| 11.02 |
Ropes progressively let go
and completed by 11.05 We gently moved out from Canada Branch #3 into Canada Dock itself
with 30 passengers on board. On the opposite side of Canada Dock the MD&HC dredger
Mersey Mariner was berthed adjacent to the buoy maintenance area. A fascinating spot where
the buoys used to mark the various channels on the Mersey are maintained. On the Canada
scrap wharf a Russian bulker with an unpronounceable [and untypable] name was loading
scrap. Once in Canada Dock,
DAWN MERCHANT moved slowly astern through the narrow neck between Canada and Brocklebank
Docks a bulldozer pushing material into a corner of the
dock reclaiming some land
which looks as though it is being used to provide a straight quay wall across the entrance
for the long in-filled South Carriers Dock .
Drifting up lazily from the south came the Howard
Smith tugs GLADSTONE and BROCKLEBANK.
As the DAWN MERCHANT came to a stand a good view of
the Norse Irish Ferries Terminal in Brocklebank could be seen. Complete with its long
disused passenger gangway last used when the Liverpool - Belfast service was operated by
the Irish Continental Group. Norse Irish, like Merchant Ferries board foot passengers by
bus. The tanker HARAKAZE was berthed on Brocklebank South at the Cargil plant.
As the bow thrusters swung DAWN MERCHANT to face the
Langton Lock there was time to look the sadly neglected, though fine architecture of the
pump house at the entrance to the now filled in Langton Graving Docks. Also berthed nearby
was Smit's L.M. BALDUR heavy lift barge.
Looking towards the River Mersey, the EUROPEAN ENVOY
could be seen some way off now down the channel as could LAGAN VIKING. In the river the
Howard Smith tug TRAFALGAR was testing her fire monitors. [This may have had something to
do with the impending arrival of the TSS APOLLON [Ex Empress of Canada] at West Langton
Cruise Terminal. Waiting off Langton entrance was tug BRAMLEY MOORE.
Once DAWN MERCHANT had come to a halt, the two Howard
Smith tugs slowly squeezed themselves along side and the three vessels descended to river
level |
|
| 11.48 |
The gates began to move
back with the tugs exiting to the river first. DAWN MERCHANT moving off at 11.55. As
DAWN MERCHANT exited the lock, Ellerman Lines container vessel CITY OF GLASGOW was
bringing her swing for GLADSTONE. |
| 12.06 |
DAWN MERCHANT passed the
Rock and the inbound vessel ELVITA loaded with a cargo of timber. SEACAT ISLE OF MAN could
be seen at this point approaching Crosby bend. |
| 12.18 |
SEACAT ISLE OF MAN passed
in bound at 12.18 with the 07.30 sailing from Douglas. Obviously running very late - she
should have departed for Douglas at 11.00. Her passing speed was fairly slow which
suggested she wasn't running at full power. |
| 12.27 |
TSS APOLLON passed in bound
for Langton returning from a cruise. |
| 12.44 |
Passing Q1 DAWN MERCHANT
left the channel and headed off towards the Bar. |
| 12.50 |
Two in bound freight
vessels INGRID GORTHON and YEOMAN BANK appeared to be racing one another to enter the
channel first, appearing to run almost side by side. |
| 12.59 |
Passed north of the Bar
lightfloat. I decided to go back inside and make myself comfortable at one of the windows
in the Jockey Club Bar. My enjoyment of the passing ships meant that I missed brunch being
served in the Winning Post Restaurant so I had to settle for a Beef and Mustard bap, which
it was nice to know was freshly made to order, rather than being of the usual prepacked
variety often found on ships. |
| 13.20 |
Passed to the south of
Douglas Platform. |
| 13.50 |
BRAVE MERCHANT passed east
bound on the starboard side with the 09.00 sailing from Dublin. |
| 14.30 |
EUROPEAN LEADER headed
eastbound with P&O's 09.00 Dublin to Liverpool sailing. |
| 14.55 |
Though EUROPEAN ENVOY had
departed from Gladstone Lock just as DAWN MERCHANT had moved off her berth at Canada, she
had been visible ahead. By now DAWN MERCHANT's much higher speed was becoming very
apparent as the gap between the two vessels steadily closed. Leaving the bar I headed
outside again to get some photos as we overtook EUROPEAN ENVOY on the port side. Some
minutes later I headed for the higher level open deck 8. Looking astern I realised that I
had not noticed a large, unidentified supertanker which we must have passed to the
starboard side around the same time as EUROPEAN ENVOY was overtaken. The weather at sea had been cloudy bright with some sunshine and
specks of blue sky. There was quite a still s/w breeze and a moderate swell. However,
apart from the occasional gentle movement DAWN MERCHANT ran very smoothly. At around the
time EUROPEAN ENVOY had been passed we left the Anglesey coast behind. |
| 15.25 |
To the south the outline of
a late running HSS STENA EXPLORER could be seen heading for Holyhead. I wandered back to
the spacious Jockey Club Bar for an hour or so before taking myself into the restaurant
which had opened for early dinner at 16.00. In the previous Merchant Ferries voyage report I did comment that
whilst the dinners were good they lacked heat. I must admit this problem appears to have
been rectified, the lentil soup and Gammon both being of good temperature. Though, given
the few passengers on board on the outward sailing meals were being prepared to order. |
| 17.25 |
Lambay Island and the Irish
coast were quite visible as CELTIC STAR passed eastbound on her late after noon departure
for Liverpool. We appeared to
be making good time, however, monitoring comms between DAWN MERCHANT and Dublin Port Radio
revealed that SAGA MOON was on the linkspan and would not clear much until around 19.00.
Speed was reduced considerably as DAWN MERCHANT's captain advised Dublin that we would
pass the Baily at 18.30. |
| 18.10 |
STENA CHALLENGER passed in
bound on the port side whilst peering through the binoculars it was possible to see the
still not quite familiar shape of JONATHAN SWIFT running between Poolbeg and North Bull
lights on the 18.00 Dublin - Holyhead sailing. |
| 18.22 |
With DAWN MERCHANT still
running at low speed ISLE OF INISHMORE moved in front as JONATHAN SWIFT changed course. I
have managed to get a photograph of both JONATHAN SWIFT and INISHMORE together, the light
was rather tricky, however, if it turns out reasonably well it will appear on the site in
due course. |
| 18.35 |
Having passed the Baily
with the ISLE OF INISHMORE in front we headed towards the Liffey. Outbound was the James
Fisher coaster SILVERTHORN which retains the livery of the long absorbed Coe Metcalf
Motorcoasters. In the bay could be seen a cable laying barge and guard vessel. Just of
Poolbeg Westminster Dredging's WD MEDWAY II was busy at work on the south side of the
channel. Approaching the Merchant Ferries berth SAGA MOON could be seen in the channel
ready starting get underway for Heysham. As DAWN MERCHANT swung onto the berth at Ro/Ro Ramp 7, ISLE OF
INISHMORE had just made fast, as DAWN MERCHANT came on to her berth it was interesting to
see the new moveable gangway system in place alongside INISHMORE. As we approached the
roro span the operator began discharging water ballast the first ropes went on at
19.06 and after some careful manoeuvring DAWN MERCHANT made fast at 19.17 Within seconds
the "trailer tugs" were on board.
Foot passengers were directed down to the main
vehicle deck to be greeted by the small passenger bus which was soon depositing the three
foot passengers at the terminal entrance. Things were quite busy as passengers were also
disembarking from the ISLE OF INISHMORE.
It had been my intention to spend a couple of hours
wandering round Dublin Docks taking advantage of my photo permit, however, having not
brought a waterproof and with threatening clouds in the west, I decided to hang around the
terminal area, as a previous drenching in Liverpool Docks which resulted in a hefty Camera
repair bill remains in my mind! |
|
Within a short time
vehicles had started to arrive for the ISLE OF INISHMORE's 21.45 sailing. However, there
did not appear as many as when I last past through Dublin in early June. It would be
interesting to know how much the JONATHAN SWIFT has reduced car carryings on INISHMORE. The INISHMORE began boarding vehicles around 20.45 the Bus Éireann
coaches which operate to destinations in the UK entered the vehicle marshalling area. By
21.30 Irish Ferries made the final call for the 21.45 sailing. STENA
CHALLENGER had moved
off her berth. As INISHMORE moved off I wandered into the deserted terminal. It was
obvious I was the only foot passenger for DAWN MERCHANT. |
|
A few minutes later the
little bus arrived and I was back on board by around 22.00. Collecting my cabin key card I
deposited my camera gear in the cabin and went off for a meal. Now whilst I was the only
foot passenger, and apart from a couple in a car the remainder of the passengers were
truckers and there appeared quite a lot of them as the "Enclosure" the trucker's
dining area was quite full. Opting
for a main course of roast pork I settled down as DAWN MERCHANT moved off the berth
at 22.15 spot on time. SUPERSEACAT TWO just reporting that she had made secure at
the new Sea Containers terminal at berth 44 on the south side of the river. Unlike
departure from Liverpool it was only a few minutes before we were heading off down the
channel. Taking myself off to the bar it was time for a couple of pints of the "black
stuff" before off to bed.
The cabins on DAWN MERCHANT are well furnished and
comfortable. I had been allocated a port side outside cabin and looking towards the stern
it was possible to see the lights of Howth slipping away. Within minutes I was fast
asleep. The next thing I was aware of was awaking to find the vessel moving astern into
Langton Lock at around 04.15. Drowsing for around three quarter's of an hour the chief
steward announced that we had arrived in Liverpool and that breakfast was available in the
Winning Post restaurant. DAWN MERCHANT was at this stage just moving astern on the berth
at Canada #3 Branch Dock.
Wandering down to the restaurant at around 05.30 it
was nice to note that the bacon had lost its plasticky nature encountered previously.
Vehicles were offloaded from around 06.00. By the
time I was summoned to the bus it was around 06.15 an the main vehicle deck was
clear apart from one trailer and a lorry.
|
|
All in all this proved to
be a very enjoyable day. All in all at £85 for a 5 day return and a cabin on the return
its not as cheap as £10 or £19 for a day trip on the SeaCat. However, this was
more of a mini-cruise and whilst not something one could afford to do on a regular basis
it was certainly very enjoyable. Now
what I think Merchant Ferries should be doing to fill up the passenger space on the
vessels, is to consider offering day return fares around the £30 to £35 mark with
passengers upgrading to cabins if they wish to pay the extra.
A long day in Dublin, arriving 06.00 and departing
22.15 would be quite a saleable item to both tourists and perhaps business people who
might like an alternative to the plane but the price has to be just right.
In the 1980s I recall B&I Line promoting cheap
day trips to Dublin from Liverpool on a similar basis. Furthermore if such a fare was
available even for just a there and back trip I am sure quite a few enthusiasts would take
it up as a good value day out.
I certainly enjoyed myself and I'll try to do it once
more before the end of the summer. Merchant Ferries certainly live up to their claim to be
the "Relaxing Way to Cross the Irish Sea".
If any other enthusiasts are thinking of trying it
out and plan to travel to the terminal by car, there isn't not any problems parking. You
will be issued with a parking permit by the security staff which is then displayed
in the window.
|
