A look back at some of my favourite photos and notable vessels of the year.
Returning from Oban on New Years day, the veteran VITAL SPARK catches the sun at Inveraray.
Inward for Albert dock, the survey vessel SEA EXPLORER. Later in the year she was reported as to be scrapped.
STEEN approaching the Tyne at speed.
Taken from the hotel window, NORDIC ACE makes a late afternoon arrival on the Tyne.
ZEA SERVANT passing Paull inward with wind turbine components. She was to become a regular visitor this year.
TEMSE clearing Saltend outward on a bright morning.
ELISABETH outward for Zeebrugge.
SERVICEMAN returning to King George dock.
WILHELMINE inward for Europoort from the Tees.
ROTTERDAM heading for her next job.
Fruit juice carrier ORANGE WAVE berthed in Rotterdam.
FAIRPLAY-24 heading for her next job in Rotterdam.
Multi-purpose offshore vessel VOS STONE berthed at Rotterdam.
SEASPAN JAKARTA waits for her tugs to depart.
THAMESBANK moving to take the bow of SEASPAN JAKARTA.
The former liner ROTTERDAM, now a hotel.
FAST HERMAN inward for Goole.
A new service was started by Maersk to Immingham and Hull – BG IRELAND was one of the first on the run.
ANDROMEDA J was also to become a regular, here inward from Immingham.
After several years of lay-up the former Toisa vessels found new owners. ENA WIZARD is seen returning to Hull from sea-trials.
A dock tour at Goole, sadly one of the last as the Waterways Museum closed soon after. KERLI berthed in South dock.
THARSIS in the sun and shade at Goole.
Gardline’s OCEAN ENDEAVOUR passes Paull outward…
… closely followed by fleetmate OCEAN RESEARCHER, on her way to the US East coast.
ALDEBARAN J was also to become another regular to Hull on the Maersk service.
AFON WEN passes Paull inward for Alexandra dock, with anti-piracy measures still in place from her time on the West coast of Africa.
The Finnish MERI inward for King George dock with a new crane for ABP.
Another former Toisa heads out for Singapore with the new name ENA FRONTIER.
BOLD TERN on Alexandra dock jetty waiting to sail for the Hornsea Offshore Wind Farm.
SVITZER LONDON heads back to the Thames after a period in dry-dock.
ILE D’OUESSANT outward off Paull, another former Toisa.
SVITZER TRIMLEY at speed to assist at Hull.
NOR DA VINCI outward for Rotterdam, where she was renamed BOKA DA VINCI.
The Sietas built ARA ATLANTIS outward from Hull on a grey day.
NABUCCO is a regular to Saltend, seen here outward for Antwerp.
One of Gardline’s smaller survey vessels IVERO inward for Albert dock.
MTS VICTORY inward for Alexandra dock.
The cruise ship SILVER CLOUD outward from Hull.
ZEA SERVANT off Alexandra dock jetty, changing berths.
PULLMAN returning to Immingham at speed.
SVITZER GANGES inward for dry-docking.
Several days were spent at Aberdeen again this year, PACIFIC DISPATCH was one of the first of this trip.
DEEP DISCOVERER made an impressive sight sailing.
Another impressive vessel, REVER SAPPHIRE sailing to the anchorage.
Sailing in very light, the KL BRISFJORD was heading for the dry-dock.
An unusual looking survey vessel, BOURBON TERN approaching the piers.
The distinctive SEAWELL making her way out to sea.
CARRICKFERGUS arriving back in the harbour from the new South harbour.
AYR arriving to load scrap metal for Spain.
HMS CATTISTOCK arrives for a port visit.
A very stocky AHTS, the SKANDI HERA heads out to the bay.
The Sietas built BELTNES moored in the new South harbour.
Having been in the anchorage, the AHTS MAERSK HANDLER enters the harbour.
A smaller stand by/supply vessel CYGNUS SENTINEL arriving.
Gardline’s OCEAN VANTAGE arriving.
FS ABERGELDIE arriving with a very light trim.
KL BARENTSFJORD sailing, with her sister just visible in the dry-dock beyond.
The anchor handling tug MANTA heads out to sea.
The ro/ro SEA-CARGO EXPRESS arriving on her weekly call.
HIGHLAND PRESTIGE arrives in the late evening light…
… closely followed by the MAERSK LASER.
Early morning arrival for the GRAMPIAN CORINTHIAN…
..with a later arrival for GRAMPIAN CONQUEST, inward for crew changes.
SOLWAY FISHER outward for Immingham.
UAL BODEWES arriving, note the mushroom painted vents and the Dutch flag hook blocks.
The fishery research vessel TRIDENS outward.
The WHITCHALLENGER arrives from the anchorage just before 05:00.
The small expedition/cruise ship POLAR PIONEER arrives for a short stay.
The survey vessel FUGRO VENTURER approached the harbour entrance.
GALWAY FISHER arrives from Immingham via Montrose.
Having been in port for several days, SARTOR heads out to the anchorage.
The large offshore support vessel SEVEN KESTREL looks impressive as she arrives.
MAERSK HANDLER heads out of the harbour, the last vessel I caught on this trip.
On the slip at Crinan, the puffer AULD REEKIE under restoration/conversion.
A short while later, the puffer VIC 32 arrives at Crinan.
The cruise ship MAGELLAN berthed at Dundee.
VIKING SUN anchored off Leith.
The FINGAL berthed at Leith, now used as a luxury boutique hotel.
CRAIGLEITH makes her way out of Leith docks…
… followed by OXCAR.
The lighthouse/buoy tender PHAROS at Oban – taken from the hotel window.
The offshore support/accommodation vessel ACTA ORION passes Paull inward from the windfarms.
JUMBO VISION passes Paull outward having delivered wind turbine components.
The stylish SCELVERINGHE outward having discharged sea dredged sand at Riverside quay.
GILLIAN KNIGHT passes the Scale lane bridge on the River Hull.
The Dutch tug EN AVANT 1 approaching Alexandra dock with the KAILASH in tow from Norway.
The Basel registered bulker ANDERMATT passes Paull inward with cement from Greece.
Having spent many years as a museum ship in the River Hull, ARCTIC CORSAIR was moved to Alexandra dock for major renovations.
YEOMAN and TRUEMAN head out to their next job.
With a distinctive funnel style, the Finnish KALLIO passes Paull inward for King George dock.
SPANACO RELIABILITY passes Paull inward for Hull.
More cement from Greece arrives at King George dock on the ZEALAND ZARIA.
The veteran cruise ship ASTORIA passes Paull inward on one of her several visits to Hull this year.
SMS tugs head out from Hull for Immingham.
The workboat DORUS MOR arrives back at Oban.
ISLE OF LEWIS approaches Oban harbour at a rate of knots.
The fish carrier INTER CALEDONIA heading south in the Sound of Mull.
HAVGULL is a regular at Oban, loading fish food for the many fish farms in the area.
CLANSMAN laid by at Oban due to a weather cancelled voyage.
ISLE OF MULL clears the berth at Oban for another passage to Mull.
SYMPHONY SKY passes Paull inward to load wind turbine blades for Great Yarmouth.
MARTIGNY passes Paull with cement for King George dock.
H&S WISDOM makes a splash as she heads inward passing Chowderness.
Also inward at Chowderness, the EEMS DELTA making one of her last visits to the river before being sold to West Africa.
The Sietas built TRENLAND approaches King George dock.
The Gardline survey vessel VIGILANT approaches Albert dock in the fading afternoon light.
Another Gardline vessel, the OCEAN OBSERVER passes inward. She is the former THV MERMAID.
DEEP CYGNUS outward from Hull, heading for the wind farms in the North sea.
Inward passing Paull, the PATRICK seems an appropriate vessel to end the 2019 page.