CARDIFF - Saturday 31st Dec 2011

A number of arrivals since the last post:
The Border Agency cutter Seeker came in on 20th December for a Christmas lay over and sailed on 30th.
Tanker Bro Gratitude arrived from Milford Haven on 21st and returned there on 22nd (missed this one).
Arklow Star arrived in ballast from Dublin on 22nd, loaded scrap metal and sailed for Aviles on 24th.
Also arriving on 22nd -Berthold K from Belfast, she wasn't in for long, sailing for Calais the following day.
3 arrivals on 24th - Rachel Borchard from Liverpool, sailed for Leixoes the same day. Aasvik from Belfast with a cargo of stone, she also sailed the same day. UKD Orca arrived from Swansea for a Christmas lay over, sailing for Portbury on 29th.
The tanker Bro Distributor arrived from Milford Haven on 27th, returning there on the next tide.
Aasvik was back again on 30th with another cargo of stone from Belfast (Kilroot). Also arriving that day - Bro Deliverer from Milford Haven, she returned there on 31st and Jan/V arrived in ballast from Belfast. One further arrival.......................

Name                                   Flag                 Year      Tonnage       LOA       Beam
NORDIC COPENHAGEN    Denmark           2005       12959dwt      127         20

Nordic Copenhagen

Seen arriving from Antwerp  is the chemical tanker Nordic Copenhagen.  She sailed on 1st Jan, to sea for orders - she anchored odd Minehead waiting for orders, eventually leaving for Stanlow on 7th Jan.

CARDIFF - Mon 19th December 2011

It’s been a long time since I managed to photograph any ‘new’ ships at Cardiff – there have been a number of ‘new’ visitors, but I’ve missed them – roll on the lighter days!
22nd November the tanker Patagonia arrived from Le Havre and sailed on the 23rd  for Foynes.
The following day another tanker Keewhit arrived from Liverpool she sailed for Portbury on 24th.
Two arrivals on 24th  Bro Distributor from Milford Haven and Mekhanik Kottsov from Belfast, both sailed the following (MK to Randers).  Rachel Borchard arrived from Leixoes on 25th and sailed for Liverpool the following.
Bro Distributor was back on 27th sailing on 28th when there were 3 more arrivals – Aasvik with a cargo of stone from Belfast and tanker Wisby Verity with oil products from Milford Haven (UPDATE: pictures added below show her at Cardiff again - arriving 2nd April 2014 and departing on 11th August 2015) , and the dredger UKD Orca from Ipswich.  The first two sailed on the 29th, Orca spent about 10 days dredging the docks entrance channel before proceeding to Garston
On 5th December Charlotte Borchard arrived from Liverpool and sailed the following day bound for Leixoes.  On 6th the HM Border Agency patrol boat Seeker arrived for a 4 day stopover, and Bro Distributor was back again with oil products from Milford Haven – she sailed on 7th  when Celtic Freedom arrived from Bermeo, she sailed on 9th bound for Plymouth.  Arriving on 9th was Judith Borchard from Leixoes – she sailed the next day for Dublin and Arctica Hav arrived from Spain and eventually sailed for Solvesborg on 17th
On 11th Bro Designer arrived from Milford Haven she returned there the following day.
On the 12th Eems Dollard arived from Dakar with a cargo of timber and sailed for Rotterdam on 15th
On 14th Arklow Resolve arrived from Swansea to load scrap metal for Aviles, sailing on 17th


Name                                   Flag                 Year      Tonnage       LOA       Beam
STOLT RAZORBILL             UK                   1995        5797          100          17

Stolt Razorbill

Arrived from the German city of Stade and berthed in the Queen Alexandra Dock (No 1 Oil Berth). It's unusual to see a Stolt tanker in her home port (of registry)-Cardiff, though they are frequent visitors to Barry.  I'm working all this week so I missed her arrival and will miss her departure.  The photo, taken earlier this year shows her leaving Barry.


WISBY VERITY                 Sweden            2004           7479dwt     116           15

Arriving at Cardiff at dusk on 1st April 2014

Departing Cardiff on 11th August 2015

CARDIFF - Sun 20th Nov 2011

The coaster Aspen arrived from Eregli on 19th, discharged her cargo then proceeded to Sharpness on 25th - missed both arrival and departure - so no photo.  The amount of daylight at this time of year does restrict the taking of photos. UPDATE:  Aspen was renamed Exe Otter in 2012, she returned to Cardiff as such on 27th September 2013.  Photo and ship details HERE

Name                                   Flag                 Year      Tonnage       LOA       Beam
AFRICAN ORYX              Bahamas            1997       24110dwt     160        26

African Oryx

Arrived from Oran today and is about to start loading scrap metal at the EMR berth.  She sailed on 23rd - another cargo of scrap going to Egypt (Alexandria)

CARDIFF - Fri 18th Nov 2011

2 Regular arrivals on 17th: container ship Sara Borchard from Leixoes and tanker Bro Deliverer from Milford Haven.

Name                                   Flag                 Year      Tonnage       LOA       Beam
HNLMS ZEELEEUW         Netherlands       1987       2350disp       68            8

Zeeleeuw

Zeeleeuw translated to english is Sealion.  This Walrus class submarine (S803) spent a couple of days in the Queen Alexandra  Dock refueling and restoring before returning to sea on 21st Nov under the assistance of tugs HT Cutlass and HT Scimitar.  6 months later, Zeeleeuw was back in Cardiff again - a photo below shows her departing for sea in slightly better conditions, assisted by the tug Nobleman.

HNLMS Zeeleeuw departing Cardiff on May 14th 2012

CARDIFF - Tues 15th Nov 2011

On 10th Nov Aasvik arrived from Belfast with a cargo of stone - sailed the following day for Port Talbot.  11th Nov container ship Judith Borchard arrived from Leixoes and sailed for Liverpool on 12th.  2 arrivals on 14th : Pamir from Gemlik (sailed for Fowey on 14th) and tanker Bro Deliverer with oil products from Milford Haven.
On 15th the tanker Lisa Essberger arrived from Fos, she sailed the following day for Birkenhead - arrival and departure were at night, so no photo.

Name                                   Flag                 Year      Tonnage       LOA       Beam
CAPTAIN  T                       Marshall Is          1996     27407dwt     175         26

Captain T

Arrived from Rotterdam today and is about to start loading scrap metal at the EMR berth.  She sailed for Damietta (Egypt) on 18th