Monday August 6

Heading westwards across the bay in the morning was the Dutch coaster Sea Shannon. Built in 1996 with a gross tonnage of 1,670 and a deadweight of 2,268 tons, she is 82 metres in length with a beam of 11 metres and a draft of 4.1 metres. She can carry 3,088 cubic metres of grain or 72 containers, at 10 knots.

Astern was the Latvian owned, coaster Aivita, gross tonnage is 2,019, length 82 metres, 14m, draft 5.3m. She can carry 3,171 cubic metres of grain or 100 containers at 12.5 knots.

Later in the morning, the Dutch coaster Flinterforest headed westwards. Her gross tonnage is 2,999, length 89m, draft 6m. She has a speed of 13 knots.

In the afternoon the Swedish non specific tanker Bitflower headed westwards. Her gross tonnage is 4,936, length 114m, beam 16m, draft 6.7m. She can carry 5,586 cubic metres of liquid cargo at 15 knots.

Tuesday August 7

Heading westwards in the morning was the Antiguan flagged, German owned, coaster Apollo Lupus, gross tonnage 2,914, length 96m, beam 13m, draft 5.6m. She can carry 4,795 cubic metres of cargo at 10.5 knots.

Astern of her was the Estonian owned and flagged coaster Vudi, gross tonnage 1,939, length 88m, beam 11m, draft 4.7m. She can carry 3,806 cubic metres of grain or 90 containers at 10 knots.

She was followed by the Norwegian owned and flagged product tanker Orastar, gross tonnage 2,160, length 74m, beam 12m, draft 6m. She has a speed of 12 knots.

Heading eastwards was the Singaporian flagged, Belgian owned, lpg carrier Lady Hilde gross tonnage 2,998, length 96m, draft 5.5m. She can carry 3,513 cubic metres of gas at 14.8 knots.

In the afternoon the twin screw passenger cruise vessel Saga Rose (ex Sagfjord, Gripsholm), called in the bay. She is 188m in length with a beam of 24m and a draft of 8.3m. Her gross tonnage is 24,528, and she can carry 587 passengers. Her speed is 20 knots.

Calling at Newlyn in the afternoon to carry out repairs to her trawl winch was the Le Ouilvinec registered French trawler La Conchee (GV 735820).

In the evening the Penlee all weather Severn class lifeboat Ivan Ellen was launched to go to the assistance of the local trawler Nantewas after she suffered a complete steering failure some 15 miles SSW of The Lizard. The tow was quickly established and she was towed back to Newlyn where repairs were carried out enabling her to proceed back to sea the next day.

Wednesday August 8

Heading east in the morning was the Bahamian flagged, British owned, chemical/oil carrier Cumbrian Fisher, gross tonnage 8,446, length 127m, beam 20m, draft 8.5m. She can carry 14,060 cubic metres of liquid chemicals or oil.

Heading westwards in the afternoon on her way to Bootle Docks, on the Mersey, was the Maltese fagged, Israeli owned, containership Marseille Star (ex Zim Marseille), gross tonnage 31,694, length 221m, beam 31m, draft 11.3m. She can carry 1,974 containers, of which 200 can be refrigerated, at 22.8 knots.

Anchoring off Penzance for the afternoon was the Maltese flagged, three masted barque Sea Cloud II. Launched in 2001 she is 384 feet in length with a beam of 52 feet and a draft of 18 feet. Her main mast is 174 feet in height and she carries 24 sails, all of which are set by hand giving her a total of 29,600 square feet of sails. She also has two 1,675bhp engines which are used when there is insufficient wind. Capable of carrying 96 passengers in luxury cabins, she has a crew of 56.

Thursday August 9

Heading westwards in the morning was the Antiguan flagged, German owned coaster Apollo Lynx gross tonnage 2,914, length 96m, beam 13m, draft 5.6m. She can carry 4,795 cubic metres of cargo at 10.5 knots.

Astern of her was the Isle of Man flagged, British owned, coaster Dallington, gross tonnage 7, 788, length 137m, beam 18m, draft 7.9m. She can carry 14,166 cubic metres of grain her at 14 knots.

Passing her and heading eastwards was the Cypriot flagged, Dutch owned, coaster Mike gross tonnage 978, length 70m, beam 10m, 3.5m. She can carry 1,854 cubic metres of grain at 11 knots.

In the afternoon the Liberian flagged, American owned, container vessel Independent Action headed westwards on her way to Bootle Docks. Her gross tonnage is 14,867, length 167m, beam 25m, draft 9.8m. She can carry 26,100 cubic metres of grain or 1,452 containers, of which 75 can be refrigerated, at 17 knots.

Astern of her, and also on her way to Bootle Docks was the Danish flagged and owned edible oil tanker Orakota, gross tonnage 1,727, length 84m, beam 13m, draft 4.8m. She can carry 2,173 cubic metres of edible oils at 12 knots.

Passing her and heading east was the German flagged and owned chemica1loil carrier Hummel, gross tonnage 7,421, length 145m, beam 19m, draft 8.4m. She can carry 14.375 cubic metres of liquid chemicals or oil at 14 knots. The Plymouth registered trawler Admiral Gordon (PH 330) landed in Penzance with her fish being taken back to Plymouth by road.

On the eastern side of the bay HMS Illustrious (RO 6), one of the Invincible class of carriers, was working with helicopters from RNAS Culdrose. She displaces 20,700 tons, has a length of 206m, beam of 32m and draft of 6.5m. She is capable of 28 knots, and carries a crew of 682 plus 366 Fleet Air Arm personnel. Her armament consists of two 20 mm guns and three Phalanx/Goalkeeper close-in weapons systems. She carries eight Sea Harrier and 12 Sea King/Merlin helicopters. Also in the bay at the same time was a submarine, but it was not possible to identify her.

Friday August 10

Heading westwards on her way to Seaforth Docks on the Mersey, in the morning, was the Liberian flagged, Dutch owned, chemical/oil tanker Isebek, gross tonnage 3,711, length 99m, beam 16m, draft 6.8m. She can carry 6,057 cubic metres of liquid chemicals or oil at 15 knots.

In the afternoon the Antiguan flagged German owned, coaster Emsland headed westwards. Her gross tonnage is 1,857, length 80m, beam 12m, draft 4.2m. She can carry 3,183 cubic metres of grain or 102 containers at 10.5 knots.

Astern of her was the German flagged and owned coaster Eric Hammann, gross tonnage 1,156, length 58m, beam 11m, a draft 3.6m. She can carry 2,210 cubic metres of grain or 50 containers at 10 knots.

Passing her heading east was the Dutch flagged and owned coaster Inger, gross tonnage 3,225, length 88m, beam 14m, draft 5.9m. She can carry 7,092 cubic metres of grain or 200 containers at 13.5 knots.

Arriving at Penzance on the afternoon tide was trailer suction dredger Taysand. Built in 1996 she is 109 feet in length with a beam of 20 feet and a draft of 4.4 ft. Powered by a 400 bhp engine she is capable of carrying 220 cubic metres of dredged material.

article published by THE CORNISHMAN

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