Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 5010

  Sea News, Dover

BOXING DAY DIP DOVER 2017:
A big crowd turned up for the annual Dover Boxing Day Dip this year. The high bright sun attracted many, and all parking spaces were taken all along the seafront. The annual mad foray into the freezin' water is quite a spectacle, albeit a brief spectacle...well, who wants to stay in that icy water for any length of time. It was fairly chilling for the spectators too, as there was a refrigerating breeze whipping along Dover Beach that would chill yer to the bones even if wearing a Norwegian anorak.

Lifeguards at the ready....

And..they're offfff...

Jeeez that was chilly... lets get out fast..

Santa redbeard having a refresher after the rigours of the day before...


That's a selection of pictures above, a good turnout of dippers, there wasn't as many 'madly dressed characters' this year but it was all great fun nonetheless.
There'll all maaaaad I tell you...

PaulB

Wednesday, 27 December 2017 - 05:05

 

Post 5009

  Sea News, Dover

The weather turned a great deal rougher, the ol wind was wailing and howling around the 'observation tower' during the evening and all through the dead of Christmas night..twas enough to shiver yer timbers so it was. These pictures below were taken a day earlier on Christmas Eve and you can see the choppier waters.



Top two shots show the pilot boat blasting its way homeward through the rough seas with Barent Zanen ploughing along behind.. you can see Barent Zanen more clearly in shot 3 just above. Pictures: Christmas Eve. But the ship was also working all through the day on Christmas Day and also indeed were the support vessels in Port, as you can see in Mike's pictures in the earlier post.


Well done with those pictures below Mike. Great coverage all round re the Christmas Day layover.

Love that Christmas Lifeboat below there Sarah with that great message....
well done all round to our Roving Reporter. Exciting times for sure.

Best wishes to you Del..always good to hear from you.

PaulB

Tuesday, 26 December 2017 - 06:55

 

Post 5008

  Mike J., Dover

A dull grey grotty windy morning up on the cliffs & chilly with it.
The skeleton crews on the ferries will probably be joined their by families for Christmas lunch aboard [at least they used to].

BARENT ZANEN came in about 0930 & was attended by the MORAG M & SMIT YOUNG & the DWDR bulldozers came out to play.
Hope that everyone was on a good Xmas bonus.

As Patrick showed us a few days back The old Jetfoil terminal was full of contractors' plant & the relaxed security for the Cruise-1 Christmas market permitted a close-up view of them & the LLANDWYN ISLAND.



Monday, 25 December 2017 - 11:47

 

Post 5007

  Mike J., Dover

Midnight Christmas morning & the fleets in . . . . . .



Over on the other side -

Calais - EUROPEAN SEAWAYS – COTE DE FRANCE – CALAIS SEAWAYS
Dunkirk West - DUNKIRK SEAWAYS – DELFT SEAWAYS
Dunkirk East, Damen Shiprepair drydock - PRIDE OF KENT

The Newhaven/Dieppe ferry SEVEN SISTERS is also laid-up in Dunkirk East docks.

Merry Christmas to all 'Sea News' readers & contributors & to Paul for keeping us unruly mob under control & for his own superb pix.


Monday, 25 December 2017 - 01:32

 

Post 5006

  Del Styan, Norwich

Happy Christmas to you all in Dover.

Sunday, 24 December 2017 - 14:46

 

Post 5005

  Sarah, Ramsgate

 

Post 5004

  Sea News, Dover

The Luzon Strait reefer arriving with us yesterday morning at 10.20am. All the way from the South Americas we understand, and very welcome here to the Port of Dover she is too... twas a bit of a grey oul day for these pictures...


After a short period away..the Barent Zanen is here with us again, doing her daily trips back and forth with her cargo of sand. Here she is departing the harbour at 11.30am yesterday morning with the pilot in close attendance..while on the horizon a giant NYK moves south.



Merry Christmas everybody PB

Sunday, 24 December 2017 - 05:03

 

Post 5003

  Sea News, Dover

The Port of Dover has gained industry recognition after commissioning a revolutionary temporary work system, for its flagship Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) development, that has the potential to transform industrial pile driving across the world.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The ‘walking piling gate’, which improves the safety, environmental standards and efficiency of the construction process, has been recognised as an innovation by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), and is featured on the Scheme’s Best Practice Hub – the key online resource showcasing best practice in the construction industry.

The Port’s principal contractor, VSBW (VolkerStevin and Boskalis Westminster), has been using the custom-built equipment to install large diameter tubular piles for the Port’s new berths, pier and marina curve, and is already reporting the kit has increased the number of piles being driven daily from three to a maximum of 10.

Dave Herrod, DWDR Programme Director at the Port of Dover, said: "The Dover Western Docks Revival is enhancing this key piece of national infrastructure by providing further capacity to keep the port resilient for the long term and providing a game changing opportunity for the regeneration of Dover."

"The Port of Dover is committed to achieving high standards on every aspect of this flagship development and I am absolutely delighted our marine civil engineering team has been able to demonstrate this in terms of safety of the workforce, and the impact on the community and the environment by developing this innovative piece of equipment."

The gates clamp onto the previously installed piles and are equipped with hydraulic roller boxes to guide the piles accurately in position. After driving a pile, the gate glides forward autonomously from the crane and hydraulically adjusts its position to prepare for the next pile. Repositioning and levelling of the piling gate without the need of the crane significantly shortens the critical path, as it can be achieved parallel to upending and pitching of a new pile. In addition to piling in straight lines, the new piling gate can also undertake smooth, wide curves, which has proved invaluable with the Port’s marina curve design.

Ron Eckersley, Community Manager for VSBW, said: "As Dover Western Docks Revival involves driving over 651 steel tubular piles as part of the marine civil engineering, the Port of Dover and VSBW decided to invest in two innovative best in class piling gates, significantly increasing the projected piling rate. This has helped us deliver the piling phase of the project in a much shorter period, which in turn has been beneficial in reducing noise nuisance to adjacent neighbours.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy, said: "Innovation has to be at the very heart of construction; both from determining its future success as well as its attractiveness as a sector to work in.

"It is, therefore, essential that the industry as a whole embraces innovation and continually works to raise standards in how it can be used for the benefit of the local community, environment and workforce. The Port’s DWDR ‘walking piling gate’ innovation has clearly achieved benefits in each of these areas, and has made a significant contribution to improving the image of the construction industry.

"The standard of innovations across construction sites and throughout the supply chain is increasing, with around 500 best practice examples of innovations now available on the Scheme’s Best Practice Hub. This helps the industry to collaborate and learn from one another by sharing the very best practice from Scheme-registered sites, companies and suppliers across the UK and Ireland. The Scheme looks forward to continuing to help to raise standards and share best practice in this vital area for the industry."

DWDR is the single biggest investment ever undertaken by the Port of Dover and represents the next exciting evolution of the Port, delivering long-term capacity for a key international gateway handling trade to the value of £122bn and representing up to 17% of UK trade in goods.



ENDS

Many thanks as ever to the guys at the Port for the above info and pix.

* *

An excellent collection of pictures below there Patrick. Really good to see those. Christmas is nigh...
You posted at the very same time as ColetteB..what are the odds!?
Vic Brian Colette

Saturday, 23 December 2017 - 07:34

 

Post 5002

  ColetteB, Dover

Nice to see the happy photo of Vic & his lovely wife Lesley, I love those Armed Forces Days in Dover

I try to get out & exercise as much as possible Brian

I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas




Friday, 22 December 2017 - 22:35

 

Post 5001

  Patrick, Marine Parade

DWDR VSB Crane and pipe barges laid up in the Inner Harbour for the Holiday recess.




The tall white object with a red base is the power hammer used to drive down the piles. The size of the lifebuoy on the stern gives an idea of size of this driver.





Friday, 22 December 2017 - 22:35

 

Post 5000

  brian, dover

nice to see you out and about today Colette.

Friday, 22 December 2017 - 19:12

 

Post 4999

  victor matcham, Dover

Thank you for showing that ,

Friday, 22 December 2017 - 08:48

 

Post 4998

  Sea News, Dover

Patrick got a very nice colourful shot on the 19th as the sun went down ( post 4500 ). In fact it was a hugely colourful day all round and here are some pictures from morning 'til night taken that very day. Makes a change from the murky oul gloom at the moment.




Thanks Vic...I am sure all the contributing teamsters will appreciate that..
Merry Christmas to you and wife Lesley. Here are a couple of pix of the two of you in Pencester several years back.


Excellent and interesting pictures below Mike. Great moody atmospherics. Well done with those ..

Friday, 22 December 2017 - 05:51

 

Post 4997

  Mike J., Dover

A slight lift in Thursday morning's fog found the crew transfer vessel SMIT YOUNG in the Tidal Basin, she had arrived from Southampton on Wednesday evening.
She sports BOSKALIS logos.
A brief chat with one of the crew told me that she would be working in Dover, but no idea for how long.


In Weliington Dock a few days ago the rather nice Baltic ketch WILLOW OF HARTY (post 4337) was snuggled-down for the winter.
Anyone know when she was built ?


Thursday, 21 December 2017 - 20:55

 

Post 4996

  victor matcham, Dover

Great photos of the working port of Royal Dover for the whole year, both my wife and myself say thank you and a very happy Christmas and a very happy new year.

Thursday, 21 December 2017 - 16:42

 

Post 4995

  Sea News, Dover

Port of Dover helps to provide food and shelter for those in need at Christmas.
_______________________________________________________________________


As part of the Port's support for local charities and initiatives at Christmas, it has together with its contractor VSBW raised £3,000 for the Dover Outreach Winter Shelter.

The Winter Shelter operates out of premises at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Maison Dieu Road and offers a drop-in centre to cater for people who are homeless, vulnerable, socially isolated and lonely by providing supervised overnight accommodation at town centre churches, including a warm evening meal.

VSBW raised funds by undertaking a number of ‘dress down Fridays’ and requesting their suppliers to donate to the charity fund instead of giving normal Christmas gifts. Whilst the Port held a ‘winter festive competition’ in the DWDR Project Office as part of their efforts to fundraise for the charity.

Tim Waggott, Chief Executive at the Port of Dover, said: "As the Port helps thousands of festive deliveries to homes across the UK in time for Christmas, it is so valuable that we can also help in providing food and shelter to local people in difficult personal situations."

Judith Shilling, Treasurer and Secretary for the Dover Outreach, said: "We want to say a huge thank you to the Port of Dover, VSBW and their sub-contractors for the time and effort they put into raising money for us.

"Homelessness in Dover is an issue nobody can ignore, especially in the cold winter months, and the Port has responded."

The Port of Dover, VSBW and sub-contractors One Way Resourcing Ltd, Sword Contracts Ltd, Coastal Energy Kent Ltd, Chunnel Group and Euroclean Contractors Ltd working at Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) have collectively joined together to fund the evening meals at the Winter Shelter for the next several months.

On handing over the cheque Toni Taylor, Senior Quantity Surveyor for VSBW, said: "Our staff working and living in Dover have allowed us to see the work that Dover Outreach does locally for those who need their help and support.

"I am extremely grateful to have the chance to raise awareness of such an important issue and help make a difference."


ENDS


Great work from the guys at the Port and the DWDR guys above there.

Ah lovely shot below Patrick, terrific colours...yes there was an unbelievable sky the other evening,
You've made the seafront look all romantic there....




Thursday, 21 December 2017 - 05:51

 

Post 4994

  PatrickS, Marine Parade

On the western skyline. Sunset colours over the Western Docks yesterday evening; while DWDR floodlights provide the ground illumination.



Wednesday, 20 December 2017 - 16:16

 

Post 4993

  Sea News, Dover

Another one about to be pounded into position.
You could say....its pending piling awaiting pounding


Taken 2 days ago in the late day sun.

Very nice shots below there Sarah...excellent stuff. Really good to see those from over there in Ramsgate. Always busy over there.

Glad you got Esmeralda Ed..."The Bells The Bells" ( oh noo not that quote again...I said I wouldn't do it...)
She left last night about 8.30PM but it was a black oul night so no pictures alas.

PaulB

Wednesday, 20 December 2017 - 14:45

 

Post 4992

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Ramsgate Lifeboat leaving for Calais on its second sea trial today.



Estuary Escort arriving back at Ramsgate.



SC Falcon entering Ramsgate Royal Harbour.



Tuesday, 19 December 2017 - 17:38

 

Post 4991

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

Esmeralda at the DCT today.


Tuesday, 19 December 2017 - 13:27