 Take a look at the harmless photograph of LINDAROSA in West Langton Dock. You won't be seeing many more photographs like this on this web site. Read on to find out why!
For many years ship, railway enthusiasts, fisherman and bird watchers have enjoyed access to a large part of the dock estate via a permit that has been available for a modest annual fee. Access to the Dock estate for purposes of fishing or photography has been enjoyed by hundreds of people on Merseyside and further a field for years. Even if you don't visit Merseyside or its port for purposes of your own photography it may be that you have enjoyed the images posted on this and other web sites, published in many books and magazines. Many photographs of ships taken by visitors to the Mersey Dock Estate have illustrated books and magazines and in more recent times websites. Maritime Journalism has drawn heavily on the work of such enthusiastic amateurs. Many books recording the port history have been illustrated by such photographs. Unfortunately in the past few weeks a decision has been made to refuse renewals of the annual photographic and fishing permits. When current permits expire they will not be renewed. Personally I am in the fortunate position that my permit remains valid until February 2004. However, other people are not so lucky. Ian Collard the Maritime author and photographer, who is a major contributor to this site had his renewal request refused on Monday. The reasons for withdrawal appear to be due to security concerns. It is not yet completely clear if they have arisen as a result of the Gulf War. To date I have received two versions of why renewals are not being allowed. Both of which have come from people who have made enquiries with the Port Police - therefore it gives the impression that they are not completely clear on the matter. One version is that the issue of passes was "on hold" due to the prevailing world situation. Meanwhile another reliable contact who had his renewal application refused over two weeks ago [before the Gulf War commenced] was informed that the ban was being implemented as a result of new legislation due to come into force in March 2004 in the light of the events of September 11, 2001! The ban does appear very unreasonable for a number of reasons: Permit holders are known to the company. We have to supply our names, addresses and photographs. We are readily identifiable and traceable. We have nothing to hide. As the Mersey Docks are in reality an industrial estate rather than just a port, there a many reasons why visitors my wish to go on to the site. Someone may be visiting the car auctioneers, making a reservation with P&O Ferries or even renting a fancy dress costume at the costume hire business at West Float. Presumably people wishing to access these and other businesses will still be allowed on to the docks? Would such visitors be required to apply for permission to visit these businesses before hand? I doubt it. Surely port security is compromised more by strangers wandering into the dock estate on the basis of undertaking business than those who have identified themselves and made the reason for their presence - taking photographs or fishing quite clear? Last year MD&HC managed to "loose" a container loaded with cigarettes from Seaforth Terminal. This incident and the ensuing court case was well documented in the local press. The theft wasn't caused by ship photographers, but an organised gang who had apparently entered the port with a lorry appearing as though they were going about legitimate business. Could you imagine a potential terrorist giving their name, address and photograph to obtain a permit and then set about a terror attack on a ship at the docks? Of course your couldn't! Mr. Bin Laden or his followers are not going to turn up at Maritime Centre and make an application! They would almost certainly seek to get in without being noticed or by some dramatic means. If the risk of terrorist attack is going to be removed why hasn't the public been banned from the Mersey river front - in particular Seacombe promenade ? Passing tank ships would could prove an attractive target for any crazy terrorist. Back in the 1970s Transport photographers were viewed with great suspicion in the Eastern Bloc countries. Transport magazines carried stories of enthusiasts encounters with the likes of the Volks Politzei, KGB etc. We thought it was one of the occupational hazards of visiting a suspicious authoritarian state and we were glad we lived in the free and democratic west. Now, thirty years on, transport photographers are being viewed in our own supposedly "free" country with increasing suspicion. One must ask for what reason? Can you recall any prosecutions reported in the UK news media in which terrorists, or other criminals have used the disguise of being ship / aircraft / railway photographers? As restrictions on photography increase, how many photographs will be available to illustrate the next generation of shipping line and port histories? Will they rely have to rely on the some old tired publicity shots because the enthusiasts have not been able to make a photographic record for future generations? I sincerely hope that MD&HC reconsider this decision. I would imagine most permit holders would be prepared to undergo any additional vetting required to prove our good intentions and probably pay for the extra costs involved. Please do not close the gates to us! If anyone has any comments to make in public on this or related matters please post them to the UK TRANSPORT PHOTOGRAPHY Yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uktransportphotography/ or email irishseashipping@btinternet.com. John H. Luxton April 2, 2003 | 
