The following photographs demonstrate how a brand new motor yacht is discharged in Southampton from VILLE D'ANTARES, the vessel on which it arrived from the Far East.
1. CLEARING THE DECK: The part of the ship surrounding the yacht is cleared of containers so that stevedores can remove lashing gear, prepare lifting equipment and make room for the yacht to swing through 90 degrees. It needs to be swung as it is too long to pass between the legs of the gantry crane that will discharge it. Once the yacht has passed between the gantry legs it can be swung back and lowered onto the quay.
2. READY AND WAITING: The yacht is viewed from a safety cage attached to the gantry spreader. It clearly shows that the yacht cannot pass between the legs without being swung beforehand. Special lifing gear needs to be attached in place of the ISO container spreader, and this requires a significant height clearance above the cargo. As a result, the yacht cannot be discharged until the tide has fallen adequately, and this will not be until the early hours of the morning.
3. TAKING THE STRAIN: Spreader, beams, wires and slings are all in place and ready to go. Just a few minutes to double-check everything and the lift will begin.
4. EASY DOES IT: The yacht is lifted from the ship. Already swung and edging slowly backwards, she's now safely in the hands of the crane driver.
5. NEARLY THERE: Hanging below the backreach of the gantry, she is now once again parallel to the ship after being swung for the second time. The crane and its cargo will now move along the quay and place the vessel on the quayside well away from the ship in order to prevent any accidental damage.
6. SAFELY ASHORE: The cargo sits on the quayside until it is made ready to be lifted into the water.....
7. SETTING SAIL: .....meanwhile VILLE D'ANTARES continues on her voyage, next port Hamburg.
| SOUTHAMPTON & SOLENT | BRISTOL CHANNEL | THAMES & TILBURY | MALTA | MISCELLANEOUS |
| MAIN MENU | LATEST PHOTOS | PHOTO SERIES | SHIPPING LINKS | F.A.Q. |