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:

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:

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

Royal Iris, a set by Dave Wood Liverpool Images on Flickr.

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.

HMS Ocean, a set on Flickr.

Tug Iberia on the River Thames

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

 

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

Training ship Jack Petchey on the Thames

I spotted the Sea Cadets' training ship Jack Petchey as she sailed passed North Greenwich today.

The ship became operational in 2010 and has berths for 16 cadets.