Eddystone in Gibraltar 29th March 2010

[wavering]

She turned up this morning - this shot was taken a few minutes ago
Bob

[Derek Dicker]

Mng Bob, good picture, I take it she's a small container vessel, spent many a good time in Gib., from the late fifties to mid sixtys on various destroyers and frigates, what have the spaniards built opposite the old naval base. looks like a container port. Did manage one run ashore in spain before the border was closed. Flew back to the UK for a spot of leave when the ship was in refit, bit of a hairy experience taking off from your airport.


Derek (Bunts)

[wavering]

She is a pseudo military vessel, I believe. Often used by the MOD eg see:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...ntFromIraq.htm

As for the cranes opposite, it is indeed a container port. The most interesting part is how the cranes actually get here. See below:

[harry.gibbon]

Bob, Good pic and follow-up posting about the MV Eddystone thanks!

Re the cranes, that or similar set up has been aired on the Discovery channel, along with other odd shaped heavy-lift loads and the occasional Warship or two.

To say the A/D Battle Class conversations or the Cathedral Class both types with double 965 radars were top heavy, would of course now be an understatement

Little h

[Dreadnought]

As I understand it, Eddystone is one of a number Ro/Ro ships operated in commercial service, but available to the UK Government, as required, for sealift duties.

Eddystone was built in 2002 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Ges. mbH & Co. KG - Flensburg. Yard No. 718, but registered in the UK. She is diesel powered, 588 feet long and grosses 23,235 tons. She has 2,700 lane metres of vehicle space and has a crew of 18 civilians.

[alanandbren]

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

As I understand it, Eddystone is one of a number Ro/Ro ships operated in commercial service, but available to the UK Government, as required, for sealift duties.

Eddystone was built in 2002 by Flensburger Schiffbau-Ges. mbH & Co. KG - Flensburg. Yard No. 718, but registered in the UK. She is diesel powered, 588 feet long and grosses 23,235 tons. She has 2,700 lane metres of vehicle space and has a crew of 18 civilians.

If a roll on roll off is called a Ro-Ro, is a cattle transporter called a Tro-Tro
ie trot on trot off,?

[wavering]

Originally Posted by alanandbren

If a roll on roll off is called a Ro-Ro, is a cattle transporter called a Tro-Tro
ie trot on trot off,?

Well, it should be but it more likely to be known as a Moo Moo, I would think

Anyway, here is Eddystone's sister ship Hurst Point

It seems there are several of these as stated here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_class_sealift_ship

[mik43]

There are four ships in the class and they were built as a PFI - private finance initative - project whereby the private sector builds and runs them for MOD for a cost - naturally - to the MOD. Both the MOD and the private sector provide the build cash. MOD has first shout on the use of any or all the vessels but when not required for MOD use they are used 'commercially' as ordinary merchant ships.

It should be noted that being a PFI project it should save money for the UK taxpayer but as has been well documented it would have been cheaper for the UK Government to have borrowed the cash on the open market - well not at this point in time of course...............!!!!!!!!!!

Mik

[Heid]

There are actually 6 ships in the class, with two of their number - Beachy Head/Longstone on long term commercial hire.
Out of the 4 currently being used by the MOD, only the Eddystone has seen limited commercial work during quiet spells, whilst the other 3 have only ever carried MOD cargoes.
These ships were conceived to spend much of their time operating commercially, however that was the idea in 1998 before Afghanistan/Iraq appeared on the scene.
At least two of these ships are heading to/from Ascension/Falklands at any one time - they carry the bulk of all the stores and equipment used by Military and civvies.
They are UK flagged and the crews are all British nationals who as a condition of employment must be special members of the Royal Naval Reserve.

[mik43]

Thanks Heid, I'd completely forgotten about Beachy Head and Longstone, precisely because they were on a long term commercial hire - all paid for at UK taxpayers expense. I hope that MOD are getting something out of the hire, but I won't hold my breath!!

Mik

[Heid]

Actually it's the MOD who technically sub charters them out, ergo the profit generated goes to them.
The nature of the emergency call back clause in the contract does however drive down the charter rate compared to a normal Ro-Ro, but they do still turn an operating profit.
Figures were circulated a couple of years ago as to the actual cost of this PFI initiative as compared to these ships being bona fide RFA's - the PFI option was much cheaper!

[mik43]

PFI cheaper - well that will be a first then!!

Mik

[Heid]

Mik,
Compared to the way the RFA works these days it was always going to be a no brainer.