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Photos from Rotterdam Cruise

JSP SAMSO berthed on the river at Vlaardingen.

Preserved tug FURIE in the New Waterway.

BALDER outward bound from the Caland Canal.

EVER GENIUS at Maasvlakte.

Crane ship SEAWAY ALFA LIFT outward bound from Maasvlakte 2.

Chinese bitumen / asphalt tanker TAI HUA WAN in the Caland Canal.

IVER BRILLIANT overtaking us in the New Waterway.

Tanker GINGA LIGER berthed in Botlek Harbour.

Supply ship FS AQUARIUS passing us outward bound.

Bulk carrier ANGELE N moored in Wallhaven.
Photos from Terneuzen Visit

Bulk carrier STAR HARMONIA passing Terneuzen.

Tanker CHRISTINA bound for Antwerp.

Bulk carrier JASMUND inbound for the locks at Terneuzen.

Veteran containership MSC JOY passing for Antwerp.

New containership ECO OSTRO passing Terneuzen.
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Saturday 17th May 2025 - Rotterdam and Europoort Cruise (10:00 - 20:00) / Sunday 18th May 2025 - Terneuzen Coach Trip.
Rotterdam and Europoort Cruise
For many the highlight of the TSS calendar is the Rotterdam and Europoort cruise on board the Nehalennia. Our 10 hour cruise this year was enjoyed by 45 members. The weather was a mixture of bright and sunny periods with a little light cloud at times, though a rather cool Northerly breeze was blowing.
We departed Boompjeskade at 10am and headed down river for Europoort and Maasvlakte. On our way we passed several ships berthed on the banks of the Nieuwe Maas, including the Jebsen Shipping Partners 2024 built JSP Samso. As we proceeded down the New Waterway, we passed several preserved tugs which were participating in an event at Maassluis celebrating 400 years of the town. Amongst them was the lovely steam tug Furie. As we got to the Hook of Holland we were overtaken by the containership BG Red and tanker Brahms.
We crossed over into the Caland Canal to witness the departure of the huge semi-submersible crane vessel Balder. From there we proceeded to Maasvlakte and subsequently Maasvlakte 2. Several large containerships were present, including the Ever Genius, OOCL Valencia, Elly Maersk and One Trust. The heavy load carrier Seaway Alfa Lift passed us outward bound towering over the Nehalennia. We retraced our steps back to Europoort where several other containerships were berthed. Unfortunately we couldn’t visit Europahaven and the bulkers in Mississippihaven due to time constraints and a large containership departing from Europahaven.
We then left Europoort and explored the tanker berths in the Caland Canal. One of the more interesting ships berthed there was the Chinese COSCO asphalt / bitumen tanker Tai Hua Wan. As well as the tanker berths we had a look in Beneluxhaven to see the various ro-ro cargo ship and ferries. We covered most of the Caland Canal before we turned and headed back to the New Waterway.
On our way back up the New Waterway towards Rotterdam we were passed by the outbound DFDS vessel Suecia Seaways followed by the cargo ship BBC Ganges. The inbound Vroon asphalt / bitumen tanker Iver Brilliant overtook us as we headed for Rotterdam. We then turned into Botlek Harbour, which is always busy with a wide selection of vessels. The tanker Ginga Liger caught the late afternoon sunshine as we passed her. Once we had covered Botlek Harbour we headed upriver for the last harbour the Waalhaven. One the way we passed the outbound offshore supply ship FS Aquarius. Waalhaven harbour always has some interesting vessels to see - offshore ships, laid up vessels and vessels under repair. The bulk carrier Angele N was moored on the buoys there.
All too soon our cruise came to an end. Our thanks go to the captain and crew of the Nehalennia for looking after us so well and also to Mark Teadham for making arrangements for the boat and other committee members for organising the day.
Rotterdam photos and report by Chris Brooks
Visit to Terneuzen
This year, as an addition to the Rotterdam port trip on Saturday, a coach was organized to take members to Terneuzen on Sunday to view shipping on the Schelde. 16 members booked and we were treated to a luxury 20-seater mini coach provided by Coach Services of Schiedam for the trip. Pick-ups were at the Delta Hotel and Vlaardingen station at 0900 and we then headed on the motorway to Terneuzen via the Schelde Tunnel, an impressive 6km tunnel under the Schelde.
We were delayed at the locks by the passage of the geared bulker Suzanne D fully loaded for Brazil, and the inbound Begonia Seaways of DFDS arriving from Gothenburg for Ghent. Once over the locks we quickly were at the main viewing area for photographing ships on the Schelde making their to and from Antwerp.
The great thing with Terneuzen is that the ships are underway and there is an uncluttered background. In the 5 hours we were there shipping was quiet but the refreshments at the nearby cafe made up for lack of ships. MSC container ships were prominent with MSC Jan R, MSC Suderoog F and MSC Joy all noted, the latter being one of their crew training ships with a large accommodation block. Other containerships included JPO Pisces, Eco Ostro and Songa Puma which was seen at Rotterdam the previous day. The geared bulker Jasmund entered the locks for Ghent and the bulker Locarno came through the locks outbound. Passing tankers included Lord Lupo, Marianne and Christina. Our visit ended with the small bulk vessel Wilson Weser and large container ship One Triumph passing by both heading for Antwerp, the latter being impressive due to her size.
Terneuzen photos by Des Upcraft and report by Stephen Marginson.
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