Friday, 3 May 2024
WWW.DOVERFORUM.COM/SEA-NEWS
Sea Pictures from Dover.
Sailing Ships just off Dover: Europa above and De Gallant below...
We have 340 plus pages below now...use our own SEARCH ENGINE just below to help you trawl through. All pictures are the copyright of the owners.
Editor: Paul Boland - dover7@msn.com
WWW.DOVERFORUM.COM/SEA-NEWS
Sea Pictures from Dover.
Sailing Ships just off Dover: Europa above and De Gallant below...
We have 340 plus pages below now...use our own SEARCH ENGINE just below to help you trawl through. All pictures are the copyright of the owners.
Editor: Paul Boland - dover7@msn.com
Post 5030
Sea News, Dover
The DFDS ferry Dover Seaways battling hard through Storm Eleanor's rough seas yesterday...
Not far to go now... almost there...
The sea looked spectacular yesterday. There was glorious sunshine and kids of all ages were down here on the seafront enjoying the spectacle, youngsters in particular played 'dodging the spray'... whoosh!
I used to do that with my daughter...now an NHS doctor of course...
First shot shows the sea powering over and across the small pier opposite the Premier Inn. Hadnt seen it quite doing this before., but the tide was high and so were the waves and at times this pier almost vanished in the raging surf...
Another thunderous wave bursts shorewards....
The Seasports Centre/Hythe Bay Restaurant below looked distinctly menaced for a while. Later last night a team of bulldozers were working there. It was too dark to see what they were doing exactly. Its still dark now as I write but will check later to see if they were improving sea defences. In the distance you can also see the Lifeboat Station with the proud RNLI flag flying strongly in the wild wind. We cant see the Lifeboat now due to the temporary workhuts...
Thanks Brian - well done with that info below
Yes yours truly has since had a letter through the mailbox.
It leaves here ( the Port) at 9pm Saturday 6 January - goes along the Alkham Valley route to Sellindge to arrive 7am sunday morning. That's the plan stan.
Not sure when the ship carrying the beast arrives .. will watch for it.
PaulB
EXTRA NOTE: New Dimensions.
For 2018 we have made some changes, both the writing and the pictures have been made larger for all to enjoy.
Pictures are now 820 pixels wide which is much better - really glad about this change.
And the readin n writin is easier on the eye,
so there we are. All the pictures featured above there are 820 pixels wide...the new standard size.
My thanks as ever to colleague Chris Tutthill for doing the nescessary.
I will pin this temporarily so all can easily see the dimension notes.
Now unpinned. PB.
Thursday, 4 January 2018 - 07:56
The sea looked spectacular yesterday. There was glorious sunshine and kids of all ages were down here on the seafront enjoying the spectacle, youngsters in particular played 'dodging the spray'... whoosh!
I used to do that with my daughter...now an NHS doctor of course...
First shot shows the sea powering over and across the small pier opposite the Premier Inn. Hadnt seen it quite doing this before., but the tide was high and so were the waves and at times this pier almost vanished in the raging surf...
Another thunderous wave bursts shorewards....
The Seasports Centre/Hythe Bay Restaurant below looked distinctly menaced for a while. Later last night a team of bulldozers were working there. It was too dark to see what they were doing exactly. Its still dark now as I write but will check later to see if they were improving sea defences. In the distance you can also see the Lifeboat Station with the proud RNLI flag flying strongly in the wild wind. We cant see the Lifeboat now due to the temporary workhuts...
Thanks Brian - well done with that info below
Yes yours truly has since had a letter through the mailbox.
It leaves here ( the Port) at 9pm Saturday 6 January - goes along the Alkham Valley route to Sellindge to arrive 7am sunday morning. That's the plan stan.
Not sure when the ship carrying the beast arrives .. will watch for it.
PaulB
EXTRA NOTE: New Dimensions.
For 2018 we have made some changes, both the writing and the pictures have been made larger for all to enjoy.
Pictures are now 820 pixels wide which is much better - really glad about this change.
And the readin n writin is easier on the eye,
so there we are. All the pictures featured above there are 820 pixels wide...the new standard size.
My thanks as ever to colleague Chris Tutthill for doing the nescessary.
I will pin this temporarily so all can easily see the dimension notes.
Now unpinned. PB.
Thursday, 4 January 2018 - 07:56
Post 5029
brian, dover
if alls well journey starts 9 pm saterday night arriving at selling at 0700 hrs sunday.there normal route is being used.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 19:12
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 19:12
Post 5028
brian, dover
another transformer being lifted of the ship, of to sellange it goes.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 17:15
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 17:15
Post 5027
Sea News, Dover
And speaking of Lifeboats...I bumped into ace Lifeboatman Ben Payne in Cullins Yard a few evenings ago...and Ben was able to tell me when the Lifeboat was going out...I was ready and waiting for it. Unfortunately the images were knobbled by the ghastly weather and lousy visibility but here they are nonetheless. Not very exciting shots, but here goes...
Thanks for that info below once again Mike.
Here is a shot of Palembang when she did the lifting in the Port of Dover last year ( Feb 2017 ) so it will be interesting to see what develops.
Yes I enjoyed the birds too Mike...cormorants, pelicans or even wild geese...
they really add to the picture. Simon did a great job with those pictures.
Its wild and windy.
PaulB.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 04:22
Post 5026
Mike J., Dover
Rumour has it that the BBC OLYMPUS is the heavy lift expected in Dover towards the end of the week & she's coming in for another transformer job.
At the moment she's approaching Rotterdam from Antwerp.
Nice pictures of the PALEMBANG & I liked the 'fly-by' - cormorants ? pelicans ?
Her decks look a little cluttered for handling a transformer, maybe she's sheltering in the Downs waiting for the current unpleasantness to subside, AIS showed both tugs working with the ferries on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 02:15
At the moment she's approaching Rotterdam from Antwerp.
Nice pictures of the PALEMBANG & I liked the 'fly-by' - cormorants ? pelicans ?
Her decks look a little cluttered for handling a transformer, maybe she's sheltering in the Downs waiting for the current unpleasantness to subside, AIS showed both tugs working with the ferries on Tuesday evening.
Wednesday, 3 January 2018 - 02:15
Post 5025
Sea News, Dover
Simon says...
"
Good Morning,
Currently at anchor in The Downs. Looks like she left Vlissingen yesterday morning (05:20hrs) and turned up off Walmer approx 13:45hrs, en-route to Freetown. Any ideas?
"
We understand there is a big lift taking place here in Dover later this week Simon. I thought initially Wednesday but I think Mike then said Friday...but... not sure now. They used to keep us informed locally but I guess there have been so many that they may well have given up doing so ...Whatever the day anyway we will watch for developments.
If anyone knows anything further let us know by all means..
Happy New Year to you too Simon. Well done with those pictures.
PaulB
Gosh that's a really great picture from Ed below there. That's the best collection of knitwear Ive seen for many a year. Good luck and Happy New Year to the catering crew there...
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 14:53
Post 5024
Ed Connell, Dover Strait
Photo on the noticeboard of our catering crew all dressed up in Christmas jumpers which they had been encouraged to bring in for the occasion. They wore them for a day and looked brilliant. Re ringing the ship's bell: our youngest crew member Brandon rang New Year in. Our oldest crew member refused to play ball because that was me and I was watching "An American Werewolf in London" on the telly. It always gives me the shivers when I am on the escalator on the tube and remember the sequence where the commuter gets attacked on the escalator at Tottenham Court Road!
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 07:50
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 07:50
Post 5023
Sea News, Dover
Following along from Mike's picture of the Dover Seaways, here she is again in much rougher grimmer conditions, being robustly assisted into berth by tug Dauntless in yet another strong wind...the strong winds go on
unfortunately...
The fourth shot is an enlarged crop of picture 2.
That's a nice shot below Mike...liking that one. Ah yes re the ships hooting and tooting on New Years Eve. I caught the tail end of that experience when I first moved to Dover. It was great. But just as soon as I began to relish the exuberance...it all stopped. There must have been a blanket ban directive issued from somewhere on high...as it all ceased at once...
I tried a picture or two in the golden light mentioned..still in camera will check later to see if there is anything worthwhile.
PB
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 05:58
unfortunately...
That's a nice shot below Mike...liking that one. Ah yes re the ships hooting and tooting on New Years Eve. I caught the tail end of that experience when I first moved to Dover. It was great. But just as soon as I began to relish the exuberance...it all stopped. There must have been a blanket ban directive issued from somewhere on high...as it all ceased at once...
I tried a picture or two in the golden light mentioned..still in camera will check later to see if there is anything worthwhile.
PB
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 05:58
Post 5022
Mike J., Dover
A nice 'golden sunset' for the first dusk of 2018 & I was hoping for some nice ‘glints’ from the SPIRIT OF FRANCE, approaching beyond the DOVER SEAWAYS, but by the time she’d entered & started her swing the light had gone.
Perhaps the ‘Gateway Gang’ were luckier.
As Paul mentioned, like a lot of people in Dover I heard the fireworks at midnight.
One thing I didn’t hear was any of the ferries in port blowing their whistles.
.
When I was on the ferries in the 90s there was often a blast from ferries that happened to be in port.
Years ago when I before I started working on the ferries midnight was usually celebrated by every ship in port blowing their whistles loud & long at midnight & it was a never-to-be-forgotten sound.
Inevitably someone, wanting to first be first, jumped the gun a minute or two early but at midnight everyone opened up & with a wonderful variety of noise - steam whistles, air whistles, klaxons, even the ships’ anchor bells. Some blew long blasts, others tooted, some even tried ‘tunes’
The whistling would go on almost continuously for some time before gradually dying away with some ships trying to be the last to sound their whistle, before going down below for another beer or three.
Wonderful.
Ships underway at sea would sometimes blow their whistles & the New Year would be often be rung out on the ship's bell by the oldest crewmember & rung in by the youngest.
Whether in port or at sea, quite an experience, but times change . . . . .
Excuse me my wallow in nostalgia & Happy New Year to all.
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 00:05
Perhaps the ‘Gateway Gang’ were luckier.
As Paul mentioned, like a lot of people in Dover I heard the fireworks at midnight.
One thing I didn’t hear was any of the ferries in port blowing their whistles.
.
When I was on the ferries in the 90s there was often a blast from ferries that happened to be in port.
Years ago when I before I started working on the ferries midnight was usually celebrated by every ship in port blowing their whistles loud & long at midnight & it was a never-to-be-forgotten sound.
Inevitably someone, wanting to first be first, jumped the gun a minute or two early but at midnight everyone opened up & with a wonderful variety of noise - steam whistles, air whistles, klaxons, even the ships’ anchor bells. Some blew long blasts, others tooted, some even tried ‘tunes’
The whistling would go on almost continuously for some time before gradually dying away with some ships trying to be the last to sound their whistle, before going down below for another beer or three.
Wonderful.
Ships underway at sea would sometimes blow their whistles & the New Year would be often be rung out on the ship's bell by the oldest crewmember & rung in by the youngest.
Whether in port or at sea, quite an experience, but times change . . . . .
Excuse me my wallow in nostalgia & Happy New Year to all.
Tuesday, 2 January 2018 - 00:05
Post 5021
Sea News, Dover
Some pictures above there of the rough oul weather and menacing oul skies over the channel in the past 2 days. There goes 2017. Storm Dylan didn't give us the pasting expected here in Dover...people were happily setting off fireworks storm free around and about the 'observation tower' at midnight last night and a jolly old time was had by all. Yours truly ( forced into it of course ) sampled the delights of the grape...
...in a small way...
Thanks for all the help in 2017 from all the contributing team. PaulB.
Monday, 1 January 2018 - 06:39
Post 5020
Sea News, Dover
Barent Zanen's work goes on...there we are above with pictures from two days ago (29th) which show the vessel arriving in between rain showers with yet another load of sand. In close attendance above is Smit Young again. Nearby amongst the piling and readying things for offloading is Morag M in the picture below.
For camera buffs...these pictures were taken using a digital zoom rather than an actual zoom lens. The main camera was charging so yours truly tackled a bit of experimentation using the 'unreal'. Or in other words...it was the computer wot dunnit...
Sunday, 31 December 2017 - 06:47
Post 5019
Sea News, Dover
If you look at picture 4 in Ed's latest post below you can see the same section of development as shown above. The picture above shows it from the inshore angle and was taken the same day as Ed's shot December 20. Amazing to see the amount of sand infill already... and they're still going strong...
Many thanks to the guys at the Port for sending that picture over. I've made it as large as I can so all can see.
Below we have a picture of yesterdays rough morning, very rough morning. The two ferries featured are...Calais Seaways and Spirit of France .... shown here as they leave the port around mid morning. The blustery weather isn't over either as there is another storm on the schedule we understand.. Storm Dylan this time.
Excellent pictures below Ed. Good to see those.
Thanks for the info Mike as ever.
PB.
Saturday, 30 December 2017 - 06:09
Post 5018
Mike J., Dover
I've just come across DHB's latest DWDR promotional video - excellent drone footage of the works, filmed on a lovely sunny day & dated December 2017.
Particularly good coverage of the piling works.
If you've not seen it just Google 'DWDR DECEMBER 2017' & the film should come out top of the list.
November one is worth a look too.
A pity that there weren't any DWDR craft moving about or much activity.
Perhaps the next one will have the BARENT ZANEN in action.
Terrible music !
Saturday, 30 December 2017 - 00:41
Particularly good coverage of the piling works.
If you've not seen it just Google 'DWDR DECEMBER 2017' & the film should come out top of the list.
November one is worth a look too.
A pity that there weren't any DWDR craft moving about or much activity.
Perhaps the next one will have the BARENT ZANEN in action.
Terrible music !
Saturday, 30 December 2017 - 00:41
Post 5017
Ed Connell, Dover Strait
Pursuant to Harald's photo of the European Seaway in drydock in Dunkerque, here she is in the Dunkerque fairway at noon today following her departure.
Some photos of the DWDR progress taken from seaward on 20th just before I went for a week's leave.
Friday, 29 December 2017 - 12:49
Some photos of the DWDR progress taken from seaward on 20th just before I went for a week's leave.
Friday, 29 December 2017 - 12:49
Post 5016
Sea News, Dover
The cranes are away at rest now with heads bowed, sleeping quietly through the Christmas period. But just before they went, these pictures were taken during their last evening of operation before the break. The pictures, as you can see, were taken as night hit the harbour...
The one below is a similar picture, not quite what was wanted as yours truly was trying to capture the flashing lighthouse... however... it has a mysterious addition. Creeping into the picture is an almost unseen drone...it crept in un-noticed initially and there we are. Who was operating the thing...well Gawd knows...
Eventually these things will have to be licensed...
Yes indeed that's a cracking picture below Ed of Duzgit Harmony. Well done with that one.
And another well done to Harald too...
PaulB.
Friday, 29 December 2017 - 06:37
The one below is a similar picture, not quite what was wanted as yours truly was trying to capture the flashing lighthouse... however... it has a mysterious addition. Creeping into the picture is an almost unseen drone...it crept in un-noticed initially and there we are. Who was operating the thing...well Gawd knows...
Yes indeed that's a cracking picture below Ed of Duzgit Harmony. Well done with that one.
And another well done to Harald too...
PaulB.
Friday, 29 December 2017 - 06:37
Post 5015
Patrick, Marine Parade
Great photo Ed. What a difference a clear day makes.
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 20:30
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 20:30
Post 5014
Ed Connell, Dover Strait
Duzgit Harmony at the DCT today.
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 18:58
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 18:58
Post 5013
Sea News, Dover
Harald its really great to see those pictures from the shipyard in Dunkerque. Great pictures for sure. They are very welcome on here.
PaulB.
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 15:55
PaulB.
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 15:55
Post 5012
Harald Boot, Tholen, The Netherlands
Pride of Kent and European Seaway at Damen Shiprepair in Dunkerque on Boxing Day.
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 11:20
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 11:20
Post 5011
Sea News, Dover
Its early on Boxing Day and above we see the working boats Morag M and Smit Young waiting for the imminent arrival of Barent Zanen...Barent was approaching with another load of sand for our considerable Western Docks redevelopment here at the Port of Dover. Mike got a nice first shot of Smit Young a few days ago (4503)...she is new on the scene here. That's her again in the zoomed shot above with Morag M in the near distance.
Also in with us...and I believe she came in on Christmas Day was our old friend Elvira. Yours truly didn't capture her this time around but here is a rough oul picture of her from around this time 2014...we've recently been having rough weather like this.... she left for Antwerp yesterday. PB.
Thursday, 28 December 2017 - 05:14