Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 7014

  Sea News, Dover

There has been some staggeringly good visibility this week. The picture above shows it up well...as we see the Varne Lightship mid channel and of course Boulogne providing a magnificent backdrop with the stunning Cathedral on the hill there in a starring role...
Have a few more of these pix in the files, will aim to show them this week..

Had a great tip off yesterday from our roving 'inshore correspondent' who spotted that 'diveboat' Eagle was just off the Dover 9 berth with new-on-the-scene support tug TTMS Viking... Mike tells me that one of the P&O Spirits had lost an anchor down there in the deep during the recent tempestuous weather and divers were going down in an all-round effort to retrieve it...

Pictures below here...we're shooting into the light so a wee bit forced...but hopefully all can see the divers etc...
and indeed their dive suits drying on the handrail...
Many thanks to Mike for the info here...



The Eagle and the Viking.


PaulB
ps: Dover 9 is back in use now, so at a guess, they must have found what they were looking for...
update: a reliable source has told us that the anchor has not been recovered

Sunday, 17 May 2020 - 07:21

 

Post 7013

  Sea News, Dover

Some pictures above there of Panda arriving once again...she was destined for the Cargo Terminal WD5. Just catching up here as the pictures are from Tuesday morning...and a nice morning it was too, as you can see. In shot 3 above there it almost looks like she is giving a lift to the returning pilot launch which had just seen off another vessel..'The Panda carries The Pilot'


PB

Saturday, 16 May 2020 - 06:52

 

Post 7012

  Sea News, Dover

Directly from the Port...

COVID-19 Coronavirus forces cancellation of 2020 Port of Dover Community Regatta
__________________________________________________________________________

After much discussion, waiting and hoping, the decision has reluctantly been taken to cancel this year’s Port of Dover Community Regatta.

In line with so many other major public events due to take place this summer, the absolute priority has been on the health and safety of all those who come together to make the Regatta happen and those who come to enjoy it â€" our local community, port community, stallholders, exhibitors, entertainers and visitors.

Barbara Buczek, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Dover said:

"We look forward each year to organising the Port of Dover Community Regatta, which sees around ten thousand people packing our seafront. It takes months of planning and under the current circumstances, with the clear and continuing need to maintain social distancing, we must follow the only sensible path other large scale events have been taking, and that is to cancel. We are grateful to everyone who has helped make it such a popular event over the last few years and look forward to welcoming many more people in the years ahead when we are past the current situation.

For now, we must uphold our social responsibility to support the nation’s focus on tackling the spread of COVID-19 whilst also ensuring our core port operations can continue to bring in the food, medicine and other essential resources our country needs."

The Port of Dover Community Regatta was due to take place on Sunday 9th August 2020.

ENDS


* *

Obviously very sad news above there...but I guess inevitable in these difficult times.
Always an enjoyable and hugely attended event.

Many thanks to the team at the Port for the info....

* *

And now just to catch up with the Yeoman Bank visit...in addition to the pictures currently at top of page.
Just some general round-up shots...the first one below, approaching the Port.. and then in sequence on from there....


And then she was gone..took yours truly by surprise, hadn't expected such a swift departure, no hanging about for Yeoman Bank


Leaving behind a very large deposit of general aggregate...ie sand/gravel..


The Clap for Carers last night...great response from everyone again ..

Cracking pictures below there Patrick...very enjoyable once again..well done with those



Friday, 15 May 2020 - 06:46

 

Post 7011

  Patrick, Marine Parade

A wonderful thing about the lockdown - you eventually get to appreciate being able to get out, take in some fresh air, and look at some great views.





Thursday, 14 May 2020 - 22:27

 

Post 7010

  Sea News, Dover

Here we see regular visitor Pacific Reefer moving away on a pleasant Tuesday morning … heading to Vlissingen. Time of first shot 08.33. Pilot boat in attendance as you can see...
Pacific Reefer on clear bright day in the Channel...




Will just include this extra shot from the day before and we see her semi-approaching the Port. Very windy at the time...a stiff and strong north-easterly whipping through...


Nice interesting collection below there Mike...well done getting those...

Big thanks Vic - glad you are still enjoying all the pictures..lots more coming..

Thanks as ever Del...keep enjoying..

PaulB

Thursday, 14 May 2020 - 07:19

 

Post 7009

  Mike J., Dover

AURORA didn’t stay long & has been replaced by the ARCADIA - Marine Traffic’s ‘Dover Expected Vessels’ page doesn’t show any of the other P&Os heading for Dover as at 2330 Wednesday.

The LIOMARE & YEOMAN BANK sailed Wednesday after a quick turnaround leaving only the PANDA invisible on DWD5 behind the reefer shed as she continues to load.




‘Border Force Corner’ of Granville Dock, unsure of the i/d of the ‘spare’ patrol vessel that seems to be keeping an eye on migrant RIBs,






Wednesday, 13 May 2020 - 23:29

 

Post 7008

  Del Styan, Norwich

I echo Vic's post - great pics, thanks.

Wednesday, 13 May 2020 - 23:11

 

Post 7007

  matcham, dovor

great photos they get better and better thank you

Wednesday, 13 May 2020 - 16:58

 

Post 7006

  Sea News, Dover

All pictures today are from wild Monday. It was wild and woolley with poor visibility...but then a shaft of sunlight came through and highlighted the weather bashed DFDS ferry above striving towards Calais. Its one of the 'Cotes' ferries ( I think )....but in these times of redundancies as mentioned yesterday re P&O...it shows how these ferries of all types keep going in all weathers and in all seasons, bringing through essential supplies for the nation...An oft used term at the moment but...'unsung heroes' is appropriate for the crews/staff that keep it all going....

The rough weather sometimes bring up close to shore huge ships...here's another one. These pictures from later Monday and Dimitris Y came in close to no doubt drop off a pilot, which seems to be the norm...
carrying one heck of a load...





Yes busy day yesterday Mike, nice collection below there. Thanks for the tips, will have some extra pix to follow along in due course..

very interesting one Patrick..good to see that, so many gems right in front of us...

Thanks Del once again...yes the redundancy news is hugely disappointing. No doubt we will have more on that in due course.

PaulB

Wednesday, 13 May 2020 - 06:31

 

Post 7005

  Mike J., Dover

Tuesday was a busy day for the pilots - arrival of AURORA for CT2, sailing of PACIFIC REEFER for Vlissingen , arrival of LIAMARE with stone for WD5 [west] & PANDA for WD5 [east] to load rapeseed.


PANDA

LIAMARE

Around midday the arrival of self-discharger YEOMAN BANK via the Eastern Entrance for WD4 from Glensanda Quarry in Scotland with aggregate which is being discharged by Her swinging boom.



The AURORA is back at sea again now & the other two are expected back over the next few days.

Of the 1100 reported P&O redundancies it is being reported that just over 600 will come from the Dover P&O operation & three ships will, for the moment, be retained.
Obviously the two 'Spirits' & at present the PRIDE OF KENT.

Very little mention recently about P&O's two new double-ended ferries due to enter service in 2023 . . . . .


Wednesday, 13 May 2020 - 03:50

 

Post 7004

  Del Styan, Norwich

Now I've recovered from the 7000 moment, well said Natalie. Thanks for the quote.

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 - 23:13

 

Post 7003

  Del Styan, Norwich

7000! wowwee! What can I say. I suppose the tabloids will be hounding me now. Oh fame - who wants it, I'd better go underground for a while till the fuss dies down.


Tuesday, 12 May 2020 - 23:11

 

Post 7002

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Looking more like part of a WW2 Maunsell Fort this structure can be found much nearer to home. This somewhat murky photograph was taken a few days ago at low tide


Tuesday, 12 May 2020 - 22:12

 

Post 7001

  Sea News, Dover

Yes Del...its shocking news... up to 1100 P&O job losses.

I thought the situation had been sorted with the Governments furlough scheme but obviously not...
The following is from the RMT (trade union)

RMT Press Office:
__________________

Responding to the news of over 1,000 job losses on P&O's key routes from Dover and Hull to the continent …
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said,

"This is devastating news and an appalling betrayal of the P&O work force.

" This is a kick in the teeth for P&O seafarers who have maintained key supply lines to the UK during the Covid -19 pandemic.

"What is utterly shameful is P&O have been kept afloat by our members and the taxpayer whilst their owners have been paying out hundreds of millions in dividends in Dubai and cooking up plans to permanently replace UK seafarers with low cost seafarers from thousands of miles away.

"This is an attack on British seafarers, crew and the biggest fear is that these jobs will never return to Dover or Hull. But you can guarantee that P&O ferries will still be running passenger ferry services from those ports to protect their owner's profits at the country's expense.

"We are seeking urgent talks with the company and will fight tooth and nail against these job losses and we are calling on the government to step in now and nationalise these services to protect jobs and the UK's maritime interests,"

Ends

No doubt local MP Natalie Elphicke will have more to say about this in her next Newsletter...
but right now we have this quote courtesy of the BBC

Natalie Elphicke said: "Let's remember that P&O, which is owned by the Sovereign State of Dubai, has received millions of pounds of financial support from our government in recent weeks. There can be no doubt that Dubai has more than enough money to keep P&O going in full."

The Spirit of France a few evenings ago under the full moon...
…..an upbeat creative picture taken when things looked a little more optimistic...


A picture below of Vigilant taken a day or so ago...heading out for another day at the coalface, dealing with that other news story of the moment...the Migrant surge...



Many thanks Del....
...just noticed Del .. you made the 7000th post...

PaulB

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 - 06:52

 

Post 7000

  Del Styan, Norwich

News of the Dover P and O staff redundancies has hit the national press, I see. I see MP Natalie has something to say on the matter. More to come on this I suspect.

Monday, 11 May 2020 - 23:06

 

Post 6999

  Sea News, Dover

These are quiet days on the activity front, for obvious reasons, but it gives us a chance to look back at a few more 'barge' pictures. These ones taken about a week ago on a nice evening..a tad misty though, but you cant have everything! They show the barge approaching the port from a fair way out...the barge, guided by workboat/tug Sarah Grey with small tug New Ross 1 in close attendance...and also to hand...the pilot boat.

Note the 'airborne' ship in the distance and the Varne Lightship too...they took yours truly by surprise when gazing at the photos later...never saw them up there floating on air...a sort of a trick of the light I guess...



Thanks Del. Yes rough oul weather down here today too..strong chilly gusts whipping through.
Now where did I put me string vest...

PaulB

Monday, 11 May 2020 - 06:50

 

Post 6998

  Del Styan, Norwich

Lovely moon photos - thanks for them. The sun has certainly got his hat on today. Bloody nippy up here in Norfolk, with tidal alerts around the coast. The weather just doesn't know what to do!

Sunday, 10 May 2020 - 23:10

 

Post 6997

  Sea News, Dover

A further picture now of HMS Severn through the mist, this time as she passes Arcadia seen here in the foreground. With the naked eye the container ship in the distance wasn't visible...the computer brought it into play later so they made an interesting threesome. Because yours truly didn't see the container ship the name was never looked up...its a mystery...


Every full moon seems to be called a 'supermoon' these days...i've seen this one called it as well. Pictures from a couple of days ago as the stunning 'supermoon' sinks onto Western Heights very early morning.. before man or beast was awake. Western Heights overlooks the Port here... pictures from the 7th which was...let me see.... yes Thursday ...

Supermoon Dover.

Looks like our sunblessed heatwave may have dispersed..we have gentle rain here in Dover this morning.

PaulB

Sunday, 10 May 2020 - 07:12

 

Post 6996

  Sea News, Dover

Found this further shot in the files re the Arcadia damage as mentioned yesterday...similar shot to Patrick's here..was focusing on the pilot boat not noticing the damage to Arcadia rear left, just above the pilot...but you can see it once again now..



Just to say in advance , the pictures below of 'dive boat' Eagle at pier WD4 (retrieving sunken gangway) are not the best quality. Yours truly tried to reduce the haze via computer, they were very hazy pictures, but instead of making it all better...well...
but anyway, here we are......

One of the huge cranes had come across from pier WD5. See also 6992 below for more detail...

Thanks for that info below Brian...

PaulB

Saturday, 9 May 2020 - 05:56

 

Post 6995

  brian dixon, dover

oceana departed at 1220 heading westward

Friday, 8 May 2020 - 14:00