Fishing boat registration codes

click photos to enlarge
Fishing boat registration codes are the letters and numbers displayed prominently on the side of European (including UK) fishing boats. The letters are derived from the first letter plus one or two more letters of the home port name followed by an identifying number. When we were on Portland Bill we saw the fishing boat WH296 cutting through the glittering sea, heading towards WeymoutH, its home port. Later we saw the boat moored at the harbourside and noted that it was, very appropriately, called "Portland Isle".

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Fishing boats, Lyme Regis, Dorset

There's no doubt that most photographs of boats (and ships) give more attention to the bow than the stern. In a way, it's like photographs of animals where the head invariably features more prominently than the tail or rear end.

However, the stern of boats and ships are the more often the "business end" of the vessel and as such have more of interest on show - as with this pair of fishing boats in the harbour at Lyme Regis, Dorset. 

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Inshore fishing boat, King's Lynn

A number of fishing boats can be seen moored at Kings Lynn in Norfolk. These inshore boats mainly fish in the large, shallow bay between Lincolnshire and East Anglia called The Wash. Their principal catch is, I read, cockles, most of which are processed in the town and then sold to Spain. Though the boats are usually tied fast to the quayside sometimes one is more loosely fastened, like "Seagull" above, making for a more interesting photograph.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10