2021

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for January 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Norwegian Bliss ~ Portland Port

During summer 2020 Norwegian Bliss [GT168,028/Y2018] and Norwegian Encore [GT169,116/Y2019] came to stay on the Dorset coast. As summer turned to autumn they stuck around along with other visitors such as Royal Caribbean, Marella and Holland America. As autumn turned to winter two of the RCI quartet and two of the HAL quartet fled transatlantic to sunnier shores ... but the NCL pair stayed on. I was struck by two images of Norwegian Bliss taken back in early November by Geoff Moore of Traveltrunk  ( https://www.facebook.com/geoff.moore.travel ... https://www.thetraveltrunk.net ) and promised myself if Bliss made it through to Christmas - they would provide our "Images of the Month" for January 2021.

Enjoy the promise of travel yet to come! 

Images of the Month for January 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Norwegian Bliss ~ Weymouth Bay

Norwegian Bliss is a cruise ship for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), which entered service on 21 April 2018. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, NCL placed the order for a third Breakaway Plus cruise ship in July 2014 and construction started with steel cutting on 28 October 2016. Norwegian Bliss is sister ship to Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian Bliss has an overall length of 333.5m, a moulded beam of 41.5m, and a max. draft 9m. With a gross tonnage of 168,028 and deadweight of 11,700, Norwegian Bliss has 20 decks, 2,220 cabins and can carry 4,000 passengers. Norwegian Bliss has five main engines with total output power of 102,900 horsepower (76,700 kW). The propulsion system is two ABB Azipod XO units with total power of 40 MW, which provides a service speed of 22.5 knots ... while the maximum speed during trials exceeded 25.0 knots.

The hull art for Norwegian Bliss was designed by marine wildlife artist Robert Wyland who is best known for his "Whaling Wall" murals, in which he painted life-sized whales on 100 buildings all over the world.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for February 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Cotentin ~ Port of Poole

We are pleased that our ~Ships~Dorset~ FaceBook Group includes local shipping photographer - Kevin Mitchell … and even more pleased that he has provided some great images of Cotentin [GT19,909/Y2007] when she returned to Poole in January. A name with a local history … When Truckline started a freight route between Pool and Cherbourg in the seventies, one of the ships they used was a previous “Cotentin" … have a look at our "Cotentin’74-78" article by clicking the button above. Now - back to todays Cotentin … departing Poole most days early morning with a late afternoon sailing back from Cherbourg arriving late evening in Poole.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for February 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Cotentin ~ Port of Poole

From the 1st January 2021 Cotentin [GT19,909/Y2007] has provided a significant increase in Brittany Ferries' freight capacity on the Western Channel, operating a daily service between Poole and Cherbourg which is planned to continue until early April. Cotentin has space for 120 articulated vehicles in 2200 lane metres with accommodation for freight drivers in 116 two-berth ensuite cabins. Built by Aker Yards in Finland, the ship has a passenger capacity of 203 and a crew of 50.

With a length of 165m, a beam of 27m and capable of 23 knots Cotentin has a bigger vehicle capacity than Barfleur. She has served on this route between 2007 and 2013 before being chartered to Stena Line on a Baltic route.   

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for March 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Trinity ~ Entering Poole Harbour 

Trinity has been a regular caller at Poole for a year. Alderney Shipping Group took the vessel on long-term charter at the end of March 2020 to replace Valiant, which had been moving freight between the UK and the Channel Islands for about eight years. 
The replacement vessel is 14 years old. While Trinity is not much longer than the Valiant, she has much better container capacity – up from 80 to 120.

Trinity usually calls at Poole on Monday and Thursday mornings as part of a weekly rotation serving Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney. 
She is capable of carrying up to 12 passenger - however, due to the virus restrictions, currently operates as a freight-only vessel.*

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for March 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Trinity ~ Alongside New Quay, Port of Poole

Trinity was built in 2007 … Gross Tonnage 2,102 … Deadweight Tonnage 3,020 … Length Overall 80.3m … Beam 12.5m

*Both images by local shipping photographer - Kevin Mitchell

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for April 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Vladimir Vize ~ At Anchor Portland - Cara Cara standing off

In March we celebrated the first anniversary of a new (to us) ship on the Poole / Channel Islands service. This month we recognise the day to day servicing of ships calling at Portland for bunkering / stores / spares / etc. Thanks to Steve Belasco’s excellent images from a misty day in early March we can view the Liquified Natural Gas tanker Vladimir Vize.  On completing its service call, she weighed anchor, departed Weymouth Bay and quickly accelerated to over 20 knots which she maintained though the Dover Straits and onward northbound into the North Sea bound for Sabetta. The port of Sabetta in Artic Russia is reached via the Barents & Kara Seas - the region is home to the Yamal LNG Project. The Yamal Peninsular is currently estimated to hold the largest gas reserves in the world. However, the region is also noted to feature some of the toughest working conditions. These harsh conditions apply equally to the LNG Tankers like Vladimir Vize that need to access the marine terminal at Sabetta. The ship is ice strengthened and has an ice-breaking designed bow which can be seen in Steve’s second image. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for April 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Vladimir Vize ~ At Anchor Portland - close-up of bow inset

Yamal LNG commissioned 15 LNG icebreaker/tanker ships to export its gas. They were designed in Finland by Aker Arctic Technology Inc. and built at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in South Korea.

Vladimir Vize is owned and operated by a 50-50 joint venture with COSCO & MOL. Built to ice-class Arc7 standard, the vessels can operate year-round in the Arctic without the support of icebreakers - capable of breaking ice up to 2.5 meters thick.

Key specifications of the ARC7 tanker series such as Vladimir Vize are … Cargo capacity = 172,600 cubic meters of LNG … Output of propulsion unit = 45 MW … Speed = 20 knots in open waters or 6 knots in 1.5m ice … Primary fuel LNG with a dual fuel diesel-electric propulsion system delivered via three “Azipod” units. The vessels are designed with, what naval architects call the "double–action concept" ... the bow has been adjusted for navigation in open water and thin ice, while the stern has been optimized to enable navigation in severe ice conditions. Dimensions … L 299m … B 50m .. GRT 128,800t … DWT 96,850t … Built 2018

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for May 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Disney Magic ~ Entering Portland Harbour 

For a few days in late April Disney Magic (Y 1998; GT 83,969; L 300m) forsook her Dover hideaway and came on vacation to sunny Dorset. Paul Dallaway was there to capture her arrival and photograph her at anchor in Portland Harbour. The location was ideal for Quest Marine to undertake a thorough hull cleaning procedure prior to the ship re-entering service with a series of "cruises to nowhere” from a variety of UK ports this summer. In Paul's first image of Disney Magic he frames her arrival into Portland Harbour. In his second striking image Disney Magic lies peacefully at anchor whilst Quest Marine’s Fortitude (Y1991; GT 371; L 31m) lies alongside supporting divers and the hull cleaning operation … also in shot is Coastline Cruises’ vintage craft My Girl (Y 1931; L 36ft) preparing for her MCA inspection and her summer season. Everyone is getting ready for summer!

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for May 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Disney Magic ~ At anchor in Portland Harbour 

Disney Magic entered service in 1998 and was the company’s first cruise ship. Disney Cruise Line currently has 5 ships with a further 3 on order. The 300m ship has a gross tonnage of 84,000 and 11 accessible decks with 875 cabins and a cruising speed of 21 knots. With a crew of 950, she can serve up to 2,700 passengers. Decorated in an Art Deco style … amongst the many themed touches onboard she has the line's horn blast “When you wish upon a Star” just incase you forget you are sailing around the Disney world. Look out for more of Paul's pictures along with our many ~Ships~Dorset~ photographers on our Facebook group. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for June 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Britannia ~ Weymouth Bay 

Amy Frost's impactful images of Britannia were taken during April in Weymouth Bay. Following world-wide disruption of transport and tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic, UK cruise brand P&O is planning sailings from Southampton this summer with Britannia, a faithful temporary resident in Weymouth Bay during the past year. It seemed the least we could do to celebrate her re-entry into service with these great shots.
The ship was ordered in 2011 from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, launched in February 2014 at their Monfalcone yard and christened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in March 2015 … sailing on her maiden voyage a few days later. Britannia is the third of Carnival Corporation’s “Royal Class” new builds and cost £473 Million. In 2013 Princess Cruises began operating the lead vessel Royal Princess with the second ship of the series Regal Princess delivered in May 2014. Britannia is built to the same template, but its character and exterior appearance have been tailored for P&O.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for June 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Britannia ~ Weymouth Bay 

Key Dimensions:
Gross Tonnage 143,730 … Length 330m …Beam 44m … Draft 8.5m … 15 passenger decks … Speed 22 knots
Capacity:
3,647 passengers … 1,398 crew … 1,837 passenger cabins including 64 suites with all outside cabins having balconies for the first time on a P&O cruise ship. 
Main Machinery:
Four main diesel generators serve the ship’s entire energy network as well as propulsion drives.
Two 12-cylinder plus two 14-cylinder Wartsila 46F-series medium-speed engines deliver a maximum power output of 62MW.
Britannia has two 18MW VEM Sachsenwerk electric propulsion motors with fixed shafts turning the six-bladed propellers at a maximum 142rpm, conferring a service speed capability approaching 22 knots.
To provide a  high degree of manoeuvrability Britannia is equipped with three 2.5MW tunnel thrusters at the bow and three at the stern. The combined output of the thrusters is in excess of the propulsion power of many deep-sea merchant ships.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for July 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Condor Voyager ~ Poole Harbour Entrance - inbound 

Condor Voyager arrived in Poole early June before taking her place on Channel Island service operating from a St Malo base to Jersey, Guernsey and the UK. In February 2020 Condor Ferries' new ownership structure saw Brittany Ferries become a minority stakeholder. 2021’s ongoing Covid-19 disruption has seen increased demand for Channel Islands summer tourist traffic and continuing delays to any additional UK-France passenger services resuming. The combination of factors saw Brittany Ferries re-assigning their High Speed Craft (operated previously as Normandie Express) to Condor on charter and renamed Condor Voyager. Interesting to recall that under her former name she covered for Barfleur on the Poole-Cherbourg route in 2015. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for July 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Condor Voyager ~ Passing Bownsea Castle - inbound  

Brittany Ferries purchased the "Normandie Express" from Incat in 2007 for £30m, having been on charter from them since 2005. Built 2000 as "Incat Tasmania", she was renamed "The Lynx" for a Tranz Rail inter-island charter in New Zealand until 2003.

Key Dimensions ... Gross Tonnage - 6,581 … Length - 97.22 m … Beam - 26.6 m … Draft - 3.43 m … Service Speed 33 knots (46.5k max.) … Capacity - 850 passengers & 267 cars ... Powered by 4 x Ruston 20RK270 engines (7080kW each) and propelled by 4 x Lips 120E water-jets.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for August 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Golden Horizon ~ Weymouth Bay anchorage 

When she arrived off the Dorset coast in late June, Golden Horizon became the subject of photos, chatter and even national newspaper articles. Having chosen Portland & Weymouth Bay to undertake final preparations before embarking her first ever paying cruise passengers - and as British Coastal cruising becomes the big staycation / seacation of 2021 - its an ideal time to feature two of Ian Haskell’s impressive pictures taken in June.  

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for August 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Golden Horizon ~ at anchor in Weymouth Bay 

Tradewind Voyages claim their new-build Golden Horizon is the world’s largest square-rigged sailing vessel. Furthermore, she has been designed as a near replica of the 1913-built "France II". The new steel-hulled five-masted barque rigged tall ship was originally ordered by Star Clippers from the Brodosplit Shipyard in Croatia, but following a dispute was completed by the yard and chartered to Tradewind Voyages. The ship was originally launched in 2017 to commence fitting-out, but will only enter service in 2021.  With a Gross Tonnage of 8,770 … length of 162m and beam of 18.5m … she is capable of carrying up to 330 passengers plus a crew of 140. Her 5 masted rig can deploy 42 sails giving a total sail area of over 6,300 square metres.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for September 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Island Sky ~ alongside South Quay, Poole in August 

The Noble Caledonia's sister flagships Island Sky and Hebridean Sky spent time at Portland Port UK in May / June “working up” in preparation for UK cruising to resume. In July Hebridean Sky sought shelter in Port of Poole and more recently Island Sky’s August cruise itinerary included a call. Poole photographer Kev Mitchell was on hand to record the sisters’ visits. 

In the early 1990s the Renaissance Cruises company commissioned eight small cruise ships. The second group of four identical sister ships from builder Nuovi Cantieri Apuania at Carrara in Italy included Renaissance VII - now Hebridean Sky and Renaissance VIII - Island Sky.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for September 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Hebridean Sky ~ alongside South Quay, Poole in July

The ships were designed to operate worldwide accommodating up to 120 passengers in 59 cabins with lounge and dining capacities large enough to welcome all passengers at one time. After the failure of Renaissance the ships changed names and ownership a number of times until they were re-united under Noble Caledonia ownership in 2014. 

Both ships were built at the Nuovi Cantieri Apuania shipyard in Carrara, Italy to Ice Class 1C … Gross Tonnage = 4,200 … Length = 90m … Beam = 30m … Draught = 4m … 7 accessible Decks … Speed = 14.5 knots … Capacity for 120 passengers and 72 crew. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for October 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Ocean Explorer ~ Alongside South Quay, Poole 

New-build Ocean Explorer and operator Vantage Cruises selected Poole as port of departure for the ship’s maiden voyage. 
Wednesday 25th August 2021 … arrived Poole after sailing from her Chinese shipbuilders via Falmouth. Saturday 28th August 2021 … departed Poole after embarking her first paying passengers and sailed off to Tresco in the Scilly Islands on her maiden cruise voyage. Whilst alongside Darryl Morrell and his Airteam Images captured these two impressive drone views. 

Shipowner SunStone Ships has an agreement with China Merchants Heavy Industry of Haimen to build a series of 7 next-generation “Infinity-Class” vessels over the 2019-2023 period. The third in this series is Ocean Explorer, on charter long-term to Vantage Travel. The Infinity class ships are purported to demonstrate cutting-edge design, innovations like X-bow technology, and significant operating efficiencies.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for October 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Ocean Explorer ~ Alongside South Quay, Poole

The passenger capacity of Infinity-class vessels can be configured between 130-200 and crew capacity between 85-115. With 8 accessible decks and Ice Class 1A classification the ships are built to Polar Code 6, with Safe Return to Port, Dynamic Positioning and Zero Speed Stabilizers. Ocean Explorer features the latest satellite and navigation technology, including ULSTEIN X-BOW® technology, allowing for smoother sailing and deeper exploration into packed ice.

Key dimensions of Ocean Explorer … Gross Tonnage = 8228 … Length = 104.4m … Beam = 18.4m … Draft = 5.3m … Service Speed = 11knots (16.5k max). Ocean Explorer accommodates 140 guests with 63 twin cabins and 14 solo cabins … the ship has 91 crew berths.

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for November 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Cemex Go Innovation ~ Departing Yard Quay, Poole 

Southampton-based Cemex UK invested £30 million in the latest suction hopper dredger technology resulting in their new ship Cemex Go Innovation. Designed to draw sand and gravel from depths up to 55m around the coast and deliver to coastal terminals in the southern UK to maintain year-round supplies of aggregate to the construction industry. 

Following construction and fitting out at Damen Shipyards Group’s Romanian yards and trials in the Black Sea, the vessel departed Constanta December 2020 for final works in Amsterdam. The Damen Marine Aggregate Dredger MAD3500 design offers a 20% capacity increase, greater dredge depth capability and improved offshore range relative to their 1990-built vessel that she replaces (Sand Heron). ~Ships~Dorset~ contributor Don Williams took these two imposing images during one of the new ship's first visits to Poole in early September.  

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for November 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Cemex Go Innovation ~ Departing Port of Poole 

Cemex Go Innovation is a very impressive vessel. Twin medium-speed Wartsila 26 engines drive controllable pitch propellers mounted in nozzles to maximise thrust delivering laden speeds up to 12 knots supplemented by 2 Marelli 300kW bow thrusters for manoeuvring / positioning. The vessel's 700mm diameter trailing dredge pipe is deployed over the ship’s port side with a submersible dredge pump. In addition to a powerful pump to draw sand and gravel from the seabed, slurry pumps return excess water back to the sea. When docked, dry discharge is effected by the ship’s own grab-type unloader machine.

Cemex Go Innovation - Key Dimensions … Length = 103.5m … Beam = 16.4m … Draft = 7.0m … Gross tonnage = 4,919 … Hopper capacity = 3,500m3 … Dredging depth = 55m … Dredge pump = 1,400kW … Diesel propulsion engines = 2 x 3,300kW … Speed = 12kts … Bow thrusters = 2 x 300kW

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for December 2021 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ St. Helena ~ entering Poole Harbour in November

Late November 2021 saw the return to Dorset shores of the well travelled St. Helena … thankfully ~Ships~Dorset~ group member Kev Mitchell was there to capture moment. 

Extreme E claims to be a radical new racing series. Electric SUVs compete in “extreme" locations around the world impacted by climate change and environmental damage. Extreme E’s global odyssey is made possible by its floating centrepiece and base, the St. Helena. She is used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including vehicles, to the port nearest each of its five race venues and facilitates scientific research through an on-board laboratory. The ship has travelled over 19,000 nautical miles this year including visits to Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Greenland and Sardinia. Since departing the UK for the first ever Extreme E race just over nine months ago, the St. Helena has returned for the final event of its inaugural season – the Jurassic X-Prix – which takes place in Dorset on 18th – 19th December 2021.

St. Helena - Key Dimensions: L= 105m … B= 19m … GRT= 6,767 … Speed= 15knots … Passenger capacity= 155 … Crew= 56

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for December 2021 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ St. Helena ~ entering Poole Harbour in November

Your ~Ships~Dorset~ webmaster / editor spent time working for Union Castle Line and was able to experience being part of a bridge team transhipping cargo via lighters and passengers via port tender at St. Helena whilst hove-to off the island in the nineteen seventies. When that company withdrew from the Southampton/South Africa mail-ship run in 1977 the UK Government needed to service the island of St. Helena. At first a small, converted, 1963 built passenger/cargo ship was purchased and renamed for the task. As the nineteen eighties unfolded it became clear that a more substantial purpose built ship was required for a distant island with no harbour where ships have to anchor off Jamestown when plying their trade.

St. Helena was built by A&P Appledore at their Hall,Russell & Co. shipyard in Aberdeen … launched in 1989. The ship primarily operated from Cape Town to St. Helena & Ascension Islands … usually extending via Tenerife or Vigo to Portland, Dorset twice per year. Following her maiden voyage in 1990, she continued servicing the islands until 2018 when the new St. Helena airport was opened. The ship spent a brief period focussed towards anti-piracy / security work ... owned and operated by companies based in Wimborne, Dorset! However, by the end of 2018 her new career was confirmed with Extreme E as a floating HQ for their international racing programme.