The most frequent operator of short-sea fuel shipments, including jet fuel, from the UK to Dublin Port and other Irish Ports, is carried out by the Swedish 'lake'-based operator, Eric Thun A/B, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Examples of this tanker product trade notably take place at the Port of Milford Haven, the deepwater natural estuary in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, and the UK’s energy port with its refineries, where Afloat observed recent activity.
Among the tankers at the port operated by the Port of Milford Port Authority (MHPA) was a regular caller, Thun Liffey, of 11,826 deadweight tonnes (dwt) from Thun Tankers (part of the Eric Thun Group). They are also a Gothia Tanker Alliance member whose vessels use the Valero Pembrokeshire Oil Terminal (VPOT).
As photographed above at VPOT is the aptly named tanker, Thun Liffey, one of the five Lidköping/L-class chemical/products tankers, which calls frequently to the Irish capital, supplying products, among them aviation fuel, to serve the needs of Dublin Airport.
Thun Liffey was also in the presence of class lead ship Thun Lidkoping, built in China, along with Thun Liverpool, Thun Lundy (named after the island in the Bristol Channel), and Thun London.
As for Thun Liffey, the Dutch-flagged Class A tanker departed Milford Haven on Friday morning (almost at noon) on the short passage through the St. George's Channel and the Irish Sea, where last night it anchored off Bray Head, Co. Wicklow. According to AIS, it was expected to call at Dublin Port at around 2300 last night; however, according to Dublin Port, it is scheduled for this evening and to take Oil Berth No. 1.
Another caller to the capital, Thun Liverpool, having departed in the early hours of today, was bound for the South Wales port. The tanker has since anchored and remains in St. Brides Bay, off Pembrokeshire, which is commonplace for such ships associated with Milford Haven when awaiting a berth, which, according to MHPA, is scheduled for arrival this evening.
In the meantime, Thun London, at lunchtime, entered the estuary of the River Cleddau, having made a passage from Plymouth with a late afternoon departure from Cornwall before completing its crossing of the Celtic Sea.
Western Seaboard Calls
During its navigation of the Milford Haven waterway, it passed Thun Resolve (7,999 dwt) of the R-class /“Resource Efficiency Class” which had come from Belfast Harbour on Wednesday and arrived at the Pembrokeshire port yesterday. See recent newbuild call at Galway Port, as Afloat reported.
Another tanker kept busy on the Irish western seaboard coastal trade, the Thun Granite (4,107 dwt), was in Milford Haven. Subsequently, the smaller ship also departed for Ireland, but it was bound for the Shannon Estuary to discharge aviation fuel at the jetty for Shannon Airport.
At the time of writing this afternoon, the G-class vessel was offshore of Mizen Head, Co. Cork, and its expected arrival on the estuary is in the early hours of tomorrow night.
Last but not least of the L-class tankers, Thun Lundy is aptly at anchor in the Bristol Channel, off Wales, but is bound for Avonmouth Docks, England. This tanker is scheduled to enter its next port of call, Milford Haven, tomorrow evening.
In the meantime, it was joined by lead ship Thun Lidkoping but anchored to the west, having since Afloat’s observation on Friday’s early hours, made a coastal passage to Cardiff Docks before re-entering the Bristol Channel and has yet to head to Avonmouth Docks, England.
Thun Lidkoping is afterward set to return to Milford Haven, but not until Monday, to resume routine duties out of VPOT located in the outer reach of the waterway before the open sea.
It will be a full circle too for Thun Liffey, as upon completing discharge at Dublin, the tanker will return down the Irish Sea, across St. George's Channel, and back to Milford Haven, which is also to take place on the last day of this month.
