Cable laying ship Ile de Brehat in Øresund

One can learn a lot by watching ships. Like tonight, when I noticed this interesting looking ship pass by in the Sound. Soon I found out that it was the cable laying ship Ile de Brehat, registered in a place I must admit I had never heard of - the Kerguelen Islands.

Here is what Wikipedia says about these islands:

The Kerguelen Islands, also known as the Desolation Islands, are a group of islands in the southern Indian Ocean constituting one of the two emerged parts of the mostly submerged Kerguelen Plateau. The islands, along with Adélie Land, the Crozet Islands and the Amsterdam and Saint Paul Islands are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and are administered as a separate district. There are no indigenous inhabitants, but France maintains a permanent presence of 50 to 100 scientists, engineers and researchers.

I could not see any flag on the Ile de Brehat, but this is how the Kerguelen Islands flag looks: 

From another source I found out that the French Government in 1986 started a registry at Kerguelen Islands. (The ships could be operated with a crew consisting of only 25% French nationals.)

The Ile de Brehat is owned by ALDA Marine Services S.A.S, operated by Luois - Dreyfus Armateur and apparently working for Alcatel-Lucent. 

The ship is now on its way from Baltiysk (in the Kaliningrad area) to Everingen. (It would be interesting to know what type of cables the Ile de Brehat has been laying in Baltiysk, a major naval base of Russia´s Baltic Fleet.) 

Ship facts:

Built: 2002 by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Ulsan, South Korea

Length: 140.36 m

Breadth: 23.4m

Accomodation for 70 crew members

An early morning Øresund picture

Early this morning - at 5 PM - the water in the Sound had a nice glow.

A wood pigeon by my balcony

This morning, when I was standing on my balcony, a wood pigeon allowed me to come quite close.

P & O´s Arcadia and cruise ferry Crown of Scandinavia passing Kronborg castle

The Crown of Scandinavia and the Arcadia in front of Hamlet´s Kronborg castle

The DFSD Copenhagen - Oslo cruise ferry Crown of Scandinavia tonight sailed through Øresund in good company -  P & O´s elegant MS Arcadia, which the cruise line describes in this way:


"Exclusively for adults, Arcadia offers a relaxed pace, stylish surroundings and more than a hint of extravagance to P&O Cruises. Arcadia’s signature features such as her exterior glass-fronted lifts and expansive art collection, featuring no less than 3,000 works of art, create a sophisticated air."


The Arcadia also offers culinary excellence - The Ocean Grill is a Marco Pierre White restaurant.

The Arcadia has just passed Kronborg

Some ship facts:


Country of registry: Bermuda
Entered service: April 2005
Named by: Dame Kelly Holmes
Gross Tonnage: 83,500
Length overall: 285m (935ft)
Breadth: 29.2m (96ft)
Draught: 7.8m (26ft)
Service speed: 24 knots
Crew: 880
Regular passenger capacity: 2016
Maximum passenger capacity: 2388
Passenger decks: 11Passenger cabins: 1008  

Polish maxi catamaran Gemini III in Øresund

The Gemini III approaching Helsingør

This is the Polish maxi catamaran Gemini III sailing through Øresund southwards this morning, at about half past nine. The Gemini III, built by the Swedish Marstrom composite shipyard, is one of the fastest sailing boats in the world with a top speed of 38,4 knots (about 70 km/h !) Two years ago the catamaran crossed the Atlantic (from the West to the East) in just 8 days 23 hours and 27 seconds, which was - and probably still is - a world record. 


The Gemini III is very light - only 9 tons - for its size (27 x 14m). The impressive mast is 33m high. 


Here is a video about the Gemini III:

Brand new heavy load carrier Meri sailing through Øresund

The brand new Finnish Heavy Load Carrier Meri today sailed through Øresund on its way fromSwedish Södertälje to Kårstø (in English Karstoe) in Norway, with an interesting load.


The 3400 gross registered tons, 105 x 18m ship, built by STX Finland Turku shipyard made its first sea trial in the Turku archipelago as recently as May 26 this year. 

A German three-masted schooner in Øresund

(Additional info (19 July): It appears that this is the German  3-mast-topsail schooner  Albatros.)

This German three-masted schooner tonight sailed northwards in Øresund. A gorgeous sight! Unfortunately the ship had turned off its AIS, so I did not get its name. If somebody can help me to recognize the schooner, I would be very grateful.

The Romanesque Cathedral of Lund

The Cathedral of Lund in Scania (Southern Sweden) is the most important Romanesque building in Scandinavia. At the time it was built - during the first half of the 12th century - Lund was already the seat of an archbishop whose diocese covered all of Scandinavia. (It should perhaps be pointed out Lund as well as the entire Southern Sweden, was part of Denmark until 1658, when Sweden took over). 

The two towers were made higher in connection with the renovation in the late 19th century. 

 

The Lund Cathedral was built in the same style as the Speyer and Mainz cathedrals in Germany. The outer length of the cathedral is 87m.

The cathedral in c. 1870, before the renovation.
(image by wikipedia) 

The Romanesque apse.

The arched gallery in the apse.

The portals are built in Lombardian style. 

The south portal.

The north portal.

The interior of the Cathedral is 80m long. The nave is 21m high.

The Gothic altarpiece dates from 1398.

Detail of the astronomical clock, the Horologium Mirabile Lundense, from around 1424. An organ in the clock plays In Dulci Jubilo twice daily. 

This "clock" is from 1623.

A beautiful stained glass window.

More information on the Lund Cathedral also here.

A musical mood enhancer

When you feel a bit down, try this:

MSC Poesia and Costa Fortuna on the evening of July 15

Below are two of the cruise ships - the MSC Poesia (293 x 32m) and the Costa Fortuna (273 x 30m) which tonight were on their way northwards in Øresund.

The MSC Poesia minutes after having passed Helsingør tonight.

A close up of the Poesia.

The Costa Fortuna in the vicinity of Helsingborg/Helsingør

Simple pleasures nr. 21: Watching clouds

How sweet to be a Cloud Floating in the Blue!”
A.A. Hodge

Another cloud study from my balcony, this morning.