Solitaire Support Vessel
international |
environment |
news report 
Wednesday October 08, 2008 23:01
by Martin O'Neill
eireann at j12 dot org
Boa Fortune
Boa Fortune at Greenock
The Boa Fortune, the Solitaire supply vessel, has been moored near two large cranes at the Ocean Terminal, Greenock, (Patrick Street) for two days this week. It was there for a day or two last week. I could not get close enough for a good photograph or to see if there any pipes on deck. I could see the distinctive B symbol on one of the funnels. I couldn't get there until 5.30pm, but people were still working, moving containers around the terminal. The two cranes were not in operation and the Boa Fortune was not directly under either of the cranes, so no signs of pipe loading or unloading for the hour or so I was in the area.
Comments (8 of 8)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8http://www.flickr.com/photos/31288581@N08/?saved=1 Here you can see my difficulties in getting a good photograph. This site wouldn't upload them and flickr has made them even less clear, but you should get the general idea!
Finally you can see slightly clearer pictures on indymedia scotland
Thanks for your vigilance.
Links didn't work out, so, here's a hi-quality shot of it.
Boa Fortune
The Solitaire has left scotland
According to AIS the Solitaire is due to leave Scotland for Algeciras, Spain, eta Oct 19th 1200.
Currently heading south, for good hopefully
Solitaire heading for Algerciras
It looks like the Solitaire is off to the Med - http://aisliverpool.co.uk/showship.php?map=NorthChannel...97000
Shell's giant pipe laying ship, The Solitaire, is reported to be leaving Scotland. The ship's destination is given as Algeciras in southern Spain.
The Solitaire was brought to Ireland last summer to lay the off shore section of the Corrib gas pipeline. The ship was withdrawn after a wave of protests in which more than fifty arrests were made.
Shell spokespeople say that the company is committed to bring the ship back to complete the job. Damage to the ship's equipment will have to be repaired before any more work can be carried out.
The Irish government back the Shell scheme, even though the Minister responsible, Eamon Ryan, went on record as supporting the Shell to Sea campaign before he entered office. Recent meetings between the Minister and representatives from Shell to Sea were widely seen as little more than a public relations stunt to make the government appear to be listening.
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