... oh hang on, there's a load more arriving on that blue thing.

Portsmouth is the UK's number one port for the importation of bananas and other tropical fruits, and there is almost always one refrigerated vessel (or 'reefer' - not to be confused with an illegal cigarette-shaped smoke) in the port unloading goodies (*) or loading empty containers. However, the sight of two vessels crossing is still reasonably uncommon this close to shore - they normally pass south of OSB.

"CMA CGM Meknes" is inbound from Dunkerque (with a less than full load) as it passes Seatrade's "Elsebeth", out to Antwerp near the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour.

22 January 2013, about half-ten in the morning.

(*) - "Goodies" applying only to those who like bananas. So not me then (can't stand the taste).

EDIT Only a flying visit for CCM - She left at 21h00 the same day.

Tags:   CMA CGM Meknes Elsebeth Reefers Seatrade CMA CGM (UK)

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Freedom 90 swings towards Southsea Hoverport. Just visible below the prow of "Elsebeth" in the background, and to the left of the cushion is the wake left by the hovercraft.

She cut in front of the freighter, turned 90 deg to port, then 90 deg starboard (wake from this turn visible below the orange lifecraft on "Beth") into the position she is in on the pic.

Wonderful to watch, and I nearly forgot to hit the shutter button.

Tags:   Freedom 90 Hovertravel Elsebeth Seatrade Groningen

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Hovertravel's "Freedom 90" seen disappearing into the mist as she departs Southsea Hoverport for Ryde, Isle of Wight.

09 January 2012

Tags:   Freedom 90 Hovertravel Southsea - Ryde

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January and February spells the refit season for Brittany Ferries, and as usual, the truly horrid "Armorique" is drafted in to cover the vessels that are away having a deep clean and a new coat of Dulux. This year, it's "Normandie" having a good once-over, and she's sailing to Gdansk (Poland) as I type this.

There's nothing strictly wrong with 'Armorique' - it's just that she lacks all the character of the first ferry to carry the name.

Seen here off Southsea, inbound from Caen/Ouistreham.

08 January 2013

Tags:   Brittany Ferries Armorique

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One of Hapag-Lloyd's newest and largest container carriers is seen in the Solent, outbound from Southampton, en-route for Rotterdam

Tags:   Hamburg Express Hapag-Lloyd

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