Oostzee

The thirty one year old 63m Oostzee is one of two coasters owned by Wantij BV in the Netherlands. They have a new vessel on order. Built in 1978 at Monnickendam, a special feature of this 815 gt ship is her low airdraft of only 6.8m which allows her to sail "all" Dutch, German and Belgium rivers. She is seen preparing to unload a cargo of steel for the Celtic Vestas wind turbine facility at Machrihanish which is still threatened with imminent closure. She, too, sailed this evening (12 March 2009), south bound through the North Channel, for an undisclosed destination.

Fri Ocean

Pictured is the 89m Fri Ocean which arrived at Campbeltown on Tuesday night (10 March 2009) to load a cargo of round timber destined for the paper mills of Moss in Norway. Built in 2000 by Damen Shipyards Group and registered at Nassau, in the Bahamas, this 2218 gt general cargo ship is owned by Fri Ocean AS and managed by Kopervik Ship Management AS. She sailed on the afternoon of the 12th, north bound round the Mull of Kintyre. In the background can be seen the Oostzee which arrived late on Wednesday night (11 March 2009).

Largs Pier

Work carries on a-pace demolishing the old pier 10 March 2009.

Cumbrae Slip

Maintenance work going on at Cumbrae Slip 10 March 2009. The hole looks quite deep!

Aora

RV Aora begins a tow 10 March 2009.