'Full house' at the North Quay

JUST like old times . . . Sussex Express reader Andrew Gilbert remembers the days not so long ago when Newhaven Harbour was busy with commercial traffic of all shapes and sizes.

So this line-up at North Quay was too good an opportunity to miss and one he wanted to share with fellow readers.

The photo was taken at 5.10pm on Tuesday last week and shows five ships being worked.

Said Andrew: 'I can recall seeing one 1960's photo showing a vessel at every point of the East and Railway Quays from the swing bridge to the green light on the East Pier. Such sights at these two quays are sadly things of the past, but it was a pleasure to be able to take this photo of a recent North Quay "Full House".

'At the new berth, constructed north of the swinging berth a few years ago, is the Hoo Robin, discharging roadstone. At the top of the North Quay itself is the Alexandra, loading scrap metal. Then come the Sand Serin and Arco Dart, both discharging aggregates. Finally, nearest the swing bridge, is the Rosita, discharging stone.

'Another point of interest is that, although they have different owners and, indeed, are registered in different countries, the Alexandra and Rosita are in fact almost identical sister ships.

'Only the design of the mainmast, just forward of the funnel, serves to differentiate them keen eyes may just spot this in the photo.'