Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2648

  Mike J., Dover

Arrival of reefer MAGELLAN STRAIT from Vlissingen on Wednesday morning.
She was held in the bay for a short while to permit the ferry movements.

Paul’s SUNSEEKER was one of three that overnighted in Dover & sailed in convoy on Tuesday morning for the Thames for January’s London Boat Show.
SUNSEEKERS are a range of luxury motoryachts built in Poole.















Wednesday, 16 December 2015 - 17:03

 

Post 2647

  vic matcham, dover

Not a way to treat a new boat.

Wednesday, 16 December 2015 - 12:50

 

Post 2646

  Sea News, Dover

Shortly...within a minute of the Voe Earl leaving, see previous post, this guy came powering into view at the western entrance to harbour, blasting and bouncing through the rough waves in spectacular style. That's worth a picture or two...thought yours truly with the usual rapid fire mental process...and here we are..



Unfortunately the name of the cabin cruiser isn't known as I write. It was a large one as these things go. Hopefully not a single gin sling was spilled in the approach. These are actually colour pictures although you would hardly know. PB.
EXTRA: we understand this to be a Sunseeker 75, built in Poole and presumably en route to London as part of a delivery.
Thanks to Mike J for the update.

Also

Worth taking extra note of the post below. Busy but cheerful weekend expected at the Port with lots going away for a jolly Christmas break..

Wednesday, 16 December 2015 - 07:22

 

Post 2645

  Sea News, Dover

Christmas Getaway at the Port of Dover
__________________________________

The Port of Dover is looking forward to welcoming more than 600,000 customers over the two-week holiday period.

With around 200,000 cars and some 4,000 coaches expected from Friday 18 December through to Sunday 3 January, the busiest time is expected to be Saturday 19 December, with about 80,000 customers heading off for Christmas on a single day.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover, said:
"We will be working hard with our ferry operator partners to get all of our customers on their way for a well-deserved Christmas break.
Thank you to everyone who have chosen the Port of Dover as their gateway of choice this year."


ENDS


Wow!! Staggering figues above. Its going to be busy busy busy...
The port handles 13 million passengers, 2.5 million freight vehicles and £100 billion of UK/European trade per year.


The Port in fine action above.


Just to add now a couple of pictures of the workboat Voe Earl..which we have seen here working on and around the Prince of Wales Pier for the past week or two. Here she is seen leaving us yesterday afternoon in choppy seas bound for Great Yarmouth. See also 2175 and 2184.




Thanks for those comments below Colette and Jacqui. Always welcome. They were nice pictures from Sarah for sure (post 2188).






Tuesday, 15 December 2015 - 08:00

 

Post 2644

  jacqui, Dover

Wow I love the photos of the Margaret Jean with her fairy lights - thank you so much Sarah.
By coincidence I have two sisters called Margaret and Jean

Monday, 14 December 2015 - 15:27

 

Post 2643

  ColetteB, Dover (Dover)

Wow! 'Dress the Bows with Lights So Jolly' Very Festive photos there from Sarah Hewes of the Margaret Jean

I thought she was looking striking in post 2182, but now Santa is bound to make an extra special stop on his sleigh ride for sure

Monday, 14 December 2015 - 13:28

 

Post 2642

  Sea News, Dover

A couple of pictures here looking across the harbour, looking westwards trying to capture the rough oul weather we have been enduring for quite a while. Pictures taken at the weekend. The original picture looked even gloomier. Believe it or not this is the brightened up version. The young seagull below was determined to get in the action earlier on the same day.
Interesting info below on Cornelis Vrolijk.
Also don't miss the Lifeboat pictures further below from a Christmassy Ramsgate Harbour.

Monday, 14 December 2015 - 08:00

 

Post 2641

  Mike J., Dover

Interesting post on the Dover Marina Facebook page about the CORNELIS VROLIJK, copied here with Nigel Scutt's permission - thanks Nige !


. . . . . The Cornelis Vrolijk is perhaps not all she seems in as much as this Pelagic Fishing Trawler is British flagged and registered in Hull, but ultimately owned by the Dutch.

It's a controversial subject and she has made the news before, particularly in November 2014 when it was reported that this single Dutch trawler had the right to catch 23% of England’s entire fishing quota.

To put this into perspective the entire small inshore fishing fleet for the whole of England was given 4% of the quota at the time.

Amid the controversy it was also revealed that while the Cornelis Vrolijk fishes off a British quota the vessel lands all of its catch in the Dutch port of IJmuiden.

The company which owns and operates Cornelis Vrolijk countered by stating that they paid taxes in the UK and provided employment to British fishermen.

Whatever the political and conservation views are she is certainly extremely efficient at what she does.


The 1995 completed Atlantic Lady is also a Hull registered vessel now, having previously carried the names and registries Sch-22 Wiron I, PH-5570-Wiron I and PH-110-Wiron I . . . . .



The registry numbers for the ATLANTIC LADY also indicate that she was Dutch flag at one time [SCH is Scheveningen].

This bending of the rules has been going on for quite a while, with other vessels involved.


Sunday, 13 December 2015 - 10:18

 

Post 2640

  Sea News, Dover

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.



You have seen the relief Lifeboat Margaret Jean down the page at Ramsgate in post 2182, we celebrated the super sleek lines, well now those super sleek lines have been adorned with a dazzling display of Christmas Lights for all to enjoy. Our intrepid 'roving contributor' Sarah Hewes was on the spot to capture the seasonal moment for us...and what a sight it makes. Many thanks to Sarah as ever.

On the right hand side of the top shot, resting in the background, you can see the two further Lifeboats at Ramsgate ...well here they are in the daylight below the following day. The Corinne Whiteley and the Esme Anderson...


All pictures Sarah Hewes.

Sunday, 13 December 2015 - 08:49

 

Post 2639

  Sea News, Dover

Another couple of Cornelis Vrolijk pictures here to add to the mix...taken on friday of course...more or less just minor variations on the earlier ones. We are aiming to have some interesting Lifeboat pictures tomorrow morning all being well. See also the DFDS Seaways £20 voucher promo just below. PB.



DISCOVER GREAT SHOPPING DESTINATIONS & RECEIVE A FREE £20 VOUCHER
____________________________________________________________________

Head across to Europe this festive season and you can pick up fantastic presents for your loved ones, or stock up on essentials for Christmas parties, with some excellent shopping areas and Christmas markets to discover.

Book a ferry crossing between Dover and Dunkirk or Calais before 17 December and you’ll also receive a free £20 voucher, which you can spend at the onboard shop.
Free £20 voucher to spend in our onboard shop
From £39 each way for a car plus up to 9 people
Depart Dover before 17 December, but return any time
44 daily sailings on our routes between Dover & France

Ends

Might be running a tad late with that one above. DFDS have switched PR agencies so the information highway has changed.
Use code E20V15.
Phone: 0871 574 7235

Saturday, 12 December 2015 - 17:29

 

Post 2638

  Sea News, Dover

'Twas slightly unusual yesterday in that we had a visit from two trawlers. Both the Cornelis Vrolijk ( try saying that one!) and the Atlantic Lady popped into Port and stayed much of the day. We assume the reason for the visit was for a crew change. We have seen the Cornelis before several times and that's generally the reason. I think its a first visit for the Atlantic Lady.


The two pictures above show the Cornelis approaching and then arriving in Port via the eastern entrance. Now ... yesterday was a fairly benign day in the grand scheme of things and while photographing Cornelis approaching I was surprised to see behind her in the distance the Delft Seaways taking a bit of a pounding on the nose. The size of the waves taking yours truly by surprise. I snatched a long distance picture...its not terribly sharp but worth including nonetheless.


Below....the colourful Atlantic Lady...a trawler out of Hull.


Interesting post below from Mike out and about.
Wowser!...those seals get around for sure.

Saturday, 12 December 2015 - 08:28

 

Post 2637

  Mike J., Dover

The GEORGE HAMMOND is often seen off the port landing over-carried pilots or delivering stores or personnel to passing ships.
On Thursday she was operating a taxi service from the Crosswall Quay to & from the workboat LEANNE P who is in the the old Jetfoil terminal with her runaway barge WAASLAND. [post 2169].







A seal is reported in the centre of Dover !
Rescue operations are taking place in the Dour in Pencester Park.
To have got upstream the seal must have entered thru the culvert in Wellington Dock where the Dour enters the dock in the area known as ‘the bubbles’
The entrance of the culvert is usually underwater & is seen here when the dock was drained in 2011.




Presumably the seal was after the fish in the Dour - there is a legend that, quite a few years ago in the middle of night, staff from a Dover Chinese restaurant were caught with nets on a similar mission . . . .


Friday, 11 December 2015 - 10:38

 

Post 2636

  Sea News, Dover

The Voe Earl, which was featured by Mike further down the page, is seen here yesterday morning about 10am working alongside the Prince of Wales Pier. In the background prior to her departure is of course HMS Kent. Conditions were blustery and grey as you can see...the 'orrible spell of weather goes on.
See also post 2175.

Friday, 11 December 2015 - 07:53

 

Post 2635

  Sea News, Dover

P&O FERRIES RECRUITS SIX NEW APPRENTICES ON BOARD ITS DOVER TO CALAIS SHIPS
________________________________________________________________________

P&O Ferries has increased the number of Deck and Engine Room Rating Apprentices on its Dover to Calais ships.

The company operates an extensive apprenticeship programme set up in conjunction with the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), which combines training and experience on board its ships with theoretical study at North West Kent College in Gravesend.

Following on from last years' successful pilot programme, a further three Deck Rating and three Engine Room Apprentices are starting this month.

The recruits from south east Kent join from a range of employment backgrounds. Connor Hyde and Jay Prescott previously worked for the Royal Navy; Jasper Weyland worked as a car mechanic; Lewis Pearce, one of two existing company employees, worked on the Pride of Burgundy in the on-board services department, with Ryan Christopher working in port operations as mooring staff; and George Lansdown was a landscaper and grounds keeper.

Lucy Masters, Learning and Development Adviser at P&O Ferries, said: "I am really pleased to welcome the new apprentices as this programme is key to the company's long-term succession planning. By working with the MNTB, we can develop the apprentices into highly skilled seafarers."

"They will gain first-hand knowledge from experienced Bosuns and Engineer Officers as well as intensive study provided by the college at the National Maritime Training Centre."

The apprentices will start with Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Basic Training for Seafarers learning about ship safety, followed by sea service and on board training in the deck department and engine room. They will need to rack up many hours of sea time to gain the experience required at sea to complement their studies and ensure they can achieve the entry level positions of Able Seafarer Deck and Able Seafarer Engine.

Pictured from left to right: Jasper Weyland, Engine; George Lansdown, Deck; Lewis Pearce, Engine; Jay Prescott, Deck; Connor Hyde, Deck; Ryan Christopher, Engine and Lucy Masters, Learning and Development Advisor for P&O Ferries.



(ends)





The picture above from yesterday shows the Elsebeth reefer making its way across the harbour in watery winter afternoon sunlight, past the Calais Seaways, to leave by the western exit....as you can see in the picture below. She was leaving us here at the Port of Dover and bound for Flushing in the Netherlands....aided on her journey by both tugs, one just out of shot in these pictures.


Just to add a final picture below of the HMS Kent which is, we understand, scheduled to depart today. Also in the shot is the workhorse dredger David Church.


Many thanks to P&O Ferries for the info above.





Thursday, 10 December 2015 - 07:13

 

Post 2634

  Sea News, Dover

Our famed 'roving contributor' Sarah Hewes was out and about again - this time capturing the new relief lifeboat at Ramsgate. Sarah was disappointed not to be able to photograph it in the water, it arrived in darkness, but we don't mind at all as its great to see all of those super sleek lines. Pictures of this new arrival were taken last week. Its a Mersey Class Lifeboat 12-21 called the Margaret Jean ... here to service the South East and East Coast. Huge thanks to Sarah once again.





Great to see those pictures from Dunkerque below Ed ..absolutely fab to see. They made Vic's day there for sure. The super ship just added is quite a cracker - what a great ship. Never squeeze that one in here at the Port of Dover.
Interesting moves afoot there at Ramsgate.

Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - 07:50

 

Post 2633

  Ed Connell, Dover

Big box boat CMA CGM Corte Real entering Dunkerque West this morning.


Wednesday, 9 December 2015 - 07:39

 

Post 2632

  VIC MATCHAM, DOVER

Nice to see this kind of photos for myself, this is the kind of sites and work I done alot of in the pass over in the UK and overseas and still miss it even to day, hard work long hours but the pay was good and I had some great mates working long side me. but not so good in bad weather still had to work out there with mud etc.

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - 22:44

 

Post 2631

  Ed Connell, Dover

Massive amount of heavy earth moving work being done at Dunkerque West. Think this may be for the pipe from the nuclear power plant across to the new LNG terminal with the three huge tanks in the background to use the waste heat to regasify the LNG.







Also maintenance being carried out on the main ferry berth on the Quai de Ramsgate. The DFDS terminal in the background is in the process of being upgraded.


Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - 22:27

 

Post 2630

  Mike J., Dover

Re the VOE EARL surveying work - she'll be working close by the Prince of Wales for a few days.

For DHB's 'Notice to Mariners' with details add http to -

://tinyurl.com/oqxl9lw

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - 08:03

 

Post 2629

  Sea News, Dover

Tides deposit the world’s litter on Dover Beach
______________________________________

Rubbish from around the world washes up on Dover’s shores, the results of a major beach clean have revealed.

The tides sweeping around the south coast of England deposited a box from Monterey, California, on Shakespeare Beach, along with a container lid which had Chinese writing on it. The items were among 225kg of rubbish filling 44 sacks which were cleared from the water’s edge in September when the Port of Dover joined forces with White Cliffs Countryside Partnership to organise a collection for the Marine Conservation Society’s (MSC) Great British Beach Clean.

More than 70 volunteers – from the Brownies, Scouts, Port, the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership and cleaning contractors OCS – scoured the shingle for litter. In total 5,186 items weighing 225kg were cleared and these were then sorted and logged by the volunteers
The findings have been forwarded to MCS for analysis and will be added to national data to give a fuller picture of the extent of litter in British seas.

Vicki Jago, Head of Safety and Environment at the Port of Dover, said:
"Shakespeare Beach, like many beaches the world over, is vulnerable to marine litter. It’s a problem that’s both unsightly for people and a danger to animals. It’s a problem we must solve together, and the Great British Beach Clean is a part of the solution.

The results speak for themselves and show how important beach cleans are; they keep our marine environment both attractive and safe. Of course, the best way to keep our coasts clean is not to drop litter in the first place, even if we can’t stop other people’s rubbish being swept in on the tides."

Paul Sampson, Partnership Ranger, White Cliffs Countryside Partnership, said:
"Clearing up marine litter all over the UK remains a big job for generations to come but with enthusiastic volunteers on board we can give Shakespeare Beach a well deserved clean. It also gives us an opportunity to find out exactly what type of litter is making its way by sea to this part of East Kent."

The next Great British Beach Clean will run from September 16 to September 19, 2016. Details will follow in the New Year on how you can be involved in Dover’s involvement.

ENDS

Well done to all those who took part in the great clean-up above

We have all seen the pictures on the TVNews re Storm Desmond and the devastation it left in its wake. We've had some rough weather here in Dover, pictures further down the page, but to make a change ..here is a tranquil shot of the Channel after the Storm had passed. We had very high winds here for sure and the rain was horrendous in some parts of the country...we escaped the worst of the rain here in Dover. Nice to see this bit of temporary tranquillity below but we are in a turbulent period.


And of course the big news yesterday was the arrival of HMS Kent on a special visit....



ALSO


NICE ONE HERE FROM DDC

DDC Offers Free Parking In Run Up To Christmas
__________________________________________

As the run up to Christmas gets well and truly underway, Dover District Council is reminding motorists that we are offering free parking in DDC car parks from 18-28 December inclusive. Kent County Council has also agreed on-street parking will be free in the district during this time.

Ends


Great sets of pictures from the guys below ..both from Mike and Ed right in the action...great stuff guys. Well done with those all round.
Also very interesting posts from all...from Jeremy, Jan, Adam, Vic, and from Bill over there in Tasmania. Great nautical tales.
PS: Don't forget the wonderful P&O Choir at the Town Hall this Thursday...see post 2158.






Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - 04:49