Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 3904

  brian, dover

nice to hear you are getting better vic...

Saturday, 28 January 2017 - 15:01

 

Post 3903

  vic matcham , dovor

nice to see the great shots of our port, when I am better and weather is better I am looking forward to sitting down there with my wife who like myself is not well thank you.

Saturday, 28 January 2017 - 14:15

 

Post 3902

  Sea News, Dover

  
The Duzgit Harmony moves across the harbour yesterday morning Friday, on its way to service one of the P&O Spirits languishing at Dover 9. To the right the sun tries hard to break through the eternal gloom...and just about makes it below. Today it appears to be a bit less sharp re the chill factor...but the wind is whipping up a tad.

 

Thanks as ever for that info below Mike
Must watch out for the Afon Lligwy...try pronouncing that one.

Saturday, 28 January 2017 - 08:33

 

Post 3901

  Mike J., Dover

The WILLCHALLENGE dropped off a 'flat top' barge from Southampton & has returned there.

Presumably the barge is for use on the DWDR works, there will be a lot of activity in the Western Docks when the job gets going, maybe the recently-arrived workboat AFON LLIGWY is here for the same reason.

Friday, 27 January 2017 - 08:11

 

Post 3900

  Sea News, Dover

This picture above was taken on wednesday after the fog dispersed...it represents a joyous celebration of a return to visibilty . These jolly sailors braved the icy chilly conditions...yes indeed there was a chill factor that would whip the skin off that proverbial rice pudding again..ermmm .. bracing would be an understatement..
 


And now as we have been speaking about all the seafront changes recently...here is some information from DDC ( Dover District Council )

Waterloo Crescent Conservation Area Character Appraisal
______________________________________________
 
A review of the historical character of the Waterloo Crescent Conservation Area near Dover Seafront has been carried out by Dover District Council, as we continue to plan for the future of the district – and your views are sought. 

A draft Conservation Area Character Appraisal has been drawn up by the Council Heritage team. The review considers the history of the area, and is intended to identify opportunities for improvements, inform new development and help evaluate new proposals for the area. 

The Waterloo Crescent Conservation Area lies between the A20 and the outer harbour of Dover Western Docks. It includes five terraces of mid to late Nineteenth Century buildings, all of which are grade II listed, and a grade ll listed war memorial. The appraisal follows a recommendation in the Dover District Heritage Strategy to review the district’s conservation areas, in keeping with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act. 

DDC is also making arrangements to prepare a masterplan for the Dover Waterfront area.  An understanding of the historic features of the conservation area is needed as part of the evidence base for this masterplan. 

The consultation commences on 26 January and the deadline for comments is 9 March 2017. For more information, please see the DDC planning web pages...
www.dover.gov.uk/Planning/Planning-Policy/Consultations-News.aspx

ENDS

Many thanks to the guys at DDC for sending the info through as ever.

Back to poor visibility again yesterday morning as Willchallenge made its way out of the harbour in the choppy conditions. The quality of the picture below is fairly poor so have added a shot of Willendeavour further below taken at a previous time, just to give a better idea of the type of vessel. I undestand they are listed on the system as tugs but they appear to be more of a lifting vessel/platform..
   


Friday, 27 January 2017 - 07:43

 

Post 3899

  Sea News, Dover

The reefer Elvira was in with us over the past couple of days, taking up the slot vacated by the Lombok Strait. Recent pictures are nigh on impossible to get at the current time, with fog playing merry havoc with our camera...so the picture of Elvira above is one we did at an earlier time...shows Elvira in some rough oul weather attempting to enter the port ...

Following along from Mike's interesting traffic post no 3430 below...here we have more local traffic flow info .. this time directly from DDC

Green Light Confirmed For Variable Dover TAP - National Speed Limit To Return
__________________________________________________________________
 
Dover District Council is welcoming news from Highways England that plans for a permanent arrangement for Dover TAP (Traffic Access Protocol), introducing a variable speed limit on the A20, are anticipated to be in place for the busy summer holiday period. 

The variable limit will mean that the national speed limit will apply for the A20 through the ‘TAP’ area when the protocol is not active.  When TAP is in place, the road through this area will be restricted to 40mph. A series of electronic variable signs will be placed along the A20 from the Roundhill Tunnels to Aycliffe, which will be controlled by Highways England. 
Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Access said: "We are delighted at this news and are very pleased to see this solution on the way to address the issue of lorries queuing through central Dover. The situation has improved since the Port of Dover opened their Buffer Zone in the Eastern Docks, but we still need to have Dover TAP for when there are problems, especially with the volume of traffic using the Port of Dover increasing.  The variable speed limit is a key milestone to provide a more resilient road network to support the town and the port."
 

See also the post below...

Thursday, 26 January 2017 - 07:58

 

Post 3898

  Mike J., Dover

An interesting press release has been recently issued by DHB, regarding the western end of the seafront that will be of interest to local 'Sea News' readers.

Although the release is mostly intended for marina users this extract will affect the general public, particularly car drivers -


. . . . . . Following key enabling works, the next major phase of the construction programme is set to begin within the next few weeks.

As a result of these works there will be some changes to the seafront area.
This will affect the Esplanade, Union Street, the harbour leisure zone and require the closure of the Esplanade at Cambridge Road in order to facilitate the commencement of work on the navigation channel required to connect the Wellington Dock to the new marina.

Vehicle access to the Marina Office including Granville Dock and the Tidal Basin will only be available from the A20. Vehicle access from Union Street to Marine Parade will not be available in either direction throughout the duration of construction.

Union Street car park will remain open and available to berth holders, marina users and car park permit holders. Public parking at Union Street car park will be suspended during this period to ensure marina user car parking is optimised . . . .


The full text can be read on DHB’s Facebook pages ‘Dover Western Docks Revival’

It looks as though pedestrians & cyclists may still be able to pass thru the areas closed to motorists.

There are hints that dredging & land reclamation works for the cargo berths will start in the Spring & that the whole DWDR project will continue until the end of 2018.


Still on the subject of road closures the A20 in the Dover area will be closed during the night of 3rd/4th.February for another large transformer coming down from Sellindge sub-sation for shipment by heavy-lift ship to Germany for repairs.
Local residents have been leafletted with timings & further details..


Thursday, 26 January 2017 - 00:12

 

Post 3897

  Sea News, Dover

A suspension of the foggy conditions yesterday saw the David Church and the Harbour Patrol Boat out and about in working harmony and relatively close to shore. They were in the process of lifting a buoy from the water at one point...and there they are in action above as the weak sun sprinkles some gold dust on the water. In the background you can see some of the local guys setting out for some chilly fishing...


And now the latest item from the Port.....
   
NEW BOARD MEMBER APPOINTED
___________________________

Mr. Alisdair Cameron appointed to Dover Harbour Board as Non-Executive Director

Dover Harbour Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Alisdair Cameron as a Non-Executive Director.

Alisdair is currently Chief Financial & Operations Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Post Office Limited. He is also about to complete his term as a Non-Executive Director of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

Previously, from 2002 to 2014, Alisdair worked in a variety of roles for Centrica plc, a FTSE 100 company, including Director of Audit and Risk, Group Financial Controller, Finance Director of British Gas and Managing Director of British Gas Enterprise.  Prior to this he was a partner with Arthur Anderson and Deloitte & Touche. Former non-executive appointments include as a trustee of the e-Learning Foundation. 

Richard Everitt CBE, Chairman, Dover Harbour Board, said: "Alisdair joins the Board at a key time when we are delivering our single biggest ever investment to develop the Port for the future. Being part of a board overseeing a port business that is vital to the economic prosperity of the nation whilst also the catalyst for local regeneration, Alisdair’s experience from a range of other organisations that are a fundamental part of both community and national infrastructure will be extremely valuable in supporting the Board’s journey through this important period. 

Alisdair Cameron said: "I am delighted to be joining Dover Harbour Board at what is such an exciting time of transformation at the Port. The major investment being undertaken will bring lasting benefits to Dover and the nation and I look forward to making a meaningful contribution to the Port’s future success." 

Mr Cameron’s term of office commences on 1st February 2017. 

ENDS

A picture below from the inner harbour a few days back..
 

Well done with that post below Mike. Nice pix for sure of the visiting Lifeboat. Great stuff!

Thanks once again to
Sarah
Del
Andy
for the comments.




Wednesday, 25 January 2017 - 07:06

 

Post 3896

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Superb photos of the Tamar Mike, you are a star. Enjoyed the photo of Dover Lifeboat too Paul.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017 - 05:03

 

Post 3895

  Mike J., Dover

Trent class lifeboat 16-01 PETER & LESLEY-JANE NICHOLSON came into Dover early afternoon Tuesday from Harwich & look to be overnighting en route RNLI Headquarters at Poole.

Vic - get well soon !






Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 23:46

 

Post 3894

  Del Styan, Norwich

Good to see the shelter re- roofed,and ready for .....sitting in?

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 23:26

 

Post 3893

  Andy B, dover

Saw the contractors fitting the new roof and cutting sheets to size,looked like Asbestos sheets being used,is that still allowed?

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 18:12

 

Post 3892

  Sea News, Dover

 
You will be delighted to hear I am sure that the previously mentioned seafront shelter...of the 'man on a hot tin roof' fame, has had its roof put back on and is now open for business once again. The populace at large are delighted. The roof looks the same as was...so I guess it must have been the joists underneath that required replenishment. Its looking good....

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 14:58

 

Post 3891

  Sea News, Dover

Sorry to hear you have not been well Vic. Hope you get better soon..we missed you. Paul.

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 12:07

 

Post 3890

  vic matcham , dovor

not well at this time but thank you all again for the great photos

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 11:52

 

Post 3889

  Sea News, Dover

Of course Mark you are dead right. That was todays deliberate mistake !!
I have the records here .. I should know... Paul.

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 11:37

 

Post 3888

  Mark Rushton, Northants

Morning all. Hate to be a know-it-all, but I should point out as an old rocker that Smoke on the Water was by Deep Purple. If you want a Led Zeppelin song appropriate for Dover Harbour may I suggest "The Immigrant Song" ? I'll get my coat

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 11:26

 

Post 3887

  Sea News, Dover

The main feature of nautical life in and around the harbour at the moment is...fog. The picture above, taken yesterday morning, shows the sun manfully trying to burst through the thick layer of fog at lower level. It made some gain but it was a short lived phenomenon...the thick-souper prevailed. There was a slight thinning out of conditions last night as you can see below.
   

Yours truly came across this shot below in the files...its from several years back and always reminds yours truly's highly susceptible imagination of Led Zeppelins 'smoke of the water'. There you are. That's the dredger David Church creeping into picture top right.
  
The reefer Lombok Strait was here with us for the past couple of days, quite a new visitor that one, but no picture alas. A mixture of thick fog and short days scuppered our chances...she is now back in Vlissingen. There is a previous picture but its not great, you can find it via the Search Engine above.
PB.

Tuesday, 24 January 2017 - 07:44

 

Post 3884

  Sea News, Dover

As I write we are in the grip of thick fog. The lonely wailing pulse shudders out across the harbour in the freezing conditions and the occasional foghorn sounds in the far distance. Visibilty zilch at the time of writing...

The picture above was taken yesterday sunday morning and shows the Dover Marina. It was a tad foggy/misty yesterday but not quite like today, and the picture shows the scene just as the mist was pulling away. In the distance you can see the Castle breaking into view.


Some interesting news now from our colleagues at the Port...


Record freight shows continuing importance of efficient UK-European trade flows
_________________________________________________________________

The Port of Dover has announced another record year of freight traffic as Rt Hon Theresa May MP took the first step to establishing the UK's future economic relationship with our biggest trading partner last week.

The Port handled 2.6 million freight vehicles in 2016 with freight volumes increasing by 32% in just the last four years.

"As we continue to handle more UK trade, the Port welcomes the prime minister's statement on the Government’s headline negotiating position for Brexit. Greater certainty of the broad parameters is a positive step forward," commented Tim Waggott, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover.

He added: "Any changes brought forward to the country's trading relationship need to be mindful of the UK's absolute need to maintain the rapid transit of goods and passengers through Dover and our sister ports on the European mainland.

"The Port and the CBI remain clear that a barrier-free relationship with the EU - our largest, closest and most important trading partner - must be a critical outcome of the negotiations to ensure we make a success of Brexit."

ENDS


It is vital that we keep those ferries packed with freight going to the European Union.
The Port handles up to £119bn of trade or 17% of the UK’s trade in goods ( see also 3412 )


The arrival of the foggy weather below....



Many thanks Brendan for the post below. Glad you are liking what we do, we have lots more to come too. 55 cycle tours...wow that's quite impressive.
PaulB.




Monday, 23 January 2017 - 06:25

 

Post 3882

  brendan charles mcdermott, 49 Cambridge Grove Road Kingston-upon-Thames (brendan66@yahoo.co.uk)

i am a regular reader of your blog i love dover and spent many happy times there as a
lorry driver a holiday maker and about 55 cycle trips which i've made to europe in the last 10 years. best wishes to everyone regards brendan

Sunday, 22 January 2017 - 18:08