On 11th May 2001 the 73,931dwt bulk carrier Zella Oldendorff arrived in the Bristol Channel to dock at Portbury with a cargo of coal from Richards Bay, South Africa having left there on 21st April on her maiden voyage. She left Portbury for Kamsar on 16th May arriving Kamsar on 26th May. She departed Kamsar on 27th May arriving at Fos on 5th June. She is seen here attended by the Svitzer tugs Stackgarth at the bow, Westgarth will be pushing on the starboard bow, Shannon will push midships, Avongarth is on the starboard quarter and Portgarth is just visible on the port quarter.

The Zella Oldendorff was built in 2001 by Jiangnan Shipyard at Shanghai as the Trave River although she was sold to Oldendorff almost immediately. In 2007 she was sold to Qinhuangdao Hezhong Ship Management and renamed Ecola and in 2018 they renamed her Mei Lan Hu. She still sails as such.

The 216gt Stackgarth was built in 1985 by Dunston at Hessle as the Eston Cross. She became Stackgarth in 1994 and in 2010 she joined Tuskar Shipping as Fastnet Nore. In 2015 she moved to Stadt Sjotransport AS without changing her name.

The 266gt Westgarth was built in 1983 by Hanasaki at Yokosuka as the Yashima for Daito Unyo KK becoming Westgarth in 1992. In 2016 she was acquired by Rivermond Systems of Cyprus, then later that year she joined Ukrstroyservis LLC of Ukraine without changing her name.

The 352gt Shannon was built in 1981 by McTay Marine at Bromborough as the Eldergarth becoming Shannon in 1999. In 2009 she was converted into a research vessel for Fugro Emu Ltd. In 2012 she was sold to Future Marine Services and renamed Safe Supporter 1. In 2015 she was reconverted into a tug. In 2020 she was sold to Gabon interests without changing her name.

The 189gt Avongarth was built in 1980 by Kanagawa at Kobe as the Iwashima Maru for Naigai Unyo KK. She became Avongarth in 1991. In 2010 she was sold to Pacific Maritime Holdings and renamed Pacific Castor and in 2012 she joined Destiny Marine & Shipping of Nigeria and was renamed Lady Jesse II.

The 262gt Portgarth was built in 1995 by SevMash at Severodvinsk. She now operates for Svitzer in Georgia, still as Portgarth.

Photo: Bernard McCall