Past and Present
In September of 2006 Nigel Thornton joined the website and started compiling his hugely popular ‘Past and Present‘ features. These features profile the timeline of an individual vessel through photography and historical information.
Originally very much focused on the history of the local ferry fleets which have served the Port of Dover, the site has now been expanded to include all different vessel types from around the UK and Ireland.
To help website visitors take their minds of the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020/21 Nigel started to take requests for Past and Present features which have resulted in a large number of updates to the website.
Jetfoil Terminal Basin (1981)
26th January 2021
Jetfoil Terminal Basin (1981)
Jetfoil Terminal Basin In January 1981 it was announced that a contract for the construction of a £2m Jetfoil Terminal at the Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover had been awarded…
MV Drotten – Past and Present
25th January 2021
MV Drotten – Past and Present
MV Drotten, ex Gotland - Steel 'SF 1500 Class' twin screw motor vessel built in 2003 by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China (Yard No 9130005) as a Passenger/Ro-Ro…
MV Hood Island – Past and Present
24th January 2021
MV Hood Island – Past and Present
MV Hood Island Hood Island © Aleksi Lindström (Walsoorden, NL outbound Antwerp, 28/06/2013) Steel single screw motor vessel built in 1994 by Danyard, Frederikshavn, Denmark (Yard No 722) as a…
MV Norsky – Past and Present
23rd January 2021
MV Norsky – Past and Present
MV Kilmore, ex Chong Ming Dao, Graip, N+T 700, Stena Shipper, Constellation Express, Merzario Ionia, Stena Shipper, Norsky, Stena Shipper - Steel twin screw 'Stena Searunner Class' motor vessel built…
MV Cordoba Carrier – Cargo from the Past
13th January 2021
MV Cordoba Carrier – Cargo from the Past
MV Cordoba Carrier Cordoba Carrier © Lappino (Masan Port, 26/03/2016} Steel single screw motor vessel built in 1993 by Kyokuyo Shipyard Corp (Yard No 382) as a Refrigerated Cargo ship.…
MV Stena Transporter – Past and Present
11th January 2021
MV Stena Transporter – Past and Present
MV Stena Transporter - Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 2011 by Samsung Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (SHI), Geoje, South Korea (Yard No 1807) as a Roll-On/Roll-Off…
MV Oceanic – Past and Present
14th January 2021
MV Oceanic – Past and Present
MV Oceanic - Steel single screw “M2 Runner type” motor vessel built in 2012 by Partner Shipyard Ltd, Szczecin, Poland (Yard No 5) as a General cargo ship for Oceanic…
MV Windstar – Past and Present
2nd January 2021
MV Windstar – Past and Present
MV Windstar Ex Athene, Wani Star, Star, Huberna. Windstar © Aleksi Lindström (Rendsberg, 06/07/2015) Steel single screw motor vessel built in 1991 by Cassens shipyard, Emden (Yard No 0186) as…
MV Visby – Past and Present
25th January 2021
MV Visby – Past and Present
MV Visby - Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 2003 by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China (Yard No 9130004) as a Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship for Rederi AB…
MV Gerd – Past and Present
31st December 2020
MV Gerd – Past and Present
MV Gerd, ex Heidi O, Baltic Tara, Morgenstond I - Steel single screw motor vessel built in 1993 by Ferus Smit Scheepswerf BV Westerbroek. The Netherlands (Yard No 292) as…
MV Optima Seaways – Past and Present
25th January 2021
MV Optima Seaways – Past and Present
MV Optima Seaways, ex Lisco Optima, Svealand, Alyssa - Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1999 by Cantiere Navale Visentini di Visentini Francesco & C, Porto Viro yard, Italy (Yard…
MV Fri Ocean – Past and Present
23rd December 2020
MV Fri Ocean – Past and Present
MV Fri Ocean Ex Vera Fri Ocean © Aleksi Lindström (Kiel Canal, 02/10/2010) Steel single screw motor vessel built in 2000 by Deawoo-Mangalia Heavy Industries S.A., Mangalia, Rumania (Yard No…
MV Stena Foreteller – Past and Present
31st December 2020
MV Stena Foreteller – Past and Present
MV Stena Foreteller, ex Cetam Massilia, Stena Foreteller - Steel twin screw 'Stena 4Runner Mk II' motor vessel built in 2002 by Dalian Shipyard, Dalian, China (Yard No RO123-1) as…
MV Sloman Discoverer – Past and Present
23rd December 2020
MV Sloman Discoverer – Past and Present
MV Sloman Discoverer Ex Sun Discoverer, Sloman Discoverer Sloman Discoverer © Gena Anfimov (Klaipeda, 29/06/2020) Steel single screw motor vessel built in by Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding Co., Ltd Matou Town.…
Christmas Past at the Port of Dover
26th December 2020
Christmas Past at the Port of Dover
A look back at one of the Port of Dover's traditions that remains to this very day, the local Ferry fleet's and Ports only official day of rest, Christmas Day....…
MV Star Courage – Past and Present
22nd December 2020
MV Star Courage – Past and Present
MV Star Courage Star Courage © Erwin Willemse (Ijmuiden, 26/10/2018) Steel single screw (650,000cf type) motor vessel built in 2017 by Shikoku Dockyard Co., Ltd (Yard No 1103) as a…
MV Wilson Farsund – Past and Present
29th December 2020
MV Wilson Farsund – Past and Present
MV Wilson Farsund Wilson Farsund ©Aleksi Lindström (Rendsberg, 10/07/2012) Steel single screw motor vessel built in 2012 by Shandong Baibuting Shipbuilding Co. Ltd , Rongcheng. China (Yard No BBT001) as…
MV Clara K – Past and Present
18th December 2020
MV Clara K – Past and Present
MV Clara K Clara K © Erwin Willemse (Ijmuiden 24/02/2016) Steel single screw motor vessel built in 2007 by Rousse Shipyard, Bulgaria (Yard No 423649) as a General cargo ship…
MV Stena Adventurer (2003) – Past and Present
17th December 2020
MV Stena Adventurer (2003) – Past and Present
MV Stena Adventurer - Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 2003 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea (Yard No 1393) as a Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship for Stena RoRo…