Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2768

  vic matcham, Dover

Sorry to keep on about the port of Ramsgate but as I pointed out not only on the forum, but at that meeting I went to, it was not a public meeting so not my place to say where and who with, but and not for the first time I told them to move in there now or you will lose out and others will move in, and that has happen and it could see some trade going away from Dover.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 - 17:02

 

Post 2767

  Sea News, Dover

In post 2307 Ed shows the Pride of Burgundy in Dunkerque...but just an evening or so before leaving for the annual refit and general makeover at the Port over there..here she is still in Dover and gliding her way across the harbour in late day sunshine with full load. Sadly she was looking a little tired and even the colourful evening sun coudn't do much to lighten the mood. However she is a hard working ship so what can you say...she earns her keep.



On sunday morning as per usual the Dover Lifeboat was out there..presumably in full training mode. The pictures below are from the day, and it was a grey cold oul day out there to be sure. These pictures are fairly long range so not ideal be any means as the Lifeboat was well out beyond the harbour...out there in the open shivering sea. Pictures to enjoy for all Lifeboat fans and fundraisers and particularly our roving correspondent SH.



Below we have a very interesting post indeed from Mike 2313. That looks to be a great move forward for Ramsgate...being so good it is almost a case of saying...why didn't they think of it before. Good luck to them over there at Ramsgate with this new venture.
Thanks Vic...a sad tale that but hopefully now better days ahead for Ramsgate.
The trade goes on - yet another cargo ship in today..the Elsebeth.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 - 07:34

 

Post 2766

  Vic Matcham, Dover

Again I worked in the port of Ramsgate in the 1990s puting the new births in and also working on the ships that called in there always work for a welder ,It was a sad place to work at one point I was working on the birth the day 6 members of the public got killed and it was showing my welding on the TV but it was not the welding that caused the walkway to go down but the way the walkway was fixed.
But good to see the port back in services, It was only a few weeks ago that I was at a meeting about just that,sorry to say I cannot say any more about it only to say it did not go the way I hoped it would.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 - 06:51

 

Post 2765

  Mike J., Dover

Early on Tuesday morning the 1997-built Madeira-flagged car-carrier AUTOPREMIER came into Ramsgate from Zeebrugge, the first car-carrier in the port for 22 years.

Previous to 1994 Ramsgate was busy with ‘trade vehicle’ traffic on the Commercial Quay in the original outer harbour.

It is expected that this will be the first call in a regular service.

There have been no regular services in & out of Ramsgate since the failure of Trans Europa Ferries [who brIefly chartered the PRIDE OF CALAIS] in 2013.

About 1000 new cars were quickly discharged over the former ferry linkspan in Port Ramsgate [the new outer harbour] & temporarily parked up in the docks.

The AUTOPREMIER returned to Zeebrugge at just after 1000, quite catching me out as the harbour office had told me that she would be sailing at noon !













Wednesday, 20 January 2016 - 00:18

 

Post 2764

  Sea News, Dover

Well here we are...some brave and hardy souls have ventured out on to the chilly chilly water today in deepest darkest January....well okay perhaps it wasn't deep and dark, it was actually crisp and bright. The weatherman tells us its the coldest day of the year but that doesn't stop Richard Mahoney's Southern Queen carrying on with the White Cliffs Boat Tours...the customers are well wrapped up..




Thanks for that below Mark. Sounds like fascinating reading so a great tip. A voyage on a Maersk..wowser! We will feature more Maersk ships in due course so watch for those, it all depends on the visibility out there in the channel of course. We have had other Maersk ships previously if I remember correctly off the top of head...should be findable in our search engine above.
Hope all good up there in Northants.

Also out there today was Patricia the buoy laying vessel. Have a couple of pictures of that one to get up in due course...a few other pix in between though first so bear with....

Tuesday, 19 January 2016 - 15:50

 

Post 2763

  Mark Rushton, Northants

Interesting pictures of the Maersk box ship on her way through the channel. Anyone out there who fancies a gaining a better understanding of life on board these monsters could do worse than check out Horatio Clare's book, Down To The Sea In Ships, describing two trips on board two very different Maersk vessels - the modern Gerd Maersk to the Far East, and the rustbucket Maersk Pembroke to Canada. I've just read it on holiday and found it fascinating (and a bit depressing if truth be known)

Tuesday, 19 January 2016 - 14:45

 

Post 2762

  Sea News, Dover

Working in harmony with the picture currently showing at top of page..
Dramatic skies here over the Port of Dover..camera clicking away at the seagulls moving back out to sea on their evening run. That's the historic western heights there in shadow and some of the seafront...but mostly it features the sky. Geat skies currently at both ends of the day. Dover is always worthy of a stopover visit no matter what time of the year. Always exciting.
The picture below shows the Maersk Lamanai passing Calais yesterday morning at dramatic dawn...twas a long way off for sure but the scene led to a fairly striking picture. She was on her way from the very busy Antwerp in Belgium to the French port at Le Havre. If you look in close at the picture you can surprisingly see the Windmill/Windfarm thingys just south of Calais.
The picture below is a close up shot but it only partially works...zooming in at that distance doesn't always cut the mustard what with atmospheric shimmer and the like....

....but great to see another fab Maersk monster on the move...albeit in near silhouette.

From Wikipedia...
A.P. Moller–Maersk Group (Danish): A.P. Møller–Mærsk also known as Maersk, is a Danish business conglomerate. A.P. Møller – Maersk Group has activities in a variety of business sectors, primarily within the transportation and energy sectors. It has been the largest container ship operator and supply vessel operator in the world since 1996.

A.P. Møller – Maersk Group is based in Copenhagen, Denmark,with subsidiaries and offices in more than 135 countries worldwide and around 89,000 employees.It ranked 148 on the Forbes Global 2000 list for 2015. As per September 2015, being still the largest container fleet, it holds 15.1% of the global TEU.


Tuesday, 19 January 2016 - 06:40

 

Post 2761

  Sea News, Dover

The Schweiz Reefer was with us overnight so it is really great to see the busy even hectic cargo schedule continue. She left us this morning bound for Hamburg. Unfortunately yours truly sadly missed the departure today so the pic above is from an earlier date. We have several pictures of the ship on file now and that's just one of them above...taken during a fairly ferocious gale as you can see...the timbers were a-rattlin' that day....

Monday, 18 January 2016 - 15:00

 

Post 2760

  Sea News, Dover

Following along on the current theme of the new DFDS livery...here are three further shots of the Dunkerque Seaways approaching the Port and entering yesterday afternoon. Really just adding here to Jeremy Wards scoop shot in the earlier post 2298. Previously the colours were similar if not near identical to P&O so this brings about a real change. A subtle change if you like but a real one.

Also it continues to be fascinating to see Ed's pictures from Dunkerque. Lots happening there for sure. Will be travelling on the Cotes first chance I get.
Cant wait to see the overall impression from within.
Pictures were taken at 12.50 yesterday as the ship arrived from Dunkerque. It was a fairly slate grey ol day yesterday but travelling conditions were okay..
....or as we used to say...'fair to middlin'. PB.



Monday, 18 January 2016 - 07:32

 

Post 2759

  Ed Connell, Dunkerque

Pride of Burgundy arrived at Damen Shiprepair in Dunkerque overnight and is now occupying the floating drydock.



Delft Seaways having new livery applied to her funnel as per Cote des Dunes alongside.


Sunday, 17 January 2016 - 11:37

 

Post 2758

  Sea News, Dover

This collection this morning is...as they say..an eclectic mix, made of pictures of ships passing close to harbour on Friday. The ships were all out of Antwerp and heading to various destinations. Top pictures show the Pride of Canterbury coming home to the Port of Dover as a tanker moves by in the background. Unfortunately we didn't get the name of the tanker...it just escaped yours truly attention for that moment. Red face here. The pilot went out to meet the vessel.

The pictures below were taken in the very early blazing low sunlight and show the Elbfeeder in-close to Port with the David Church dredger in foreground. Elbfeeder was on its way to Dublin Ireland from Antwerp. The second of these pictures is a wee bit blurred alas..it shows the pilot boat blazing its way out to the ship as the David Church turned.

Bottom shot shows the delightfully named Morning Chant just off Port...its a car carrier and was on its way from Antwerp to Southampton. There was clearly some difficulty in Antwerp on Friday as it looks like the pilots were unable to depart the vessels leaving, but all alighted here safely.




In reference to the runner in the post below and the other runners mentioned therein. It seems there was a serious race on during chilly Saturday hence all the running activity. It was one of a series of races called the Coastal Trail Series. The runners as I understand it ran along the seafront and finished at the National Trust on Langdon Cliffs. There may have been several grinding laps ..all that sounds pretty tough. Thanks to Mike for the information there.

Sunday, 17 January 2016 - 07:49

 

Post 2757

  Sea News, Dover

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner....
The early bird catches the worm...but the early runner on a cold and frosty morning catches...well catches cold! It was very cold indeed early on today Saturday for this runner above on Dover seafront, but with the blazing sunshine the frost soon melted away and there were lots of joggers out...clearly all attracted and bedazzled by the bright sunshine after all the dour weather...many were serious runners while others were just jogging off all those extra Christmas pudds !


Saturday, 16 January 2016 - 15:22

 

Post 2756

  Sea News, Dover

Several larger ships came close to shore yesterday but yours truly seemed to goof up with the pictures, I think the camera was off, it slipped onto some strange ancient combination program...there you go a bad workman blaming his tools again!!

The vessel above is called Pictor J and it was coming from Antwerp and heading to Southampton, presumably to pick up a load...the pilot boat went out to meet it.
The pictures below are from the previous day...kind of rough oul pictures but thought it was worth including them. They show Sea Fox. I looked up Sea Fox on the search engines and there are many vessels called Sea Fox...this one looks like one of those offshore wind farm craft...here it is seen darting at speed between two approaching ferries.




LETTER FROM YOUR LOCAL MP CHARLIE ELPHICKE
Working to repair rail line and cut delays
_____________________________________

The failure of the sea wall at Dover has caused real challenges for our community. Rail journeys are longer. Travellers either have to go by bus to Folkestone or take a shuttle to Ramsgate.

Last week I met again with Network Rail and Southeastern Trains to hear about their plans to repair the railway and make sure people can get to work on time. It's clear that repairing the sea wall will be a big job and will take months to restore.

Network Rail are working on repairs and should be able to provide an estimate on how long the repairs will take in the next couple of weeks. Significantly they have successfully put in place "rock armour" to protect the existing sea wall. This will hopefully avoid the delay that would have been seen with a complete failure.

While the sea wall is being repaired, it is important to ensure that rail users can get to their destinations. It is particularly important that commuters can get to to their work places on time. So, from the outset, I have pressed Network Rail and Southeastern Trains to ensure that services are re-routed. Rail replacement buses now go direct from Dover, Deal and Walmer to Folkestone. At Folkestone the service joins with the fast train. There is also a shuttle service between Dover and Ramsgate via Deal. At Ramsgate the service joins with the fast train. Car parking at Folkestone West has also been made free.

There have however been challenges in the first week. First, communications with passengers have been poor. Secondly, the timing of replacement bus services, and indeed the actual arrival of some buses, was problematic. Thirdly, there were problems with the connection of the shuttle service to the fast train at Ramsgate.

I raised these problems with Southeastern when I met with them. They have been working to improve communications - especially on board communications where trains are late running. The problems with the bus service have also seen improvements. Buses now show up and they are making great effort to ensure that connections are maintained. Finally, delays on the shuttle service are being addressed and they are working to ensure the connection at Ramsgate is held.

Many rail users have asked if the Minster Loop can be used so services can go direct from Deal to Canterbury West. I have pressed Southeastern on this option and I know they are looking at what is possible.

I am seeking to hold a public meeting with Southeastern, Network Rail and commuters so travellers will be able to quiz rail chiefs directly. It is important everyone can share ideas on how services can be improved to make travelling easier while the sea wall is being repaired. I am doing all I can to ensure the sea wall at Dover is repaired as soon as possible and that the rerouted services are as fast as possible.

Charlie Elphicke
MP FOR DOVER AND DEAL.

________________________________

Very nice shot of the Port at dusk Mike..well done with that one. just right.
Yes changing times Colette but exciting times too. The new additions to the DFDS fleet will look great. Ed got some ace captures there of those new additions.
Hope yourself and Brian's wife are mending.
PB.

Saturday, 16 January 2016 - 07:53

 

Post 2755

  brian, dover

Colette,the wife says thank you,and wishs you a speedy recovery.

Saturday, 16 January 2016 - 06:23

 

Post 2754

  ColetteB, DOVER

Terrific coverage & photos over the past few days Guys, very interesting to see the Cote des Dunes & Cote des Flandres photos, life goes on .......

Brian, hope your wife is feeling a bit better this week, I thought my cast boot & crutches were bad but it must be very difficult getting around on a zimmer frame, wish her well from me.

Saturday, 16 January 2016 - 01:25

 

Post 2753

  Mike J., Dover

Two of a kind, dusk Friday.




Friday, 15 January 2016 - 22:25

 

Post 2752

  Sea News, Dover

Excellent Dunkerque pictures there from Ed. First to show the Cote des Dunes ( formerly Rodin) and Cote des Flandres ( Berlioz ). Ace man.
And Jeremy out-scooped us all with that picture of the Dunkerque Seaways in the new livery. Nice shot too.
I wont post any pix this morning so all can enjoy those ace pictures at top of page. Great stuff! PaulB

Friday, 15 January 2016 - 06:28

 

Post 2751

  Ed Connell, Dunkerque

Elvira alongside the DCT on Wednesday.


Cote des Flandres at Damen drydock in Dunkerque.


Cote des Dunes at Damen drydock in Dunkerque.




Friday, 15 January 2016 - 00:03

 

Post 2750

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Dunkerque Seaways arriving today in new livery

Thursday, 14 January 2016 - 19:02

 

Post 2749

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Dunkerque Seaways arriving today in new livery.

Thursday, 14 January 2016 - 18:59