Newhaven shipping

I don't know whether this ship was loading or unloading. The heaps behind look like unprocessed waste, so it might be delivering refuse for the incinerator, that can be seen behind the vessel. On second thoughts, the cargo is probably scrap metal being exported to Germany or Portugal. In later years this quay was used mainly for aggregates traffic, with East Quay to the south handling the scrap metal trade.

This class of ferry usually departs from Newhaven stern-first, having loaded through the bow.

For a much better view of this vessel please see www.flickr.com/photos/phil-seaford/5067817593/in/set-7215...

There used to be regular collections of commercial waste (as opposed to domestic waste, which goes into the incinerator) from this wharf. Then there was a fire in one of the large storage sheds, which took almost a week to extinguish. Since then the traffic seems to have almost vanished, although a new shed has been built. The scrap metal shipments from the other end of the harbour, at South Quay, don't seem to keep up with the deliveries that come in by road. The heaps of metal seem to be growing, although there is nearly always a freighter, in port, loading.

This ship and M.V. Seven Sisters share duties on this four-hour crossing. One ship works the route at a time, with up to two sailings a day in each direction. I don't know what other routes they work on, when they are not on this route.