I am not going to put a lot of text into the next couple of posts as there are tons of photos and this one will cover Southampton to Zeebrugge.
Aurora was waiting for us at berth 106.
The ro-ro ship Eddystone was on the move, from the container terminal to Marchwood and made an excellent photo from Mayflower Park
Car carriers Asian Vision and Hoegh Trader were also in Southampton...
...While refrigerated cargo ship Frio Mogami was on her way out, accompanied by the almost obligatory WAFI; the bugger ruined what would have been the best shot by getting in the way. I don't mind yachts being in the picture if they're not in the way but they're a pain in the arse when they get right between you and the ship, as this fellow had half a minute earlier.
We departed at 1700, passing Mein Schiff 1 and there was a frank exchange of views via the ships' sirens as we passed.
Tankers at Fawley oil terminal
My aunt drove to East Cowes to see us pass and took a few photos with an old compact camera of mine. The conditions were pretty awkward, with murk and mist and far from ideal for photography but the photos have not turned out badly, despite the fact it was a cheap old compact. We were standing under the aft lifeboat, not that we can be seen in the photo at this resolution.
We arrived at Zeebrugge early the following morning, although a bit delayed by dense fog which slowed us down and caused the ships' horns to be sounded at intervals throughout the night.
I woke up in the semi darkness of the cabin and I could hear an engine outside and, forgetting where I was, I was thinking 'Bloody car outside, left with the engine running' (which is one of my pet hates) when I realised it was actually a ship, so I went out on the balcony (we'd been upgraded) and took some photos of Cobelfret's Yasmine arriving and reversing into her berth...the first time I've taken ship photos while in my pyjamas!
Balcony cabins are ideal for ship photography and are perfect for the lazy photographer. Indeed, photos can probably be taken while lying in bed if you're really bone idle...
I spent the day taking photos of the comings and goings and generally not doing much else.
Bore Song arriving...
Opal Leader and Schieborg also arriving
...as was Victorine
While Sea Cruiser 1, Toronto and Independence II departed during the afternoon.
The small container ship Hercules J leaves as Opal Leader arrives.
MSC Gaia was at the container terminal, but the light was awkward for photography as we left, which was the only time I could get an unobstructed shot.
Stena Carrier
Clifford Maersk
Local charter boat SC Lynx
Lysbris and Trans Pine
Trans Pine
Local tug Union Coral
We sailed at 1800 as Norstream arrived
Chem Nicholas
Gas Cerberus was on a parallel course as we headed towards the Wandelaar Pilot Station
As was Ionian Trader
It was very misty again as we headed out into the North Sea. The small container ship Elvira is met by the pilot vessel Weilingen
NYK Arcadia partly obscured by mist
Ships in the mist
The pilot boat, a Swath catamaran named Weilingen, comes by to pick up the pilot from Aurora.
We made our way along to coast over night as we headed towards IJmuiden, the North Sea Canal and Amsterdam, where we were due to arrive early the following morning.
