Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 2206

  Ed Connell, Dover

Ocean Princess departing by the Eastern Entrance this evening.



Saturday, 18 July 2015 - 17:49

 

Post 2205

  Ed Connell, Dover

European Seaway has arrived back in Dover after a wind farm charter and then layup in Tilbury. Will be taking up service as P&O's sixth ship on Dover-Calais. Seen here in ED2 with the Delft Seaways in ED3.




Saturday, 18 July 2015 - 12:45

 

Post 2204

  Ed Connell, Dover

Coastguard SAR chopper landing at the Coastguard station helipad yesterday afternoon. This and the old train ferry passing this morning were both as kindly advised by our QM Wayne.




Saturday, 18 July 2015 - 09:24

 

Post 2203

  Ed Connell, Dover

Old Danish train ferry "Princess Selandia", ex "Sjaelland", ex "Dronning Ingrid", on her way up the Dover Strait under tow from her last incarnation as a floating restaurant/nightclub in Barrow-in-Furness back to Denmark to become a floating museum. Wikipedia entry below:

"Princess Selandia is a former Danish ferry which had a long career on the Great Belt and the Baltic Sea, after which she became a restaurant and nightclub ship, currently moored in Barrow-in-Furness, England. Built for the Danish State Railroad, Dansk Statsbaner (DSB), she began service as Dronning Ingrid on the Korsør - Nyborg route in April 1951. Several changes of Danish inter-island and Danish-Germany routes ensued. She had to give up her Royal title in August 1979 and took the name Sjælland. Portraits of the Danish Royal Family remained in the state cabin on board. For a time she plied between Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen. In 1985 she was rented out to Danish Radio and TV as a studio and used as the setting for Danish TV show "Kajplads 114" ("Berth 114") in Copenhagen. In 1988 she became a museum and restaurant ship and was sold to English interests in April 2002, being moved to Tilbury, England and renamed Selandia. Following purchase by Rick Lucas in June 2004, she was sailed from Tilbury to Barrow-in-Furness for a £2 million, nine-month refurbishment and renamed Princess Selandia. The whole freight deck, which once carried trains, was converted to "The Blue Lagoon" - a 2500-capacity nightclub. Operating from Town Quay, Buccleuch Dock, Barrow-in-Furness until 16 August 2010. She also had an a la carte restaurant, casino and beer garden. On 9 October 2010 a fire started aboard the Princess Selandia. The former name "Sjælland" in huge letters was never lit at the ships body. On 14 July 2015 she left Barrow-in-Furness for Denmark to become a floating museum."






Saturday, 18 July 2015 - 09:11

 

Post 2202

  Sea News, Dover

The flow is improving although... ( Update 10am : Traffic very congested central locations )

Operation Stack remains in place @7.30hrs on 18.07.15


Operation Stack (M20 closed coast-bound junctions 8 to 9) remains in place due to disruption earlier in the week at the Channel Tunnel, the on-going situation at the Port of Calais and high volumes of freight traffic seeking to use all the Channel Ports. The Port of Dover remains open for business with a full service operating to the Port of Calais with P&O Ferries and a full service operating to Dunkerque with DFDS Seaways.

All coastbound freight traffic is being directed to join the back of the queue at junction 8 (Hollingbourne). Any lorries approaching the ports without an Operation Stack ticket will be directed to the back of the queue at junction 8. Non-freight traffic is being directed to come off the M20 coastbound at junction 8 to join the A20 and should follow the yellow circle diversion route. Alternative routes are expected to be busy so please allow plenty of time for your journey.

Tourist traffic heading for the Port of Dover is advised to use the A2/M2 route, but please allow plenty of time for your journey.

Traffic is flowing and the Port and the ferry operators are working hard to serve all customers travelling to and from the continent. We apologise for any delays or inconvenience as a result of traffic congestion and we would like to reassure our local community we are playing our part to keep traffic, Dover and the UK economy moving.

Customers are still advised to contact their chosen ferry operator before travelling and consult the Port of Dover website (www.doverport.co.uk) or Twitter account (@PoD_travelnews) for the latest travel information.

Ferry Operator details in Post 1750 below.


Today : Early morning sunlight shining on Braemar and the Ocean Princess.



Saturday, 18 July 2015 - 08:07

 

Post 2201

  Sea News, Dover

Still very busy on the approaches to the Port. The picture above shows the scene at 11pm last night ( 23.00hrs) with people once again getting out of their cars in frustration, and it was like that through the night and is still like it as I write. What time is it..?..06.40 now. In other words it is very busy. Jubilee Way is the same. Local traffic should take avoiding action. Puzzle: How can a chap get to Tesco from the seafront...well now let me see...hmmmm that's a headscratcher !


Two cruise liners in together today. Both small but of course beautifully packaged. The Ocean Princess and The Braemar. PaulB.

Saturday, 18 July 2015 - 06:45

 

Post 2200

  Sea News, Dover

Operation Stack remains in place @15.00hrs on 17.07.15
_____________________________________________


Operation Stack (M20 closed coast-bound junctions 8 to 9) remains in place due to disruption earlier in the week at the Channel Tunnel, the on-going situation at the Port of Calais and high volumes of freight traffic seeking to use all the Channel Ports. The Port of Dover remains open for business with a full service operating to the Port of Calais with P&O Ferries and a full service operating to Dunkerque with DFDS Seaways.

All coastbound freight traffic is being directed to join the back of the queue at junction 8 (Hollingbourne). Any lorries approaching the ports without an Operation Stack ticket will be directed to the back of the queue at junction 8. Non-freight traffic is being directed to come off the M20 coastbound at junction 8 to join the A20 and should follow the yellow circle diversion route. Alternative routes are expected to be busy so please allow plenty of time for your journey.

Tourist traffic heading for the Port of Dover is advised to use the A2/M2 route, but please allow plenty of time for your journey.

Traffic is flowing and the Port and the ferry operators are working hard to serve all customers travelling to and from the continent. We apologise for any delays or inconvenience as a result of traffic congestion and we would like to reassure our local community we are playing our part to keep traffic, Dover and the UK economy moving.

Customers are still advised to contact their chosen ferry operator before travelling and consult the Port of Dover website (www.doverport.co.uk) or Twitter account (@PoD_travelnews) for the latest travel information.

The Friday lunchtime picnic...100 yards from the Port entrance today.. people were out of their cars counting fluffy clouds counting sheep smoking fags...


Ferry Operator Contacts


DFDS Seaways
Freight: +44 (0) 1304 874 001
Tourist: +44 (0) 871 230 0440
Twitter: @dfdsseaways

P&O Ferries
Freight: +44 (0) 1304 863 340
Tourist: +44 (0) 8716 64 64 64
Twitter: @POferriesupdate

MyFerryLink
Freight: +44 (0) 1304 828 423
Tourist: +44 (0) 844 248 2100
Twitter: @MyFerryLink


ENDS



Great work below Ed A good spot by Wayne.

Friday, 17 July 2015 - 17:33

 

Post 2199

  Ed Connell, Dover

Unusual demonstration team circling over Dover yesterday afternoon around 1700. Alerted to this by our QM Wayne and managed to get a few shots as they disappeared in the direction of Capel. The team consists of a North American Bronco originally used by the German air force for target towing, and two Short SC.7 Skyvans. They will be appearing at the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford today. The photo of them passing over the Malo Seaways appears to show that they were joined briefly by what may have been one of our local Spitfires.






Friday, 17 July 2015 - 08:26

 

Post 2198

  Sea News, Dover

Celebrity Silhouette Arrival and Departure: The two pictures above were taken about 8pm last evening as the great giant moved slowly away. Slowly is the word...ever so gently squeezing out of Dover Harbour's western exit and heading out to sea in the gathering gloom. A truly great ship, the biggest one to ever visit us here at the Port of Dover. Well done to the team behind the scenes that brought her here in fabulous glory. Brilliant work for sure. By the way that's Clupea again also in the shot...and our friendly seagull.

Below an extra image from the early morning arrival to compliment Ed's stunning pictures in the posts below. Yours truly's beauty sleep ( who said I need lots of that !) was near completion when she trundled into massive view around 4.40am. Getting a decent picture that early was difficult as it was very dark, it required lots of camera fiddling .. and who can fiddle properly that hour of the morning, so Ed did great indeed getting those early ( and indeed late) pictures in the posts below. PB.


Friday, 17 July 2015 - 07:05

 

Post 2197

  Ed Connell, Dover

Celebrity Silhouette in the evening some miles out to sea after leaving Dover.



Thursday, 16 July 2015 - 22:46

 

Post 2196

  Ed Connell, Dover

Celebrity Silhouette entering at around 0430 this morning. It was much darker than the photographs show and at first I wondered what on earth was coming in as all the passenger cabins were in darkness so it was just the upperworks and the hull that were lit up with a band of nothingness between them!








Thursday, 16 July 2015 - 08:05

 

Post 2195

  Sea News, Dover

DFDS Seaways Open for Business on the Channel with Extra Ferry on Dover-Dunkirk Service

• DFDS Seaways continues to add a fourth ship on Dover-Dunkirk service
• DFDS Seaways still being prevented from full operating service to Calais
_________________________________________________________________________


News Release 15 July : DFDS Seaways is continuing to divert a fourth ship to its Dover-Dunkirk service for the 16th day in a row as ongoing strike action by former MyFerryLink workers continues to prevent the company from operating a full service into Calais.

Carsten Jensen, senior vice president and head of DFDS Seaways in the UK comments,
"We would like to reassure all our customers that we are open for business on the Channel, with the Calais Seaways continuing to operate on the Dunkirk route alongside our three normal ships. This means that we are currently sailing up to 32 times a day between Dover and France."

The Calais Seaways

All passengers booked to travel are advised to proceed to the port as normal but to allow extra time for arrival and to travel via the M2/A2 as a more convenient route to Dover. Freight customers will need to travel via the M20/A20 to Dover. Dover-Dunkirk ships are currently operating to schedule.

DFDS Seaways normally sails up to 44 times a day between Dover and France, including up to 20 daily crossings on the Dover-Calais service.

To find out more information, visit www.dfds.co.uk, or telephone 0871 574 7235.


-Ends-

* *

A couple of extra pictures from the past few days activities. Pic of LS Concorde and the Braemar above is by SARAH HEWES once again - Many thanks Sarah as ever. Nice pic for sure.
Below a shot from last evening of our old friend Saga Pearl II slowly reversing out into the open sea. No tugboat in attendance this time. The Spitfires whooped in shortly afterwards to give yet another dazzling display to those sailing..


The good news and the bad news.
First the bad news - Operation Stack is back in place and in full implement mode as I write.
The good news is...the magnificent and stunningly huge Celebrity Silhouette is back in Port. Wowser! It would block out the sun if there was any. Bit grey today alas.

Many thanks Colette for the vital Cruise list below. Great stuff!

Many thanks once again to DFDS SEAWAYS.





Thursday, 16 July 2015 - 06:12

 

Post 2194

  ColetteB, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
______________


Firstly, I must say what a superb array of photos we have been treated to of the Magical aptly named 'Disney Magic' The guys here on Sea News have thoroughly spoilt us and what an extremely talented lot you are, thank you

And now here are the rest of our July Cruises.

Don't forget to watch out for the very elegant and classy Celebrity Silhouette again tomorrow.

Then no cruises until Saturday 18th July when the Ocean Princess arrives back at CT2, TR and the Braemar is back at CT1, TR.

On Sunday 19th July the Saga Sapphire returns to CT1.

On Wednesday 22nd July Disney Magic is back with us again

Saturday 25th July the second Crystal cruise this year arrives in the shape of the Crystal Serenity at CT2, TR. She was here in August last year.

The following day Sunday 26th July the Crystal Symphony arrives back to CT2, TR.

And now for a lovely treat, on Monday 27th July, Windstar Cruises 'Star Legend' cruises into Dover to CT1. She will cruise from Dover to 'Wonderful Wonderful' Copenhagen via Bruges, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Kiel Canal, Lubeck and Wismor. From Historic Windmills, Medieval cities, to the scars of WW2 this cruise offers a string of 'Must See' sights. It's an All Suite Yacht with only 212 guests. 'Star Legend' will make you feel you're on board your own private yacht almost as soon as you step aboard. Now where is my Chauffeur to take me there!!

Also on Monday 27th, our trusty friend, the Saga Sapphire arrives back to CT2, TR.

And that concludes July

Thank you for your kind comments Jacqui, much appreciated

Wednesday, 15 July 2015 - 14:31

 

Post 2193

  Sea News, Dover

ImPORTant Safety Day at the Port of Dover
__________________________________

YESTERDAY TUESDAY: Today, the Port of Dover is holding its first ever multi-agency Port Safety Day.

Showcasing at the recently refurbished former Dover Marine Railway Station (home to Cruise Terminal 1), the event includes contributions from various agencies with safety responsibilities, contractors and port stakeholders with live demonstrations, presentations and competitions.

The day kicks off with Kent County Council’s Road Safety Team demonstrating a seatbelt sled to show how seatbelts save lives, followed by a man overboard display by the Port of Dover. Kent Police will also give a presentation on the work of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

Throughout the day, asbestos decontamination demonstrations are taking place, whilst delegates are being given the opportunity to get close to the large plant equipment used on site at the Port for some of its major infrastructure projects. A giant excavator will be on hand with people being able to experience operating a large piece of machinery.

Richard Christian, Head of Communications at the Port of Dover, is thrilled that the Port has been able to host the event and demonstrate the importance of safety at Europe’s busiest ferry port.

"The Port of Dover is working hard to keep the town, Port and UK economy moving. By ensuring a safe environment for its staff, customers and the wider Port community, the Port is playing its part to ensure that delays to the operation through safety incidents are minimised.

As we continue to develop the Port to meet future challenges and opportunities, we are committed to ensuring the Port is a safe place to work in and to travel through. Today’s event is a reflection of the strong safety culture we hold throughout the organisation."



ENDS - Many thanks once again to the guys at the Port for the info and pictures.


* *

REACHING FOR THE STARS !

THE DIZZY HEIGHTS : Workers and cranes continue to labour on and around the monolithic Dover 7 structure. The pictures are from a couple of days ago and show the guys striving to add vital sections to the large arch ( of triumph). Top picture is a zoomed in shot and below we have a wider view of the scene to show location. They're making real progress and its looking good....



Many thanks Jacqui - glad you are enjoying it all on the Sea News pages. Excellent.
And to you Vic - keep enjoying it.. great stuff!

Nice one below there Ed. Very moody and misty..watch out for the banshees at that hour of night !! Also good one of Emerald.
Glad you are keeping us up to speed Mike..great stuff again! PB.

Wednesday, 15 July 2015 - 06:42

 

Post 2192

  Ed Connell, Dover

Messina Strait discharging at the DCT overnight.



Wednesday, 15 July 2015 - 03:57

 

Post 2191

  Mike J., Dover

Holyhead Towing's AFON CEFNI has been in the old Jetfoil Terminal since she arrived from Rotterdam on Sunday.

Early Tuesday afternoon she sailed for St.Nazaire.




Tuesday, 14 July 2015 - 20:57

 

Post 2190

  Ed Connell, Dover

Cargoship Emerald at the DCT today.



Tuesday, 14 July 2015 - 16:45

 

Post 2189

  Jacqui, Dover

Totally agree with you there Vic - my first port of call too

Sea News is always up to date, fresh and interesting. We have some brilliant photographers, well informed posters - love Collettes updates on the cruise ships. Well done PaulB for a great web site

Tuesday, 14 July 2015 - 10:55

 

Post 2188

  vic matcham, dover

this is a great page to log into with action photos on each day ,first thing each morning when turning on the lap top I must log into this page even on our trips to Scotland we look in each day.Thank you.

Tuesday, 14 July 2015 - 09:30

 

Post 2187

  Sea News, Dover

We have a bit of a "Vigilant Special" here. The UK Border Force in fine action. The pictures are mostly from last weekend and the top shot shows the vessel powering past Dover one evening on said weekend in very rough seas. Clearly moving at some speed...maybe the chase was afoot. I think it was probably Saturday evening off the top of my head. The picture at the bottom is much the same but further east as she powered on.

The next two pictures, the central two pictures, are from our regular contributor SARAH HEWES and show brilliantly the Vigilant in Dover Harbour at the weekend and also in Ramsgate Harbour at a previous time. Many thanks to Sarah once again for contributing to the feature. Lots more to come from Sarah too in due course.




Good collection once again there below Ed..you're on a roll !
Interesting to see the Malo Seaways doing berthing trials in Dunkerque
...looks like we are in this strike for the long haul. Oh dear!

Thanks also to Phil/Howard for the picture off Samphire Hoe. PB.


Tuesday, 14 July 2015 - 06:56