back up the Thames to Purfleet, we passed Weston at Northfleet and S A Helderberg just leaving Tilbury Container berth. We returned to Tilbury landing stage just in time to welcome the inward bound P & O Nedlloyd Juliana.

Another enjoyable day.

(With thanks to Roger Hammond for the report and photos)

CORNER BROOK inbound in the Thames.

Ro-ro CAROLINE RUSS in the Thames off Tilbury.

WILD HEATHER at Sheerness

A new tug in the Thames - Adsteam's GURRONG

Mini Cruise BM092 was aboard the BRAEMAR..

ST. ANNASTRAND assists the Braemar at Antwerp.

FEDERAL SETO at Antwerp during the Flandria dock cruise.

THURO MAERSK at Honfleur.

Dinner on-board the Braemar.

28th to 31st August - Braemar Mini Cruise BM092

Despite the numbers being reduced to 9 participants, after 4 cancellations for various reasons, a good time was had by all on this three night cruise from Dover, calling at Honfleur and Antwerp, before arriving back at Dover.

The weather could have been kinder, especially on the river passage to Antwerp, where there were surprisingly few ships on the move. 

Several participants undertook the Flandria public cruise in Antwerp Docks and were rewarded with sightings of over 50 vessels, which quite impressed the 2 members new to TSS trips.

We arrived at Honfleur at the right time as it must have been nearing high tide - as there was a good selection of passing traffic both up and down river.

The Braemar is still a fine ship, not too big, with a happy and friendly crew from 18 nationalities and no complaints were received as everything went smoothly.

Thanks to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines for a comfortable and relaxing few days that ended far too quickly. 

(With thanks to Paul Mason for the report and photos)

36 members arrived at Gravesend and Tilbury for the final Thames and Medway cruise of the year aboard our old friend the Princess Pocohontas. It was a blustery day, but luckily, the sun was with us for the majority of the time to give some good photographic conditions.

Unfortunately the riverside berths in the Thames were very quiet, but this was compensated for by a good number of movements of ships being noted and photographed.

After proceeding up river following the inward bound Sigas Champion as far as the Dart Terminal, we made our way down river, with a diversion via the inside berth of the grain terminal at Tilbury to photograph the well laden Georgian flagged coaster Arcus.

We then proceeded down river via the tug berths at Gravesend and past some inbound container feeders. At Coryton there were three tankers present as well as the inward bound bulk carrier Dallington.

Is Southend anchorage two ships were photographed - the ro-ro Marabou and the tanker St Mary. 

We then crossed to the Medway where we witnessed the departure of the container ship Alexandra and the reefer Amer Annapurna. The large container ship LT Unicorn was at Thamesport and the bulk carrier Petrel Arrow at Sheerness. On our departure from the Medway we passed the arriving Tern Arrow, being assisted by the Medway tugs.

We then made our way back up the Thames passing the outward bound Louise Russ at close quarters on the way, until the cruise ended at Tilbury and Gravesend at 5pm. 

Thames tug COBHAM moored at Gravesend.

Reefer AMER ANNAPURNA departing from Sheerness.

LT UNICORN at Thamesport.

STENHEIM berthed in the Medway.

LOUISE RUSS outward bound in the Thames.

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

MINERVA NOUNOU arriving at Istanbul during our Tuzla Cruise.

YAMM berthed at Tuzla during our cruise.

TASMAN START passing one of the many vantage points along the Bosphorus .

AMELIA in Istanbul Anchorage during our cruise to Ambarli.

LALE UNALDI berthed at Ambarli during our visit to the port.

RHAPSODY underway in the Bosphorus, taken from the Tourist Ferry.

(Photos by Chris Brooks)

36 TSS members enjoyed a week of sunshine and shipping in the interesting and vibrant city of Istanbul. We stayed at the comfortable President Hotel in the heart of the city close to the Grand Bazaar and other attractions such as the Blue Mosque. The hotel had a rooftop restaurant which gave magnificent views of the anchorages at Istanbul as well as the entrance to the Bosphorus.  

There were four free days, which allowed members to either partake in some sightseeing or watch the shipping in the busy Bosphorus. The "tourist ferry" which cruises the Bosphorus up as far as the entrance to the Black Sea was a popular attraction for many members. This ferry gave close up views of the shipping transitting the Bosphorus as well as delivering members to the best vantage points for photographing the passing shipping.

Two seven hour private cruises were arranged for the group. The first cruise was to the ship construction and repair yards at Tuzla. Tuzla was an amazing sight with a large number of ships in various stages of repair and construction crammed into the harbour. On the way to Tuzla there are several small harbours and anchorages which were also covered. On the way back to Istanbul we also visited the container terminal and port at Haydarpasa.

The second cruise took us through the busy anchorage at Istanbul to the port of Ambarli, several miles up the coast from Istanbul. Ambarli is a compact but busy port and provided us with the opportunity to photograph several bulk carriers, general cargo ships and coasters. On the way back to Istanbul we comprehensively photographed the shipping in Istanbul anchorage before passing close to several ships underway at the entrance to the Bosphorus.

All too soon the end of the week arrived and the group found themselves arriving back at Heathrow Airport with memories of the wide variety of shipping of all types and ages that had been seen in the unforgettable setting of Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

Starting and finishing in London, we will travel by luxury coach to Antwerp for a three night stay. Travel via Calais/Dover. Three nights accommodation will be arranged in a three star hotel in Antwerp city centre.

There will be a six hour private cruise of Rotterdam including Maasvlakte, Europoort and Botlek, on our old friend the cruise vessel Diane plus other areas if time allows. 

Also included will be a five hour private and comprehensive cruise of the Antwerp port complex.

If time permits there will be a short stop in Dunkirk on the return journey.

This trip has unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the minimum number of participants not being achieved.

This year's show will be held at the Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way, London between 10:00 and 16:00.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to cancel the stand at this year's Ship Show to be held on Sunday 17th October. We hope to be exhibiting again at the Ship Show next year.