On the Windmill Run with European Mariner

In recent years a number of P&O's freight ferries past and present have been kept busy during weekends on regular charter work for Vestas transporting their wind turbine components from one of their manufacturing sites in Campbeltown to various locations in Britain and Ireland. Utilising the linkspan installed in Campbeltown for the now defunct Ballycastle to Campbeltown ferry, P&O's ferries have been engaged in this important work now since June 2002 when European Navigator collected the first load for export. This was the first of three wind turbine cargoes transported by the European Navigator that all went to Rosslare and eventually became the wind farm at Carnsore Point - the windiest place in Ireland.

The ship currently used for the wind turbine work is the Larne - Troon freight ferry European Mariner. She first came to the wind turbine trade in August 2002 when she picked up a load in Ebsjerg that was delivered to Larne. This cargo was unique in that the wind turbine towers were craned onto the 'Mariner's open upper vehicle deck but the normal operation is to have the wind turbine components loaded on flat trailers and these are stowed onboard in the usual ro-ro fashion saving time in handling.

The Campbeltown manufacturing plant currently only builds the upright tower section of a typical wind turbine and these come in 3 sections: Bases, which are short in length and have a large diameter; towers, which are long and have tapering diameter along their length and the nacelle unit which sits on top providing the hub for the blades and also contains the electrical generator. Wind turbine blades and nacelles are manufactured elsewhere but European Mariner is kept busy with bases and towers exported via Campbeltown. She has however transported blades and nacelles in the past. The nacelle unit when placed on a flat weighs around 100 tons and they have been among the heaviest deck loads that the European Mariner has transported.

The European Mariner herself is well suited to her weekend charter work. This sturdy ship built in Germany in 1978 was built to last. After her accident in Troon last year she was given a through survey in the interim while new parts were being sourced for her damaged propeller shaft and it was found when her double bottom tanks were opened that her steel work certainly does not give away that she is approaching 30 years old. Her main vehicle deck has a headroom of 6.2 metres - ideal for awkward shaped cargoes and her stern ramp will fit practically every link span in use around the Irish Sea. Also, her schedule of 6 overnight round trips Sunday to Friday from Larne to Troon means that she is free every weekend, when needed, to transport the wind turbine parts.

Over the weekend of the 24th to the 25th of March 2007 the European Mariner was rostered in for what was to be her second windmill run of 2007 and it was with great anticipation that I accepted a kind invitation to join the vessel for the voyage. After finishing discharging her cargo from the morning arrival from Troon little time was lost in getting the ship ready to leave for Campbletown. Once European Causeway was safely alongside MacKean Quay with her 0730 sailing from Cairnryan European Mariner let go just after 0930 from Curran Quay and headed out the mile long buoyed channel from the Port of Larne.


European Causeway arriving at Larne prior to European Mariner getting traffic clearance to leave.	Boatman Johnny McCord lets European Mariner go at Larne at the beginning of her windmill run.

The bosun and his staff on the fo'c'sle heave in the forward mooring lines.	European Mariner leaving her berth at Larne outward bound.

Clear skies and slight seas welcomed the passage north to the Kintyre peninsula and around 1200 the approach into Campbeltown Loch was sighted. The bridge crew under Captain Patrick Blackwell-Smyth and Chief Henry Woods made their final checks for the passage plan into relatively strange territory through the gap between the mainland and the northern shore of Davaar Island at the mouth of Campbeltown Loch. Once inside the Loch, Campbeltown's NATO jetty was passed to port while European Mariner made a turn to starboard heading the extra mile or so further up the Loch to the port's commercial pier. The ro-ro linkspan is situated on the south side of the pier and is only about two thirds of the length of the European Mariner herself. The short length of the pier requires some novel techniques more often seen in Greek waters to safely secure the forward end of the vessel and is the main reason why there are few windmill runs during the more inclement winter months. On this occasion Captain Blackwell-Smyth came to a stop at right angles to the lie of the berth with European Mariner's bow on past the berth. With a quick order to the bosun on the forward mooring deck the port anchor was dropped and gradually paid out as the stern was swung round to port to rest along the pier. Now alongside the pier Captain Blackwell-Smyth gently eased the 'Mariner astern towards the linkspan until she was close enough to allow her stern door to drop onto the deck of the linkspan. She was all fast alongside at around 1245 and was joined just after 1300 by Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Loch Tarbert, which berthed on the north side of the pier.


Davaar Island at the mouth of Campbeltown Loch. The buoyed channel is to the northern side of the island passing the lighthouse, to the right of shot, on the port side.	Looking back at Davaar Island its clear now why the northern route is the deep water channel into the Loch as a sandy spit across the southern side is exposed at low water.

Noel the bosun raises the P&O flag on the jack staff of European Mariner as she approaches Campbeltown.	The commercial pier at Campbeltown with its ro-ro linkspan on the southern side.

Dropping the port anchor on approach to the berth.	Captain Blackwell-Smyth brings the European Mariner alongside at Campbeltown.

Alongside the berth the European Mariner is eased astern into position for loading.	Safely alongside at Campbeltown, this shot shows clearly the length of the 'Mariner compared to the pier.

Already waiting on the pier was European Mariner's load, which consisted of 3 bases and 3 towers bound for a wind farm project near Great Yarmouth. The six lorries had to be loaded quickly as shortly after loading commenced one of the hydraulic pipes on the linkspan burst. This prevented any further adjustments of the level of the linkspan to cope with the incoming tide and very soon European Mariner's stern door would be at too steep an angle to allow the extra long trombone trailers carrying the towers to be reversed aboard. By 1430 however the six loads were safely secured onboard without any further problems being encountered and at 1630 European Mariner left the berth on her voyage to Troon. The trip across the Firth of Clyde was unhurried as we could not get into Troon until after the 2020 Express departure to Larne so once European Mariner cleared the buoyed channel out of Campbeltown Loch the starboard engine was closed down and speed on the port engine set at an economical pace of 8 knots giving us an ETA off Troon at 2030.

The approaches to the Upper Clyde were relatively quiet with the only traffic being an anchored bulk carrier waiting to get into Hunterston and the Express whose lights swept by our port side on her evening passage from Troon to Larne at 2020. European Mariner proceeded on into Troon and berthed at 2145 commencing discharge of her wind turbine cargo immediately. This was cleared up by around 2230 and with her return passage to Larne not due to depart until 0830 the following day this allowed the crew a quiet night alongside in Troon a welcome change from their normal busy 6 nights a week schedule on the Larne - Troon route.


Loading finished European Mariner leaves the Campbeltown berth. Photo: Larne Ferry Web	The forward mooring crew work to recover the port anchor. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)

Campbeltown Loch outward bound looking toward Davaar island. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)	The MOD jetty in Campbeltown Loch with two minehunters alongside. Nearest shot (M106) is HMS Penzance which is affiliated with Larne

Looking back at Campbeltown Loch. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)	Looking south at Sanda and the tip of the Mull of Kintyre. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)

The following morning dawned bright and at 0830 European Mariner set off for her return voyage to Larne to pick up her normal schedule for P&O that evening with her timetabled 1900 service back to Troon. Just out from Troon harbour and already the Express was sighted closing in on the port approaches on her early morning sailing from Larne. With European Mariner's loading berth in Larne not available until 1400 to allow Stena Leader time alongside for maintenance there was little rush across the North Channel. Once the harbour at Troon was clear the port engine was closed down and the starboard engine powered us across the calm waters of the North Channel at 8 knots.

Whilst on passage the crew performed their weekly emergency drills, which covered more that you would expect. Aside from the customary emergency procedures such as mustering at designated emergency stations and practice with the onboard lifesaving equipment the drill also included time set aside for the crew to practice first aid techniques. The subject under discussion in the lorry driver's mess this week being emergency resuscitation and there was the chance for the crew to hone their skills with the help of 'Resusi Annie' - the dummy used to assist with practical demonstrations.

During the crossing I was given a tour of the engine room of the ship by the engineering officer on watch Alan Tweed. Whilst on passage operating solely on the starboard engine Alan explained that the engine was not only powering the ship but also providing all the electrical power needed on board as well via the shaft alternator. The two main engines are 8 cylinder MaK units with auxiliary power coming from 2 Deutz engines which provide electrical power for onboard lighting and the bow thrusters when the main engines are used for maneuvering in port. The fuel used aboard ship is heated via a hot water system to approx 50^oC before it is fed to the main engines both of which have extremely economical fuel consumption. The compact engine room is in marvellous condition and there is certainly no evidence anywhere of the previous 30 years hard work and grime, it is virtually clinical in its cleanliness.

Despite the one engine powering us all the way to Larne European Mariner made good progress in the slight sea and all too soon the familiar approaches to Larne were sighted the East Maidens light house and further on the two yellow and black cardinal buoys warning seafarers of the jagged Hunter's Rock lurking below the surface of the water. Stena Leader was anchored off the fairway buoy having previously vacated Curran Quay to allow European Mariner in to berth and after making another berthing look all too easy Captain Blackwell-Smyth had European Mariner alongside at 1440.

With her wind turbine work complete for another week at 1630 European Mariner commenced loading for her evening freight run to Troon back on duty for P&O for the next 6 days. Over the next few months however the vessel will be kept busy with wind turbine transport work firstly finishing off the runs into Troon in conjunction with the current wind turbines bound for Great Yarmouth and after that she will be importing wind turbine parts to Larne for a new wind farm development in County Donegal.


Getting ready to leave Troon on the voyage back to Larne. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)	Express inward bound to Troon. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)

Alan Tweed poses for the camera in European Mariner's engine control room. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)	Coming alongside at Larne her windmill charter complete for another week. Photo: Larne Ferry Web (click to enlarge)

Many thanks to all those ashore and afloat (and who probably wish to remain nameless?) that made this trip possible.