This is the Felixstowe to Harwich ferry, also serving Shotley and about the smallest boat in the natural harbour created at the junction of the rivers Orwell and Stour. 101% of the Felixstowe deep water frontage has been taken for the container port, so the thing on the front has to be lowered onto a shingle bank to get on. One poor lady with a stick had to be picked up off the shingle and man-handled in

from the left: modern lifeboats, LV18 which was the last manned lightship with Great Eastern Hotel behind, then one end of the main pier. This was the old port of Harwich with a very long naval and mercantile history. ( http://www.harwichanddovercourt.co.uk/harwich-quay-2/

the ship that keeps the harbour safe for navigation, tied up at Harwich

Built in 1818 to replace an earlier timber one, discontinued in 1869 and used as a pilot station for a while and now a museum (when open, The Harwich Society has achieved a lot for the history of the town, but possibly now slightly run out of steam.

Built in 1818, but became redundant in 1860s due to changing position of the channel ( http://www.harwichanddovercourt.co.uk/harwich-history/

Replica of Nelson's smallest ship, a top-sail schooner, which brought the news of the Battle of Trafalgar and news of Nelson's death back to England. Not sure why it was visiting Harwich, unless it was specially for us

( http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/replica_of_pickle_the_little_ship_which_broke_the_news_that_the_battle_was_won_but_nelson_was_lost_leaves_great_yarmouth_1_4247339