2025 Programme              (Updated 26th May 2025) 

The programme of events for 2025 is shown below.

Please note that all events in the 2025 programme are subject to change.

Saturday 26th April 2025 - Solent Cruise (11:45 - 18:00)

Our first Solent Cruise of 2025 was held on 26th April on board Blue Funnel’s Ocean Scene. 44 TSS members participated in the cruise. The day dawned rather grey and misty, but it soon improved and by the time we were setting off at midday, the sun was shining. First we went up to the Western Docks to view the shipping there. Princess Cruises Sky Princess was at berth 102 and we would later see her depart for Haugesund. The containership YM Continuity was in the process of swinging in the Upper Swinging Ground before her departure. The very large Hapag-Lloyd containership Hanoi Express was on SCT5 berth.

We followed the YM Continuity out of the harbour eventually catching up with her off Hythe allowing some close up stern views. Sadly the Ocean Scene did not have the speed to overtake her so we could get some bow shots. The bunkering tanker Whitstar and the feeder containership Dornbusch also passed us inbound in Southampton Water. At Fawley the tankers Gemma and Yasa Vega were the pick of the bunch.

Off now towards Portsmouth via the North Channel in the Solent. Our buffet lunch was served at this point. In Portsmouth HMS Queen Elizabeth was in port as well as the destroyer HMS Dragon. Portsmouth commercial port was busy with Geest Line refrigerated cargo ship Luzon Strait and the bulk carrier Handy Heidi present. Brittany Ferries Mont St Michel was also in the process of departing. On our way out of Portsmouth harbour we were followed by the preserved Motor Gun Boat MGB 81.

We headed back to Southampton and passed the outbound cruise ship Sky Princess in Southampton Water. She was followed out by the LNG bunkering tanker Coral Methane which had been bunkering P&O’s cruise ship Iona. The bunkering tanker made a good photo in sunshine with a dark rain cloud behind her. Thankfully the rain cloud did not get as far as the docks in Southampton! We had a little time to kill before the departure of the cruise ship , so we explored the Empress Dock. The vehicle carrier Artemis Leader was berthed in the Eastern Docks on the River Itchen. In the Empress Dock were the usual bunkering tankers and the offshore vessel Armada 78 02.

By this time the Iona was backing out of Ocean Dock and swinging prior to her departure. We had a good view of her as she departed. All too soon the cruise was over and we made our way back to Town Quay. Our thanks go to the crew of the Ocean Scene for looking after us well. Thanks also to Ian Cochran, Dave Smith and other members of the committee for organizing the day.

Photos and Report by Chris Brooks

YM CONTINUITY outward bound in Southampton Water.

Container feeder DORNBUSCH inward bound in Southampton Water.

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH in Portsmouth.

Reefer LUZON STRAIT in Portsmouth.

Preserved MGB 81 following us out of Portsmouth.

SKY PRINCESS departing from Southampton.

LNG bunkering tanker CORAL METHANE outward bound.

ARTEMIS LEADER in the Eastern Docks, Southampton.

P&O's IONA departing from Southampton Harbour.

JSP SAMSO berthed on the river at Vlaardingen.

Preserved tug FURIE in the New Waterway.

BALDER outward bound from the Caland Canal.

EVER GENIUS at Maasvlakte.

Crane ship SEAWAY ALFA LIFT outward bound from Maasvlakte 2.

Chinese bitumen / asphalt tanker TAI HUA WAN in the Caland Canal.

IVER BRILLIANT overtaking us in the New Waterway.

Tanker GINGA LIGER berthed in Botlek Harbour.

Supply ship FS AQUARIUS passing us outward bound.

Bulk carrier ANGELE N moored in Wallhaven.

Photos and report by Chris Brooks

Saturday 17th May 2025 - Rotterdam and Europoort Cruise (10:00 - 20:00) / Sunday 18th May 2025 - Terneuzen Coach Trip.

For many the highlight of the TSS calendar is the Rotterdam and Europoort cruise on board the Nehalennia. Our 10 hour cruise this year was enjoyed by 45 members. The weather was a mixture of bright and sunny periods with a little light cloud at times, though a rather cool Northerly breeze was blowing.

We departed Boompjeskade at 10am and headed down river for Europoort and Maasvlakte. On our way we passed several ships berthed on the banks of the Nieuwe Maas, including the Jebsen Shipping Partners 2024 built JSP Samso. As we proceeded down the New Waterway, we passed several preserved tugs which were participating in an event at Maassluis celebrating 400 years of the town. Amongst them was the lovely steam tug Furie. As we got to the Hook of Holland we were overtaken by the containership BG Red and tanker Brahms.

We crossed over into the Caland Canal to witness the departure of the huge semi-submersible crane vessel Balder. From there we proceeded to Maasvlakte and subsequently Maasvlakte 2. Several large containerships were present, including the Ever Genius, OOCL Valencia, Elly Maersk and One Trust. The heavy load carrier Seaway Alfa Lift passed us outward bound towering over the Nehalennia. We retraced our steps back to Europoort where several other containerships were berthed. Unfortunately we couldn’t visit Europahaven and the bulkers in Mississippihaven due to time constraints and a large containership departing from Europahaven.

We then left Europoort and explored the tanker berths in the Caland Canal. One of the more interesting ships berthed there was the Chinese COSCO asphalt / bitumen tanker Tai Hua Wan. As well as the tanker berths we had a look in Beneluxhaven to see the various ro-ro cargo ship and ferries. We covered most of the Caland Canal before we turned and headed back to the New Waterway.

On our way back up the New Waterway towards Rotterdam we were passed by the outbound DFDS vessel Suecia Seaways followed by the cargo ship BBC Ganges. The inbound Vroon asphalt / bitumen tanker Iver Brilliant overtook us as we headed for Rotterdam. We then turned into Botlek Harbour, which is always busy with a wide selection of vessels. The tanker Ginga Liger caught the late afternoon sunshine as we passed her. Once we had covered Botlek Harbour we headed upriver for the last harbour the Waalhaven. One the way we passed the outbound offshore supply ship FS Aquarius. Waalhaven harbour always has some interesting vessels to see - offshore ships, laid up vessels and vessels under repair. The bulk carrier Angele N was moored on the buoys there.

All too soon our cruise came to an end. Our thanks go to the captain and crew of the Nehalennia for looking after us so well and also to Mark Teadham for making arrangements for the boat and other committee members for organising the day.

On Sunday several members travelled by minibus from Rotterdam to spend a few hours at Terneuzen on the River Schelde to photograph the ships that pass there to and from Antwerp.

Following on from the successful 2024 Solent Cruise held in conjunction with the World Ship Society Southampton Branch, we will again organize a similar cruise.

This trip will have something for everyone with the prospect of seeing almost all types of ships ranging from the largest container vessels, tankers, cruise ships, down to tugs, coasters and ferries. Bring your partner, even if they are not particularly interested in ships, as this is a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The cruise will depart from Town Quay in Southampton, on board a Solent and Wightline Cruises "Cat" type vessel as used previously. This cruise will cover Southampton, the Solent including St. Helen's Anchorage and possibly part of the Nab Anchorage(vessel, weather and tides permitting) and possibly Portsmouth Harbour. The trip will last for seven hours.

The "Cat" vessels have an open deck area as well as a large enclosed saloon with toilets, and are an excellent platform for photography. The bar will be open for the purchase of drinks and light refreshments at cost.

Confirmed date - bookings being taken.

Photos from our July 2024 Solent Cruise.

DATTILO M in the Nab Anchorage.

Chinese owned tanker XT PEACE in St. Helen's Anchorage.

Vehicle carrier THRUXTON outbound from Southampton.

MEIN SCHIFF 3 in the Western Docks, Southampton.

Photos by Chris Brooks

Photos from our September 2024 Solent Cruise.

EUROCARGO VALENCIA in the Western Docks.

Japanese naval training ship SHIMAKAZE in the Eastern Docks.

GAS ELIXIR in St. Helen's Anchorage.

CELEBRITY APEX outward bound in Southampton Water.

Photos by Chris Brooks

We will be organizing a third Solent Cruise, which will have something for everyone with the prospect of seeing almost all types of ships ranging from the largest container vessels, tankers, cruise ships, down to tugs, coasters and ferries. Bring your partner, even if they are not particularly interested in ships, as this is a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The cruise will depart from Town Quay in Southampton, on board a Solent and Wightline Cruises "Cat" type vessel as used previously. This cruise will cover Southampton, the Solent including St. Helen's Anchorage and possibly part of the Nab Anchorage(vessel, weather and tides permitting) and possibly Portsmouth Harbour. The trip will last for six hours.

The "Cat" vessels have an open deck area as well as a large enclosed saloon with toilets, and are an excellent platform for photography. The bar will be open for the purchase of drinks and light refreshments at cost.

Confirmed date - bookings being taken.