Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2929

  vic matcham, Dover

I would love to be the owner of one of them.

Friday, 4 March 2016 - 15:53

 

Post 2928

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Also a bit of Wind Farm & Pilot Boat action to enjoy whilst waiting for the lifeboat to return.

Seacat Resolute



Seacat Vigilant



Estuary Élite






Friday, 4 March 2016 - 15:40

 

Post 2927

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Our lifeboat was busy this morning, here she is returning from today's call out.









Friday, 4 March 2016 - 14:05

 

Post 2926

  Sea News, Dover

Following along from Mike's report and pix below of the Lizrix being towed in, see post 2471, I also got a few of the situation in progress...thanks to a heads-up from Mike. Some long range action here...


You are dead right Vic - the tugs work very hard indeed...always on the go and available 24/7.
Nice picture of the Elsebeth Ed...well done getting that. Ace man.

Friday, 4 March 2016 - 06:45

 

Post 2925

  vic matcham, dover

Our tugs seem to be working 24/7 but they must go to refit at times,I think time is coming that Dover gets two more tugs, there looks like there is work for more then two at times.

Friday, 4 March 2016 - 06:12

 

Post 2924

  Mike J., Dover

The small British tanker LIZRIX was towed into Dover this afternoon & is currently on Cruise-1.

She had been bound for Immingham from St.Helier in the Channel Islands but had anchored off Kingsdown with engine trouble.

The DOUGHTY towed her in, towing ‘over the bow’ [a quite common practice with modern harbour tugs] & was joined off the port by the DAUNTLESS who put her towline on the stern of the LIZRIX before the little convoy entered the Eastern Entrance at about 1600.












Thursday, 3 March 2016 - 22:30

 

Post 2923

  Ed Connell, Dover

Elsebeth at the DCT yesterday.


Thursday, 3 March 2016 - 09:40

 

Post 2922

  Vic Matcham, Dover

Lots of tons on them two great ships,
Reading about what the D.H.B. done I am not happy with seeing Mr Wiggins name now a member of the D,H.B.
But nothing to do with me anyway.

Thursday, 3 March 2016 - 07:57

 

Post 2921

  Sea News, Dover

Two pictures above from very recent days. The top shot shows the Valiant arriving in the inner harbour, picture taken just as it comes upon the docked Saga Sapphire. This vessel always makes a good picture. Also above an extra picture of the Saga Sapphire backing out of the relatively tight confines of the Cruise ship area to perform a complete turn before moving away through the eastern exit.

And now.....



A STATEMENT BELOW FROM THE DOVER HARBOUR BOARD

Government clears path for further Trust Port progress
____________________________________________

Dover Harbour Board (DHB) is delighted that its Harbour Revision Order, which enables the appointment of two community directors, has been approved by the Marine Management Organisation.

With Government’s clear support for the strategic direction of the Port – as witnessed by the recent visit of the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP – the appointment of the two community directors, Samantha Parker and Neil Wiggins, completes a three-year journey of transformation.

Overseen by Chairman George Jenkins OBE, Dover Harbour Board has now delivered on absolutely everything it was asked to do, and more, since former Ports and Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond MP, set out a roadmap for transforming the Port. As witnessed by its community, the Port has:

• Established the independent Port & Community Forum in order to provide meaningful and open engagement with a host of community representatives.

• Established the independent Port Users Group to work together with partners, customers, tenants, suppliers and contractors to deliver the very best service.

• Achieved new borrowing powers so that, as a trust port, it can deliver future infrastructure requirements whilst delivering major waterfront development and a catalyst for Dover's regeneration. That work begins now.

• Achieved new powers enabling it to create the Port of Dover Community Fund with many local projects already benefitting from tens of thousands of pounds of funding.

• Established a refreshed Board brimming with specialist port, ferry, financial, business, regeneration and local expertise; and one that is absolutely focused on driving forward the strategy to be the best port in the world for the benefit of its customers and community. Now that expert Board is to be supplemented by two community directors.

In looking forward to working with the new community directors and setting out their duties, George Jenkins OBE, Chairman, Dover Harbour Board, said:

"With the support of Government, the district council, our MP and our community, we look forward to warmly welcoming Samantha and Neil to our progressive Board.

"As Dover Harbour Board members, the two community directors will hold the same roles, duties and responsibilities as the rest of the Board of which they are part.

"As an expanded Board we will continue to oversee DHB’s progressive strategy, acting in line with our commitment to corporate social responsibility by demonstrating honesty, integrity and objectivity in decision-making and in line with the strict governance standards as outlined in Modernising Trust Ports (2nd Edition).

"The Board takes these appointments very seriously in driving the future of an organisation responsible for a major international gateway.

"We have been on an incredible journey and having removed several other obstacles to progress recently, Samantha and Neil will join with us in continuing that journey, moving forward together on delivering a first class port operation for our customers with unprecedented community support, engagement and providing future opportunities for Dover.

"As I announced last August, my term of office ends on 30 June 2016. I take great pride in knowing that, with the support of my Board, our Chief Executive and his fantastic team, we will have achieved all that we were asked to do.

"I will complete my term safe in the knowledge that Dover Harbour Board is pursuing a strategy to secure the future resilience of the eastern docks and the revival of the western docks, while continuing its track record of delivering for Dover and the nation."


ENDS


* *

Below we have two of the mighty beasts moving down the channel. Pictures from a couple of days ago.
When visibility is good we always like to go for these great ships...picturewise.

The following picture shows the magnificent Ever Lunar, what a great name....moving elegantly down the channel heading for somewhere called Corombo. What a whopper!


Soon afterwards along came the Cosco Spain, another huge beast of mammoth proportions...this one heading for Suez.


Ah, just noticed we have featured the Cosco Spain before, a couple of summers ago...just came across it in the file and sure why not include the same picture again this time .. and here we are..


Thanks Mark...so that's what it is. Ah I see where the blackheaded bit comes in..during mating season.
I had a feeling it wasn't a shhh hawk Brian...
PaulB.




Thursday, 3 March 2016 - 06:30

 

Post 2920

  Mark Rushton, Northants (rushton.mark@hotmail.co.uk)

Evening Paul,

Your mystery gull is a black headed gull. Not very "black headed", I grant you, but our feathery friends pull on their black hoods every spring when they're on the pull and then revert to something less conspicuous when the breeding season ends. So now you know...

Wednesday, 2 March 2016 - 23:03

 

Post 2919

  brian, dover

its a shhhhhhhh hawk, a member of the shhhhhhhhhhh hawk famley paul..

so you braved the brass monkey wheather then paul,hope you had a irish coffee or three in the crispin.

Wednesday, 2 March 2016 - 16:57

 

Post 2918

  Sea News, Dover

Sandwich Days: One got ones old bones over to Sandwich on Sunday...it was bitingly cold with a whipping northerly breeze powering through. It was cold enough to make a chaps eyes water and his nose turn a funny shade of red...but what can you say...this brave intrepid reporter took a few pictures in the biting wind, shook off all hardships for at least a few minutes, and then retired to the pub ( for health reasons!).

The pub was The Crispin Inn...thought I would mention that for aficionados of the alcoholic beverage, in moderation of course. But Sandwich always presents interesting picture opportunities on a winters day especially if its bright.

The top shot shows the boatyard in the gloriously bright colourful conditions. The main boat on display there was called Grayling...reminding a chap of the ghastly politician currently infesting our airways with Brexit...ugh!

Above we look down river from the bridge...the trees and reeds are gorgeous as you can see, as is the tidal River Stour.

Below we have a picture of a gull posing...I had to pay him good money for his modelling here. This is a different kind of gull as you can see, yours truly isn't terribly familiar with the names of same, but these particular guys buzz my observation tower every july chasing those july bugs. Its quite a spectacle that - it lasts only for two to three evenings each year, we get hundreds of these flying bugs each year at evening time only and these birds turn up to chase and feed. So there you are...
PaulB.
Yet another cargo ship in Port today...the Elsebeth is back with us. Keep it up guys.


Wednesday, 2 March 2016 - 07:38

 

Post 2917

  Sea News, Dover

The Schweiz Reefer leaving us here at Dover yesterday heading north presumably to Hamburg...I say presumably as there was nothing marked on the AIS as to destination. Time of pictures around about 13.45. See also Ed's more colourful pictures below in post 2462....in the meantime it had clouded over as you can see. Pictures above and below are quite grey. The tugs were as busy as ever.
The hard working Schweiz Reefer moving out into the open sea.


* *

We have seen the various migrant crisis situations on TV last night.. Below here we have a message from the Road Haulage Association whose members are under considerable stress passing through or near the Calais Jungle.

The Road Haulage Association fully supports the letters from Calais President Xavier Bertrand to Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande asking for the issue of disruptive migrant activity at Calais to be officially put on the agenda of the Franco-British Summit in Amiens on March 3rd and his call for an emergency plan be implemented as soon as possible.

Commenting, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said:
"Xavier Bertrand has raised this issue at the highest government levels and it certainly appears that his request for action is being acknowledged on both sides of the Channel. For that reason alone I find it disappointing that despite our best efforts, and frequent meetings with the Home Office team, our calls for urgent action, and regular invitations to Ministers and senior Civil Servants to visit the Port of Calais have received very little response.


"This issue is becoming all consuming", continued Richard Burnett. "The cost to both the UK and French economy as a whole since the Calais crisis began has been massive. In particular, the financial losses suffered by UK-bound hauliers on a daily basis as a result of migrants climbing on-board trucks and damaging loads has cost transport operators and their customers millions of pounds. In addition, the emotional, and often physical cost to HGV drivers has been considerable.

We regularly hear of drivers who quite simply refuse to travel through this critical freight route because they no longer want to put their lives at risk. And why should they?."

Ends


Mr Bertrand, who beat Front National leader Marine Le Pen to become head of the Calais prefect in recent elections, as mentioned above wants the issue of migration to be added to the agenda of a Franco-British summit, set to take place in Amiens on March 3.

You can see the aforementioned letter from the Calais President to Prime Minister Cameron below....


Dear Prime Minister Cameron

Today more than 100billion Euros worth of goods and tens of millions of travellers pass through the tunnel and our ports on both sides of the channel. It is both our countries joint responsibility that they operate seamlessly.

For months now, companies and people have been suffering from the migrants' crisis.

The inhabitants of Dover and Calais are directly affected as well as the surrounding regions and roads linking them.
Furthermore, it is now a threat for the entire European logistics and freight industry, together with companies that rely on scheduled goods being delivered on time.

Protecting and developing transport industries - through road, rail and sea - should be a priority. Both of our countries need to respond urgently, particularly by bringing together the Ministers in charge of Economy, Internal Affairs, Transport and Tourism from our respective governments.

The upcoming Franco-British summit on March 3 in Amiens is a unique opportunity to launch an emergency plan. This ititiative can ensure a quick return to business as usual, in particular by guaranteeing that people and freight can circulate with ease on this vital axis.

This is the reason I plead with you, as I did with the President of France, to put down the cross-Channel transport issue on the agenda for the Franco-British summit.

Yours faithfully
Xavier Bertrand


Below we see smoke from the fires in Calais yesterday as the authorities try to remove 'the jungle' over there. As seen from Dover.



Thanks Colette, we will watch for those cruise ships.





Tuesday, 1 March 2016 - 07:15

 

Post 2916

  ColetteB, Dover

On Saturday I looked out my window & saw what I thought looked like a Cruise Ship, on closer inspection it was indeed a Saga Cruise Ship! So if in doubt check Sea News out & sure enough it was true, the Saga Sapphire was in port
The Cruise Season kicks off on March 18th when our old friend the Braemar arrives back in town. She is our only one in March, I will be back with the April schedule in due course.

It's great to see photos of the 'new' DFDS, Cote des Dunes & Cote des Flandres in action at Dover. I'm looking forward to a trip soon.

Sarah H love those photos in post 2454 especially the Seacat Resolute with the magnificent frontage of Ramsgate town buildings in the background

Super Duper photos & information from all the Sea News team

Tuesday, 1 March 2016 - 00:29

 

Post 2915

  Ed Connell, Dover

Schweiz Reefer preparing to depart from the DCT at lunchtime.



Monday, 29 February 2016 - 13:00

 

Post 2914

  Sea News, Dover

Another picture above there of the Skaw Provider servicing the Saga Sapphire with pilot boat in attendance. Time of picture above was roughly midday saturday. See also Ed's pix further below page. The pictures immediately below show her leaving us after completing her efforts at about 13.45 the same day saturday.




Howard in Post 2430, now on page 2, Sarah has very good pictures of the car transporter at Ramsgate. Mike also got a shot earlier too. Have a look at those..
Thanks Sarah ... one does what one can in the face of adversity...
Well done Mike - we will have to get those poles demolished
Yet another cargo ship came in today in the wee dark hours - this time the Schweiz Reefer.


Monday, 29 February 2016 - 07:22

 

Post 2913

  Howard McSweeney, dover

Seems to be plenty going on in Ramsgate Harbour despite there being no ferry service other than the unfortunate livestock carrier. I believe a car transporting service is due to or has already started up there which must mean jobs for someone. Also a rumour going around about a plan for a medium sized freight/passenger vessel to start running.

Sunday, 28 February 2016 - 16:51

 

Post 2912

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Great photos Paul of Dover Lifeboat

Sunday, 28 February 2016 - 10:08

 

Post 2911

  Mike J., Dover

After she completed her swing in a cloud of excited seagulls the SAGA SAPPHIRE sailed via Eastern Entrance.

For me, one of the better-looking cruise ships .

Damned lighting poles.












Sunday, 28 February 2016 - 08:20

 

Post 2910

  Sea News, Dover

An extra pic above of the Saga Sapphire departing yesterday. Have added this one as just noticed it being less contrasty and easier to see than the earlier ones below...and as a special homage to the first cruise ship this year. Bon Voyage !
Oooh Brian you are wicked ! lol


Sunday, 28 February 2016 - 07:07