Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2628

  vic matcham, dover

That makes a great photo of the warship coming into the port.We have been on her and walked around her a few times and even had food etc with the crew when I was a cllr.I do not think I could get up and down the stairways anymore with my legs but will go and have a look at her I think she is getting on in years now for a warship but had a big refit some years ago ,so I think she will be round for a few more years yet.

Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - 01:19

 

Post 2627

  Mike J., Dover

The type 23 frigate H.M.S KENT arrived from Portsmouth early afternoon for a 3-day visit.
As is traditional the sun went in & stayed in as soon as she came in thru the Eastern Entrance.







As the KENT was docking on Cruise-1 the big British workboat VOE EARL came out from the Tug Haven.
She had arrived from Lowestoft & is thought to be in the area for surveying work.
After a quick run down towards Deal she has now returned to Dover.



In the old Jetfoil terminal was the smaller Dutch workboat LEANNA P tied up to her barge the WAASLAND which had drifted across the harbour on Saturday night [post 2169].




Tuesday, 8 December 2015 - 00:20

 

Post 2626

  William Johnson, Austins Ferry ,Tasmania (williamjohnson@netspace.net.au)

seeing those pics of that sea out of Dover ,takes me back to the 60's when I was in the MN on the MV ANJOU plying between Paris and Woolwich You would think that we were a submarine ,as she spent a lot of time under the waves. There was not a dry patch on the ship ,good job there was no foc'sle lookout cos they would not be there 4 long lol ,as the ANJOU had a fold down wheel house there was a couple of leaks in the deck head,which made things interesting ,but all in all she was a good ship .'
cheer's Bill J

Monday, 7 December 2015 - 22:29

 

Post 2625

  Ed Connell, Dover

Damage done yesterday by the crane barge to the platform on the end of Pier Alpha.






Monday, 7 December 2015 - 13:09

 

Post 2624

  Adam, Warrington

wow the sea looks bad. Excellent photos

Monday, 7 December 2015 - 09:31

 

Post 2623

  Ed Connell, Dover

Some reefers from the last few days. Elvira, Hellas Reefer with the pilot attempting to depart in heavy seas, Schweiz Reefer, and a reefer at night in the bay as seen from the Bridge.






Monday, 7 December 2015 - 04:06

 

Post 2622

  vic matcham, dover

The tugs are and their crews are doing a great job out there 24/7 in all weathers The masters of them are top men for the job and the port and ships masters that use the port owe them a very big thank you. and the D,H,B,

Sunday, 6 December 2015 - 23:51

 

Post 2621

  Mike J., Dover

The barge on Cruise-2 broke adrift during Saturday night’s bad weather & finished up in Eastern Docks.



The recovery wasn’t made easier as some of the crane wires had got caught up with the light pole at the end of Pier Alfa.



She was retrieved early Sunday afternoon & taken to the Jetfoil terminal in Western Docks.








Sunday, 6 December 2015 - 22:39

 

Post 2620

  Adam, Warrington

Hi

If you can get a video of the reefer arriving or departing the port that would be brilliant

Thank you


Sunday, 6 December 2015 - 20:58

 

Post 2619

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield

I expect some readers may know already that the Rodin vessel is now named Cote Des Dunes and the Berlioz vessel is now named Cote Des Flandres accordning to Wikipedia and also AIS. Seems they have dropped using seaways after the ships name.

Sunday, 6 December 2015 - 17:15

 

Post 2618

  JanT, Dover.

Mike J like your pictures of the ship, but hey Paul there is no way I would be sailing looking at your pictures, you sure have captured how choppy it has been in the channel the past few days.
Welcome Adam to the seanews page, it will keep you up to date on all that happens on our seafront and what comes in and out of the port.

Sunday, 6 December 2015 - 13:42

 

Post 2617

  Sea News, Dover

Storm Desmond is giving much of the country an extreme bashing with high winds and torrential rain. We here in Dover seem to have escaped much of the rain but not alas the high winds. The seas were fairly horrendous all day, a severe gale 9 at one point, with up to two hour delays as ferries waited patiently to get into Port. One woman on a ferry offshore stated same on Twitter...so it wasn't an easy day yesterday Saturday by any means for either travellers or crews. The featured ferry above is the Dunkerque Seaways.

The tugs were desperately needed to get the ships in and out in the roaring wind..even getting pictures was nigh on impossible at one time from yours trulys observation tower.

Tug Doughty above there almost entirely swamped ..but the tug kept right on going in the teeth of the tough action.



The pictures above show how rough it was...and you can see some of the ferries there queuing up as it were..
Expect further difficult conditions today.

SEE ALSO MIKE'S POST BELOW ON THE FAB PHOENIX.
Note: Mike re your vertical picture query. I have used vertical images before, not often it must be said, but as I remember I had to resize the pictures and make them smaller across as it were. I will have a further test when I get a minute in the week just to see how it all works for sure.

Thanks once again to Adam and Vic for the interesting comments.

Sunday, 6 December 2015 - 06:59

 

Post 2616

  Mike J., Dover

The PHOENIX came alongside the Crosswall pontoon on Friday morning & will be alongside for a few days before resuming her passage to Charlestown.


When the Western Docks works start we will probably lose this useful photographic angle as the swingbridge carpark will be taken over by contractors.
The carpark is currently still open, but high barriers have been erected around the car park.
White Cliffs Boat Tours & the carhire portakabin will probably have to resite.
Sue's Seafood Stall moved further along the beachfront during the summer.






I would like to have put a ‘vertical’ here but it comes out horizontal, so I've had to use a horizontal instead.
Paul - is there any way for contributors to submit a vertical that stays vertical ?




Crew on the yard, they were dropping a sail.







The last one is almost ‘timeless’ !


The Dutch tug/workboat workboat LEANNE P came in on Friday from Antwerp with a flat-top barge loaded with a big crawler crane & the barge is moored up on Cruise-2 with the tug down at the Tug Haven.
Not known whether they are in for shelter or here to take part in the Western Docks work.

Rumour has it that serious work will start in the New Year & that will mean the end of public access to the Prince of Wales.
Land reclamation at the former hoverport is also rumoured to be starting around the same time.
Demolition of the former Customs Shed in Western Docks has already taken place as have all sorts of minor works.

I hope that DHB will set up a website giving frequent reports & explanations of the work taking place as many folk will be interested.
At present all we are getting are vague statements & artists impressions.



Saturday, 5 December 2015 - 23:57

 

Post 2615

  Adam, Warrington

Thank you very much for the information and the photos, keep them coming

Saturday, 5 December 2015 - 11:48

 

Post 2614

  vic matcham, dover

By the amount of post this page is getting from the public outside Dover and even the UK shows how good it is.Well done and hope you keep it going for ever .
It shows up the amount of work and trade it brings to our shoreline 365 days a year .this is why the D,H.B. must keep with the times .And great photos thank you.

Saturday, 5 December 2015 - 10:17

 

Post 2613

  Sea News, Dover

Hello Adam good to hear from you from up there in Warrington...glad you are enjoying the site and in particular the cargo aspect. I would say we average about 2 reefers a week here in the Port...sometimes we might get one, sometimes we might get three and so on...averaging out at about two a week over the year.

Here are a couple of pix specially for you of the Reefer Elvira. She was with us here on Wednesday but as happens this time of the year...she came in when it was dark and left when it was dark...so these pictures are from an earlier time. Lots more to come so keep looking in. PaulB.




Big holdups on the traffic front this morning. The weather in the channel is bad..ie very rough. And with the heightened security checks coupled with the dash to the Christmas Markets...well delays are inevitable.

Saturday, 5 December 2015 - 08:00

 

Post 2612

  Adam, Warrington

Hi

I have to admit ive never been to Dover in my life and randomly came across the forum. I have to say this is a brilliant forum and I really enjoy the posts. My favourite part is cargo so the pictures of the cargo reefers and ships passing in the channel are brilliant to read.

One thing I did want to ask is how many days a week do the cargo reefers arrive into Dover?

Thanks

Friday, 4 December 2015 - 16:08

 

Post 2611

  Sea News, Dover

STAYING AT THE SHARP END FOR 40 YEARS.
____________________________________

For 30 years, Tony Searle patrolled the streets of Dover and Folkestone with Kent Police, and for the last 10 he’s been a bobby with Port of Dover Police. In fact, his time as a frontline constable is just seven years away from matching the record for Britain’s longest serving police officer – and he insists he has no plans to retire any time soon.

"I love the job," he said. "I’ve had stints with CID but I’m happiest on the streets.

"Being a police officer isn’t about arresting people – it’s about helping society. First and foremost, we’re the ones the public will turn to when they’re in difficulty or afraid. No matter what the situation, they know we’ll always get stuck in and provide support and protection in any way we can.

"Whether it’s getting a motorist to safety after a traffic incident or helping young people who are on a path to criminality to turn their lives around, our role is totally people focused."

When Tony, 59, first started pounding Dover’s streets, Margaret Thatcher had just been appointed leader of the Conservative opposition, the war in Vietnam was coming to an end, ‘revolutionary’ Betamax video cassette systems had just gone on sale, and the Steven Spielberg blockbuster Jaws was hitting the big screens.

Armed with a truncheon, handcuffs… and a whistle, he could only keep in touch with his station by meeting his inspector at prearranged times, at prearranged locations.

"I think it was a procedure that dated back to the time when we still used police telephone boxes," he said. "Police communications were pretty basic back then."

Law enforcement and technology were not the only changes Tony witnessed during his decades on the beat. The Port itself also transformed.

"One of my roles with Kent Police was to mentor and tutor new officers," he said. "And part of that involved showing them around the Port of Dover. I got to know the place and its people very well – that’s how I ended up working here. I was told that if I ever fancied a change, there would be a job here for me with the port police.

"I’ve seen some major changes in that time – the hovercraft and fast ferries have gone. But the redevelopment of the Western Docks is just what Dover needs; it’s good to see investment coming into the town."

Tony moved to Dover after leaving the family home – his father was in the British Army and Tony had grown up on military bases.

ENDS

A big well done to Tony Searle above. Good man.


Who can resist another picture of The Phoenix - she is still with us moored in central harbour..she weathered the rough oul winds out there last night...Ah gadzooks! - I have to correct myself - she was there a short while ago but as I write she seems to have slipped from yours trulys visual. Will have further check. Now yesterday was a miserable ol day and no mistake, but for a tiny interlude last evening a wee bit of orange sunlight filtered through the eternal gloom and it struck the ship...and there we are above. She's a beauty for sure. See also Mike's post further below for more vessel detail...2156.
Update: it looks like Phoenix has moved to the inner harbour.

DONT FORGET - GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE FAB P&O CHOIR EVENT AT THE TOWN HALL. see post below.

Friday, 4 December 2015 - 08:57

 

Post 2610

  Sea News, Dover

CAROLS AT DOVER TOWN HALL WITH THE P&O FERRIES CHOIR
______________________________________________________

The P&O Ferries Choir will bring its year to a close by performing at Dover Town Hall.

The choir has gone from strength to strength since winning the BBC TV series Sing While You Work in December 2013. Performances this year have included The France Show at London's Olympia, the stunning Église Notre-Dame de Calais, The Salutation in Sandwich, home of Dom and Steph Parker of Gogglebox fame, in front of travel industry experts at the British Travel Awards in Battersea Park, on board P&O Ferries’ Spirit of France for the Christmas Fete, as well as many events local to Dover.

The concert is being held atDover Town Hall on Thursday 10 December. Doors open from 7pm. The choir will be celebrating the festive season by performing Christmas carols and their favourite pieces of music such as Sinnerman, Fix You and Lacrimosa.

In addition to their busy schedule the choir concludes the year with the release of their very first album Ship to Shore, a choral collection that mixes classical, gospel and pop, including popular pieces performed on the BBC programme. The album was recorded at St James' Church, Paddington, in early September. The album will be on sale at the concert for £8.

Tickets for the Dover Town Hall concert cost £10 for adults and £5 for children and are available to buy online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/211099.

Ends



Many thanks to the team at P&O for the information above. Should be a great evening for sure.
The terrific picture of the exciting Choir is from P&O .. and the one of the Pride of Kent from Calais beach is from our archives...taken last summer.

Just to add now a couple of pix of the Phoenix arriving with us yesterday morning. Coming in to harbour through rough seas and making quite a dashing sight. See also the post below no 2156 from Mike with more detail on the vessel.



Ah! a fabulous sight indeed.





Thursday, 3 December 2015 - 06:25

 

Post 2609

  Sea News, Dover

The huge ship above is the Mette Maersk...all 195,000 Danish tons of her. She was pictured moving down the channel today about mid morning..en route from Felixstowe to Tangier. Once again a very new ship dating from 2015. Unfortunately this one didn't come in very close to shore. I took a series of pictures trying to capture the shafts of sunlight from on-high and just at the right moment a ray of heavenly light highlighted the monster as she moved south.

Well done with the post below Mike. You captured all the goings-on. The Saga Pearl II left us at 6pm ( 1800hrs ) so glad you got a good picture. The Phoenix looks great. Will get an extra couple of pix up in the morning to add to the mix to accompany a press release from P&O. PaulB.

Wednesday, 2 December 2015 - 18:53