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THOUGHTS OF THE DOCKS Everything that we have assumed about the docks seemed to have revolved around shipping. Perhaps in some way this is true. We must not forget that it is primarily a ship repair facility. However, visits to the port without actual repairs are frequent, by different types and shapes of vessels as well. Some photos can show what I mean.
The largest to visit for work was a vessel of over 110,000 tons- the "Pan Cedar", a big ship in anyone's language.
"Pride of Calais" is one of the regular customers. P&O send their Cross Channel Ferries knowing that the work will be accomplished on time.
An interesting photo of a small cruise liner in dock for repair. The Greek owned vessel "Princess Danae". Interesting feature of this photo is the fact that when this vessel was dry-docking, the jib of the grey crane collapsed. The driver was treated for shock but uninjured. Within eighteen months the top of the crane including the driver's cabin and broken jib had been removed and a new section, complete from the base, was installed.
A visit from the German Navy in the shape of a submarine. Alongside is the water barge that helps to supply fresh water to all and sundry.
Photos from the 1980's. Falmouth Towage Co. tugs shown alongside and performing their duties with an Admiralty survey vessel, possibly "H.M.S. Hecate". Falmouth T.C. are one of the oldest tug companies in the country.
"H.M.S. Anglesey", a fishery protection vessel built on the same lines as the Icelandic vessels so prominent in the Cod War.
Above is a photo of the Royal Navy's "H.M.S. Speedy", a Boeing Jet Foil, used extensively by the U.S. Forces and tried out by the Admiralty. I'm not sure if it was named after an old film of the same title starring Harold Lloyd! or because it was extremely fast. On the wharf are containers or silos of Barite mud that was used in drilling operations for the oil industry in the Western Approaches of which the docks was the main base. Diversification has been a feature of the docks over the years, forced on them by the fall in ship repair work. However, Cargo Handling has been one instance of success, including the importing of fertiliser from Norway and coal from South Africa. It's not unusual to see a vessel alongside discharging its cargoes. The following figures show the scale of this business: Fertilizer-60,000 tons and Coal- 20,000 tons per annum.
Another feature has been the visits of Cruise Liners. The photo is of the "Emerald" alongside the County Wharf. The excessively large liners do not come alongside unless the tide is right but then a vessel of 45,000 tons can be accommodated. 2002 has been a special year for the Docks with the liner "Van Gogh", making her voyages to and from Falmouth with the promise of their new programme in 2003 to make Falmouth it's base again.
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