Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 4316

  Sea News, Dover

Following a tip off from Mike I was able to capture these guys arriving in big style. The vessels slip in and out of Port so quietly that you can easily miss the movements, but here we are with Tug Arion arriving yesterday with yet another DWDR crane...this time a whopper of a crane.
This one could almost lift my wallet...


The Happy River Big Lift guys left us for Rotterdam yesterday...job done. Time of the misty departure 16.30 (4.30pm)

Below a pic from earlier in the day with that seagull trying to get in on the act again.

And the final shot of this post...the Balmoral departing mid-morning on wednesday. it is always surprising when they leave at oddball times like that...she looks good.


Well done Mike with the sequence in the post below.
Glad you caught that arrival. Ace work for sure.... PaulB

Saturday, 27 May 2017 - 05:13

 

Post 4315

  Mike J., Dover

Arrival of the heavy-lift ship HAPPY RIVER on Thursday afternoon with another overhauled transformer for the Sellindge substation.
She swung off the end of the Prince of Wales on a gloriously sunny afternoon before backing down to her berth on Cruise-1.





She has not come directly from Rotterdam but from Stanlow on the Manchester Ship Canal.
Stanlow is a major oil & chemical complex a few miles up the Canal, so presumably the ship had been there to unload some equipment there before continuing on to Dover.




Friday, 26 May 2017 - 01:38

 

Post 4313

  Sea News, Dover

Above there we have some long range pictures of the Lifeboat returning from action late on Tuesday evening. It was beyond 8pm so the pictures are a bit strained, but glad to get them. I was watching through the long lens and the second boat popped into view. Yours truly got a bit of a shock for a moment as I thought the lifeboat was towing it at great speed. But no...I think the second boat is the one featured by Mike a few posts back...will get the number shortly...yes post 3817 called Grumpy. It wasn't visible at all and then suddenly it was there..

The lifeboat guys have had a busy spell once again..being called to a fatality below the cliffs a few evenings back, plus I understand there was a second incident too. Very busy times. Picture no 3 is the Disney Magic through the early fog with Sospan Dau and MoragM also in the frame.. I should have a better picture...will double check..

Well done Jeremy and Ed with the pictures of the Disney Magic - you did much better than me so great stuff guys! You saved the day.
I fixed the Esmeralda situation for you Ed so all's well there.
No problem can always fix.
Yes indeed Vic they have upped the tempo on the piling a wee bit.

Great work from Mike too below in 3830.Good to have those pix Mike.
Yes indeed the Pimms is a-rippling and now the Martini is shaken and not stirred..lol !!

PaulB.

Thursday, 25 May 2017 - 07:02

 

Post 4311

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

Esmeralda preparing to leave the DCT today.


Disney Magic at the cruise terminals today.



Wednesday, 24 May 2017 - 18:43

 

Post 4310

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Disney Magic in today. Rather hazy photo's sorry.

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 - 16:18

 

Post 4309

  vic matcham , Dovor

I have to go and get my tin hat on I can hear them piling from my back garden

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 - 14:07

 

Post 4308

  Mike J., Dover

Arrival & swing of the VISION OF THE SEAS from St.Martin’s Battery.





Note the structures that have appeared on the Dunkirk Jetty, presumably to do with it’s current demolition.
A day or two ago the LLANDWYN ISLAND was ‘pushing up’ to the jetty which apparently to be demolished by sawing it up into big chunks.
A very big floating crane is supposed to be turning up in the near future for this job.



The workboat MORAG M was in the old Jetfoil terminal - she is registered in Greenock, but flying a Dutch flag, probably ‘cos she is on charter to the Dutch who are the leading players in the DWDR job.



I hear the occasional burst of thumping from the DWDR pile-drivers, currently a lot less than everyone was expecting - the other day I could feel the thumps when I was down near the swing bridge.
Perhaps it is wobbling Mr.B's watchtower & rippling the Pimms.

Currently most of the noise heard on the seafront seems to be from the contractors who are demolishing two levels of one of the multistorey carparks in Eastern Docks,


Wednesday, 24 May 2017 - 11:27

 

Post 4307

  Sea News, Dover

Here is the great Vision of the Seas moving away from these shores late last evening...she was just catching the colourful late rays from the dying sun and looking fabulous as she bid us farewell. The ship was on its way to Edinburgh or its nearby port at Leith.

As mentioned earlier the Disney Magic and the Balmoral are here with us today. No pictures as yet due to fog but you never know... things are picking up.

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 - 11:22

 

Post 4306

  Sea News, Dover

Another few pictures now of the close to 80,000 tonner Vision of the Seas.
It is great to see ships like this here at the Port of Dover...





Mike tipped me off re the vessel below called Jade, a small coaster delivering materials for the ongoing piling re the DWDR.
Like that man said in the movies
"I love the sound of piling in the morning..."
Just caught Jade at the last second as she left us heading westward. Will be impossible to catch anything this morning as we have thick fog.

UPDATE 10.20am : the fog is clearing and at last the magnificent Disney Magic is creeping into view. These magnificent ships keep right on coming here to the Port of Dover. We may have to resort to previous pictures of the Disney Magic at this rate as visibility is dire. Balmoral is also in and looking good.

Very sad news from Manchester yesterday.

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 - 07:10

 

Post 4305

  Sea News, Dover

The magnificent Vision of the Seas arriving with us here at the Port of Dover this morning. What a stunner. Time of shot: eleven minutes past six am. ( 06.11 )
This pic shown at our new size of 810 pixels wide. We will have more pictures of the ship in due course.

Tuesday, 23 May 2017 - 14:55

 

Post 4304

  Sea News, Dover

As promised some further photos of the late sunday departure action ....



You will have seen the pictures of the early morning tug celebratory spraying at the arrival of Saga Sapphire a few days ago, that as mentioned was early morning and these pix are late evening. A bit too late for good pictures but ermmm .. we pushed the boat out .. that's Saga Sapphire again and both tugs putting on a fantastic display. A few minutes later Saga Pearl joined Sapphire just outside port to enjoy the scintillating fireworks...

...the last firework pic.

Saga Pearl earlier in the day sunday....

PaulB
More firework pictures below page.
The magnificent Vision of the Seas approaching...

Tuesday, 23 May 2017 - 05:05

 

Post 4303

  Sea News, Dover

This is the well loaded Atlantic Klipper arriving with us yesterday at 10.50am, being aided by both tugs. She is of course not to be confused with the Baltic Klipper which we had recently. She left us in the early hours heading on to Hamburg in Germany.

NOTE: we have further news now about sizing. Good news in fact...in the world today there isn't much good news but this is good news. With excellent help from my good friend Chris Tutthill today ( see his new Archive section) we have increased once more the size that pictures are shown at. It is now 810 pixels wide. Note that number .. especially if you enjoy resizing your images which I do myself. 810pixels. This picture of the Atlantic Klipper is shown at the new size..810..I have resized it to the magical 810. This new measure will show pictures clearer.
PaulB.
PS: more pictures tomorrow of the late sunday departures...

Monday, 22 May 2017 - 13:39

 

Post 4302

  Sea News, Dover

And now for something completely different !

And its a...nice day for a .. white wedding..yeah..



Prior to all the exciting kerfuffle with the Saga fireworks etc etc along the seafront on saturday ..this happy couple above were having their nuptials photographed in the blazing sunlight, and very fine it all was. Nice couple - nice car! Romance, well sometimes it can nearly be as exciting as fireworks...
Good luck to the happy couple, if they see these pictures lets hope they enjoy them...although they are probably off on their honeymoon right now with other things on their mind.

Well, that was something a bit different for sure.
PS: the wedding car is a Beauford, not a hugely familiar name but fascinating.

Artania was in with us yesterday, first time this year and here she is...



She left last night just after 6pm heading for the delights of Amsterdam.

Nice work below there Sarah. Exciting pictures of the Ramsgate Lifeboats in action, with the added bonus of the massive windfarms in the background.
Thanks guys re the fireworks, not really sure how to do fireworks but had a stab at it... and the pix came out better than expected.
Mark Ive used that one myself...I'll get my coat as well...lol

PaulB.

Monday, 22 May 2017 - 05:12

 

Post 4301

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Fantastic firework photos Paul

It was Sea Safety Day in Ramsgate today, a few photos of Ramsgate Lifeboats putting on a show.









Sunday, 21 May 2017 - 18:12

 

Post 4300

  Barry W-S, Dover

Wow!! Spectacular firework shots there PaulB, you missed me gaily twirling me sparklers, Ooh Missus lol!!

Sunday, 21 May 2017 - 12:06

 

Post 4299

  Mark rushton, Northants

Nice fireworks there. You could say they pushed the boat out. Sorry. I'll get my coat.

Sunday, 21 May 2017 - 08:39

 

Post 4298

  Sea News, Dover

Yes they all came to see the Fireworks last night, every parking space was full as people waited all agog with anticipation of the display to come, and it didn't disappoint. This first picture below was taken while it was still bright...there was still a half an hour to go before the display started and even more people came. Yours truly dangled out of the 'observation tower' alarmingly to get the following picture...hold on to your hat


And then they started.... see the tugboat bottom left..


We all love a firework and will go miles to see 'em.
It was a great evening at the Port of Dover. At 8.45pm the Saga Sapphire moved off with both tugs spraying furiously into the evening sky. The ships horns sounded. Saga Sapphire waited just offshore, just outside the harbour...then Saga Pearl followed in quick succession. Tugs still a-sprayin' ..Both ships waited offshore, the crowds built up onshore...and then at around 9.25pm the fireworks blasted into the night sky and cheered everybody up.
Well done Saga.

Then the cruise liners moved away and in its own way the dredger Sospan Dau provided its own night time display with all lights blazing as she worked away. Here she is below...these pix from a day earlier...
PaulB



Cruise Liner Artania is approaching...

Sunday, 21 May 2017 - 05:24

 

Post 4297

  vic matcham , Dovor

You all seem to be in the right place at the right time, well done.

Saturday, 20 May 2017 - 06:59

 

Post 4296

  Sea News, Dover

This is a big day for cruise company Saga here at the Port of Dover as they celebrate 20 years of sailing from this Port. Now here below we have pictures of the Saga Sapphire arriving yesterday morning early...greeted enthusiastically and warmly by tug Doughty in celebration mode.






Don't forget there are FIREWORKS this evening to celebrate. Come down to the seafront around 8.30PM and that should get you here in time. According to the info we have...kick off time is 8.45PM.

This item was temporarily PINNED as a tribute to both the Saga Sapphire, which is still here in Port today, and SAGA as a company for their long association with Dover.

The Saga Pearl has now joined the party..so we have two Saga ships in.


Good work below Mike

Saturday, 20 May 2017 - 06:03

 

Post 4293

  Mike J., Dover

The tug WILLPOWER came up from Southampton Thursday evening to collect a barge & sailed about 0800 Friday morning, returning to Southampton.


SAGA SAPPHIRE was also in port on Friday, arriving from Stavanger about 0700 & remaining overnight for Saturday's Saga celebrations, including the fireworks.

GRUMPY continued her almost-continuous taxi service between the Tidal Basin & the piling barges & other DWDR craft.





Saturday, 20 May 2017 - 00:28