Thursday, 28 March 2024

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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 1023
  PaulB, Dover
The Seabourn Quest departing Dover just a few minutes ago as I write (4.30pm or 16.30 if you prefer)...watching on is the dredger David Church. The ship is heading for Dublin in the Emerald Isle.
These two have very recently anchored just 80 metres from the Sea News observation tower. One yesterday morning, one today. The first thought that occurs to the local bod is...do they know about the huge variation in tide levels? One has visions of them being left aground. But all was well...these mariners know the ropes much more than the observing landlubber.
Smiley


Friday, 8 August 2014 - 16:40
 
Post 1022
  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE PORT from our MP CHARLIE ELPHICKE ( see also 818 )
___________________________________________________________

This week the change we've made at the port hits another milestone. The Harbour Board is advertising for the first community director. Over the next year Dover will move to become a community led port. A port that will forge an ever closer partnership with the town and port businesses. A port that will have a community fund to benefit the town. And a port that will have the powers to raise the investment needed to transform the port and seafront forever.

We've come a long way since 2010. The previous Government planned to sell off our port to the French or whoever. All that was needed was the flick of the Minister's pen and it would all have been over. Everyone thought it was a lost cause. They thought our opposition was gallant in a tilting at windmills sort of way. Yet we did it. And we did it together.

We put forward the People's Port alternative - if the Government was going to sell it then we'd buy it. We would keep our port forever England. The People's Port Trust, the unions, Dame Vera Lynn and the people of our community united under the banner of a clear plan for the future.

It didn't just matter to us. It mattered to the nation. Dover is symbolic. The land of the White Cliffs. Emblematic of so much of the heart and soul of our nation. It would never do for such an important part of our nation to be lost as the previous Government proposed. That was the clear statement of the people in the referendum we held. That and my overturning the Government in a key Parliamentary vote effectively left the sale plans dead in the water.

Yet in the campaign to save the port we had tasted the possibilities of what might be. For the port to potter along like it had done was not an option. Things had to change. That's why I made the case for a second stage of reform at the port. The seafront of Dover should be an engine for our prosperity. A new connection had to be fashioned between the port and community. The town must feel the port provides benefit to it. These arguments gained favour at Westminster. They led to the Minister's announcement of reform a few months ago. They have led to the advertisement we see this week for the first community director.

We've come a long way. Yet we have further yet to go. We need to see the community directors in place. The plans must be put together for how the seafront should transform. The investment must then be raised. We have a project of town building and town changing that lies ahead of us. A project everyone must be part of. We stand at the threshold of an opportunity that has eluded us ever since our town was shelled in the war. We must make it happen this time.


Best wishes
Charlie


* * *

Picture shows Charlie Elphicke left at last years Regatta with Barbara Buczek who is Head of Corporate Affairs at the PORT and Nigel Collor leading local councillor.
We don't do Party Politics on here but always interested to hear the thoughts of the sitting MP.

Howard yes indeed re staycating but once again last night hotels are/were packed here on the seafront. We have all gone mad for a touch of the continentals. I have been informed by the other BB ( daughter) that Thursday is the new Friday...it looks that way..Smiley

The Seabourn Quest is in harbour today...a lot of mist so far so no pictures but a nice ship. Fab design.



Friday, 8 August 2014 - 06:44
 
Post 1021
  Howard McSweeney, Dover
The sun glistening on the sea Paul yet the port is breaking all records for departures.

We had a great summer last year and despite the odd storm this is as good, so why are people not "staycating" apologies for the awful cliche.

Nowadays people do not book months in advance but wait until the last minute for the best deals.

Thursday, 7 August 2014 - 20:11
 
Post 1020
  PaulB, Dover
This was the unusual sight about one hour ago as I write, around 10.30am... yes an empty harbour. it is almost surreal, in the height of all the rabid activity at the moment we somehow found ourselves without a ferry in dock. Must have made an odd sight for the arriving long distant motorist who with much heat and sweat is treading his weary way to France. And speaking of France...according to Booking.com there isn't a hotel to be had in near France for love nor money at the moment. Perhaps the great British public are.. ermm.. out there celebrating the end of the recession!?
The last ferry leaving below forgot to switch the lights out..Smiley

However...super normality is now fully restored. All packed with packed ferries again. Never known it to be so busy.

Thursday, 7 August 2014 - 11:46
 
Post 1019
  PaulB, Dover
Another picture of the fender as mentioned in the earlier posts (946 in particular). This shows the severed section lying on the pier (ED9 or Dover 9) yesterday afternoon. Pier ED9 is back fully operational despite the loss of said fender. I initially thought they must have welded or fixed it back in place so that the pier could again be operational, but no they made it operational without doing so. Once again hard to give the scale but as mentioned before the fenders are large...that looks like a man sized booth to the left which gives an idea of scale. You can also see its previous location on the face of the pier below.

Oh dear an interesting if dangerous tale there below Vic. Sounds like a bit of a nautical nightmare. Glad you got out of that nasty situation okay.
Good to have you still with us today for sure..

Smiley

Thursday, 7 August 2014 - 06:51
 
Post 1018
  vic matcham, Dover
Some years ago I was called to a ship out of Ramsgate it was berthed the otherside,
They had holed just above the water line .
It was midnight when I went over the side on a rope ladder to weld it up.
I had a watchman on deck ,he went for a cup of tea, crew not seeing him thinking job done matcham back on deck so they sailed off with me hanging on over the side still .
I am lucky to live to tell the story .
They had to hold me back after I went after the watchman.

Thursday, 7 August 2014 - 06:13
 
Post 1017
  vic matcham, Dover
Indeed Paul I love looking at the photos of the work being carried out and my kind of work to ,
As I said I do miss it all and if it had not been for my legs I would still be doing it.
I was asked only last week if I could do some welding down at the western end of the port but I had to say no but nice to be asked,

Wednesday, 6 August 2014 - 07:58
 
Post 1016
  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

DFDS Seaways named "Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator" at World Travel Awards
________________________________________________________________

DFDS Seaways was named ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator’ at the European leg of the 2014 World Travel Awards in Athens, Greece (2 August 2014). It is the eighth consecutive year that the ferry company has been recognised for its outstanding service at the World Travel Awards.

The 2014 World Travel Awards are recognised worldwide as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry and the premier industry awards programme, with the winners decided by votes from travel industry professionals and consumers. The cruise and passenger ferry firm fought off competition from rival firms Brittany Ferries, Color Line and P&O Ferries.

The award-winning ferry company puts its success down to its quality onboard offering with restaurants, bars, live entertainment, children’s play areas and exceptional customer service. The operator also offers a comprehensive passenger route network, which incorporates six routes from the UK to Europe, via Dover-Dunkirk, Dover-Calais, Newhaven-Dieppe, Portsmouth-Le Havre, Newcastle-Amsterdam and Harwich-Esbjerg p roviding a gateway to Europe.

Max Foster, Passenger Director for DFDS Seaways, comments: "We're incredibly proud to be recognised by the World Travel Awards as Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator. We strive to always deliver the very best service to our passengers and act as a gateway to Europe. This award recognises the commitment and hard work of our staff who all contribute to delivering an outstanding passenger service across the UK.

"We’ve also got our fingers crossed ahead of the Grand Final Gala Ceremony, to be held in Marrakech, Morocco on November 29, where we are nominated in the ‘World’s Leading Ferry Operator’ category.

The World Travel Awards, founded in 1993, acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Ends.


Top picture shows Andrew Crowe Head of Sales at DFDS SEAWAYS receiving the Award.




* *

The AIDA Stella moving slowly into position upon its arrival early yesterday morning..


Wednesday, 6 August 2014 - 06:59
 
Post 1015
  Howard McSweeney, Dover

Mike/Ray's photos have cleared up the confusion on the main forum "Spirit of Britain" thread.

Tuesday, 5 August 2014 - 20:02
 
Post 1014
  PaulB, Dover
A great bit of info in the post below Mike, great stuff, now we are clear as to what happened. Thanks to Ray for the pictures. Excellent. The berth ED9 is now open again and fully functional but before it was I got the following pictures of all the activity yesterday afternoon and early evening...wasn't really sure what I was photographing at the time but went for it anyway. Here is a selection..



Those fenders are very large, almost larger than they look at first glance, but when you see them in relation to the cars/van/men on the pier it shows the scale. For an aerial map of the piers see Ed Connells post 815 now on Page 7.
Thanks Vic, I am sure you will be liking the engineering info and pictures currently showing.

AIDA Stella coming in...

Tuesday, 5 August 2014 - 06:16
 
Post 1013
  Mike J., Dover
If you look at PaulB’s photo of the arrival of the PACIFIC REEFER in post 944 you can see, above the two holes in the pier, that one of the vertical black rubber fenders is missing - it’s location is marked by two square marks on the concrete & there are four more fenders to the right of it.

This is the site of the fender & its mounting bracket that fell into the dock after being struck by the SPIRIT OF BRITAIN.

I have just been sent a photo of the fender mounting bracket laying on the quayside after being recovered from the seabed.

Also one of the very neat repair to the stern of the BRITAIN - it looks like a giant steel Elastoplast !

Both photos © Ray Goodfellow.







Monday, 4 August 2014 - 23:46
 
Post 1012
  vic matcham, Dover

Thanks again some great photos of our world beating port working 24/7 never sleeps .

Monday, 4 August 2014 - 20:07
 
Post 1011
  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

It’s easy to see that summer starts at the Port of Dover....Smiley
_____________________________________________


More than 250,000 passengers sailed to mainland Europe from the Port of Dover at the start of the summer holidays on Dover’s luxury ferries.

Over 60,000 tourist vehicles (cars, campervans, coaches and motorcycles) travelled through the Port of Dover with 278,000 passengers (including freight), proving once again that summer begins at the Port of Dover. The Port of Dover summer getaway service continues to lead the way on the cross-Channel route with the Port taking over 55% of the tourist market during the key first holiday weekend since schools broke up.

Overall passenger numbers are 3.3% up year to date at Europe’s busiest ferry port, having also recently seen a record number of freight vehicles depart through the Port earlier this month (9 July).

Shaun Pottage, Finance Director, Port of Dover, says: "Ferry passengers are experiencing a quality service, a dedicated team and what is really a mini cruise across the Channel to start their summer holidays. We are making great strides towards achieving our commitment to be the Best Port in the World for the benefit of our customers and community and the volumes of people choosing the Port of Dover illustrates this."

Figures are for week beginning Wed 23rd July – Wed 30th July.

Ends

* *

We saw the earlier report on the record increase in freight too..see 883..
and likewise with the cargo ships too, ever busier. Yesterday sunday was a very busy day. One ship out and the next one comes right on in..the Columbian Star out followed by the Pacific Reefer in. Keeping all in Port very active, including the busy busy tug crews.


Columbian Star departing above, and the Pacific Reefer arriving below.





Yes the Spirit of Britain has left the Port. Reversing across the harbour at 10.10pm last night. It appears to be back in service.



Monday, 4 August 2014 - 07:13
 
Post 1010
  brian, dover.
thanks paul,the spirit of brittain has now left the cruise terminal.

Monday, 4 August 2014 - 06:17
 
Post 1009
  Mike J., Dover
Sunday evening - PRIDE OF KENT is back on the run but the SPIRIT OF BRITAIN remains on Cruise-1 after problems docking in No.9 berth on Saturday evening.

No.9 berth is out of action.








Sunday, 3 August 2014 - 20:20
 
Post 1008
  PaulB, Dover
Oh dear! that's a bit nasty Brian. Well done finding that.
Looks like the ship will be laid up for a while. Good spot Mike that they were both out of action. Several P&O customers on twitter are disgruntled with the resultant delays on a hugely busy weekend, particularly as nobody is informing them of the situation on the ground. So the word is anyway.

Sunday, 3 August 2014 - 20:02
 
Post 1007
  brian, dover.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10475682_10152598010689787_3317472463820647453_n.jpg?oh=449be3e6fbe2c7c07caf5d6b6659b27a&oe=543E5529&__gda__=1414446655_d32a4872f8279a76e257816867a6c240

the secret hole that no one is supposed to know about.Smiley

Sunday, 3 August 2014 - 19:36
 
Post 1006
  brian., dover
rumor has it the Spirit of Brittan has a hole at the stern end, hit something or other.

Sunday, 3 August 2014 - 16:38
 
Post 1005
  Mike J., Dover
Ferries are occasionally taken out of service for short periods for maintenance or repairs but it is a little unusual to see two off service at the same time.

Early Sunday saw the PRIDE OF KENT & the SPIRIT OF BRITAIN ‘on the wall’

But Saturday night is usually the quietest night of the week.







Sunday, 3 August 2014 - 06:52
 
Post 1004
  PaulB, Dover
Here we have The Ryndam's arrival early Saturday morning...the ship was greeted by the sun rounding the headland in spectacular fashion and lighting the port and harbour with a dynamic and warm glow. A nice arrival for the passengers. Welcome to Dover.



Saturday, 2 August 2014 - 11:58
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