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Mariner Helps Out at Mock Emergency Drill

25th June 2006

Freight vessel European Mariner was the stage for an emergency evacuation drill involving the local fire, ambulance and police services on the 25/6/06. 

During her weekend lay up alongside Curran Quay, a smoke generator was used to simulate a fire onboard European Mariner and several volunteers played the role of passengers in distress.  The emergency services were summoned to the scene and responded to the situation as they would do in a real emergency.  Fire fighters using breathing apparatus entered the vessel and tackled the 'fire' while others evacuated the 'passengers' on board. The volunteer 'passengers' simulated several different types of injuries for the paramedics to deal with, including one case which required an injured passenger to to be evacuated from the ship using a hydraulic hoist operated from a specialised fire appliance on the quayside. 

Pictured below are a selection of images showing the emergency drill in progress on the 25/6/06.  All photos: 'The Boatman' (click to enlarge).

Express Cancelled

21st June 2006

Fast ferry Express suffered some disruption to her services due to bad weather on the 21/6/06.  She completed her first sailing of the day, the 0715 sailing to Troon but on her return to Larne at 1220 the sailings for the rest of the day were cancelled. 

Later in the evening she did complete another sailing and departing Larne at 1810 bound for Cairnryan where she arrived at around 1930.  Traffic for the cancelled 2020 ex Troon was diverted to Cairnryan where the Express waited for it to arrive before returning to Larne, arriving at 2305.

Seafarer to Belfast

18th June 2006

Stena Seafarer paid a brief overnight visit to Belfast over the 17/6/06 to the 18/6/06 for some pre-planned maintenance work.  She left Larne for Belfast at 1230 on the 17/6/06 and returned at 1145 on the 18/6/06 in time to load for her scheduled 1600 sailing to Fleetwood later that afternoon.

11th June 2006

Fast craft Express completed another year's work sailing from Larne to the Isle of Man on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.  She arrived in Larne at 0630 on the 11/6/06 at the completion of her final sailing on the brief charter.  In 2006, the craft undertook six round sailings overnight to the island carrying motorcycle fans to and from the island to see the annual TT motorcycle races.  She operated one sailing extra this year compared to 2005, her first year on the Douglas run.  All trips in 2006 were completed successfully and at worst only experienced minor delays despite some very heavy loadings.

Fleetwood sailings Return to Normal

11th June 2006

Vessels all returned to their regular sailing diagrams on the 11/6/06 after the recent breakdowns to Stena Leader and Stena Pioneer had switched the ship's running order around. 

When the ships affected by break downs returned to service, Stena Pioneer had ended up on the 2200 ex Larne cycle normally taken by Stena Leader while the Stena Leader was sailing on the Stena Pioneer's familiar slot at 1000 ex Larne.

Over the weekend of the 10/6/06 to the 11/6/06 the opportunity was taken to lay each ship up for a brief spell to allow them to revert to their usual sailing cycles.  On the 10/6/06, Stena Seafarer sailed at 1230 in place of Stena Leader which had a day off at anchor prior to returning to her own sailing cycle with the evening sailing ex Larne, which departed at 1930.  After she sailed Stena Pioneer arrived from Fleetwood at 2010 and laid up overnight before sailing on her usual cycle with the morning sailing from Larne the next day at 0700.

31st May 2006

P&O fast craft Express sailed on her first trip of 2006 from Larne to Douglas on the 31/5/06 at 2350, slightly in advance of the timetabled 2359.  The vessel is on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to help with the large volume of traffic which descends on the island at this time every year for the annual Isle of Man TT motorcycle races.  This year sees Express scheduled to operate 6 round trips from Larne to Douglas, all of them sailing at night from Larne and getting her back in time for her usual daily departure at 0715 to Troon.  For the record, trips for 2006 are scheduled to operate at 2359 from Larne on the 31/5/06, 1/6/06 and 2/6/06, while a further three sailings ex Larne at 2315 are scheduled to depart on the 5/6/06, 9/6/06 and the 10/6/06.

Fleetwood Problems Continue

30th May 2006

Stena Line's recent run of misfortune with their Larne - Fleetwood service continued on the 29/5/06 when Stena Pioneer developed a technical problem at sea around 2 hours out from Larne with her morning sailing to Fleetwood.  The vessel turned around and made for Larne harbour but with reduced power available and strong northerly gales sweeping through the harbour, Stena Pioneer instead diverted to Belfast Lough where she sheltered from the gales. 

A tug from Belfast was initially ordered to assist in berthing the vessel at Larne but the weather conditions prevented it from making the journey from Belfast round to Larne.  Instead Stena Pioneer waited in Belfast Lough until the Stena Line berth at Belfast became available after 1900 when Stena Caledonia departed on her scheduled service run to Stranraer.  Stena Pioneer then was able to make the journey into Belfast, assisted by the local Belfast tugs, to discharge her cargo, which by that time should have been in England rather than 20 miles from its starting point of Larne.

On the completion of cargo operations, Stena Pioneer shifted to the Stena Line lay by berth at Belfast to undergo repairs.

Meanwhile, fleet mate Stena Leader, which had been in Belfast since the 24/5/06 for repairs ran successful engine trials alongside Stena's lay by berth on the morning of the 29/5/06; the same day the Stena Pioneer broke down thus at one point on the 29/5/06 only Stena Seafarer was in service on the Fleetwood route.  With her repairs completed Stena Leader returned to Larne and berthed on Curran Quay at 1900.  She re-entered service with a 0020 sailing from Larne on the 30/5/06 and subsequently took up the Stena Pioneer's roster with the 2200 sailing from Fleetwood later that evening. 

With no sailings from Larne to Fleetwood at all on the 29/5/06 Stena Seafarer did a quick turnaround to depart at 2000 that day after only arriving in Larne in place of Stena Leader at 1750.  As noted previously, the repaired Stena Leader followed her with cargo for Fleetwood at 0020 on the 30/5/06.

Stena Pioneer's crew managed to fix her technical problem on the 30/5/06 and the vessel returned to Larne from Belfast at 1720 that evening, she loaded and sailed on the Stena Leader's normal sailing at 2200.  Anticipating the Stena Pioneer's imminent return to service Stena Seafarer had departed Larne at 1600 earlier that afternoon returning to her own sailing pattern after covering for Stena Leader.

All the recent breakdowns has resulted in the Pioneer and Leader switching rosters.  Stena Leader is currently working the 2200 ex Fleetwood cycle with Stena Pioneer running on the 2200 ex Larne roster.

25th May 2006

Stena Leader was only around 30 minutes out from Larne on her usual evening sailing to Fleetwood on the 23/5/06 when she encountered engine problems and had to abort her sailing.  The vessel turned round and arrived at Larne on one engine in the early hours of the 24/5/06 assisted by tug Donna McLoughlin.  Some of the Leader's cargo was discharged but she had to put to sea again at 0600 to free the berth for the inbound Stena Pioneer before all of it could be unloaded. 

Once the Stena Pioneer sailed with her scheduled morning sailing to Fleetwood the Stena Leader returned to Larne at 1130 to discharge the remainder of her cargo.  Once this was completed the ship sailed light at 1300 to Belfast to undergo repairs.  She later berthed at the lay by berth at Stena Line's Belfast terminal around 1530 assisted by Svitzer Marine's tug Norton Cross.

To cover the absence of Stena Leader, Stena Seafarer moved from her usual sailing cycle on the 25/5/06, taking up the Leader's usual run with the 1000 sailing from Fleetwood.  The Seafarer is due to remain on the Stena Leader's schedule until the Leader is repaired and able to return to service.

Dredging Operations

23rd May 2006

Plough dredging vessel Ben Crom arrived at Larne from her usual home of Ardrossan at 0550 on the 17/5/06.  She commenced plough dredging around the MacKean Quay area on the 18/5/06 to level off the seabed following some dredging work carried out by mobile grab crane from the quayside the previous week.

Ben Crom worked throughout the remainder of the week, and was assisted by the survey boat Osprey.  Dredging work was completed on the 22/5/06 with Ben Crom departing the following day for her next job at Stranraer and Osprey being recovered onto a road trailer at Ballylumford the same day.

Seafarer Covers Stranraer

22nd May 2006

Larne to Fleetwood vessel Stena Seafarer temporarily transferred to the Belfast - Stranraer service for a few days to cover a brief dry docking to that route's vessel Stena Caledonia.  Stena Seafarer's final run from Fleetwood was the 0300 to Larne on the 19/5/06.  After discharging her cargo in Larne fitters worked to remove parts of her stern ramp to allow her to fit the Stranraer berth prior to her departure at 1410 for Belfast.

The full list of sailings worked by Stena Seafarer on the Stranraer route were:

Friday 19/5/06: 1900 ex Belfast

Saturday 20/5/06: 0100 ex Stranraer; 1100 ex Belfast; 1530 ex Stranraer; 2000 ex Belfast

Sunday 21/5/06: 0100 ex Stranraer; 1100 ex Belfast; 1530 ex Stranraer; 2000 ex Belfast

Monday 22/5/06: 0100 ex Stranraer.

After completing sailings in Belfast early on the 22/5/06, Stena Seafarer returned to Larne at 1315 and returned to her usual Fleetwood schedule with the 1600 ex Larne that afternoon.

P&O Rescheduling

21st May 2006

P&O services to Cairnryan and Troon were subject to some readjustment on the 21/5/06.  Fast craft Express omitted her first sailing of the day to Troon at 0715 to allow an extended time period for maintenance rather than the usual overnight spell.  To make up the Cairnryan conventional ferries operated extra sailings at 1030 and 1330 from either port instead of the usual Sunday only sailing at 1300.  This had the added advantage of returning both Cairnryan ships to their usual weekly sailing pattern after the extra Sunday sailing operated the weekend before for the traffic returning from the North West 200 motorcycle races.

Mariner Delayed

18th May 2006

Strong on shore winds caused a delay to the European Mariner's usual 1900 sailing from Larne on the 17/5/06.  The vessel remained in Larne until 2115 awaiting a moderation in the conditions to allow her to lift off the berth.  The subsequently resulted in her arrival from Troon the next morning being delayed from 0645 until 1120.  She returned to timetable with her scheduled 1900 sailing that evening.

Windmill work for the Mariner continues to blossom with the ship seeing continued use each weekend importing windmills from Campeltown into Larne.

14th May 2006

Additional conventional ferry sailings were provided between Larne and Cairnryan on Sunday the 14/5/06.  European Highlander and European Causeway gave sailings at 1030 and 1330 from either port instead of the usual single departure at 1300 on Sundays.  The extra trips were provided to cope with additional demand by travellers returning home after the annual North West 200 motorcycle races.

Mariner and Pioneer Weekend Movements

14th May 2006

Stena Line's Fleetwood route ship Stena Pioneer missed her 1000 sailing from Larne on the 13/5/06 and was covered by Stena Seafarer which sailed in her place at 1330 from Larne, returning the next day at 0830.  Stena Pioneer spent her time off alongside Curran Quay undergoing planned maintenance work and returned to service with her morning sailing from Larne on the 14/5/06, which departed at 0800.

European Mariner undertook further windfarm work over the same weekend period, sailing from Larne to Campbeltown at 0945 on the 13/5/06.  She returned with her windmill cargo at 1700 the following day, discharged at Curran Quay and reloaded to sail on her usual freight roster to Troon at 1900.

Express Problems

13th May 2006

Fast craft Express suffered some technical problems during her usual 1005 sailing from Troon on the 13/5/06.  On arrival off Larne the ship reported a failure of some on board systems and the Express remained clear of the port for over an hour while her crew attempted repairs.  One berthing attempt at 1300 was aborted and the ship put back to sea to wait for two outbound departures at 1330, which provided some additional room to manoeuvre inside the harbour.  Express made it into port at 1445 and her two remaining sailings for the the day were cancelled while her technical problems were resolved to enable her to re-enter service the following morning.  Fast craft traffic on the 13/5/06 was transferred to conventional ferry services to and from Cairnryan.  European Highlander's sailings at 1630 ex Larne and 2000 ex Cairnryan rescheduled to 1700 and 2100 respectively to accommodate traffic diverted from the Troon route.

Express Technical Problems

11th May 2006

Fast craft Express missed all three of her sailings from Larne on the 11/5/06 due to a technical problem.  The vessel underwent repairs alongside her berth at Larne and was out on trials on three occasions later that afternoon and early on the 12/5/06 before re-entering service with her scheduled 0715 sailing to Troon on the 12/5/06, just in time to accommodate heavy inbound traffic travelling to Northern Ireland for the North West 200 motorcycle racing.  Fast craft traffic on the 11/5/06 was transferred to conventional ferry sailings to and from Cairnryan.  European Highlander's 1630 sailing ex Larne was held back to 1700 to accommodate traffic diverted from the cancelled 1730 to Troon.

12th May 2006

The Port of Larne's MacKean Quay was given a dredging out using a mobile grab crane from the quayside over a week long period from the 8/5/06 to the 12/5/06.  The last period of spring tides resulted in some exceptionally low ebb tides which caused at least one delay to routine sailings when European Causeway's inbound arrival from Cairnryan at 0600 on 29/4/06 was held up for around 1 hour.

Tug Reshuffle

5th May 2006

Local tug Maria McLoughlin departed the Port of Larne under tow of fleet mate from Belfast Michael McLoughlin on the 5/5/06.  Maria was taken to Harland and Wolff's shipyard in Belfast for engine repairs and is expected to be away for a number of weeks.  Taking her place in the Larne based fleet is Noleen McLoughlin.

3rd May 2006

Sailings by P&O fast ferry Express were disrupted due to gales over a two day spell from the 2/5/06 to the 3/5/06.  On both days the 1255 sailing to Cairnryan and corresponding return at 1500 were cancelled with traffic diverted to European Causeway and European Highlander.  Troon sailings by Express operated as normal on both days.

Leader and Seafarer Take Time Out

1st May 2006

The May bank holiday period allowed Stena Line to reschedule their crossings to give two of their Fleetwood vessels time off service for some maintenance work.  First to get a break was Stena Leader, which spent some time out of service over the from Saturday 29/4/06 to Sunday 30/4/06.  She was laid up on Curran Quay undergoing routine maintenance work after her evening arrival from Fleetwood on the 29/4/06 until 1545 on the 30/4/06 when she had to clear the berth for the use of European Mariner, which was returning to Larne from Campbeltown with a load of windmills. 

Taking the Stena Leader's place for one round trip was Stena Seafarer which sailed to Fleetwood on the 'Leader's run at 2100 on the 29/4/06.  She returned to Larne at 1750 the next day and once she discharged that cargo the 'Seafarer spent the rest of the evening and part of the following day at anchor off Larne undergoing maintenance work.  The Stena Leader slotted into her normal schedule again with the 2200 sailing to Fleetwood on the 30/4/06 while Stena Seafarer picked up her schedule again on Monday 1/5/06 with the 1600 departure to Fleetwood.

24th April 2006

Larne - Fleetwood vessel Stena Pioneer was withdrawn from service on the 21/4/06 after arriving at Larne at 0950 with her inbound Fleetwood trip.  The vessel berthed on Curran Quay, discharged her cargo and immediately commenced engine repairs.  Stena Seafarer arrived later at 1140 and sailed early at 1500 instead of her usual 1600 as cover for the withdrawn Pioneer.  The Stena Seafarer subsequently covered the Stena Pioneer's schedule on the 22/4/06 and in addition completed the inbound trip from Fleetwood to Larne on the 23/4/06.  By this time Stena Pioneer was ready to return to service and she regained her schedule with the morning sailing from Larne on the 23/4/06, which departed at 1040.

After Stena Seafarer completed covering for the Stena Pioneer on the 23/4/06 she shifted to the Belfast - Stranraer route for one round trip taking the 2000 ex Belfast and return before returning to Larne on the 24/4/06 in time to take her usual afternoon sailing to Fleetwood.

With Stena Pioneer out of service on Curran Quay this caused some alterations to the European Mariner's usual routine.  The Troon freighter initially made way for the Pioneer by moving from Curran Quay to anchor at 0800 on the 21/4/06 but with Stena Pioneer out of service European Mariner had to use MacKean Quay in between Cairnryan conventional ferry movements.  This resulted in her 1900 to Troon on the 21/4/06 sailing early at 1815 and her arrival back in Larne the next morning being put back to 0800.  Once she discharged this sailing she sailed for Campbeltown at 0925 on a windmill charter, returning to Larne on the 23/4/06 at 1550.  By this time Stena Pioneer had re-entered service allowing the European Mariner to use her normal berth at Curran Quay.

Cairnryan Extra Sailing

23rd April 2006

European Highlander and European Causeway carried out an additional sailing on the Cairnryan route on the 23/4/06.  Both vessels operated 1030 and 1330 sailings instead of the usual Sunday only sailing at 1300.  After the Easter schedule changes the Cairnryan conventional ferries had ended up on the opposite rosters to normal and the operation of the extra trip put the ship's back on their normal sailing diagrams.

Express Cancellation

22nd April 2006

Fast craft Express missed her round sailing to Cairnryan on the 22/4/06 but her Troon trips in the morning and evening ran as planned.  Traffic for the missed Cairnryan round trip was accommodated on the conventional ferry sailings of European Highlander at 1330 ex Larne and 1630 ex Cairnryan.

Milford Fisher Makes Three Calls with Oil

21st April 2006

Coastal tanker Milford Fisher made three calls to Ballylumford Power Station's A Jetty in recent weeks with cargoes of diesel oil from Milford Haven.  The vessel's first call was at 2000 on the 15/4/06 and after discharge she sailed again at 0400 on the 16/4/06.  The second call occurred on the 18/4/06 when the tanker arrived at 1210 and departed later that evening at 2230.  The third and final call was on the 21/4/06 at 0850 departing at 1630 once unloading was completed.  Local tugs Maria McLoughlin and Noleen McLoughlin were both used as pilot boat at various times for the 3 trips by the tanker.  Noleen McLoughlin starred on most of the later trips after Maria McLoughlin was withdrawn from service with a technical problem on the 18/4/06.

Milford Fisher's recent calls at Ballylumford completes the set, now all four ships in her class have called at the power station in recent years with Milford Fisher's sisters Galway Fisher, Solent Fisher and Forth Fisher all having previously called.

Mariner Returns After Easter

18th April 2006

European Mariner returned to Troon frieght services after the Easter break with the scheduled 1900 sailing to Troon on the 18/4/06.  Freight sailings by European Mariner on the Larne - Troon route were suspended over Easter from the morning arrival in Larne on the 15/4/06.  During the Easter holiday period European Mariner provided back up on the Cairnryan route over the 15/4/06 and 16/4/06 as European Highlander was out of action over those two days for an underwater hull survey.  With her Cairnryan back up service completed on the 16/4/06 European Mariner laid up either at anchor or on Curran Quay until her re-entry into service to Troon on the 18/4/06.

17th April 2006

P&O's Dublin - Liverpool freight vessel Norbay paid her second ever visit to the Port of Larne on the 16/4/06.  The vessel arrived in the port direct from Liverpool for an underwater hull survey and she berthed on Curran Quay at 1845.  Divers carried out the hull survey over the remainder of the evening and part of the following day.  With the survey completed, Norbay departed Larne again at 1400 on the 17/4/06 bound for Dublin and she picked up her schedule with a 2300 sailing to Liverpool later that evening.

Stena's Easter Scheduling

17th April 2006

Stena Line's Larne - Fleetwood route saw some reduction in services during the Easter weekend slack period.  Both Stena Pioneer and Stena Seafarer spent some time out of service undergoing maintenance as the regular 3 ship service was replaced by a 2 ship schedule over the slack period from Friday 14/4/06 to Monday 17/4/06.

First to be withdrawn on Friday 14/4/06 was Stena Pioneer which moved to anchor at 0945 after she discharged in Larne following her arrival from Fleetwood earlier that morning at 0700.  The Pioneer's normal sailing was covered by Stena Seafarer, which arrived in Larne at 1030 on her own 0300 sailing ex Fleetwood and turned round to sail again at 1340.  Seafarer's own 1600 sailing ex Larne and return was subsequently withdrawn over the Easter holiday period.

Stena Pioneer later came back into Larne once her berth was free and returned to service with a sailing to Fleetwood at 0830 on the 15/4/06.  On arrival in Larne half an hour later at 0900 on the Pioneer's usual slot, Stena Seafarer discharged her inbound cargo from Fleetwood and sailed to Belfast at 1030 for Easter lay up.  She didn't return to Larne until 1300 on Monday 17/4/06 and picked up her normal schedule with her 1600 sailing to Fleetwood thus returning the route to its regular 3 ship service at the conclusion of the holiday period.

Stena Leader soldiered on over the Easter period with no break in her schedule.

16th April 2006

A special page of pictures of European Highlander's brief withdrawal from service for a planned dive survey and underwater hull clean click here.

13th April 2006

Fast craft Express felt the rough and tumble of strong westerly gales sweeping across the North Channel on the 13/4/06.  The craft completed the first trip on her daily roster, the morning round voyage to Troon, but found weather conditions on the Scottish side difficult and on her return to Larne the vessel subsequently cancelled her Cairnryan round sailing.  Passengers and vehicles for her usual 1255 service to Cairnryan were diverted via the European Causeway's scheduled sailing at 1330 ex Larne.  European Causeway subsequently picked up the traffic awaiting the Express' cancelled return voyage at 1500 ex Cairnryan with her own scheduled 1630 sailing to Larne.

Back at Larne weather conditions hadn't improved and the 1730 sailing by Express to Troon was also cancelled.  European Highlander's 1630 sailing ex Larne was held back until 1700 and some of the stranded Troon traffic was diverted to the Highlander but as the conventional ferry was already heavily booked with freight traffic not all of the Express traffic could be accommodated and many of the late comers missed the rescheduled conventional ferry sailing.

The strong westerly gales moderated in the early evening and at 2000 Express set sail with a special relief sailing to Cairnryan, carrying the remaining passengers and cars that had missed the Highlander sailing at 1700, leaving European Causeway free to deal entirely with the large volume of freight with her own 2000 sailing ex Larne.  While at Cairnryan, Express picked up the traffic diverted from the cancelled 2020 sailing from Troon.  The craft eventually finished a difficult day weather wise at 2340.

Coaster Call

13th April 2006

Coastal cargo vessel Mercator I called at the port of Larne on the 12/4/06 with a cargo of limestone chippings.  She was all fast at Olderfleet Quay at 1120 and commenced immediate discharge of her cargo by mobile grab crane straight into a fleet of awaiting lorries, each hooked into 40 foot tipping trailers, for onward shipment to a local quarry.  Discharge of the chippings was completed by tea time the following day and the Mercator I departed once the port was quiet with other ferry traffic at 2030 bound for Norwegian waters.  Local tug Maria McLoughlin was pilot boat on both inward and outward movements of the coaster.

9th April 2006

Fisher's coastal tanker Galway Fisher arrived at Larne from Milford Haven with a cargo of diesel oil for Ballylumford Power Station at 0300 on the 9/4/06.  The ship was assisted onto her berth at the A jetty by tug Noleen McLoughlin, which had earlier done a magnificent job boarding the local pilot one mile north of number one buoy in heavy swell.  After completing discharge Galway Fisher departed shortly after 1200 the same day with Noleen McLoughlin once again on pilot boat duty.

Express Cancellation

8th April 2006

Fast craft Express missed her 1255 sailing to Cairnryan and corresponding 1500 return sailing from Scotland on the 8/4/06 due to high winds.  Traffic was transferred to the European Causeway's scheduled sailings at 1330 ex Larne and 1630 ex Cairnryan.  Troon trips at 0715 and 1730 ex Larne were operated as normal.

Seafarer Returns

3rd April 2006

Fleetwood based freight ship Stena Seafarer returned to her usual duties on the 3/4/06.  The vessel replaces charter ship Sea Runner, which had been covering while the Stena Seafarer carried out overhaul relief work around Stena's Irish Sea route network.

In recent weeks Stena Seafarer had been working on the Belfast - Stranraer route covering the overhaul of Stena Caledonia.  She was temporarily brought back from Belfast on the 1/4/06 to complete a round voyage to Fleetwood to help clear a cargo backlog.  Her final sailing on the Stranraer link was the 0730 ex Stranraer on the 1/4/06 and after discharge in Belfast she returned to Larne at 1445 to load for Fleetwood, departing at 1645.

She returned to Larne on this trip at 1230 on the 2/4/06 and once she was discharged, returned to Belfast to make one more trip on the Stranraer route at 1900 ex Belfast later that evening.  On her return to Belfast the following morning, the Stena Seafarer stood down from her duties on the Stranraer route and returned to Larne to pick up the 1600 sailing to Fleetwood on the 3/4/06. 

Stena Seafarer's return brings the Fleetwood service up to full strength in time for the pre-Easter freight peak and reinstates the usual 0300 ex Fleetwood/1600 ex Larne cycle.

British Environment Oil Delivery

1st April 2006

BP's 2004 built tanker British Environment made a call at Ballylumford Power Station with a cargo of fuel oil on the 30/3/06.  The vessel arrived at the Power Station from Milford Haven just before 1300 assisted by Svitzer Marine tugs Willowgarth from Belfast and Flying Phantom from Greenock.  Tug Sarah McLoughlin from Carrick had earlier boarded the local pilot as the ship passed the mouth of Belfast Lough.

The vessel discharged her cargo and departed bound for Rotterdam at 0010 on the 1/4/06.  Assisting with the vessel's departure was Willowgarth and Norton Cross both round from Belfast.  Noleen McLoughlin was on pilot duty and followed the tanker out to pick up the local pilot from the ship once she had cleared number 1 buoy.

A special page of pictures is available here.