As hinted on the June page, the end of the month saw us back in Aberdeen for a week. Leaving Hull at 7pm on the Friday and driving through the night saw us arrive at the Torry Battery by 4.30 Saturday morning. Check-in wasn’t until 2pm so it gave me a good start to the week.
Day 1.
First photos taken at 04:50 – TROMS LYRA sailing.
SONGA COMMANDER was the first arrival.
Moving round to the South harbour, NORTH SEA ATLANTIC berthed at Dunnottar quay North – a little obstructed by a stack of lumber for export.
The reason for heading to the South harbour – the French cruise ship LE DUMONT D’URVILLE arriving. Fortunately a grey overcast day but still quite backlit.
As she approached we took a quick drive round to the south side to a spot that overlooks the harbour and managed to get some good elevated views.
Berthed at Castlegate quay west was the ice-breaker BOTNICA, again spending her summer months in the North Sea.
Back to the Battery and SIEM CHALLENGER sailing for trials.
Windfarm support vessel GREEN STORM was next to arrive.
SPRINGER TIDE next inward bound.
Having been out for only 1 hour, SIEM CHALLENGER returns to the harbour.
SUPRA TIDE was the next arrival as the weather started to turn…
… followed closely by SEACOR NILE as the rain started.
Having been to check-in at the Apartrooms at Marywell, I returned to the harbour as HIGHLAND DEFENDER sailed.
At Clipper quay was SEAWELL – recently arrived back from Spain.
ENERGY PARADISE arrives just after 4pm.
Another quick stop at ‘the shed’ to get better sunlit shots of FUGRO ZEPHYR, a recent renaming from SEA GOLDCREST.
A much better sunlit view of NORTH SEA ATLANTIC also.
A good start to the week with 14 ships photographed, 8 were new to me.
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Day 2.
FUGRO ZEPHYR still on Castlegate quay.
ARMADA 78 02 arriving in the South harbour for Crathes quay.
Just got back to Torry Battery in time for quick shots of SERENADE TIDE arriving.
BOS PATIENCE next arrival.
GRAMPIAN SOVEREIGN arrives next.
HELLIAR inward bound at speed.
Back round to the South harbour for the arrival of IEVOLI GREY to Castlegate quay.
BOTNICA in the sun.
FS CYGNUS passes outward bound.
GRAMPIAN DEVOTION inward in glorious sunlight.
Making her regular Sunday sailing, SEA-CARGO EXPRESS heads out.
ENERGY PARADISE heads out.
A quieter day, 12 ships photographed with 3 new to me. An early finish to spend time with the wife.
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Day 3.
ENERGY PACE first across the lens this morning.
SKANDI AUKRA always looks good on a sunny day.
SWIFT TIDE arrives next.
A last minute, lazy set of REM SUPPLIER inward, taken from the car park.
ATLANTICA SUPPLIER next inward…
… next outward was fleetmate ATLANTICA SERVER.
Moving down to the harbour, CYGNUS SENTINEL makes her way out.
SPRINGER TIDE makes her way across to Dales drydock.
SKANDI PEREGRINO looks smart as she arrives, turns and heads stern first to the top dock.
A later start to the day than usual, 10 ships today of which 4 were new to me.
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Day 4.
An early start as just after 05:00 AURORA PROTECTOR catches the sun at Installation berth.
Fleetmate AURORA COEY is the first arrival, still in her Viking colours.
Regular arrival HROSSEY.
AURORA STORM next to arrive.
SURFER TIDE was the first sailing.
Next arrival was SAR LOKE.
Two for the South harbour next – SEACOR OHIO was first…
… followed by the BOKA ATLANTIS.
Back to the Battery and ATLANTICA DUKE next outward.
FS CYGNUS was the next inward, could do with a clean up.
In comparison, EDDA FRENDE always looks smart.
SERVICE TIDE was the next arrival.
ENERGY PASSION next outward was X-bow number five for the day.
The full sail cruise ship SEA CLOUD SPIRIT arrives at the South harbour at 14:00.
A busier day, 15 ships, 5 new.
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Day 5.
Berthed at Dunnottar quay, NORMAND JARSTEIN on a grey, misty morning.
ISLAND CHALLENGER arrives…
… as does VESTLAND ARTEMIS.
HJALTLAND next inward just before 06:30.
The Mersey built tug FIDRA departs the harbour to assist…
…the cruise ship SILVER SPIRIT. FIDRA and PETEREL were both in attendance but neither were used.
FIDRA heads into the South harbour…
… then heads back to the main harbour.
PETEREL also heads back to her base.
SILVER SPIRIT and the NERC research vessel DISCOVERY were both due at the same time. Fortunately the two pilots on the cruise ship had the DISCOVERY to berth afterwards which meant we had time to get back to the Battery. The weather had closed in a bit more as she approached though.
FS BRAEMAR clears the river to move to another berth.
STRIL ODIN arrives and enters the river.
SKANDI BARRA exits the river for sea.
REM INSULA heads to sea.
A gloomy morning, 12 ships photographed but only 3 were new to me.
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Day 6.
CELESTIA arrives very early and takes an unusual approach to the harbour.
The weather stays misty as HAVILA BORG arrives.
ARMADA 78 02 catching the morning sun at Crathes quay.
The small cruise ship ISLAND SKY arriving in the South harbour…
… closely followed by NORMAND SUBSEA.
Back to the Battery for the arrival of HIGHLAND PRINCE.
As the day brightens HELLIAR arrives.
FS BRAEMAR heads out.
FUGRO VENTURER at Duthies quay.
REM SERVER heads out for trials.
GRAMPIAN SOVEREIGN also heads out.
BOS PATRIOT heads out, another of the VOS fleet easily renamed.
FALNES TIDE enters the harbour.
SIEM CHALLENGER returns from trials.
In her new red hull colours, STANDARD DEFENDER sails.
The small survey vessel KARINA rolls into Aberdeen.
Having spent some time off the North pier doing DP trials, REM SERVER returns to port.
A day that started grey but got better – 17 ships with 5 new.
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Day 7.
HJALTLAND arrives on time around 06:30.
FLYER TIDE leads a flood of arrivals.
SKANDI GAMMA next inward.
AURORA POWER makes her way in next.
HILDASAY takes precedence over the waiting queue.
One of the weeks highlights, the veteran cement carrier LOLA-1 heads out.
Having waited patiently EDDA FERD is next inward…
…followed by SPICA TIDE…
… and SOLVIK SUPPLIER.
I don’t usually take the wind farm support craft, but CWIND ARTIMUS approached at speed.
AURORA PROTECTOR next inward.
SONGA COMMANDER makes her second arrival this week.
Berthed at Clipper quay, the EEMSLIFT ELLEN had arrived overnight.
THUN BLYTH arrives later in the morning.
SEA HERALD returns from the South harbour – the repairs to the breached North pier can be seen in the background.
SERENADE TIDE moves from the river to the Installation berth late morning.
TROMS LYRA heads out again early afternoon.
Mid afternoon and EEMSLIFT ELLEN heads out to Nigg.
An afternoon sailing for HILDASAY.
Last full day and 20 ships photographed with 4 being new to me.
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Day 8.
Having moved berths, early morning view of BOTNICA catching the sun.
WISBY ARGAN heads out to Immingham.
HROSSEY in the sun arriving.
SKANDI AUKRA returns to the harbour…
…followed by HIGHLAND DEFENDER.
The last new to me ship of this trip, ATLANTIS DWELLER arrives.
SERVICE TIDE inward bound.
SEACOR OHIO enters the harbour from the anchorage.
HELLIAR inward again.
As the clouds begin to build the SCOTIA heads out.
The Hull built VOS GUARDIAN was the last to be caught this trip.
Time restricted morning as I needed to be back to check out before 10:00 – 11 ships photographed with 1 new.
Total for the week was 89 different ships photographed, 33 were new to me.
Thanks to my good friend Billy for the company – and nice to meet Charlie, Rab and the Van der Hoek brothers.