THE THIRD GENERATION VESSEL'S
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May 2006
The ACL "Liverpool Waltz" as it has become known, is when two G3 vessels change berths on the same tidal window, approx. two hours before high water. The departing vessel will normally leave the S3 berth as the incoming vessel is inward in Gladstone Lock, with Tug assistance the departing G3 positions herself towards the western side of S8-S9 berths ready for the second vessels arrival into the Seaforth basin. When the vessels are alongside each other the distance is a matter of feet before the incoming vessel breaks away stern first towards the S3 berth. The operation is a combination of skill, expertise and local knowledge from the vessels Master's,Liverpool River Pilots and the Tug Captains. The inward vessel is "Atlantic Conveyor" and the departing vessel is "Atlantic Concert", the four Adsteam Tugs used were inward Canada & Collingwood and outward Trafalgar & Bramley Moore
May 2006, Three views from the bridges of Atlantic's Conveyor and Companion "Atlantic Cartier" arriving in the River Mersey and departing from Seaforth, assisted by three Adsteam Tugs, Trafalgar, Bramley Moore & Canada
Docking "Atlantic Compass" August 2004
At the mouth of the river, Adsteam Tug "Canada" takes the bow rope, assisted by the tug and her own thrusters she "swings" in order to make her entrance into Gladstone lock, now with her bow to the North the second Adsteam tug " Bramley Moore" takes the stern rope to manoeuvre all three vessels into the lock, when all three are in the lock the outer gates close in order to pump the lock water level to that of the inside dock system. After a twenty minute wait to level, the three move through Gladstone dock and into the Royal Seaforth dock, here the "Atlantic Compass" is turned before the tugs are disconnected, on a windy day such as this the tugs "push" on the port side whilst the ropes are secured and the stern ramp is lowered to the quayside. Once safely alongside the container cranes lower to commence loading another container cargo for the U.S.A & Canada.
"Atlantic Concert" East Coast USA & Canada July 2004
"Atlantic Concert" top left, docking in Baltimore, top centre, under way in the late evening, top right, under the first of several low bridges. Middle left early morning heading into Portsmouth, Virginia, middle centre, evening departure heading for New York, middle right, the NY skyline including the Statue of Liberty to the left of centre in the picture. Bottom left Maher Terminal Port Elizabeth New Jersey, "Atlantic Concert" is to berth between the MSC vessel and the Car Carrier, bottom centre, alongside, bottom right, Alongside Fairview Cove Terminal, Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first and last port of call on the Coast.
left, "Atlantic Companion" on S3 berth, Royal Seaforth Container Terminal, August 2000. right Two of the third generation vessel's passing in Royal Seaforth Dock, "Atlantic Conveyor" on the far side and "Companion Express" as she was called at the time assisted by four tugs from The Alexandra Towing Company fleet.
left "Atlantic Compass" passing Crosby Radar Tower. right "Atlantic Concert" heads away from Gladstone Lock.
Left. Pictured on her maiden voyage in April 1985 "Atlantic Cartier" centre, heading towards Gladstone Lock, "Atlantic Concert" August 2002 right, "Atlantic Companion" Sailing from Gladstone Lock, April 2002.
Left & centre Adsteam Tug "Waterloo" assisting "Atlantic Conveyor" inward bound heading towards the lock, right outward bound from Royal Seaforth "Canada" edges slowly towards Gladstone lock 2005.
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