The newly restored SS Robin, the last remaining steam-coaster in the world, was airlifted by cranes onto a purpose-built floating museum pontoon at Lowestoft on Monday June 28.

The historic ship was lifted onto her new floating base in preparation for her return to London, where she will eventually take up her role as an innovative new museum and learning centre for young people.

On 21 May the aircrtaft carrier USS Harry S Truman sailed from her homeport of Norfolk in Virginia at the start of a six month tour of duty. With the carrier for the deployment are the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Ross, USS Oscar Austin and USS Winston S Churchill.

The latter visited Portsmouth in early June for a five day stopover.  Allso attached to the USS Harry S Truman’s strike force is the German frigate FGS Hessen.

In early 2012, as part of her World Voyage, the Queen Mary 2 will for the first time be undertaking a 22-night circumnavigation of Australia.

Cunard are offering the opportunity to sail out to Sydney from Southampton on 10 January, spend 22 nights doing their own thing in Australia from 14 February to 7 March and then rejoin the ship for the voyage back to Southampton arriving on 27 April.

Seeing the new Stena Hollandica at Parkeston Quay, Harwich, which was featured last month, I thought I would contrast her with this ‘flotilla’ at the same quay from early last century.

It is interesting to draw out the detail and maybe date the image reasonably precisely.