Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 4686

  brian, dover

looking for kracken eggs.

Tuesday, 5 September 2017 - 20:07

 

Post 4685

  Sea News, Dover

Never a dull moment around here .. the variety is immense...




A few days ago these sturdy stalwart divers above went down fully equipped into the fathomless depths ...or well at least down into the depths of the immediate harbour. I've been down there myself but in my case I carefully waited til the tide went out! .. but these guys braved all in search of...
could have been buried treasure. There have been enough rainbows around here lately to stir up interest.



Great posts from Ed and Andrew below there on HMS Severn
Great info all round and an excellent picture from Ed.
Well done lads


Good to hear from you too Nigel up there in Ely.
Good to hear from you Del as ever...yes I manage to get the odd kip in between sunrises sunsets and moonscapes...


PaulB

Tuesday, 5 September 2017 - 15:43

 

Post 4684

  Ed Connell, Thornton-Cleveleys, Blackpool

HMS Severn and her sister ships have cropped up countless times on the forum over the years. Here she is on the Eastern Arm way back in 2007 with a French trawler under arrest, quote: "In a separate case, the French stern trawler Saint Jacques II (BL914059) was boarded in the North Sea eight miles east south east of Dover by British and French Sea Fishery Officers working from HMS Severn. They found cod mis-recorded as black sea bream in the log book. And that the vessel had retained 25 per cent cod, when under cod recovery rules it is only allowed 20 per cent when using nets of 80-90 mm. In a prosecution brought by the Marine and Fisheries Agency, owners Luc Margolle, and Ludwig Margolle and master Gerard Battez later pleaded guilty at Folkestone Magistrates on October 26 to offences of failing to record cod in the ship’s fishing log and breaking cod recovery regulations. They were ordered to pay a total of £36,750 in fines and costs."



Tuesday, 5 September 2017 - 02:53

 

Post 4683

  Andrew, Broadstairs

As a footnote to the various posts following Paul’s post 4186 with fine pictures of HMS SEVERN, she is the first of the current River Class patrol vessels that is due to be decommissioned at the end of this year, so it was good to see the photographs of her as she will not be around for much longer. The replacement, Batch 2 class vessels, of which HMS FORTH has been completed and will shortly be followed by HMS MEDWAY, have improved armament with a 30mm cannon, 2 Miniguns and 2 general purpose machine guns, they have a flight deck, but no hangar, suitable for a merlin helicopter and are fitted with a 16 tonne crane, so like their predecessors they are lightly armed but are considered sufficient for the jobs they are currently required to do. The other names in the class will be TAMAR, TRENT and SPEY. HMS SEVERN has taken part in at least two noteable incidents in our area, in 2015 the interception of a drug carrying vessel escorted to Boulogne where French Officials found 2.4 tonnes of cocaine with a street value in excess of £350m and in April this year escorted the Russian Landing Craft KOROLEV through the Dover Straits.

Tuesday, 5 September 2017 - 01:43

 

Post 4682

  Del Styan, Norwich

Photos from sunset to sunrise - lovely pics - thanks - hope you got some kip between them!

Monday, 4 September 2017 - 23:01

 

Post 4681

  Nigel , Ely

HMS SEVERN Fishery protection vessel.

Monday, 4 September 2017 - 16:11

 

Post 4680

  Sea News, Dover

Atlantic Reefer ( as opposed to the recent Atlantic Klipper ) was in with us at the weekend. She is now enroute to Hamburg... although she has probably arrived there by now. She left in the dead of night so this is a picture from an earlier visit that we haven't used before...


Monday, 4 September 2017 - 15:46

 

Post 4679

  Sea News, Dover

That's a blistering sunset above there from a few evenings ago. It shows the sun sinking behind the hills that surround Dover. It looks very dramatic...as we view across the rooftops and into the distance. The building below the sun to the left is the Dover Grammar School for Boys...while the houses to the right are either in Buckland or Tower Hamlets, not quite sure which... a bog standard photograph but with gorgeous nature doing all the work.


The following morning above there and its all a wee bit less dramatic but still good to see as we watch the orange globe rise to the east across the Port .. and the ship sails on...


Charlie Elphicke : Fighting for more jobs in Dover & Deal


Dear Mr Boland,

More jobs and money for our area has long been a key priority. We’ve made real progress – unemployment has halved since 2010, with apprenticeships and young people being particularly successful. The latest official figures say average earnings in Dover and Deal rose 10% in a year. It’s been great to see so many new businesses starting up or expanding.

In the heart of Dover steel frames are giving shape to the new cinema, shops and hotel that are being built. The £50 million St James development gets closer to completion every day. It will give such a boost to Dover and provide real momentum to the renewal of the town. Not long ago this site was home to the hated Burlington House. So much has changed.

In Deal, we fought hard to get the fast train. We succeeded and it’s been a success. The prosperity it has brought the town has made a real difference – and Deal was recently voted one of the best coastal towns in Britain. I want to bring more jobs and money to the area. Like the fast train – a new, better road connecting Dover and Deal has the potential to do just that.

At the Port of Dover, they’re handling record levels of traffic. This underlines the importance of our campaign to get the A2 dualled and the M20 lorry park built. The Western Docks revival, set to deliver a new marina and new jobs on the seafront, should make a real difference.

We need to make sure that we keep bringing in more jobs and money after we leave the European Union. Recently I took a group of MPs who represent port constituencies to meet the Brexit Minister. We stressed the importance of the port-related jobs in our areas. And we all agreed it is vital that Brexit is a success at our ports up and down the land. I will work tirelessly to ensure we are ready on day one for Brexit at the Dover frontline.

I’m passionate about helping people get into work. At my Jobs Fair earlier this year it was clear lots of businesses are recruiting locally. This is good news. Unemployment has plummeted since 2010, yet I want to see it fall even further – full employment is my aim so that everyone can get the best crack at life.

We have some incredibly hardworking people here in Dover and Deal and the hard work is paying off. There has been more than £500 million of investment secured for the area since 2010. We can deliver even more – and boost business and jobs.

This all shows that our plan to bring more jobs and money to our corner of Kent is working. Now we must keep pressing ahead – and build a brighter future for Dover and Deal.

Charlie Elphicke
MP for Dover and Deal

ENDS

* *


Vic there is an extra pic of HMS Severn, a close up shot which shows more clearly the spartan deck area...no large guns like the old days but much weaponry hidden away I guess.

PB



Monday, 4 September 2017 - 07:29

 

Post 4678

  vic matcham , Dover

well there is a pea shotter on deck but that is all

Sunday, 3 September 2017 - 08:47

 

Post 4677

  vic matcham , Dovor

Thank you ,great photos of a UK war ship nothing on the deck but there is alot below it.

Sunday, 3 September 2017 - 07:58

 

Post 4676

  Sea News, Dover

HMS Severn came powering through last evening at 6pm or 1800 hours and there she is above. Nothing showed on the AIS thingy which is the norm but yours truly was able to just make out the number ... P282 .....type it in on Google or Bing and there you have it...

She cut quite a dashing sleek sight as she went through on a gorgeous evening on the channel...look at those rolling hills of France in the background, why am I not picnicking there right now...sigh

A couple of extra images below of the Merchant Navy memorial... see also 4183.



Vic as I understand it most or all of the port jobs of Hammond have been absorbed or incorporated into the new business...Port of Dover Cargo Ltd. I haven't had anything official re the job situation but that's as I understand it.

Some crackers there again below Sarah...nice work for sure.

PaulB.

Sunday, 3 September 2017 - 06:41

 

Post 4675

  vic matcham , Dovor

Thank you but please tell me what happens now to Hammond and its workers now? do they lose their jobs?

Saturday, 2 September 2017 - 08:42

 

Post 4674

  Sarah, Ramsgate

A few photos from Ramsgate taken yesterday.

Estuary Elan



Ramsgate Relief Lifeboat returning from Service Call 53.



EMS Viking



Forth Jouster



Forth Jouster & Forth Warrior




Saturday, 2 September 2017 - 07:57

 

Post 4673

  Sea News, Dover

Merchant Navy Day Sept One 2017
Some pictures now from the wreath laying ceremony on Dover Seafront yesterday at midday. The event takes place at the commemorative statue and is attended by dignitaries from the immediate region...




A very nice and dignified event indeed...as always.

Yesterday evening yours truly nipped along the seafront in the slanting sun to get some pictures of the wreaths beneath the statue .. and here we are below...
quite a number as you can see


While there...
a young boy aged about 6 or 7 came up to me and asked if he could take some pictures of the statue with my camera. That was a first! Now the camera is a bulky old Olympus and probably bigger than he is ...at the same time his dad called from the wings, they were visitors in the camper vans, and asked him to 'leave the gentleman alone!' Well he was a nice little fella so I let him have a go and here we are below.
Not quite sharp but with potential
The picture also acts as a double portrait as you can see our two long shadows showing on the right...

I didn't get the little chaps name otherwise I would have credited the picture... nice moment.


Good capture below there Patrick - she was a long way out.

PaulB



Saturday, 2 September 2017 - 07:08

 

Post 4672

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Just spotted the cruise liner 'Mein Schiff' passing Dover in the late afternoon haze en route to Southampton from Bremerhaven. Bit of a long shot.



Friday, 1 September 2017 - 18:04

 

Post 4671

  Sea News, Dover

Vic you are correct...the Port has indeed changed how it operates the cargo business. Here is a section below from an earlier statement from the Port that we carried at the beginning of this year... it speaks of the new agreement moving forward.

"
Dover Harbour Board has secured the long term success of cargo operations within the Port of Dover as work forges ahead to create new facilities in Dover’s Western Docks.

The Board has reached an agreement to incorporate the Port Services Division of George Hammond PLC into its wider Port business, ensuring growth and long term loyal customer continuity into the new Dover Western Docks Revival era.

Established in 1767, Kent-based George Hammond PLC developed the general cargo business in Dover more than 60 years ago and, with the support of the Port of Dover, has operated the Dover Cargo Terminal successfully since its inception in 1990.

From 31 December 2016, however, the cargo stevedoring operation will transfer to Port of Dover Cargo Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover Harbour Board.

"

Friday, 1 September 2017 - 11:07

 

Post 4670

  vic matcham , Dover

I do not know if this is true but I have been told that the D.H.B. is to take over the cargo company and run it themselfs,as I said That is what I was told just maybe some looking in on this page knows more about it then myself, Again thank you for the very good photos of both Dover and Ramsgate ports, I have always said after working alot in both ports they could and should work with each other both ports have a lot to offer,

Friday, 1 September 2017 - 07:22

 

Post 4669

  Sea News, Dover

Some night time pictures above there taken this week of the dredging platform Manu Pekka. These guys don't take many breaks but it looked from here like they may have had a break over the long bank holiday...but there we are above, they kicked right back into action this week working night and day..

You will have seen Ed's picture of the Elsebeth reefer at the cargo terminal earlier in the week..here she is again, now fully loaded and heading for Vlissingen in Holland. The evenings are drawing in rapidly. Time of departure here 7.45pm and already quite dark...





Nice up-close shots of Alert below there Sarah. I know she is one of your favourites so it was good to get those pictures. You were right on the spot.

PaulB

Friday, 1 September 2017 - 05:53

 

Post 4668

  Sarah, Ramsgate

THV Alert left Dover this morning & arrived later this morning at Ramsgate
Great to see it arrive in the sunshine











Thursday, 31 August 2017 - 12:30

 

Post 4667

  Phil Chisholm, Dover

Wings were clipped (more correct description than chopped) to improve roll rate to counter the newly introduced Focke Wulf 190.

Anyway, back to ships...


Thursday, 31 August 2017 - 11:13