Saturday 25 August 2012

Departure of the Olympic Rings

I short video I made on the day after the Olympic 2012 closing ceremony. I spotted the tug Stephen B as she pushed the barge containing the Olympic rings towards the Thames Barrier.

Saturday 28 July 2012

I spotted the Royal Barge "Gloriana" !

I decided to take a walk along the Thames Path just as the sun was setting. The river was very quiet considering all the hustle yesterday with the Olympic opening ceremony. On my way back, just as I got close to Slice of Reality, I noticed the reflected sun on the water and decided to take a snapshot of it. Then a tug came into view and I focused on that. I did not notice that it was towing Gloriana until it was right in front of me. It was quite a surprise. I then ran after it and got a few more shots. And this is it.


Wednesday 25 July 2012

Cruise ship "Caledonian Sky" arriving in London

A video of the Caledonian Sky as she arrived in London on 25 July 2012.

 

Luxury cruise ship "Silver Cloud" arriving on the Thames

I was just about to start my run when I saw the second cruise ship of the day just about to pass through the Thames Barrier. Needless to say, I aborted the run and went home to grab my camera.

The ship is a luxury cruise liner and had passengers lining the top deck as you can see in the video.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

General carrier, Polla Rose, on the Thames

A video of the general carrier, Polla Rose as she passed North Greenwich on 11 July 2012 on the River Thames.

(General Cargo Vessel) 'Polla Rose', heads down the Thames past Erith, London Borough of Bexley (under the watchful gaze of a cormorant)

Tug Revenge towing large barge on the River Thames

I saw two tugs, "Revenge" and "Tilly" towing a large crane barge today. Here is the video.

 

Dredger "Sand Harrier" arriving in Greenwich

I saw the dredger "Sand Harrier" for the first time today. I made a video of her passing through the Thames Barrier and the whole docking manoeuvre at the Tarmac facility at Anglesey Wharf in North Greenwich. Have a look - you can see the little pilot boat going out to help with the mooring at 00:40 in the video.

ShipSpotting.com
© MUHSEN HUSSEIN

Discovery of the Royal Iris

A few times in the past I noticed a big derelict boat sticking out into the River Thames behind the Cafe at the end of the Thames Path. I could only see a small part of it, but I was curious to see the whole boat. I've tried to reach it once or twice by going around the buildings, but I couldn't. Yesterday, I decided to walk up to the jetty of the London Port Authority (because I couldn't see any signs prohibiting it) and when I got there I saw the whole boat. Her name is the "Royal Iris". I took a few photos, including this one:
Royal Iris

It seems as though there is a story behind this boat. It was built around 1950 and ferried people across the Mersey near Liverpool until 1991. The Beatles performed on her once and the stage is still on the ship:
The Beatles - 50 years ago - Royal Iris

It came to London and sat rotting moored in Woolwich. There is a petition for saving the boat.

The Royal Iris at Low Tide, River Thames, Woolwich, LondonThe Royal Iris at Low Tide, River Thames, Woolwich, LondonThe Royal Iris at Low Tide, River Thames, Woolwich, LondonThe Royal Iris at Low Tide, River Thames, Woolwich, LondonThe Beatles Dressing Room, Royal IrisThe Beatles - 50 years ago - Royal Iris
Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, LondonRoyal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012
Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012Royal Iris, River Thames, Woolwich, London, March 2012Time for the Royal Iris to Return to LiverpoolRoyal Iris of the Mersey arrives at SeacombeRoyal Iris articleRoyal Iris article
Lost Liverpool - The Royal Iris Ferry Bandstand, River Thames, LondonBring Her Home!FramedRoyal Iris, River ThamesRoyal Iris, River ThamesRoyal Iris, River Thames

HMS Ocean in Greenwich this Friday

HMS Ocean is due back in Greenwich this Friday, 13 July 2012 [Thanks Steve for the heads-up]. She is due to pass through the Thames Barrier at around 20:00.

Here are a few photographs I took the last time she was here.





IMG_1105.jpgIMG_1110.jpgHMS OceanHMS OceanHMS OceanHMS Ocean
HMS OceanHMS OceanHMS OceanHMS OceanHMS OceanHMS Ocean
HMS OceanHMS OceanHMS OceanHMS OceanArmed guards on HMS OceanHMS Ocean
HMS Ocean, a set on Flickr.

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Tug Iberia on the River Thames

Video of the tug Iberia towing a large barge on July 10, 2012.

  Tug - Iberia


Sailing Barge Gladys in Greenwich

A video of the Sailing Barge Gladys in arriving in Greenwich.
Here is a photograph of the Gladys sourced from Shipspotting.com:
ShipSpotting.com
© Phil English