Caledonian MacBrayne's HEBRIDEAN ISLES doing berthing trials at Brodick Pier (Isle of Arran)

Ro-ro passenger ferry ALFRED at Ardrossan Harbour during berthing trials for Caledonian MacBrayne

   ALFRED is on a nine month charter by Caledonian MacBrayne from Pentland Ferries at a reported cost of nine million UK pounds sterling (that's one million pounds each month).

   The ship was at Ardrossan Harbour for berthing trials on 1 May and is expected to leave Ardrossan at 0630 on 2 May for berthing trials at Campbeltown, Troon and Ayr.   Ayr is an unusual port for ALFRED as the port does not have a ramp, but apparently Ayr, at some time, may be needed as a lay-by for ALFRED.

Workboat MEGAN M at Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)

SABAHAT SONAY anchored in Brodick Bay (Isle of Arran) waiting for a berth in Glasgow

CEG COSMOS at Brodick Pier (Isle of Arran) loading logs for Troon

Ayr Pilot Boat SCOTIA leaves Troon Harbour to board Pilot onto ALFRED inbound to Troon

ALFRED was inbound to conduct berthing trials at Troon

Ayr Pilot Boat SCOTIA approaches Troon Harbour after boarding Pilot onto ALFRED inbound to Troon

ALFRED on charter to Caledonian MacBrayne approaches Troon Harbour for berthing trials

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, International Ocean Terminal, Circular Quay, all at Sydney

Contributed by J.G., Parramatta

EEMS TRANSPORTER arrives at Ayr with wind turbine components from Leixoes (Portugal)

Apologies for the low quality of the images for, as the vessel arrived, it was raining quite heavily and visibility was very poor.   Spectators at the lighthouse on the entrance pier were forced to quickly take shelter from the downpour.

LARIXBORG arrives in Ayr (Scotland, UK) with a cargo of malted barley from Halmstad (Sweden)

   The weather this dull spring day had been really quite unpleasant, with the sky completely covered with thick and low and menacing grey clouds, persistent light (and occasionally heavy) rain and visibility sometimes reduced to maybe 100m or less.

   But, somehow, strangely, the God of the weather must have smiled as LARIXBORG arrived at Ayr and the rain stopped, a little weak and wan sunshine seemed to bathe the harbour and visibility improved to allow our brave photographer to take the images of the ship.

Wagenborg ship SPEYK at Ayr, Scotland, discharging her cargo of barley from Halmstad (Sweden)

In the first image of SPEYK the Netherlands cargo ship EEMS RIVER can be seen in the background on the left side.   EEMS RIVER is in Griffin Dock and using the massively tall crane to discharge wind turbine components from Emden, Germany.

EEMS RIVER at Ayr, Scotland, discharging Wind Turbine components from Emden (Germany)

In the image of SPEYK the Netherlands cargo ship EEMS RIVER can be seen in the background on the left side.   EEMS RIVER is in Griffin Dock and using the massively tall crane to discharge wind turbine components from Emden, Germany.

Fishing trawler BON AMI at Old Dock, Troon (Scotland, U.K.)

Fishing trawler OCEANA leaving Old Dock, Troon for fishing grounds in the Firth of Clyde