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  ARCO TRENT'S REALITY CHECK
  
 
 
  Even travelling around Britain as little as I have I am often amazed at how some trains and aircraft keep popping up in front of my camera - and the same seems to be true of ships, at least in the case of the sand suction dredger Arco Trent! 
  


Even travelling around Britain as little as I have I am often amazed at how some trains and aircraft keep popping up in front of my camera - and the same seems to be true of ships, at least in the case of the sand suction dredger Arco Trent!

This vessel was built at Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon in 1971 as the Amey I for Amey Marine of Southampton.  Like its sister ship Amey II, built for the same company, Amey I displaced 489 gross tons, 200 net tons and measured 164 feet from stem to stern.



In 1973 and 1974 respectively, the two vessels returned to Appledore and were lengthened by 30' which increased their gross tonnage to 564 tons gross, 321 net. Indeed, Appledore Shipbuilders had such a reputation for quality workmanship that Penfold Dredging, Consolidated Goldfields and Hansons Dredging have all had new ships built on the north coastof Devon.



 In 1973 and 1974 respectively, the two vessels returned to Appledore and were lengthened by 30' which increased their gross tonnage to 564 tons gross, 321 net.  Indeed, Appledore Shipbuilders had such a reputation for quality workmanship that Penfold Dredging, Consolidated Goldfields and Hansons Dredging have all had new ships built on the north coastof Devon.

Amey Dredging then became ARC Marine, who named their ships after English rivers.  As a result, Amey I became Arco Trent and Amey II, Arco Test.  After a comparatively short life, the Arco Trent was delivered to C.L. Prosser and Company's yard in Middlesborough in June 1999 for scrapping, although a section of its hull and superstructure was transported to the Thames and placed on the gravel bank just outside what was then known as the Millennium Dome.  It was then known as the Richard Wilson sculpture "A Slice of Reality" and is still in position today.




In fact despite the ill-fated Millennium Dome being rebranded as the O2 Arena, the only change to A Slice of Reality since I took the last two photographs has been the sealing up with perspex of the sections just below deck level. But what a change since I happened upon the complete Arco Trent at Littlehampton, Sussex - as pictured at the top of this article - having seen ( but not photographed sadly) its sister the Arco Tamar at Appledore in 1980!




In fact despite the ill-fated Millennium Dome being rebranded as the O2 Arena, the only change to A Slice of Reality since I took the last two photographs has been the sealing up with perspex of the sections just below deck level.  But what a change since I happened upon the complete Arco Trent at Littlehampton, Sussex - as pictured at the top of this article - having seen ( but not photographed sadly) its sister the Arco Tamar at Appledore in 1980!