< March 2012 >

All content copyright © David Richerby, 2012

Contents

Thursday, 1st March

Friday, 2nd March

The crew of HMS Liverpool paraded through the city for the last time.

Saturday, 3rd March

Sunday, 4th March

On board HMS Liverpool

I didn't bother going on board HMS Liverpool yesterday, as the queues were enormous. They were more sensible, today.

Birkenhead

Birkenhead docks

HMS Liverpool

Monday, 5th March

HMS Liverpool

HMS Liverpool's final departure from Liverpool. She fired a five-gun salute to Cammell Laird and another to the Liver Building.

Ships

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Tuesday, 6th March

Thursday, 8th March

Friday, 9th March

Ships

Black and white

Sunday, 11th March

Wednesday, 14th March

Thursday, 15th March

Stena Mersey is now out of dry dock and was back in Birkenhead for the first time today, now in Stena's livery; now Stena Lagan is undergoing refit. Since Stena Feronia got pranged, they've chartered the truck ferry Clipper Pennant to cover. Clipper Pennant was designed to carry mostly unaccompanied truck trailers so has hardly any passenger accommodation, meaning that cars have to cross on what will be Stena Mersey's once-daily sailing.

Friday, 16th March

Sunday, 17th March

Sunday, 25th March

Waterfowl on Prince's Dock

Manannan

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's sailings have resumed after their winter break.

Monday, 26th March

Tuesday, 27th March

Wednesday, 28th March

Ships

Mersey Mammoth, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company 250t floating crane has been in Antwerp for the last few months and the 400t crane GPS Apollo has been working on the Mersey in her place. Today, she removed the mooring post that used to be between the cruise terminal and the ferry terminal, though I didn't photograph that or her returning to the docks carrying said post, as it got rather hazy.

A bee

I think this is a leafcutter bee, as it seems too fat, hairy and non-stripey to be a honeybee. I found him on my trouser leg after I'd been outside and he sat there quite happily while I put the macro lens and flash on my camera and moved him around to take photos. It's quite early in the year for leafcutters but that seems consistent with his general dopiness and pliability.

Thursday, 29th March

Friday, 30th March

I woke up to find River Class patrol boat HMS Mersey parked at the Cruise Terminal.

Saturday, 31st March

And now Stena Lagan's back in service, also in Stena's livery.