In the distance can be seen what I think is the ship Anvil Point, definitely one of the 'Point' class. The 'Point' class is a class of six Roll-on/Roll-off Sealift ships procured under PFI and available for use as naval auxiliaries to the British armed forces. They are designed for the strategic transport of military cargoes and vehicles in times of need. The UK Ministry of Defence has purchased a 22-year charter from Foreland Shipping who own, operate and crew the ships, utilising them as merchantmen when they are not required for military service. She was one of two being built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, the other four ships of the class built by the German company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft. All are named for British points and headlands. She is seen at berth at Marchwood. The 'dome' visible just to the right of the ship is Marchwood ERF, or Marchwood Energy Recovery Facility, as is known. It is a waste incineration plant situated beside the estuary of the River Test where it meets Southampton Water, opposite the Port of Southampton. It burns municipal waste and produces electricity for the National Grid.
This photo was taken from the starboard side of P&O Cruises Azura - IMO: 9424883, at the Ocean Terminal, on 05/08/2011, after arriving at Southampton at around 05:30hrs. We had left Southampton, on 22/07/2011, for a 14-night Western Mediterranean Cruise from the Ocean Terminal; Southampton - Barcelona - Toulon - Civitavecchia - Naples - Ajaccio - Gibraltar - Lisbon - Southampton. The last port of call being Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, on 02/08/2011, leaving there around 17:15 hrs.
Azura was built in 2010 by Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy. Laid down in October 2008, launched in June 2009 and Christened on 10/04/2010 with her maiden voyage on the 12th of the month. Part of the Grand Class of cruise ships, the earlier and similar Ventura being her sister ship. Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda, she has a GTW of 115,055, has nineteen decks of which fourteen are passenger accessible giving a maximum passenger capacity of 3,096 and 1,226 crew. Powered by six Wartsilla diesels capable of 22 knots. © Peter Steel 2011.
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