2026 Programme              (Updated 25th May 2026) 

The programme of events for 2026 is shown below.

Saturday 25th April 2026 - Solent Cruise (12:00 - 18:00)

Our first Solent Cruise of 2026 was held on board Solent and Wightline Cruises fast catamaran Solent Cat. The weather was perfect with mainly clear skies, sunny and with light winds. We set off a little late due to the correct gangway not being present on the Town Quay berth, sadly missing the departing containership Yantian Express.

We began by exploring the Western Docks. The Spleithoff yacht carrier Saimaagracht was at berth 101, loading yachts before her Sunday departure for Marin. Princess Cruises Sky Princess was at 106 berth, having arrived from Ajaccio. The container terminal hosted two vessels, the GSL Mercer and the larger Cosco Shipping vessel CSCL Star. She is employed on the Europe Pakistan India (EPIC) Service and had arrived on the Friday from India and Pakistan via Tangier Med. Also of interest in the container port was the work being undertaken to dismantle the last two of the old container cranes which have been unused for several years. Four new cranes (the largest in Europe) will be installed at the terminal later in the year.

Retracing our steps out of the Western Docks, we headed up the River Itchen. The BBC Balboa was at berth 31 with a large motor yacht on deck. She later departed for Palma de Mallorca. In Empress Dock the research ship Discovery was at her usual berth alongside the Oceanography Centre, along with the usual selection of bunkering tankers of the Whittaker fleet and the dredger Cemex Go Innovation which was undergoing maintenance. We proceeded up the River Itchen past the dredger City of London which was at Burnley Wharf to pick up the gangway to make disembarkation easier at Town Quay at the end of the cruise.

Down Southampton Water next past the tankers at Fawley, which included the STI Wembley, Golden Calypso and the LNG powered crude oil tanker Eagle Brasilia which had brought in a cargo of crude from Come By Chance, Canada. We entered the Solent, bound for St. Helen's anchorage, via the North Channel, but crossed over to the main channel in order to pass the inbound tanker Primo M which was bound for Fawley from Antwerp. She was followed in by the American vehicle carrier ARC Defender bound for Southampton, which we passed at very close quarters.

The only inhabitant of St. Helen's anchorage was the LPG tanker Eco Universe. She had arrived on 23rd from Tangier Med and was waiting for a berth at Fawley. There was nothing in the Nab Anchorage in range of our vessel, so we started to head back towards Southampton. We passed the outward bound Brittany Ferries ferry Mont St Michel off Portsmouth, on her usual service to Ouistreham. On the return journey in the Solent we passed the outward bound dredger City of London which was off to load another cargo from the dredge area off the Nab.

We got back to Southampton Water in good time to witness the first of the cruise ship departures. The Sky Princess passed outward bound for Skagen. She was followed by the LNG bunkering tanker Coral Methane which had been bunkering P&O's cruise ship Iona in Ocean Dock. One has to question the economics of a bunkering tanker coming all the way from Scheveningen in the Netherlands to bunker two ships (the Iona on Saturday and the Arvia on Sunday).

The final movement of the day was the departure of P&O's Iona which departed for Bilbao in the beautiful late afternoon sunlight. As we had a little time to spare we went into Ocean Dock, where the elderly research ship EGS Ventus was berthed as well as a couple of the local tugs. The final photographs of the day were taken of the brand new NYK Line vehicle carrier Padma leader which was on 40 berth in the Eastern Docks, loading for her next port, Bremerhaven.

All too soon we were back at Town Quay after a very pleasant afternoon on the Solent, which was enjoyed by all on board. Our thanks go to the members of the committee for organising the day, our navigator Neil Richardson for ensuring we were in the right place to intercept all the ship movements and the captain and crew of the Solent Cat for looking after us so well. A shame there were not so many ships to photograph but the sunshine made up for it!

Photos and report by Chris Brooks.

Yacht carrier SAIMAAGRACHT in the Western Docks.

CSCL STAR in the container terminal.

Empress Dock hosted the research ship DISCOVERY.

PRIMO M in the Solent, bound for Fawley Oil Terminal...

...she was followed by the American vehicle carrier ARC DEFENDER bound for Southampton.

ECO UNIVERSE was the sole inhabitant of St. Helen's Anchorage.

Ferry MONT ST MICHEL departing from Portsmouth.

Veteran dredger CITY OF LONDON outward bound in the North Channel.

SKY PRINCESS in Southampton Water, bound for Skagen.

LNG Bunkering Tanker CORAL METHANE followed the SKY PRINCESS outbound.

P&O's IONA departing for Bilbao.

Research ship EGS VENTUS berthed in Ocean Dock.

New vehicle carrier PADMA LEADER in the Eastern Docks.

WATERMAN berthed at the Parkkade.

STEENBANK, one of several preserved tugs seen underway at Maassluis.

Chemical tanker RITA IEVOLI inward bound in the New Waterway.

MADRID MAERSK seen berthed in Prinses Amaliahaven, Maasvlakte.

TORM KIARA in the Caland Canal.

JUNO was the first of a number of ships passed outward bound in the New Waterway...

...followed by the preserved tug ELBE.

STOLT KASHI outward bound in the New Waterway.

Holland America's NIEUW STATENDAM departed from Rotterdam.

One of the local tugs VB BEAGLE speeding past us.

GW MATHILDE in Botlek Harbour...

... as was the impressive pipe layer / heavy lift vessel SEVEN BOREALIS.

The heavy load carrier LUISA berthed in Waalhaven.

Saturday 16th May 2026 - Rotterdam and Europoort Cruise (10:00 - 20:00)

The ten hour Rotterdam and Europoort cruise on board the Nehalennia took place on 16th May. Despite rather cool and showery weather for the previous days, Saturday dawned with bright skies and some sunshine. We all congregated at Boompjeskade and boarded the Nehalennia for the 10am departure. We proceeded down river and it was not long before cameras were in use for a couple of coasters and the tug Waterman berthed on the Parkkade. We continued down river bound for Maasvlakte and Europoort, past several vessels on the river berths, including the Chinese heavy load carrier Zhong Ren 122 and the heavy lift offshore installation vessel, Orion at the Mammoet facility.

At Maassluis several preserved tugs were observed underway for the "Maassluis Ahoi!" festival, including the steam tug Furie, the beautiful Elbe, the Varnebank and Steenbank. Sadly the earlier sun was replaced by some rather grey cloud, but at least it stayed dry as we made our way down the New Waterway. We passed a couple of inbound tankers in the New Waterway including the Italian flagged Rita Ievoli and the Greek tug Dionysios Z. On arrival at the Hook of Holland we passed through the Breeddiep into the Caland Canal and on to the massive Europoort and Maasvlakte complexes.

Next, we headed for the Yangtzekanaal where the large containerships Ever Faith and OOCL Denmark were working cargo and around to the Maasvlakte 2 area where the Madrid Maersk and others were at the APM Container Terminals. We retraced our steps passing the heavy load carrier GPO Amethyst loading wind turbine components and the large tanker Plata Lucky moored on the buoys. Sadly we didn't have time to visit the container berths at Europoort or the bulk berths at Mississippihaven due to time constraints and the fact that the large bulk carrier Maran Unity was in the process of arriving at Mississippihaven. Onwards now for the tanker berths at the Caland Canal passing the large bulk carriers Royal Argo and Ian M at the EECV terminal. Parts of the tanker berths in the Caland Canal were a little quiet - no doubt due in part to the current situation in the Middle East, but there was still plenty to point our cameras at, including the Torm Kiara and the unusual Bangladesh flagged tanker Banglar Agragoti. As well as tankers, the bulk carriers Bulldog and Sider Miramare were also working cargo in the canal.

We then retraced our path, back to the Breeddiep and the New Waterway. On our way back to Rotterdam via the New Waterway, we passed a number of outward bound vessels in good sunny conditions, perfect for photography. These included the general cargo ship Juno, the preserved tug Elbe, the two DFDS ferries Belgia Seaways and Suecia Seaways, the tanker Stolt Kashi and the Holland America cruise ship Nieuw Statendam bound for a Norwegian cruise, amongst others.

Time now for a look into Botlek harbour, where the pick of the bunch were the bulk carrier GM Mathilde on the scrap metal berth, the bulk carrier Yasa Venus, the impressive pipe layer / heavy lift vessel Seven Borealis and the subsea rock installation vessel Bravenes, as well as several tankers on the various tanker berths.

Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit Eemhaven on our way back up the river, but we did explore Waalhaven where, as usual, a number of interesting ships were berthed. These included the heavy load carrier Luisa, bulk carrier Sider Luck, the Allseas pipe laying ship Solitaire and the Chipolbrok general cargo ship Nowowiejski.

Before returning to our berth at Boompjeskade, we had time to photograph the preserved liner Rotterdam now in use as a hotel ship in Maashaven.

All too soon, our cruise was over. Our thanks go to the captain and crew of the Nehalennia for looking after us so well and to committee members - Mark Teadham for organising the boat and Dave Smith and Ian Cochran for organising the day.

Photos and report by Chris Brooks.

For our second Solent Cruise of 2026 we will again join forces with the Southampton branch of the World Ship Society (WSS), so the trip will be open to members of both organisations.

This cruise will again be on board Solent and Wightline Cruises fast catamaran Solent Cat or a similar vessel.

Depending on the prevailing weather conditions, the vessel s extra speed should allow us to take in St Helen s, the Nab anchorages, as well as Southampton and Fawley, plus Portsmouth (if time and access permits). The extra speed will also enable us to return to Southampton via the deepwater channel instead of the shallower North Channel. We may have the opportunity of seeing the cruise ships Celebrity Apex, Iona and MSC Virtuosa.

Please note that the trip s rotation will depend upon the weather, tides, the discretion of the Captain and Port Control/VTS instructions, plus the shipping to be seen on the day.

The vessel has an open deck area, as well an enclosed saloon with comfortable seating and tables, toilets, and is an excellent platform for ship spotting and photography. The bar/cafe will be open for the purchase of drinks and light refreshments at cost throughout. However, participants are advised to bring a packed lunch.

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.

Bookings are currently being taken.

Photos from our July 2025 Solent Cruise.

Tanker LADY GUIA in St Helen's Anchorage.

The VLCC COBALT NOVA outward bound in the Solent...

...followed by the containership MAERSK PUELO.

CELEBRITY APEX was the first of three cruise ships seen departing.

Vehicle carrier SILVER SUN catching the evening sun at the end of our cruise.

Photos by Chris Brooks.

Photos from our 2025 Rotterdam Cruise

JSP SAMSO berthed on the river at Vlaardingen.

BALDER outward bound from the Caland Canal.

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

Tanker GINGA LIGER berthed in Botlek Harbour.

Bulk carrier ANGELE N moored in Wallhaven.

Photos by Chris Brooks.

Saturday 19th September 2026 and Sunday 20th September 2026 - Rotterdam Cruises (10:00 - 17:00)

With our partner River Cruise Rotterdam, we have arranged two 7-hour cruises around various parts of the extensive Rotterdam port complex aboard their tour boat Nehalennia (or similar vessel), which will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September. We will depart from the Boompjeskade at 10.00 CEST each day returning at about 17.00.

Boompjeskade is on the northern side of the river Maas between the first two bridges spanning the river (Erasmusbrug and Willemsbrug). There are many hotels within 15-30 mins walking distance, or by tram or Metro, from the boat, while the Metro stations of Leuvehaven (serving the Spijkenisse/Centraal Station Line) and Beurs (serving Hoek van Holland/Vlaardingen) are also within easy walking distance.

Saturday 19th September - This trip will cover the Rotterdam City dock complex and hopefully, as far as the upriver shipyards.

Sunday 20th September - This trip will cover Nieuwe Waterweg, Europoort, Caland Canal and Maasvlakte.

However, for both trip s the rotation will depend upon the weather, tides, the discretion of the Captain and Port Control/VTS instructions, plus the shipping to be seen on the day.

The vessels are in general public use, access is via a gangway and there are internal stairways linking various parts of the vessels. There is ample covered and open deck space on both passenger decks, with good access around both decks for photography, with comfortable seating and tables for dining and making notes, or just to enjoy the scenery over a cool drink.

Bookings are currently being taken.