The views below show the entry into the Penzance Dry Dock of the MFV St.GEORGE'S on the afternoon of Tuesday October 25, 2011. The Penzance Dry Dock is one of the oldest working dry docks in the UK dating back to 1834. Now operated by Penzance Dry Dock Ltd - part of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group - the dock specialises in refit, repair and super yacht conversion work. Access to the dry dock is somewhat restricted not only due to tidal constraints as is often the case with dry docks, but also its location. It is located on a restricted site with ships being required to turn 90 degrees in the Abbey Basin to enter immediately after passing through the narrow Ross Bridge which swings to permit access. Not withstanding the difficult access the dock can handle vessels up to the size of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company's SCILLONIAN III. It is quite a few years since your webmaster was in the south west at a time that a ship was to enter the dry dock. Fortunately from mid morning on October 25, BBC Radio Cornwall had been advising that the Ross Bridge would be opened and Wharf Road, Penzance closed to through traffic from around 15:00 to 16:00 to enable a ship to pass through. Obviously the announcement produced quite a few sightseers who gathered to witness the event and who can be seen in a couple of the photographs below. The MFV ST.GEORGE'S is owned by the local Newlyn based W. Stevenson and Sons - she entered the dry dock on time being assisted by Penzance Harbour Towing's dual purpose vessel DANMARK which is both the harbour tugboat and a fishing vessel in her own right. | 
