The Southampton Martime Festival on 5th/6th May 2013 commemorated the the history of the Docks. Amongst the "Dunkirk Little Ships" was "Bluebird of Chelsea" of which the SRCMBC has two fine models.

The Wyeforce tug, operated by Itchen Marine is the original for the "Southampton" RTR model and also a Model Slipway kit(see Ken Goulds article in the summer 2012 SRCMBC newsletter). The photos show her at the mouth of the Itchen, returning to her American Wharf base.

After 50 years dedicated to Ocean Exploration the Royal Research Ship Discovery left Southampton for the final time on 21st December 2012. A new RRS Discovery will come into service during 2013.

The first of the new breed of huge container ships first came to Southampton on Sunday 9th December 2012. The CMA CGM Marco Polo is some 400m in length! Before she left the next day, Peter Taylor walked along the shore from Eling and snapped some views. On the 25th February 2013 she arrived back on a grey, misty day. Someone was feeding seagulls.

In April, Peter Taylor was on board the National Oceanography Centre inshore Research Vessel Callista to watch the QM2 and the Queen Victoria pay their last regards to the Cunard Flagship QE2. It was a moving experience. The Pacific Princess also got in on the act, there were lots of security boats and many sight-seeing vessels.

An unplanned stop on a sandbar off the Isle of Wight meant the QE 2 arrived in Southampton for the last time when there was just about enough light to take photos... Less than three hours later the photos were on the SRCMBC web site!