River Thames: Heiko
A 'bunkering vessel', Heiko, approaching Customs House pier, with the east end of Tilbury landing stage behind it, plus some of Tilbury Docks behind that...
Heiko was built in Germany in 1962 and is based up river, but operates pretty much its full length. It's variously described as a bunkering tanker, bunker barge and motorized fuel tanker, which I'll settle for. It was previously Heiko Wegener and Fram (?): Heiko apparently is a shortened version of Heinrich...I shan't complain about that, either, as both of my forenames are German(ic).
I used to be able to get to Tilbury landing stage in 4-5 minutes on the ferry. I can still get there (or to the shore, as I was told public access is now barred) by bus, 4 of...Gravesend to Greenhithe, Greenhithe to Riverside Shopping Centre, Riverside Shopping Centre to Tilbury Civic Square, Tilbury Civic Square to Tilbury Ferry Terminal - 2 hours 45 minutes assuming buses run on time. If I'm in a hurry I can travel into London by train and thence to Tilbury in only 1 hour and 27 minutes. British trains are probably the least reliable in the known world. Progress, eh ?
[IMG_3674a]
River Thames: Heiko
A 'bunkering vessel', Heiko, approaching Customs House pier, with the east end of Tilbury landing stage behind it, plus some of Tilbury Docks behind that...
Heiko was built in Germany in 1962 and is based up river, but operates pretty much its full length. It's variously described as a bunkering tanker, bunker barge and motorized fuel tanker, which I'll settle for. It was previously Heiko Wegener and Fram (?): Heiko apparently is a shortened version of Heinrich...I shan't complain about that, either, as both of my forenames are German(ic).
I used to be able to get to Tilbury landing stage in 4-5 minutes on the ferry. I can still get there (or to the shore, as I was told public access is now barred) by bus, 4 of...Gravesend to Greenhithe, Greenhithe to Riverside Shopping Centre, Riverside Shopping Centre to Tilbury Civic Square, Tilbury Civic Square to Tilbury Ferry Terminal - 2 hours 45 minutes assuming buses run on time. If I'm in a hurry I can travel into London by train and thence to Tilbury in only 1 hour and 27 minutes. British trains are probably the least reliable in the known world. Progress, eh ?
[IMG_3674a]