| Meeting Report March 2007 |
| At The March meeting Ray Smith entertained us with a slide show of large selection of ships taken on a Mediterranean / Black Sea cruise with the Thames Ship Society in September 2006. After a flight to Milan and a Coach transfer to Genoa they boarded "MSC Lirica". There was time before departure to photograph the tugs and ferries in the port before heading off to their first port of call, Naples. The numerous ferries were well represented and tugs were prominent. The 2006 built 90,000 grt "MSC Toronto" required three tugs to manoeuvre here, whereas at many ports, ships of this size try and berth without any assistance. The next port of call was Piraeus with another large number of ferries in port. There was then an impromptu quiz; name the ferry she used to be in more northern waters? This turned up �Hoverspeed Great Britain�, "Free Enterprise 8�, �Spirit of Free Enterprise�, �Senlac�, �St Columba�, and �Prince Phillipe�. They left Piraeus bound for Yalta in the Black Sea transiting the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorous Straits, where there were coasters, tankers, bulkers and cruise ships to be seen.
Yalta proved a bit disappointing in shipping with only a few local craft, although the "Spirit of Adventure" arrived later. The next port of call, Odessa, proved to be more favourable with local craft, bulkers, containerships and vessels under repair including the Russian liner Odessa. The next day saw an early arrival in Istanbul and joined "Grand Princess"alongside. Ray took a ferry to catch some of the ships in the anchorage and on the Hydrapasha side. It was then a return trip to Genoa calling in at Catania in Sicily and then Capri where the sailng cruise ship "Royal Clipper" was to be seen and Ray made the rather �hairy� trip to see the Blue Lagoon. Thanks to Ray for a comprehensive coverage of the trip and detailed history of the ships seen on the way. |