Ship’s dolphin guard of honour

A CRUISE ship that had docked at the Port of Tyne was accompanied into open waters by a playful marine guard of honour.

When the ‘Balmoral’ sailed out of the Tyne on May 2 it did so surrounded by a pod of dolphins, enjoying the waves created by the large vessel.

This fantastic image shows them ‘bow riding’ at the front of the ship were captured by dolphin-spotter Vicki Sinclair.

The perfectly-timed picture was captured from the pier at South Shields and show the ship as it heads out into the ocean.

Vicki said: “We tracked them in our group Newbiggin-by-the-sea Dolphin Watch from Roker and I headed to the Tyne piers and got there just as they were swimming towards the piers. They timed it perfectly to bow ride back out with the ship.”

The keen wildlife watcher and photographer, from Killingworth, said the group identified one of the dolphins, the largest of those pictured, as ‘Flipper’. This dolphin is known to local dolphin spotters and can be identified through marks on the fin.

A young calf was also part of the group which accompanied the ship on its journey out to sea.