A COASTER well known at Whitstable harbour has been sold to foreign buyers.

Over the years the Ardent has often spent long periods at the outer west quay undergoing repairs.

In August 2005 she was the only vessel in port for Harbour Day.

She was built in Hull in 1983 to the Yorkshire design for cargo ships. But unlike her contemporaries, she has had only one name until her sale last week.

She now flies the flag of Moldova and has been re-named Eos.

She is currently laid up at Erith on the Thames but is expected to be back in service soon.

Meanwhile, the only visitor to the harbour has been the multi-purpose support vessel Wiltango.

Earlier this year the coaster River Trader was in the harbour getting a new engine. She eventually left for Ridham Dock on the Swale to get grain for Brussels.

It was a pity the cargo could not have been loaded locally to make better use of Whitstable Harbour's potential.

Her sister ship River Pride has also visited the harbour, arriving light from New Holland for repairs.

The town's adopted freighter Union Pluto had been away for nearly a month. She eventually brought stone from Glensanda Quarry in Scotland which had been transhipped from the Isle of Grain. Unusually, she spent over a day at the quay side before leaving in ballast for Flushing. Charles Traill