| I arrived down
at the Merchant Ferries terminal at around 09.30. Dawn Merchant was
already loading freight trailers and the trailer "tugs" buzzed
around busily "feeding" her. It was obvious that on arrival at
Dublin discharge would not be via the bow doors as the tugs were
swinging the trailers destined for the main vehicle deck, deck 3 around
before loading.
At around 10.15 private vehicles were
summoned on board and parked in the usual position in the bow near the
stairs, again being turned around to face the stern.
Meanwhile a white van complete with
workers from the linkspan company McGregor's were busy at work,
presumably on the bow door.
Making my way up to deck 7 I settled
myself in a seat by the front windows and went off to get something to
eat. Late breakfasts are served on the morning sailings at boarding time
and one of these was enjoyed. They are priced quite competitively at
around £4.00, somewhat cheaper than that offered by Sea Containers.
Around 10.30 the little ship which the
big horn - the sand dredger NORSTAR passed by through Canada Dock
heading for her terminal at Bramley-Moore Dock.
10.35 - NORSE LAGAN could be seen
making her way across to Langton Lock on the morning sailing to Belfast.
An unusually little craft then made an
appearance, pushing a pontoon loaded with some skips. It was the
"HARBOUR WITCH" rather like a floating mechanical digger. It
set about picking up rubbish which had gathered in the north west
corner of Canada Dock.
DAWN MERCHANT moved off her berth at
11.16 a few minutes behind schedule. Her TR to Mersey Radio revealed 28
passengers, 40 crew with an arrival at the Bailey due at 18.00.
At 11.30 SUPERSEACAT THREE could be
seen passing outbound for trails in Liverpool Bay. She would resume her
Liverpool - Dublin sailings later in the week.
As DAWN MERCHANT manoeuvred in the
locks the Howard Smith tugs BRAMLEY MOORE, TRAFALGAR and GLADSTONE were
running down in Gladstone Lock heading out to meet Novoship's bulker
KAPITAN KOZIAR.
With an incoming tide we didn't have
to wait too long for the lock and river levels to equalise and DAWN
MERCHANT was soon out in the river at 11.52. It was interesting to note
just how scuffed the river wall was near LANGTON LOCK. Much red paint
suggested that either the red hulled Norse Irish ships had been making
contact at low water or the Merchant Vessels which have a red lower hull
had been making contact in difficult conditions. Some workmen were busy
with jack-hammers and concrete repairing the edges of the wall.
Once in the river and swung around
DAWN MERCHANT quickly accelerated passing the small Chemical tanker
ANNETTE THERESA off New Brighton.
Within a few seconds a radio message
from Mersey Radio ordered DAWN MERCHANT to slow right down as on Crosby
beach, MERSEY MAMMOTH was trying to retrieve red can boat beacon Q6
which was sat on the beach using a wire rope. As DAWN MERCHANT slowed up
the Howard Smith tugs came fussing along on their way to meet the
KAPITAN KOZIAR. By the time we had passed the MERSEY MAMMOTH looked to
have been successful in the job.
As we passed the MERSEY MAMMOTH
working out of the channel and close to the shore on the starboard side,
the small freighter AB AMSTERDAM passed in bound to port. At 12.10 the
large bulker KAPITAN KOZIAR passed inbound followed three minutes later
by the coaster HELLA of Baum & Co GmBH.
Shortly afterwards STOLT KITTEWAKE
passed in bound.
This was followed by what looked like
a Russian vessel with an unpronounceable name! I missed the chatter from
the pilots and couldn't identify it. Whilst the MD&HC Dredger MERSEY
VENTURE was busy working around C7 buoy.
As we approached Q1 the ARKLOW FORTUNE
passed in bound.
In front of DAWN MERCHANT was
Whittaker's coastal tanker WHITKIRK heading off in a north westerly
direction - presumably to the Isle of Man.
At 12.40 DAWN MERCHANT passed Q1.
SUPERSEACAT THREE could be seen running trials in the bay.
12.50 the Cory Tug OAKGARTH passed in
bound on the port side, whilst to starboard the INZENHER LIBICHEV of the
Volgotanker River Shipping Company of Russia was overtaken on the
starboard side at 12.55.
SSCIII also turned to pass in bound at
this time. On the horizon to the NW what looked like a Royal Navy
minesweeper could be seen.
Douglas field was passed at 13.10 and
Great Orme's Head at 13.35. BRAVE MERCHANT passed east bound at 13.40 on
the 09.00 sailing from Dublin.
During the early afternoon, it was
very pleasant to gaze out of the window at the surrounding seascape and
enjoy a reasonably priced bottle of wine.
14.10 EUROPEAN ENVOY passed east
bound.
14.23 Point Lynas.
15.35 South Stack
16.20 Another minesweeper could be
seen a long way off.
Around 17.40 I wandered back to the
restaurant which had reopened for early dinners and an enjoyable Gammon
Ham meal was enjoyed. This was freshly prepared to order given the low
passenger numbers. The steward who had been working the bar, had closed
this to act as waiter in the restaurant.
Whilst eating the outline of STENA
CHALLENGER could be seen coming in from the port side to take up
position in front of us. It was now around 18.05 and DAWN MERCHANT
was passing the Baily entering Dublin Bay.
Sometimes the arrival of the Liverpool
sailings can be delayed if the Heysham sailing has not cleared the
linkspan. However, SAGA MOON was prompt and she passed outbound at
18.15.
As we ran up the Liffey we were met by
the Dublin Port tug CLUAIN TARBH standing by ready to give our port side
a nudge to help swing the stern round onto the berth.
We were on the berth at 18.45 as the
ISLE OF INISHMORE approached. Within a few minutes a crewman had
summoned drivers to their vehicles. On returning to the vehicle deck,
the McGregor engineers were still at work.
Once again another pleasant and
The return
I returned on the 22.15 sailing from
Dublin on Friday February 25. It was pleasing to note a good load of
private vehicles. Each time I have travelled the number of private cars /
vans has increased indicative of the growing attractions of the night
sailings in particular.
The 22.15 sailing departed at 22.53
with 99 passengers on board. After another enjoyable meal - roast pork
and a couple of drinks in the bar it was off to my cabin.
[I noted that once the bar closes at
01.00 all passengers must vacate the Jockey Club bar and either proceed
to their cabins or the Grandstand Lounge. One imagines that perhaps some
non-cabin passengers have been sprawling out and making a mess of the
bar area and the sofas.]
The cabins on the Merchant Ferries
ships are very comfortable and I had no problem sleeping quite soundly.
The vibrations of the vessel manoeuvring into Langton Lock providing the
usual wake-up call which is more effective than the PA system when
arriving at Liverpool.
Making my way down for another good
breakfast it was time to reflect on just what a civilised way of travel
this is and somehow wishing that the journey could even be longer [What
about Liverpool - Cork?!]
DAWN MERCHANT was on the berth at
Canada Dock at 06.15 whilst disembarkation commenced around
06.40.
Anyway another pleasant trip to and
from Ireland with Merchant Ferries. If you haven't travelled with the
company yet you don't know what you are missing!
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