Shipping off Scotland's north-east coast

During my trip to Scotland at the end of September last year, we took a day trip to John O'Groats in the north-east of Scotland. The Pentland Firth is the stretch of water dividing the Scottish northern coast from Orkney, and is a pinch point for shipping traffic. On a clear day, it is a great location for ship watching.

Timed perfectly for our arrival, the container ship Godafoss made an appearance.

Godafoss with the island of Muckle Skerry in the background.

Also timed perfectly was the arrival of Pentalina, one of the ferries running between Scotland and Orkney.

Pentalina with the island of Stroma in the background.

Once inhabited, the island of Stroma was abandoned by its remaining 12 inhabitants in the 1960s. Only the lighthouse crew and their families remained, and even they finally left in 1997.

Pentalina.

There was a bit of a beam sea running for Pentalina's final approach to the jetty.

Pentalina rolling to port. Orkney is in the background.

Pentalina rolling to starboard.

Pentalina preparing to dock.

Pentalina docking.

Mykines with Orkney in the background.

On our return trip down the coast, there were a few other ships about. At least one company appears to adhere to the "your favourite alcoholic drink plus the last seabird you saw is your ship name" naming convention.

Bourbon Tern, with Tarbet Ness lighthouse in the background.

Scotland has a number of offshore wind farms, and construction (or maybe maintenance) was continuing when we were there.

Pacific Orca on the left, with Island Crown on the right, constructing a wind farm off the Scottish north-east coast.

The MarineTraffic app on my smartphone is invaluable for determining the names of ships far offshore, beyond the range of my camera to pick out names on their bows and transoms.

This was probably the only day that I did some proper ship watching, and accounts for most of my ship photos while in Scotland, apart from a few fishing boats in Kinlochbervie.