A flurry of visitors to the river this week.
My web page http://tinyurl.com/bnvtbco chronicles the recent closures in pubs in the area.
The historic “Ship in the Hole” at the former Swan Hunters yard was demolished last week, while the former Percy Arms in Percy Main became yet another member of the Sambuca chain.
Fleet Amphibious Flagship and High Readiness Assault Ship – HMS Bulwark visiting the river today.
The Norwegian cruise ship, MS Fram called in today for a brief visit. The owners Hurtigruten are best known for cruises along Norway’s fiords and to see the Northern Lights. Smaller than our usual cruise line visitors this six year old vessel weighs only 11,647 tonnes and measures 114 feet, but looks good in her maroon and white livery.
MS Fram
Not used to rising early these days, but these were due at 7.30 am – because of the wind it was nearer 9.am before they arrived. The tiny tug Tennaherdhya brought the crane-barge BD-6074 from Kirkwall on Orkney – the long way round.
Today we had the first cruise ship of the season and coincidentally the biggest ever.
MSC Magnifica.
Built in France in 2010 – 95000 tonnes – 963 ft
Earlier the barge UR 141 left with the German tug Bugsier 10.
The pilot cutter Cambois was busy today filling in for local sister vessels.
Had a trip to South Shields on the ferry, on a nice sunny April day. Took the chance of a photo of the landing stage, but “Oh Dear” that new BT building in the background! Before it was built there was the kind of grassed open space that all towns would die for – now a 1960′s school-style monstrosity whose pale green blinds will be forever half-lowered. Ugh!
The elephant in the room
