GALLERY: Ships on the Seine
15th September 2022
The river Seine is a 482-mile long river which rises at Source-Seine, and then flows through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre. It is navigable by ocean-going vessels between Le Havre and Rouen, 75 miles from the sea, and is used by a wide variety of shipping of all kinds, as the photos by Roy Cressey show.
The Madeira-registered African River at Rouen’s Quai de Grande Couronne loading vehicles on deck for a voyage to Abidjan, West Africa. The 28,440dwt vessel was built in China in 2011 for Roerd Braren Bereederungs but is on charter to Bremen Overseas Chartering and Shipping.
The Netherlands-flagged 5,460gt Eemslift Nelli, having just departed Quai Coflexip at Le Trait on the Seine with oil-related cargo destined for Lerwick in Shetland. The 4,200dwt general cargo vessel dates from 2013, when she was built as Arctic Dawn.
The Netherlands-flagged 3,300dwt general cargo vessel O.T. Ideaal (2012), operated by Amasus Shipping of Delfzijl, navigating the Seine on a voyage to Dinteloord, Netherlands. She had just completed discharging a cargo from Newport at the Terminal de Rouen Quevilly. She took the name O.T. Ideaal in 2015 after previously sailing as Somers Isles.
At the heart of Rouen’s busy port, the 27,837dwt bulk carrier Ayla, registered in Avatiu, Cook Islands, moves berths with the help of local tugs. She moved from the Quai MRM (now Senalia), a large grain berth, to the Quai de Petit to load a cargo for Annaba. Built in Japan in 1995 as Lucky Grace, she later took the names Laura and Laura M before becoming Ayla in 2014.
The Spanish-flagged general cargo vessel Ura (2009/6,801dwt) passing under the Pont de Normandie, one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world, which links Le Havre to Honfleur. Ura was built as the Cypriot-flagged Uppland, but is now operated by Naviera Murueta of Bilbao. She had discharged a cargo from Algeciras at Honfleur and was proceeding to the Rouen anchorage.
