Phil Sutters' photos with the keyword: xxx

Saturday 26.9.2015 saw a fair amount of activity in Newhaven Harbour. There were several lighters with a couple of bucket cranes dredging along the East Quay, upstream from the ferry berth. GPS Avenger had probably towed them there. Survey work was being carried out further downstream and there was an unusual number of small craft around as well - ribs and small day craft. No doubt this will be the start of the build up to setting up the Rampion wind farm support base.

These two old vessels are berthed here among the tall modern buildings of London's former docklands. A little to the west is the Museum of London with a further group of small retired commercial barges, tugs and other craft. The two dockside cranes are reminders of the many hundreds that worked in the huge London Docks until the 1950s & '60s. The constraints of the River Thames in the days of increasing ship sizes led to trade being transferred to Tilbury and other ports with easier access to the seaways.

I like the whole rather chaotic scene. I am sure that, as with my garage, someone knows what's where.

Gabriel de Clieu was a major player in the introduction of coffee to Europe - a fact I bumped into while trying to identify the tug!

This originally had a serious blue colour cast. Having spent some time trying to correct it, I decided the best option was to go into b&w, which certainly looks better.

Last heard of on a pontoon purchased by The Medway Maritime Trust, with restoration beginning, although this seems likely to be only to preserve it as a static exhibit. The condition was such that a complicated lift with a huge floating crane was needed. The most up-to-date account of the history and current situation I have found is at www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=14802.0 Scroll down to the bottom if you want the most recent news. This shot was taken from the PS Kingswear Castle on a cruise down the Medway.

One from the archives - that I hadn't realized that I had overlooked.