Two more vessels operated by Gulf Offshore North Sea Ltd (part of the Texas-based GulfMark Offshore group) have arrived in the Wear.
Arriving from Aberdeen on November 29 was the 1,717 gross tons offshore standby safety vessel, Highland Spirit, which joined another Gulf ship, Clwyd Supporter, in lay-up at Sheers Quay.
Highland Spirit's hull was originally constructed in Singapo
re in 1998, before being towed to the UK to be fitted out by George Prior Engineering at Great Yarmouth.
The 2,762 gross tons Clwyd Supporter is a multi-role in-field support vessel and has been laid up at Sheers Quay since last February.
Built at Stettin, Poland, in 1984, she was originally the USSR-owned Neftegaz-12.
In 1996, she arrived at Tyne Dock Engineering, South Shields, from Riga, before being refurbished and entering the Gulf fleet as Clwyd Supporter.
On December 1, the 2,244 gross tons platform supply/ROV support vessel, Gargano, berthed at Greenwells Quay following operations at the Veja Mate offshore wind farm in the German Bight.
She is expected to be in port for 14 days and is receiving attention in Wear Dock & Engineering's drydock.
Work has now been completed in installing a new green flashing light beacon at North Dock basin following demolition of the remains of the jetty on which its predecessor stood.
Additional aids to navigation within the port have also been established recently. These comprise red flashing lights at Wave Basin Battery and Young's Quay; a flashing green light at the west side of Hendon Junction; and a flashing yellow light situated on pontoons belonging to Hudson Dock Boating & Yachting Association.
Paying her first visit to Sunderland on Saturday was the 2,778 gross cargo ship, Eiland, which docked at Corporation Quay on Saturday. Owned by Briese Schiffarts of Leer, Germany and chartered to Bergen-based Peak Shipping, the Antigua & Barbuda-registered vessel discharged a cargo of woodpulp before sailing for Invergordon on Monday evening.
Built at Leer in 2008, she originally carried the name Huelin Dispatch.
Although it has been present on the Internet for some years, Echo readers – especially former shipyard workers – might be fascinated to watch the 1961 black and white film entitled "Sunderland Oak," which can be found on the BBC's "Nation on Film" web pages.
Comprising five shorts, totalling almost 15 minutes, the film documents Wear shipyard scenes of the early-1960s and includes bygone shots of the river and docks.
Other films on the site include the cine film, A Ship is Born – Sunderland Builds a Cargo Ship, and an evocative 1966 colour film of the Wear at its finest.
To view these films and others, go to www.bbc.co.uk/nationonfilm and follow the "Shipbuilding" link.
