Darren B. Hillman's photostream  

Turkish-flagged mini-bulker Sultan Atasoy seen at Birkenhead Alfred Lock, inward from Ceuta.

Tanker El Zorro seen on the River Mersey, approaching Woodside Ferry outward for sea. She is bound for Amsterdam with a cargo loaded at Stanlow Oil Dock on the Manchester Ship Canal. Photo taken from Birkenhead Priory Wharf viewing point.

Shuttle tanker Hanne Knutsen (123,851 dwt) seen passing Woodside Ferry inward for North Tranmere Oil Jetty with a cargo of North Sea crude oil. Escort tug Svitzer Stanlow is out of sight at her stern providing low speed steering and braking effort. Fleetmate Oakgarth is alongside at her port shoulder.

Photo taken from Birkenhead Priory Wharf viewing point.

Coaster RMS Jurmala seen in Birkenhead East Float prior to swinging and berthing alongside Vittoria Wall. Photo taken from the public car park near Duke Street Bridge.

Smit Waterloo on the River Mersey, approaching Seacombe Ferry. She is a Voith Schneider Tractor tug, and was built by McTay Marine (as Waterloo) just up the River at Bromborough in 1987 for Alexandra Towing. She has worked principally on the Mersey all her life, apart from a spell working on the River Thames at Gravesend.

As an aside, her funnels used to be the same height as the wheelhouse, but were shortened a few years ago to improve all-round visibility from the helm. She has a bollard pull of 36 tonnes which is quite low in comparison to some of today's harbour tug designs, but still useful.

Photo taken from Seacombe Ferry public walkway.