Why are ships mooring here? Anglesey
Discussion
So, ever since somebody posted this link
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/
I've become a bit obsessed with seeing whats going on along the North Wales coast. There are regularly ships moored off the NE coast of Anglesey in a little group. They're all bound for Liverpool, presumably waiting for the tides.
My question is why do they all gather there? (there are 4 big ones there at the time of posting)
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/
I've become a bit obsessed with seeing whats going on along the North Wales coast. There are regularly ships moored off the NE coast of Anglesey in a little group. They're all bound for Liverpool, presumably waiting for the tides.
My question is why do they all gather there? (there are 4 big ones there at the time of posting)
It could be waiting for the tide, but many ports are dredged to be accessible at all states of tide these days. Ships stop in anchorages for a variety of reasons. They might be early or late for their docking time, and have to wait for it or the next available space. They may be waiting for a pilot to be available to take them into port. They may be waiting for orders for their next voyage.
As for why that area, it is relatively deep to close inshore there, and the shoreline will provide shelter from the prevailing westerly winds which means a calm anchorage. It is also very close to a pilot boarding area marked on the chart.
As for why that area, it is relatively deep to close inshore there, and the shoreline will provide shelter from the prevailing westerly winds which means a calm anchorage. It is also very close to a pilot boarding area marked on the chart.
you often see ships anchored up in strange places as it costs nothing to put an anchor down, but shed loads to keep one in a port. when the ship is not on charter, it makes sense to anchor it somewhere in a geographically convinient location with a care-taker crew. this is one of the reasons why lots of ships sit off the coast of gran canaria near las palmas... it is almost equidistant to Europe and the US and falls conviniently outside of the EU's fiscal zone so bunkering is nice and cheap.
...either that, or they are waiting for the tide/berth
...either that, or they are waiting for the tide/berth
village idiot said:
you often see ships anchored up in strange places as it costs nothing to put an anchor down, but shed loads to keep one in a port. when the ship is not on charter, it makes sense to anchor it somewhere in a geographically convinient location with a care-taker crew. this is one of the reasons why lots of ships sit off the coast of gran canaria near las palmas... it is almost equidistant to Europe and the US and falls conviniently outside of the EU's fiscal zone so bunkering is nice and cheap.
...either that, or they are waiting for the tide/berth
I seem to recall that there are big buoys in the sea where the boats park up, so it looks like it's designated parking spot....either that, or they are waiting for the tide/berth
eccles said:
I seem to recall that there are big buoys in the sea where the boats park up, so it looks like it's designated parking spot.
Navigation buoys usually mark features. They can indicate the edges of a channel, an isolated danger such as a rock or wreck, a sandbank, the mouth of a river or inlet etc. They don't normally indicate an anchorage, but anchorages are often indicated on charts.There isn't a designated anchorage at Anglesea, but ships are usually free to anchor wherever the master deems safe. There are often areas where anchoring is prohibited though, due to underwater cables, oyster beds and sites of scientific interest, explosives dumping grounds and other things likely to cause problems.
Here is what the chart looks like for that area:
tank slapper said:
Navigation buoys usually mark features. They can indicate the edges of a channel, an isolated danger such as a rock or wreck, a sandbank, the mouth of a river or inlet etc. They don't normally indicate an anchorage, but anchorages are often indicated on charts.
There isn't a designated anchorage at Anglesea, but ships are usually free to anchor wherever the master deems safe. There are often areas where anchoring is prohibited though, due to underwater cables, oyster beds and sites of scientific interest, explosives dumping grounds and other things likely to cause problems.
Here is what the chart looks like for that area:
No being a nautical type, I've no idea the relevance of your map. There isn't a designated anchorage at Anglesea, but ships are usually free to anchor wherever the master deems safe. There are often areas where anchoring is prohibited though, due to underwater cables, oyster beds and sites of scientific interest, explosives dumping grounds and other things likely to cause problems.
Here is what the chart looks like for that area:
I just remember parking up at Cemaes bay, or maybe Bull bay or Red wharf bay and seeing large buoys out at sea with large ships either tied to them or parked near them.
It could well have been Bull bay, as that is marked as an anchorage. Chances are any buoys nearby were navigational rather than for mooring ships to. There aren't any marked on the chart there now, but that isn't to say there weren't in the past. Trinity house have been steadily trying to reduce buoyage around the coast, with the increase in modern communications and navigation systems. Where I sail, many of the huge metal buoys have been replaced with far smaller plastic ones which are a lot harder to see at a distance.
There is a pilot based at Point Lynas too. Two ships that had been there for the last 3 days moved off towards Liverpool tonight of all nights..
I assume the pilot comes aboard and pilots into Liverpool and then has to wait for another outgoing ship to get back again?
Thanks for the info so far.
I assume the pilot comes aboard and pilots into Liverpool and then has to wait for another outgoing ship to get back again?
Thanks for the info so far.
I use this site http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?map=livbay
Did you notice the names of the vessels heading to Liverpool?
Did you notice the names of the vessels heading to Liverpool?
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