Lioness C

[Jim H]

Just asking the question, is it a normal rotation of carge for a bulk carrier to discharge a cargo of grain and then load scrap metal? This is the case with Lioness C which arrived in Southampton with grain and then moved berths to load scrape metal. As she is a 1987 build and her original destination was said to be Vietnam when she sailed on the 25th June, but today shows Singapore as her destination could this be her final journey before becoming herself scrap metal! Compared with the floating hotels, box carriers and mobile garages we see today she at least looked like a working ship with her array of radio masts gave her a pleasing profile which is becoming a rare sight these days.  :-(

[SteKrueBe]

Hi Jim!
Cant't answer your question wether bulk carriers of this size are carrying scrap as a "normal" cargo. But "Lioness C" is due for docking/class-survey before end of this year. Only assumed, that there might be some more extensive repairs in the queue, it could be a good reason for a voyage to the breakers yard.
Brgds,
Stefan

[Allan RO]

Hi Jim

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here - Lioness C. loaded the largest ever shipment of grain from Southampton, she did not bring it in.

She moved from the grain berth on Tuesday evening around 21:15, but I am not sure whether she actually loaded any scrap. It could be that one or two of her 7 holds were used for scrap and the other 5 or 6 for grain. She was certainly not down to her marks when she changed berth, pulling 10.8m draft, but I did not see her leave last night and VTS did not quote a draft figure.

Allan

[Tom Walker]

Hi Jim/Alan

Looking at AIS this evening (passing Ushant) her draught is shown as 12.3m.  Lloyd's gives her summer draught as 13.001m.  From my rather poor quality 'photos' taken on Tuesday evening when she moved from 36 to 108, she looked to have more than 0.7m to her load line.

Best regards

Tom

[Jim H]

Thank you all for your input and I apologise if I got her loading mixed up abit, even so I think I will follow her to her destination and see what transpires. :-D  

Jim

[Jim H]

I have been following her progress and yesterday she was off the coast off Spain speed about 10knts, which seemed a bit slow but I am no expert, then today she is shown off Falmouth. Anyone got any info?
Thanks Jim

[Kelvin Davies]

One to watch, Jim
AIS this evening (22:15) shows she reached Falmouth, presumably collected a pilot or a hitch hiker, did a sharp turn and is now trundling at the same gentle speed, heading S.E.
She was actually stopped for a while off Falmouth earlier (17:55).
Oddly, draught is shown as 6.5m which is what it was showing on her way between Lands End and Brest when she left Southampton, yet when Tom checked it, it was showing 12m.
Cornish pirates! That's what it is!
Cheers
Kelvin

[Jim H]

Kelvin
I am trying to follow her movments but last report is 15 hours old and it looked like she was on course for Plymouth. Some AIS sites do not even show her at all. Is there any reason why she would turn her AIS off? This is becoming a strange one and as you say one to watch.

Thanks Jim

[henrycourt]

I have just looked at my AIS Live and as at this time Lioness C IMO: 8115007 is in position N.32.48--W.13.44 sailing at 11k on course 192o showing destination Singapore. Somewhere off the coast of Morocco !! Hope this helps.  Rgds jw

[Jim H]

Many thanks for that, its the position logically where she should now be, so how come on my AIS live it shows her off Falmouth last night and off Plymouth today.
I am getting very confused. :-(

[henrycourt]

exactly what AIS are you looking at

[Jim H]

MarineTraffic.com

[Kelvin Davies]

Now that is strange!
Like you, Jim, I watched it on Marinetraffic.com last night and there was a plot of her returning from the western end of the Channel, heading into Falmouth, coming to a stop off Falmouth then setting off again in a south easterly direction, showing her destination as Falmouth!
It couldn't possibly have made it to Morocco in less than 24 hours.
Tonight, I can't find a plot anywhere on Marinetraffic or Vesseltracker.

[Kelvin Davies]

An update;
This morning, Vesseltracker is showing the last reported position as just to the north east of Madeira, on a heading of 192 degrees.
So, the Falmouth track will probably have to remain a mystery!
Kelvin

[Jim H]

Kelvin
I checked at about 12.00 today and found her just north east of Madeira,thanks for your help. When henrycourt posted that he had found her off the coast of morocco I checked on Marinetraffic and sure enough it came up with Lioness C. But her course was across the normal flow of traffic so I increase the range to get a landmark it reverted to a previous position and course off the coast of spain.
So the AIS was super'imposing a pevious reading on the screen. I must admit its very strange, therefore the falmouth AIS picture could have been Lioness C track when on the way to Southampton earlier in the month?

Thanks Jim