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Sea Pictures from Dover.

Sailing Ships just off Dover: Europa above and De Gallant below...


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Editor: Paul Boland - dover7@msn.com
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Post 2488
  Sea News, Dover

Ahhh - the heart-racing half-term excitement of sea travel from the Port of Dover



Take a half term break – take a Dover ferry
___________________________________

If you and your kids are already feeling down following the end of summer, booking a break for the October half term could be the perfect tonic – and what better way to leave the UK than through the Port of Dover?

We’re expecting more than 300,000 passengers to take advantage of the fantastic ferry deals on offer this autumn.

And staff at the port are preparing for nearly 66,000 cars and more than 1,700 coaches from Saturday, October 24, to Sunday, November 1.

Great value deals from our ferry operators mean money to spare for a comfortable and family-friendly sea crossing - the perfect stress-free start to the half-term holidays. Not only is Dover ideal for day trippers using the shortest sea route between the UK and France, but it also offers motorists the opportunity to reach Belgium and the Netherlands on the motorways linking northern France with the rest of Europe.

And there’s plenty for youngsters to do within striking distance of Calais - like Belgium’s Plopsaland with its fun park rides, petting zoo, boats and bumper cars, or France’s sea life centre Nausicaá.
Shark at Nausicaa...brrrr shiver me timbers!!


So travel from Dover and enjoy a first class service, flexible departure times and exclusive ferry deals.

SmileyDFDS Seaways have a number of great value affordable offers, including: 10 per cent off Dover-Dunkirk or Calais return crossings – plus two free meals, Dover-Dunkirk or Calais autumn short break offers from £45, and Dover-France multi-trip tickets from £27.

SmileyP&O Ferries have fantastic deals on short breaks to France, including £25 day trip plus six free bottles of Vive La Vie wine, short breaks starting at £57 return and 40 per cent retail offers on board.

Added to the great deals is the convenience to simply turn up at the port, check-in and then sail across to Europe in less time than it takes to check-in and board a flight.

It’s an easy decision to travel by ferry from Dover to Europe.


ENDS



Smiley

Tuesday, 13 October 2015 - 07:36
 
Post 2487
  ColetteB, Dover
Wow Indeed!!! Spectacular photos there from the RNLI SmileySmileySmiley
And a brilliant set of atmospheric shots further below from Ed SmileySmiley

Monday, 12 October 2015 - 14:26
 
Post 2486
  Sea News, Dover
RNLI - LIFEBOAT SPECIALSmiley
______________________


These cracking pictures above have come over to us directly from the Lifeboat guys, from Deputy Coxswain Jon Miell in particular. Huge thanks to Jon for the pictures as ever. Lifeboat action always welcome. The pictures show the Dover Lifeboat crew on an exercise with the Lydd SAR helicopter...a striking set of pictures for sure...Wow! Great stuff guys!

Smiley

also

Nice set of pictures below Ed right from the heart of the action. Good to see them all...and wow as a bonus you got the Vulcan - great capture. Sad to say that's expected to be the last time she will ever fly.

Monday, 12 October 2015 - 08:02
 
Post 2485
  Ed Connell, Dover
Hansa Bremen on the DCT on Sunday night with bunker barge alongside.


Monday, 12 October 2015 - 07:41
 
Post 2484
  Ed Connell, Dover
AIDAbella entering by Eastern in the early morning on Sunday.



Solitaire, the largest pipelaying barge in the world, passing Dover on Saturday afternoon.


Rodin and Dunkerque Seaways on the Quai de Lorraine on Sunday morning, with the latter taking bunkers.


The Vulcan flying past on Sunday afternoon. Taken by surprise as I was expecting it a few minutes later so was not prepared!



DHB tug hosing down the end of a pier for some reason on Sunday afternoon.




Sunday, 11 October 2015 - 22:02
 
Post 2483
  brian, dover
she was parked up a 0500 when I got up and looked out of my window.

Sunday, 11 October 2015 - 14:23
 
Post 2482
  Sea News, Dover
AIDA Bella arriving today sunday..its a cold morning...
See also todays post below.

Sunday, 11 October 2015 - 09:50
 
Post 2481
  Sea News, Dover

Yes indeed the ol familiar Braemar caught us by surprise on Saturday morning Brian by dropping in for a very short visit. She caught us by surprise even further when she moved off after an hour or two...leaving at 08.55 in the morning. That's a picture of her above moving out of harbour. She swept round then and began heading towards Southampton. Visibility was poor...misty hazey etc..and although I did get further pictures they were mostly bad. So here below is one showing her in the same position as in the failed pictures but taken on an earlier day...it shows Braemar in the exact same location heading South/West to Southampton.


End of day:The picture below shows the seagull population moving back out to sea as the light fails...


Great set of pictures below from Ed. They are making real progress on the Rodin there and what about the boxboat whopper...a monster mover for sure at Dunkerque. Great to see it.

AIDA Bella is approaching as I write ...
PaulB.

Sunday, 11 October 2015 - 06:54
 
Post 2480
  Ed Connell, Dover
VLGC (Very Large Gas Carrier) Al Oraiq passing Dover this morning. This ship was in collision with the Dutch freighter Flinterstar off Zeebrugge on Tuesday resulting in the Flinterstar sinking.



Massive boxboat CMA CGM Bougainville departing Dunkerque West this morning, having delayed my ferry for nearly an hour whilst she manoeuvred to depart the port.


Rodin with all traces of the My Ferry Link paintwork on the hull and funnel now covered up. New names have been chosen for the Rodin and Berlioz, not sure if they are public yet.


Saturday, 10 October 2015 - 15:34
 
Post 2479
  brian, dover
the bremar made a brief visit this morning.

Saturday, 10 October 2015 - 13:10
 
Post 2478
  Sea News, Dover
Had the following info through.....

ARE YOU SHIP SHAPED?
______________________


Coastal Shipping is proud to announce its new format, South Coast Ship Show, Saturday 14th November, 10 – 4pm, at The Boundary Rooms, Sussex County Cricket Club, Hove. Previously held in Portsmouth, they are excited to now be bringing local shipping enthusiasts, model boat makers and collectors together in Hove.

Coastal Shipping would like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in participating in the show this November. There is space for one more model boat club, a marine artist and a second hand book seller. They can also accommodate maritime collectables and ephemera or postcards to show or sell. Perhaps you run a charity that is concerned with the welfare of seafarers? All are welcome.

Contact bernard@coastalshipping.co.uk or call 01275 846178 to book a table. There is ample parking with good transport links to the site and there will be refreshments available on the day.

Some model boat displays, charities and traders travel with them from show to show. The Coastal Shipping crew are enthusiasts themselves and enjoy meeting people who share a love of all things maritime. This year they have been in Liverpool, Edinburgh and Portishead. The Ship Show in Portishead has been a fixture in the ship and transport enthusiasts’ calendar for many years now, and not just in the UK. Friends Ben and Koos travel from the Netherlands annually and Ben said, "We come every year, there is nothing like this where we come from. So many people are keen to share their interests. They are a very knowledgeable and friendly crowd. "

Bernard and Doreen McCall have been running Coastal Shipping together since 1994. Both ex-teachers, they retired early to focus on writing and publishing books about ships and transport. They are truly a family crazy about anything that moves. One of their sons publishes books under the Mainline and Maritime imprint and the other works internationally on supply ships.

Ends


Thanks to Bernard McCall for the above.
On behalf of all the contributing photographers ..Many thanks Vic.
Great to see those Rodin pictures from Ed below there in Dunkerque...things are moving forward there for sure. Well done also to QM Wayne!
Also I note that the Braemar is in today - not sure off the top of my head if that was on the schedule...but there we are..its here now!
EXTRA NOTE at 08.55: The Braemar has left us again. Unusual ...'twas possibly an unscheduled stop. PB.

Smiley

Saturday, 10 October 2015 - 07:22
 
Post 2477
  Vic matcham, Dover
Great photos

Friday, 9 October 2015 - 19:39
 
Post 2476
  Ed Connell, Dover
Alerted by our QM Wayne to the rebranding being undertaken on the Rodin on the Quai de Lorraine in Dunkerque West. The funnel logo has gone and the My Ferry Link name is disappearing from the hull.




Friday, 9 October 2015 - 10:11
 
Post 2475
  Sea News, Dover
THE MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING.


Port community at the heart for the world’s biggest coffee morning Smiley
________________________________________________________


PSL Freight has led the port’s backing for MacMillan Cancer Support’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’.

The company organised a coffee and cake morning at Lord Warden House and also laid on a fundraising food trolley that visited port offices.

The event last Friday was open to members of the port community including agents, Border Force and Port of Dover staff.

There was a variety of cakes on offer including lemon drizzle, chocolate, carrot and a toffee sponge. Decorations, cakes, bottles for raffle and ingredients (coffee, tea etc.) were supplied by PSL Dover’s team of staff, friends and family while the Port of Dover donated tables and chairs. The morning raised over £400 towards McMillian Cancer.

Richard Catt, director at PSL Freight, said: "This was another great result and show of support, especially when there were so many other similar events happening in the area at the same time. I hope each and everyone of them had similar success, and that MacMillan Cancer Support gets the financial support it so richly deserves.

‘The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ is Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual flagship fundraiser and is celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year. In 2014 it raised a record breaking £25 million and this year, with a little help from the community at the World’s Best Port, Macmillan is hoping to raise even more!

Tim Waggott, the Port of Dover’s chief executive, said: "PSL Freight did a brilliant job in putting this all together. I hope the port community does all it can to help them raise as much money as possible for this very worthy charity."

ENDS

Sounds like a lot of fun above and for an exceptional cause. MacMillan..Smiley


Above we have another picture to enjoy of our ol' friend Emerald approaching the Port a couple of days ago ..and below some long distance pix from out in the Channel. First shot shows Berlin A1411 from the German Navy slipping by and slipping as it were across the nose of the Norwegian Star.

"The Type 702 Berlin Class fleet auxiliary vessels are in service with the Deutsche Marine (German Navy). The auxiliary replenishment ships are designed to provide logistics and medical services support to the combined task forces. The vessels are named after German cities.

The lead ship in class, Berlin (A 1411) was launched in April 1999 and commissioned in April 2001. The Frankfurt am Main (A 1412) was commissioned by the German Navy in May 2002. The keel for the third unit was laid down in September 2010. The ship was christened Bonn (1413) in April 2012. Bonn was expected to be delivered by the end of September 2012.
Berlin Class vessels are the largest warships in the German Navy fleet. "
And below now we have pictures of Ebba Maersk from yesterday...these last two are a bit forced but very long range. Will add further internet info soon and here we are..

"The Ebba Maersk is a container ship owned by the Danish shipping company A. P. Moller-Maersk Group. The fifth of the Mærsk E-class, she and her seven sister ships are among the largest container ships ever built. Length: 397 m." There you have it...



Friday, 9 October 2015 - 07:06
 
Post 2474
  Sea News, Dover
PORT OF DOVER JOINS THE CBI.....



Port of Dover joins UK business powerhouse.
____________________________________

The Port of Dover has joined the UK’s leading business champions in the week the Government put the nation’s transport infrastructure at the heart of its plans for building a better Britain.

The port - which oversees the busiest ferry operation in Europe and the second biggest cruise ship facility in the UK - has become a member of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).The move will allow it to join forces with some of the biggest business voices in the country, and to fight Kent’s and Dover’s corners in the national arena.

Tim Waggott, the Port of Dover’s chief executive, said: "It makes perfect sense for us to join the CBI. It represents the most formidable businesses in the UK and we, by running a critical piece of national and international transport infrastructure, ensure trade keeps moving between the UK and Europe, while building opportunity for Dover.

"In a typical year we handle £100 billion of UK and European trade, 13 million passengers and 2.5 million freight vehicles – and those figures keep growing."

The port’s announcement comes in the week when Chancellor George Osborne appointed former transport secretary Lord Adonis to head-up a new National Infrastructure Commission.

Lord Adonis believes that "without big improvements to its transport and energy systems, Britain will grind to a halt".

Mr Waggott said: "Lord Adonis is absolutely right. We have to plan ahead and build now if we’re to meet the demands of the future.
That’s why the Port of Dover has committed £85 million to upgrade its eastern docks, and the revival of the western docks has seen the port commit a further £120 million - its biggest ever single investment.

"Both infrastructure investments are crucial if we’re to ensure this important short-sea crossing between the UK and mainland Europe remains resilient in the years to come – as is getting a firm commitment from Government on key infrastructure decisions such as the Lower Thames Crossing."

John Cridland CBE, the CBI’s director-general, said: "I am delighted to welcome the Port of Dover, a vital part of the local community and national economy, into membership of the CBI. The port works hard to boost growth and increase capacity, as we push on with shipping more great British products and services to high growth markets around the globe.

"There’s no doubt that ramping up our exports is key to rebalancing the economy, and to driving investment and jobs across the United Kingdom."


ENDS

______________________

Fascinating and positive move by the Port of Dover...moving forward with perhaps one eye on a certain referendum approaching down the line. But let's not speculate too far right now....fascinating indeed.


And now some pictures from the recent cargo visits as promised..


Above we have the Lady Korcula departing Port a day or two ago..lit by the late afternoon slanting sun.. off to Amsterdam if I remember correctly off the top of head. And below...the arrival of the Emerald from Vlissingen. See further down the page for Ed Connells pictures of the cargo ships and the general Port pix.



Cracking pictures of the Vulcan below there Mike. Magnificent beast...thanks for the ace tip, will hope to see it passing by. Did see it pass one time before...and quite a sight she was too. Definitely worth seeing.


Smiley

Thursday, 8 October 2015 - 07:33
 
Post 2473
  Mike J., Dover
Readers may be interested to know that this coming Sunday the last airworthy Vulcan bomber XH588 will make, weather & airworthiness permitting, one of her final flights before being grounded for the foreseeable future.

Locally, she is scheduled to fly over Herne Bay, Manston, Dover & Ashford during Sunday afternoon, but timings & direction of travel are not yet known.

This information will be released over the next few days on her website [google ‘vulcan to the sky’] & social media.

An amazing sight well worth looking out for & one that we may never see again - here she is at Manston in June 2013.










Wednesday, 7 October 2015 - 21:46
 
Post 2472
  Sea News, Dover

Another couple of pictures above of the AIDA Bella to add to the mix. This is her arriving this morning early and keeping up our great late season momentum on cruise ships. Thanks to Ed for the cracking set of hands on working port pictures below. Great stuff! Also thanks again to P&O for todays press release ( don't miss it - post 2018) about their stunning performance figures on freight. Also...Will have more pictures of the cargo vessels tomorrow...running a tad behind with those. We have an embarrassment of riches at the moment which is a great thing...rich material aplenty so trying to catch up. Bear with! Bear with! PB.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015 - 16:51
 
Post 2471
  Ed Connell, Dover
AIDAbella on the Admiralty with Emerald proceeding to the DCT with the assistance of Doughty and Dauntless, and Coralwater standing by to bunker the Pride of Burgundy.








Wednesday, 7 October 2015 - 09:59
 
Post 2470
  Sea News, Dover



P&O FERRIES REPORTS HIGHEST EVER VOLUME OF CROSS-CHANNEL FREIGHT TRAFFIC IN THIRD QUARTER
______________________________________________________________________________________



P&O Ferries carried more freight between Dover and Calais in the third quarter of the year than ever before in its modern history.

The company transported 367,000 units of freight across the English Channel between July and September - a 30 per cent increase on the same period last year and the best single quarter since 2003.

September alone was the best single month for freight since 2003, with 129,500 units transported between Britain and France. The figure surpassed the previous monthly record (123,000) which was set in July this year.

Freight comprises around two-thirds of P&O Ferries' business, with tourists accounting for one-third.

Helen Deeble, Chief Executive of P&O Ferries, said:

"These figures reinforce the importance of the cross-Channel ferry industry to the hundreds of thousands of businesses which rely on the efficient transportation of goods between Britain and France."

"This quarter has been unprecedented, with the strike by French seamen and the temporary closure of the port of Calais bringing major logistical challenges. I am very proud that everyone at P&O Ferries has risen to that challenge and helped to keep exceptional volumes of freight moving across the Channel."

"Demand for cross-Channel transport is only going to increase, driven by a rising population and a recovering economy. We have increased the number of sailings we make between Dover and Calais to 58 a day and brought a sixth ship back into service on the route in order to make sure that we are best placed to meet that demand."

The news follows a strong tourist performance in August, with the company carrying its highest monthly number of people across the Channel since August 2003.

P&O Ferries is a leading pan-European ferry operator, sailing on nine major routes between Britain, France, Ireland, Holland and Belgium. The company operates 20 vessels which carry more than 10 million passengers, 1.6 million cars and two million freight units every year.

ENDS


Smiley Great news from P&O above...stunning figures. The Helen Deeble quote sums it all up with immense accuracy. The Port of Dover is getting busier and busier and will continue to do so as we can see. This link to Europe is vital.
Exciting times!

In Ed's post below it shows just how busy-busy the Port was yesterday and is now generally.
The 92,000 ton 295 metre long Norwegian Star ( see all the pictures below ) moved off last night about 18.30 heading to Ponta Delgada
and arriving now as we speak is the AIDA Bella once more - equally impressive.

ADDED 09.15: On the cargo front business goes on ever stronger. In the past few days we had the Swedish Reefer, that nipped off to be replaced at the cargo terminal by Lady Korcula and now as I write the Emerald has just arrived to replace Lady K at the terminal. Terrific stuff for sure. Will have pictures.... PB.


Smiley

Wednesday, 7 October 2015 - 07:09
 
Post 2469
  Ed Connell, Dover
Cliffwater entering by Eastern and proceeding to deliver bunkers to Norwegian Star with David Church busy dredging and the harbour launch in attendance. Lady Korcula on the DCT.








Tuesday, 6 October 2015 - 22:28
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