Various odds and ends relating to the Cunard Line and its vessels.

Various odds and ends relating to the P&O Line and its vessels.

Various odds and ends relating to the White Star Line and its vessels.

A collection of images and diagrams of selected naval vessels from the two world wars.

The cruiser HMS Belfast was launched in 1938 and entered service in 1939. The ship served in both World War 2 and the Korean War after which she was given an Extended Refit and Modernization on 1959. She served for another four years before being reclassified as a Harbour Accommodation Ship. By 1971 the ship was no longer required and was to be sold for scrap. Happily an association was formed to save the ship and they succeeded in preserving her in London where she still resides, under the care of the Imperial War Museum. A visit is highly recommended.

U-534 was launched in February 1942 and spent its first eighteen months as a school boat, kept in the Baltic to train new crews and test new systems. In May 1944 U-534 was released for operational duty but, rather than being sent on offensive patrols, it was assigned to meteorological duties and required to avoid contact with the enemy to ensure regular reports. On May 5th, 1945 U-534 was sailing in the Kattegat, North-West of Helsingor and although Admiral Dönitz had ordered all his U-boats to surrender as from 08:00 May 5th, U-534 refused to do so. She was heading north towards Norway when she was attacked by a Liberator aircraft from RAF 547 Squadron which dropped depth charges. U-534 took heavy damage and began to sink by the stern. Forty-nine of the fifty-two crew members survived, including five who escaped via a torpedo hatch as she lay on the sea bed. In 1993 Danish media millionaire, Karsten Ree, sponsored the raising of the submarine. In 1996 she was transported to Birkenhead, UK and formed part of the Warship Preservation Trust's collection at Birkenhead docks which saldly closed 2006. The Merseytravel transit authority came to the rescue in 2007 and purchased the vessel. It will form a new visitor attraction at Woodside ferry terminal, Birkenhead. To facilitate the economical transportation of the boat to its new site, it was cut into four sections. U-534 will then be displayed in this form to allow visitors better access and visibility. Merseytravel said that preserving the hull intact would have created prohibitive transport costs. These pictures show the hull sections being prepared for display at Woodside. I will add pictures of the completed exhibit when it opens to the public later in 2008.

Just a few pictures of ships and boats.

Some of my ferry photographs featuring sea routes such as the Dover-Calais service plus river/esturine ferries. Also here are the vessels of the Windermere Iron Steamboat Co which once formed part of the Sealink fleet.

Details, interior pictures and deck photographs taken aboard ferries in the British Isles.

Various odds and ends relating to ferries and ferry companies.

Various historical vessels.

Various fishing boats, both small and large.

Various tugs and pilotage vessels. More tugs can be found on my Canalside Camera site (see links).

Various RNLI vessels from around Britain.

A selection of ocean liner postcards from my collection.

A selection of postcards from my collection featuring ferries.

Various items in museums that have been salvaged from wrecks or removed from ocean liners. (Items from Cunard, P&O or White Star Line vessels are not included here - please see separate sections).

A selection of tickets from ferry and other water transport services in the UK.

A selection of deck plans featuring various liners past and present. More to follow soon.

Things that don't fit in any other category.