Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2308

  Sea News, Dover

The Ocean Princess being followed out of harbour by the Spirit of Britain just a few minutes ago as I write....
departing through the western exit...busy busy..The Ocean heading for St Helier.

Well done Colette with that listing below. More good days ahead. PB.


Monday, 17 August 2015 - 17:12

 

Post 2307

  ColetteB, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
______________

Firstly, Superb photos once again from the guys, Kevin & Ed

Sarah, the Dungeness & Montrose lifeboat pix are spectacular, Well Done!

And now for the rest of August cruises
Tomorrow Tuesday 18th, The AIDABella arrives once again for a PoC, she was last here in April.

And now for a second chance to see the beautiful Hebridean Princess
On Wednesday 19th, she leaves the Thames, taking in both sides of the English Channel as well as those fascinating Channel Islands that are closer to France.

First stop, the historic Port of Dover where the passengers will visit our medieval Dover Castle and secret wartime tunnels. Then on to Dieppe with a tour of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, picturesque Honfleur with a visit to the famous 15th century Saint Catherine's Church which is the largest surviving wooden church in France. Then Cherburg, Guernsey, Sark & Alderney. A mere snip at £5410pp. I need to start saving

The following day, Thursday 20th August we have a double header with the Saga Pearl II arriving back to CT1, TR & the AIDASol arrives back to CT2, PoC.

Another double header on Sunday 23rd with the Braemar at CT2, TR & the Saga Sapphire at CT1, TR.

Another two cruises on Monday 24th, when after a three year absence, the beautiful Wind Surf cruises into CT1 with a P0C
And the AIDACara returns to CT2, PoC.

Ending the month of August on Tuesday 25th, is the lovely Ocean Princess at CT2, TR.

See you in September





Monday, 17 August 2015 - 14:07

 

Post 2306

  Sea News, Dover

Following on from Kevin's mention of the Dungeness Lifeboat in post 1852...lo and bohold here we are right on cue...
The Dungeness Lifeboat in hi-octane action over the weekend at the Littlestone Emergency Services Day.
Pictures once again from SARAH HEWES.



also in the pictures you can see the smaller B Class Atlantic Lifeboat from Littlestone.
and of course the HM Coastguard joined in with their new helicopter.
Many thanks Sarah.
Thanks to Kevin for the earlier pictures
that one of the old ferry is great to see.
Thanks too to ace man Ed as ever.

Monday, 17 August 2015 - 08:53

 

Post 2304

  Kevin Charles, Dover

Came across this lovely old print of the French train ferry, Saint Germain, in a charity shop and just had to buy it with the super view of Dover Castle and the White Cliffs in the background. The old ferries certainly had character!



Sunday, 16 August 2015 - 16:23

 

Post 2303

  Kevin Charles, Dover

Great photos of the Shannon class lifeboat. This is the RNLI's lastest lifeboat designed for launching, rather than permanently afloat like the Dover lifeboat (the larger Severn Class). Dungeness lifeboat was one of the first Shannon's to enter service.

Sunday, 16 August 2015 - 16:15

 

Post 2302

  Kevin Charles, Dover

Another view of Artania arriving at Dover this morning. Now sailing for Phoenix Reisen, the ship was built originally as the Royal Princess for Princess Cruises and was named by Princess Diana.



Sunday, 16 August 2015 - 16:12

 

Post 2301

  Ed Connell, Dover

Artania on CT1 today.




Sunday, 16 August 2015 - 08:34

 

Post 2300

  Sea News, Dover

RNLI - LIFEBOAT SPECIAL
Pictures by SARAH HEWES



Sarah waited for ages down the Prince of Wales Pier on Thursday to capture the arrival at the Port of Dover of the Shannon-class lifeboat from Montrose in bonnie Scotland. It was a tough wait for Sarah, as you might remember on Thursday we had everything but the kitchen sink weather wise..thunder, lightning, rain, and a bracing wind strong enough to whip the skin off that proverbial rice pudding. But as you can see the pictures were worth it. Nice work once again Sarah.



also to note: the Artania is in with us again today.

Sunday, 16 August 2015 - 07:51

 

Post 2299

  Sea News, Dover

A bit of afternoon sunlight has saved the day with regard to the dazzling Hebridean Princess. Not an ideal picture but captured just in case we don't get another one later... she came in during the thick fog interlude this morning...and the moody mist may well return. Beautiful vessel for sure.

Yes that seal was a delight to see Colette...I'm needing him to waddle up onto the beach next time to do a bit of posing for the camera to get max benefit.
And yes there will be more pictures from Sarah later. Look forward to those. PB.

Friday, 14 August 2015 - 16:08

 

Post 2298

  ColetteB, Dover

Aweee!!! How cute is that little fella, he seems happy as Larry just bobbling along on the briny sea

Fantastic to see these excellent community projects benefiting from the Port of Dover's Community Fund. There are so many community groups that will thrive from the Ports commitment to Dover

The Hebridean Princess is back again next week MrB so if no photos today you will have a second shot on Wednesday 19th

Great photos Sarah

Friday, 14 August 2015 - 12:28

 

Post 2297

  Sea News, Dover

This guy came flashing into yours truly's immediate territorial waters two days ago...zipping hither and thither and chasing the smoking mackerel, or whatever this months tasty dish from the deep might be ... and to boot... shocking some of the local veteran swimmers, who were not expecting a slippery mammal to be interfering with their mid-morning breaststroke. Wowser!
PB.

Friday, 14 August 2015 - 11:43

 

Post 2296

  Sea News, Dover

Picture by Sarah Hewes
Saga Pearl II departing for Bergen last evening, see also the post below. Sarah braved the doom and gloom to go down the pier yesterday evening and get several shots of wide variety, more to come in due course. The pictures penetrate the gloomy conditions..and make the weather look better than it was in reality.

ADDED EXTRA INFO: now that the fog is clearing a bit I can see that the Hebridean Princess is in Port. No picture though sadly.

Friday, 14 August 2015 - 06:16

 

Post 2295

  Sea News, Dover

The Saga Pearl II moving off to Bergen in Norway just a few minutes ago as I write. The grumbling rumbling atmospherics have an autumnal look to them this evening...sad to say. We want to hold on to summer for as long as possible...don't we? yes we certainly do. There is usually an air display with the departing Saga's but whether the guys can fly this evening is open to question. PB.

Thursday, 13 August 2015 - 16:36

 

Post 2294

  Sea News, Dover

COMMUNITY FUND SPECIAL


PORT OF DOVER COMMUNITY FUND – another community group benefits from the Port’s commitment to Dover
______________________________________________________________________________________

Another local community group is celebrating this week after receiving over £9,000 grant from the Port of Dover Community Fund.

Chosen by an independent panel, the Community Fund has recently awarded 10 projects locally with a combined contribution of over £71,000. Last week the Kent Community Fund (KCF) manager, Bruce Topham, and Community Fund panel member, Ronnie Philpott, were on hand to deliver a cheque to the latest group to benefit from the Port’s commitment to Dover.

Dover Partnership Against Crime (DPAC), established in 1995, involves traders, business people, police and the local authority in tackling crime in Dover, Deal and Sandwich through a dedicated radio system that links them all.

The Port of Dover Community Fund grant will enable the partnership to purchase digital radios in order to continue its work as the current analogue system is fast becoming obsolete.

Karen Griffiths, Dover Partnership Against Crime (DPAC), Coordinator says:
"This will be another step closer to going digital thanks to this grant. Something we didn’t think we could even consider before. By having a digital radio system instead of analogue, the whole radio security will be much tighter. Only those who are part of the DPAC system will be able to listen in to the channel. The radio transmissions will be much clearer so members will not have to repeat themselves because of a crackly radio. By going digital DPAC will be able to extend into Whitfield allowing them to share information too.

It goes without saying that allowing us to prevent and deter using a good radio system, enables the community in general to benefit. We at DPAC would like to say a huge thank you to the Port of Dover Community Fund."

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, says:
"I am delighted that the Community Fund will be able help DAPC and support them in the important work they are doing in their communities. The Fund has been established to support projects and activities in Dover and I look forward to seeing the charity develop further in the future."

The 10 projects chosen as part of this year’s Community Fund cover a wide range of important community themes, including youth support, crime prevention, health, maritime skills, the arts and sport.

Carol Lynch, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, says:
"DPAC continues to enhance Dover as a great place to live, work and visit. The panel members were delighted to make this award, which will support DPAC in the important role it plays in the town."


Photo above from left to right: Veronica Philpot – Port of Dover Community Fund Panel Member; PCSO Lyndsey Read; Karen Griffiths - DPAC Co-Ordinator; Bruce Topham – Kent Community Foundation Manager; and Graham Tutthill – DPAC Chairman

ENDS





THE EARLIER NEWS RELEASE....

PORT OF DOVER COMMUNITY FUND – first wave of local projects begin to benefit
________________________________________________________________

An independent panel has selected the first projects that are to benefit from the Port of Dover Community Fund.

10 projects have been chosen, covering a wide range of important community themes, including youth support, crime prevention, health, maritime skills, the arts and sport.

Carol Lynch, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, said: "Thanks to the Port of Dover’s significant commitment to the local community, I am thrilled to be in a position to make the initial payments to 10 excellent community projects. This is the best part of our job – seeing such funds begin to make a real and lasting difference."

The Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover and Chair of the independent panel, said: "The independent panel was delighted to have received applications from such a good number of worthy causes. It made the decision extremely difficult, but I believe those chosen this time will make a real difference to the local community."

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, reacting to the announcement, said: "It is fantastic to see the first local projects benefitting from the Port of Dover Community Fund. I very much look forward to seeing how the money will support these great projects and in turn support our community more widely. This is another wonderful example of how the Port of Dover is working at the heart of its community. Importantly, this is just the start, so I encourage those who were not successful this time and those who are yet to apply, to get ready for the next round."

Two of the successful organisations and projects are:

· Cinque Ports Community Kitchen CIC
______________________________

Cinque Ports Community Kitchen CIC is a social enterprise working to teach local people who cannot afford to pay for lessons how to cook healthily using fresh ingredients.

The Port of Dover Community Fund will help unemployed Dover residents, half of which will be young people under the age of 25, gain the necessary skills to take forward catering as a career path as well as gain the personal health benefits of healthy cooking.

Stephanie Hayman, Founding Director at Cinque Ports Community Kitchen CIC, said: "The team at Cinque Ports Community Kitchen would like to say a huge thank you to the Port of Dover Community Fund. This grant means that more people will have the opportunity to transform their lives through healthy eating, practical cooking skills and accredited training. What’s great is that they can share what they learn with families and friends and encourage a culture of healthy eating – a great development for communities in Dover."

· Dover Music Festival
__________________

Dover Music Festival is a non-profit three-day event, providing music and fun for the local community in Dover.

The Port of Dover Community Fund is being used to help cover the costs of the event, including band fees, stage hire, lighting, sound and engineers.

Roger Marsden, Director of Dover Music Festival, said: "The contribution from the Port of Dover Community Fund has played a major part in the financial viability of the project. A consensus of people attending over the 3 days was one of amazement that such a fantastic and unprecedented event could have been organised in our town by a small group of committed local people, giving their time and resources freely. It looks as if we are well on our way to "putting our town back on the map!"

The Port of Dover will be hosting a community workshop later this year to be run by Kent Community Foundation in order to show why the first projects were successful and to give advice on how to complete an application for funding in time for the next call for projects.

Further beneficiaries of the Port of Dover Community Fund are to be announced in the coming weeks.



ENDS

MANY THANKS TO THE PORT FOR ALL THE UPDATES.




Thursday, 13 August 2015 - 07:03

 

Post 2293

  Sea News, Dover

Cracking picture below Ed. Looking good for sure.
Good to see the Magellan Strait again.
Above we have another one of our famed magnificent monster movers moving down the channel a few evenings back. A long range pic and taken just as the light was fading. This monster is called the OOCL Singapore and no doubt heading on its way to the Far Flung East. That's one of the P&O Prides close by.

Wednesday, 12 August 2015 - 10:32

 

Post 2292

  Ed Connell, Dover

Magellan Strait at the DCT tonight with the red duster on the Delft Seaways berthing on ED2.



Tuesday, 11 August 2015 - 21:49

 

Post 2291

  JanT, Dover

Many ideas to the on going problems for crossing the channel here in Dover have been mooted, and it is true an answer does need to be found.
But what we must not forget is the hard work which has been done by DHB and the ferry companies to keep the traffic moving, Dover is after all the gateway to England as well as being a popular route for people crossing to Europe.

It would be a great shame if this effects any plans,to make our seafront a thriving place to be, for locals and our cruise ship passengers when they make their summer stop overs here.

Great to think that our very informative seanews page is being viewed across the other side of the world.

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 - 12:35

 

Post 2290

  Sea News, Dover

NORTH SEA ROUTES SEE RISE IN HGV TRAFFIC OF UP TO 172 PER CENT AS DRIVERS SWITCH FROM CHANNEL TUNNEL
.....SAYS P&O FERRIES
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE well-publicised disruption at the Channel tunnel in July resulted in the drivers of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) turning
to ports on the east coast of England for transport to the continent, according to Britain's leading ferry operator.

P&O Ferries recorded significant increases in volumes of HGVs crossing the North Sea to and from all three of its east coast
ports last month, with a year-on-year uplift of 172 per cent on the Teesport to Zeebrugge route.

The Hull to Zeebrugge route saw an 84 per cent year-on-year increase in July while the Tilbury to Zeebrugge route saw
a 74 per cent increase. In total, P&O Ferries carried 2,518 HGVs across the North Sea during the month.

Zeebrugge is located just 80 miles from Calais on the Belgian coast.

The demand for P&O Ferries' services from the east coast on England comes at a time when the company is also carrying
extremely high volumes of HGVs on its Dover to Calais route. In July, the ferry operator carried
123,000 freight units across the English Channel.

Janette Bell, Commercial Director at P&O Ferries, said: "Importers and exporters who have previously crossed
to the continent via the Channel tunnel are starting to look at longer routes from Teesport, Hull and Tilbury as a
more reliable alternative."

"We saw a 172 per cent increase in the number of HGVs on our Teesport to Zeebrugge route. There were also
significant increases in volumes on our Hull to Zeebrugge and Tilbury to Zeebrugge routes respectively."

"Exporters know the value and time sensitive nature of their deliveries, whether they are perishable goods or
manufacturing components. It is significant that they are now becoming increasingly aware of the alternative North Sea
routes to the continent which we offer. As the British economy continues to grow, we expect to see more demand for
services from Teesport, Hull and Tilbury."

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


Many thanks to P&O for the above info.




Tuesday, 11 August 2015 - 10:39

 

Post 2289

  WILLIAM JOHNSON, AUSTINS FERRY ,TASMANIA (williamjohnson@netspace.net.au)

G'Day Paul B.
Ramsgate maybe small ,but I am sure it can handle the smaller ships on the run ,which in turn should help to free up Dover township off trucks ect .
W.S.J

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 - 07:25

 

Post 2288

  WILLIAM JOHNSON, AUSTINS FERRY ,TASMANIA (williamjohnson@netspace.net.au)

As I have said earlier,use Manston as a temporary marshaling yard , then ship them straight out of Ramsgate , to where ever .
W.S.Johnson

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 - 07:20