MARGARET HILL

[John Jones]

The 'MARGARET HILL' has been laid up for so long that she has fallen out of class and prior to her voyage to Dubai to be converted to a floating liquefaction unit (FSO) classifcation society surveyors need to conduct a sea trial. However since this requires 48 hours notice and weather conditions have been so poor it has not been possible to arrange this.
The company buying the ship is hopeful that this will be possible within the next few days following which, if everything proves to be satisfactory, she will bunker and head for Dubai. So there may be two bites of the cherry for a decent picture :-)
Regards
John J.

[Kelvin Davies]

Thanks for the info John.
There may be 2 chances of decent pics here in England as VTS claims she is heading for Portland from Southampton on Sunday.
Mind you, we have seen this announcement of a "departure" so many times in recent months....
Kelvin

[Ship's Cat]

I was over in Southampton this lunchtime and Margaret Hill was still there, not looking like she was going to move anytime soon. I see she is not listed in the Southampton VTS shipping movements, so whether she DID leave after I went back to the Island or whether her departure has been moved again, I have no idea.
There's another gas carrier in Southampton now, the Belgian-registered Methania. Apparently she is to be laid up until March.

[Kelvin Davies]

Down at Calshot yesterday, I was told there had been some chat between Margaret Hill and VTS which implied a possible move this weekend.
As the departure has dropped off the list, I take it this yet another false alarm.
Kelvin

[James Langford]

Hi there thank you for the welcome. Yes thats correct I work on the Apex. Current plan is for the Tenax to go and pick the Margret Hill up tomorrow evening then escort her to Portland for the survey she needs to go to Dubai. (Subject to change! as always :lol: )

[mike rhodes]

Margaret Hill is currently bunkering with the Whitonia so may actually be leaving this evening - showing 18:00 departure to Portland.

[Kelvin Davies]

I see Whitonia has gone back to it's lair now (17:25). Margaret Hill is scheduled for 19:00 and Tenax is in the Nab deep water channel, in no rush to get back for a 19:00 departure.
What's the betting Margaret Hill will still be sitting there tomorrow morning!
Kelvin

[Kelvin Davies]

Replying to my own post;
Not a bad guess, was it?
In the 30 minutes since writing the previous post, the departure time has been moved again; now showing as 22:00.
Seen it all before!
Kelvin

[Ship's Cat]

I have just been looking at the Solent AIS website and Margaret Hill's AIS is switched on. I am sure it was off when I looked the other day, so maybe she might move this evening after all. Although the operative word here is 'might'...  :-D

Edit: The moveable feast that is MH's departure time now shows 2100 this evening.

[James Langford]

It is sailing 22:00 for definate

[Ship's Cat]

When MH sails, will Methania be moved over there to take her place, do you know?

[Ian Thomas]

Several tugs alongside her now ready for her departure to Portland

Ian Thomas

[Kelvin Davies]

This is becoming a saga in its own right!
I see now (22:10) that Tenax returned from the Nab and went up river as far as Netley. At 21:00 Tenax did a U turn and is back at Fawley.
Given that Tenax has been booked for the trip to Portland with Margaret Hill....well, you have to wonder what next!
Svitzer Bentley was alongside the tanker but, as I write, it is apparently on the move, possibly manoeuvring ....
Hold on! Stop press! Margaret Hill is actually underway!
Kelvin

[John Jones]

After all the waiting it happens under cover of darkness then. Sometimes that seems to be the ship photographer's lot! :roll:
Regards
John J.

[Andrew McAlpine]

How frustrating! at least we could follow it on AIS as you say it is the lot of the ship photographer!!

Andrew