Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 4251

  Colette B, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
_____________

Our first visitor this week is on Tuesday May 9th, the AIDAsol shows her striking face again, on her 5 day Hamburg round trip. It is always a pleasure to see her, arrives CT2 09.30, leaving 21.30 hours, PoC.

On Friday May 12th, the Saga Sapphire starts her ‘Springtime in the Fjords’ 8 Day cruise. One of her ports of call is Stavinger on Norway Constitution Day, when the country comes alive with celebrations. She is arriving at CT1 08.00, departing 16.00 hours, T/R.

Then on Saturday May 13th the AIDAsol is here once again on her Hamburg round trip, arriving CT2 09.30, leaving 21.30 hours, PoC.

On Monday May 15th always a very welcome visitor, the Balmoral starts her ‘Scenic Norway & Celebrations’ 9 Night cruise visiting the breathtaking Fjords. She arrives at CT2 06.30 departing 17.30 hours, T/R.

I will be back with more cruise calls real soon folks

Thank you Brian, I’m all well again


Sunday, 7 May 2017 - 19:15

 

Post 4250

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

Lingestroom on the Eastern Arm this morning.


Sunday, 7 May 2017 - 09:22

 

Post 4249

  Sea News, Dover

A couple of pictures above there of the departing Saga Pearl II last evening at 4.30pm or 16.30 if you prefer. She was heading to the Kiel Canal in Germany if I am remembering correctly. It was very murky and misty at departure time...I heard the growl of a Spitfire in the distance but I doubt if it was able to do the usual display, was amazed it was flying at all...yours truly didn't clap eyes on it.

Following along from Ed's theme in the post below, a similar sort of theme anyway...here we have the AIDAsol lifeboats on the water recently, pictures taken in fact in the past two weeks. Not terribly good pictures as yours truly couldn't get a good angle...but they show the situation partially.

And one more...



Enjoyable and fascinating pictures below Ed from Dunkerque. PB.
Update: We have another double header today....both AIDAvita and Balmoral in port.



Sunday, 7 May 2017 - 05:06

 

Post 4248

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

Dover Seaways conducting annual MES (Marine Evacuation System) deployment in Dunkerque West today.




Saturday, 6 May 2017 - 19:34

 

Post 4247

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

Sospan Dau, Morag M, Wadden 1 and Wadden 4 on the Eastern Arm today.






Saturday, 6 May 2017 - 12:47

 

Post 4246

  Sea News, Dover

The latest pictures above of AIDAsol arriving with us early yesterday morning, capturing her as she begins to swing round in the strong wind with the help of both tugs. Conditions have been a wee bit woeful but what can you do. She left last night at 9.30pm bound for Hamburg on a gloomy oul night. It wasn't the sort of night you would associate with fine cruising.

Arriving as I write is the Saga Pearl II again - so these are very busy days for sure.
More in the Cruise Visits post .. 3760.

The latest shot there looking up along the beach, the sun catches the sailboats as they await the moment of launch, while the diggers power on in the sunkissed background. As mentioned previously...the clock is right twice a day!

Good work below from all the team, don't miss those pix from Ed Sarah Mike... and the comments from Vic,
and isnt that a blinder from Ed of the tug spraying at Dunkerque West.
Great stuff!


Saturday, 6 May 2017 - 06:03

 

Post 4245

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

Tug VB Puissant testing water cannon off the entrance to Dunkerque West.


Friday, 5 May 2017 - 18:48

 

Post 4244

  vic matcham , Dovor

Thank you sir for putting them on they are great and to see them painted on ships great must say all the years I done ship repairs over here and over the other side I never seen any like that.

Friday, 5 May 2017 - 14:21

 

Post 4243

  Mike J., Dover

Unusual pix from Sarah of the Ramsgate ILB ‘playing away from home’ - reminded me of post 2068 in a similar location.
Sorry to hear of Vic’s mishap - the seafront train was always preceded by a man, often with a red flag, & at one time he used to flick a rope out the groove between the rails & the tarmac, there to prevent cyclists coming to grief.

Re post 3757 & the AIDA / Mrs.Vic’s lips & hull ‘decorations’ - Stena Line, who used to operate ferries out of Dover, have many other shipping interests - one of them is ‘bulk shipping’ which includes tankers & gas carriers & they have a weakness for spectacular graffiti on the side of many of these ships.

I recently photographed the large British gas carrier STENA CLEAR SKY [registered in Stranraer].





Stena Line ferries have advertising on their hulls, but a little more restrained.

Years ago a chartered Italian freight ferry, can’t remember her name, operated out of Dover with advertising for a mineral water brand painted on her hull, mostly a logo with the words ‘ACQUA MINERALE’ writ large & this was often mistaken for the name of the ship by other ships seeing her & needing to get into contact.

Friday, 5 May 2017 - 14:15

 

Post 4242

  Ed Connell, Dover Strait

LNG tanker Al Khuwair at the Dunkerque West terminal today.


Friday, 5 May 2017 - 13:13

 

Post 4241

  vic matcham , Dovor

Some very good photos of the ferry,s coming out of Dover,when they build the next ones will we see them even bigger then the 30.000ton ones we see today ?.When I was a boy the one crossing to France was just about 4.000tons they have come a long way from then,not for getting the old steam train running from one end of the port to the other with coal,We would follow it on our bikes and true one day I went down in the track off I came over the handel bars big cut on my leg and head .the other lads with me did not stop and help me back up.

Friday, 5 May 2017 - 08:42

 

Post 4240

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Awwwww Paul they are indeed much appreciated, great lifeboat photos, so pleased you dragged yourself away from your comp

Here are a couple of Ramsgate's Inshore Lifeboat on exercise in Sandwich taken yesterday evening.







Friday, 5 May 2017 - 06:34

 

Post 4239

  Sea News, Dover

NATIONAL FERRY FORTNIGHT

Britain’s annual National Ferry Fortnight will this year take place from 6 – 20 May 2017. Now in its ninth year, National Ferry Fortnight is run by Discover Ferries, the industry body for the ferry industry as a two week showcase of Britain’s extensive 75-plus ferry routes and the benefits of travel by sea.

This 2017 Discover Ferries’ National Ferry Fortnight campaign theme is Ferry Together - encouraging family and friends to spend more time together. Research undertaken by Discover Ferries at the beginning of 2017 highlights how little quality time families are spending together due to the hectic nature of modern life.

Results showed that the average family spends just three weeks of real quality time together each year, and just 36 minutes on the average week day. In comparison, adults spend almost four times as long - one hour and 55 minutes per day – watching TV or playing on their gadgets. Children are also staring at a screen of some kind for around two hours and 22 minutes a day.

As a result, two thirds of parents say holidays and trips away from home are the only real time they get together. Going out for meals together was found to be the best way of spending quality time together on holiday, followed by doing activities together, the evening entertainment and the journey there. And almost half of those surveyed said the entire holiday counts as quality time.

Bill Gibbons Discover Ferries Director said: "Our research has shown just how incredibly important every second of holiday time is in our busy lives. Almost half of the people we surveyed said their whole holiday counts as quality time together. Our members do their utmost to make the ferry journey the very start of the family holiday experience. Unlike an airplane where you’re strapped in alongside each other in front of computer screens, a ferry journey gives people time to stretch their legs, eat a meal together or watch wildlife together. National Ferry Fortnight will be a celebration of ways to spend that treasured time together."

The 10 members of Discover Ferries are Brittany Ferries, Caledonian MacBrayne, DFDS Seaways, Irish Ferries, Isle Of Man Steam Packet Company, Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, P&O Ferries, Red Funnel, Stena Line and Wightlink. During National Ferry Fortnight 2017 Discover Ferries’ members will be publishing holiday ideas and added-value offers on ferry routes to France, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Ireland, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and Scottish islands.

Ends

Picture of the ferries above and below from earlier this week.
Mark mentioned that the familiar European Seaways has left these shores to carry out duties on the Larne run...you can see her here in picture two...heading off...the moment was captured by sheer fluke. Yours truly was baffled initially as to her course when taking the pictures...mumbling that Calais was over thataway..


SEE ALSO the DFDS post 3751 relating to their deals for National Ferry Fortnight.

You will have seen Ed's picture of the Atlantic Reefer a few days ago 3748, here she is further along in the departing process being worked by the tugs in the strong winds earlier this week. Both tugs in action, Doughty and Dauntless, one at the bow, one at the stern as you can see.







Friday, 5 May 2017 - 05:57

 

Post 4238

  Sea News, Dover

Lifeboat conflab - some of the guys having a strategic chat on the rear deck last night.
Bit of a forced picture because of the fading light so hopefully it will reproduce well and all can see.
See also the item below...


Thursday, 4 May 2017 - 17:52

 

Post 4237

  Sea News, Dover

As mentioned previously the Lifeboat turned up on Tuesday evening late, right outside yours trulys rear window...it was past 8pm so had given up photographing for the day and had my head stuck in the computer ( like ye do!)...when suddenly...I heard the throb, the hummmm, of an engine right outside. A great sound. Gadzooks its the Lifeboat sez I. Grabbing the camera with much haste I took several pictures as the small RIB left the mothership but it was too dark for most shots, but the one above worked okay...and there we are.

I was hoping to have more pictures. But to supplement the one above here are a couple from last sunday week...haven't used them before..and they show the Lifeboat powering off out of the harbour and into the distance. Not sure if it was on a callout or just conducting a vital training session.




Those ones will be enjoyed hopefully by our legendary roving correspondent
Brian I am sure Colette will appreciate that...I understand she is out working at the Local Elections today.
PaulB.

PS: Don't miss the news in 3759 for the always fascinating DOVER MARINA OPEN DAY.



Thursday, 4 May 2017 - 06:12

 

Post 4236

  brian, dover

hope you are feeling better Colette.

Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - 21:04

 

Post 4235

  Colette B, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
____________

Its been another awesome week on Sea News

Thanks MrB for giving the heads up for the two visits on Bank Holiday Monday.
FYI: Seabourn Quest, last here August 2016 is on her 19 night cruise to European Capitals and the Baltic.

Our next cruise call is this coming Friday May 5th with the colourful AIDAsol back with us and always with a smile. She is on her 5 Day Round Trip to Hamburg again, arriving 09.30 at CT2, departing 21.30 hours, PoC.

Then the following day Saturday May 6th the graceful Saga Pearl II starts her 14 night ‘Springtime in the Baltic’ cruise from CT1, she arrives at 08.00 leaving 16.00 hours, T/R.

Another Double Whammy on Sunday May 7th with the AIDAvita arriving here from Hamburg on her 15 Day ‘Round Britain and Ireland’ cruise taking in the delights of Cork and my hometown, Dublin. Then on to Belfast, Glasgow, Liverpool and Le Harve before she ends her cruise in her home port of Hamburg on 19th May. She arrives at CT2
08.00, departing 20.00 hours PoC.

The other special visitor on the same day is the Balmoral, starting her 8 night cruise to Spain visiting La Coruna, Gijon and Bilbao. She cruises into CT1 at 07.30, leaving 16.30 hours,T/R.

Great to see the Serenade of the Seas made a surprise visit to Dover last Saturday, she looks amazing, great photos of her from all you guys too

That’s it for another week, I’ll be back with more cruise calls soon.

Looking forward to the Dover Marina Open Day mentioned below.


Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - 18:59

 

Post 4234

  Sea News, Dover

Give us a nice bank holiday and what do we get - yes that's it...rough weather. Time of picture around 3pm Monday afternoon and we see the Pride of Canterbury battling homeward through the stiff oul breeze and the rough oul seas.
And now, here we are with one for the diary, coming soon...

Anchors aweigh for Dover Marina Open Day 2017
_____________________________________________


On Sunday 14 May, the Port's award-winning Marina will host another open day offering fun activities for all the family.

The event, held in partnership with the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club (RCPYC) and international yacht brokers Clarke & Carter, will bring the sailing community and industry experts together for a day of water displays, exhibitions and local food stalls. 
Hosted on the Crosswall Quay from 10am until 4pm, the day will include free entry and parking, in Harbour House Car Park, from 7am – 7pm. 

FireFox Fishing Charters will be offering free trips around the harbour, there will be an opportunity to paddle a Bronze Age Boat replica around the Wellington Dock and Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club (RCPYC) and Cinque Ports Sailing will be providing yacht sailing tasters for those interested in taking sailing courses.  

The event will run in tandem with the RNLI Lifeboat "Station Open Day" with its shop and rescue vessel open to visitors. The RNLI will also be offering free lifejacket safety checks. 

Barbara Buczek, Port of Dover Director of Corporate Development said; "This year’s Marina Open Day really does have something for everyone. Dover has a wide range of nautical training and activities on offer such as courses for professional mariners at the Viking Maritime Skills Academy, and maritime skills and sailing courses for all levels at the Dover Sea Sports Centre. This event is a great opportunity to experience this showcase of outstanding maritime heritage and opportunities in Dover’s prestigious Marina."

Ends


It should be a good event and very enjoyable...and speaking of all things Lifeboat, said Lifeboat arrived outside yours trulys observation tower rear window around 8PM last night...will have a pic or two tomorrow, it was quite dark but watch for those...
Glad you enjoyed all that Vic.




Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - 17:08

 

Post 4233

  vic matcham , Dovor

Thank you sir,that has made my day, it is the red of them

Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - 07:12

 

Post 4232

  Sea News, Dover

Some extra shots above there of the Seabourn Quest prior to departure a couple of days ago. The top pic shows her at rest amongst the working cranes and a couple of hours later away she goes to Antwerp. She went across the harbour and left through the eastern exit presumably because of the strong winds. See also Mike's picture further below page 3749 see also 3747.

Just adding this one of the Saga Pearl II as promised, we show her here as she sets out bound for Rouen...



Ah sure I couldn't resist sticking up an extra picture so that Vic can enjoy seeing those delicious lips once more..see Vic's post further below page 3752. Yes its the super colourful AIDAsol once more as she enters port, picture from the very fresh Bank Holiday Monday.

Ah...an extra extra one as have just spotted the guy standing to the right of those lips, look at that. Never noticed that before until I did the enlargements...that's a thrilling ride out there. Hold on to yer hat!


Wowser! that's a cracking night picture directly below there Ed...brilliant.

Well done Ray - good to see those pictures below.
As ever love them tales from Mark up there in Northants. Great stuff!
PB.

Wednesday, 3 May 2017 - 05:06