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EERIE pictures show the inside of decommissioned warships that have been left in a "ship cemetery".

The images were captured at a bay in Brittany, France described as "the last resting point" for ships before they are dismantled.

 Eerie pictures show decommissioned warships left to rust at a 'ship cemetery' in Brittany, France
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Eerie pictures show decommissioned warships left to rust at a 'ship cemetery' in Brittany, FranceCredit: Bob Thissen
 Three retired warships are seen anchored alongside each other
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Three retired warships are seen anchored alongside each otherCredit: Bob Thissen
 A set of controls on one of the ships walkways
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A set of controls on one of the ships walkwaysCredit: Bob Thissen
 The shell of a missile left on board one of the ships
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The shell of a missile left on board one of the ships
 The barrel of a naval gun on a ship's deck
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The barrel of a naval gun on a ship's deckCredit: Bob Thissen

They were taken by Bob Thissen, a Dutch photographer known for capturing abandoned buildings and other sites in dozens of countries around the world.

"I started as a little kid. Just for the adventure. I was just curious," he said.

"It became important for me as a photographer to document these places before they’re gone.

"Because otherwise it’s a piece of history that goes."

Thissen said he became interested in the ship cemetery after coming across an article about it online.

"There were no pictures of the insides of the ships, so we went not knowing whether we'd be able to get inside.

"I wanted to go because it’s something unique. It’s something that you don’t see every day."

 The site is the 'last resting point' before ships are dismantled
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The site is the 'last resting point' before ships are dismantledCredit: Bob Thissen
 The derelict bridge of one of the ships
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The derelict bridge of one of the shipsCredit: Bob Thissen
 Thissen said is was 'important to document these places before they’re gone'
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Thissen said is was 'important to document these places before they’re gone'Credit: Bob Thissen
 The control room of one of the vessels
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The control room of one of the vesselsCredit: Bob Thissen
 Huge heavy doors separating two sections of a ship
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Huge heavy doors separating two sections of a shipCredit: Bob Thissen
 Thissen and a companion try the beds in a ship's sleeping quarters
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Thissen and a companion try the beds in a ship's sleeping quarters

Thissen travelled to the site a number of times between 2011 and 2016 to search the ships for scenes he wanted to capture.

"They have naval patrols, so you have to go when you can avoid getting seen," he said.

"We search for ships with some of the equipment left. You never know what you’re going to find.

"We explore for at least one or two days to search for interesting things."

Thissen's photographs from the site show huge artillery still on the decks of the ships and rooms full of high-tech military equipment.

"It’s the last resting point before they get scrapped, so they get disarmed of anything dangerous before they’re taken there," he said.

"One ship had been partly turned into a museum before being taken there, so it still had the outer shell of a missile on board.

"And sometimes deep inside a vessel you will still find a helmet or gun shells."

Images that Thissen has captured in Brittany and other sites around the world can be seen on his .

 One of the party stand on top of a ship's gun turret
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One of the party stand on top of a ship's gun turretCredit: Bob Thissen
 A laundry room on board one of the ships
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A laundry room on board one of the ships
 A blueprint of one of the retired ships found on board
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A blueprint of one of the retired ships found on boardCredit: Bob Thissen
 A ship's boiler room
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A ship's boiler roomCredit: Bob Thissen
 A canteen in which naval personnel would have eaten
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A canteen in which naval personnel would have eaten
 A sleeping compartment with wash basin
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A sleeping compartment with wash basin
 An abandoned room in the hull of a ship
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An abandoned room in the hull of a ship
 A room of what appear to be replacement mechanical parts
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A room of what appear to be replacement mechanical partsCredit: Bob Thissen
 A trapdoor opens a hatch between two levels of a ship
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A trapdoor opens a hatch between two levels of a shipCredit: Bob Thissen
 A chair in an on-board dentists' room
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A chair in an on-board dentists' roomCredit: Bob Thissen
 A partly dismantled sofa in a large living area on board
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A partly dismantled sofa in a large living area on boardCredit: Bob Thissen
 Thissen said you 'never know what you are going to find' when you enter a ship
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Thissen said you 'never know what you are going to find' when you enter a shipCredit: Bob Thissen

 



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