Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 3675

  Sea News, Dover

   
At eleven o clock today to mark Armistice Day...it was something of a stunning surprise to see two buglers on a motor launch just 30 metres off shore here in Dover Harbour, play a gentle reverie for the fallen. On a very quiet seafront it most definitely caught the attention. Armistice Day is marked of course at 11am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month...hence today.

It was a beautiful moment and totally surprising as we haven't seen this done before in this way. They played to a totally empty seafront though, apart from I think one chap, so it was a wee bit sad that more people couldn't have seen them do it. But...Well done those guys. I don't have any official information but it looks like it was the RNLI.

"Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11 to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918."

PaulB.
 
See also the news on the P&O Apprentices earlier today 3214.
Thanks Barry...good to be back.




Friday, 11 November 2016 - 15:43

 

Post 3674

  Barry W-S, Dover

Wahey!!! Welcome back, 'Gremlins in the Gubbins' some say a nasty complaint, I believe you can get some cream for that, as the Big Yin always said 'Rub in some Dunfermline' lol!

Friday, 11 November 2016 - 12:08

 

Post 3673

  Sea News, Dover

  

NINE APPRENTICES WIN PLACES ON P&O FERRIES' SCHEME AFTER IT RECEIVES MORE THAN 50 APPLICATIONS FROM ASPIRING SEAFARERS
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NINE local apprentices started work at P&O Ferries last month as they began a two-year course which will lead to them becoming fully qualified seamen aboard 47,000 ton ships on the English Channel.

The nine - who are aged between 18 and 26 - hail from a variety of backgrounds in the Kent area including landscape gardening, working on the railways and studying at Canterbury College. Four are studying to become what is known in seafaring as deck ratings, with responsibility for steering the ships, loading cars and look-out duties; the other five are studying to become engine ratings, a job which entails working in the engine room and maintaining machinery.

In addition to acquiring up to 12 months of sea time, all of the apprentices will study for a Maritime Studies Qualification (MSQ) at North Kent College in Gravesend. A number of P&O Ferries' apprentices from previous years have now qualified as Able Seafarers.

Mike Willis, Learning and Development Adviser at P&O Ferries, said: "This is the third consecutive year that we have run the apprenticeships course and we had more than 50 applicants apply for the positions."

"The course represents an outstanding opportunity for local people to build a career in a fascinating sector where they will help to sail enormous 47,000 ton ships across the busiest shipping lane in the world. As a local employer, we are investing in the future and laying the foundations for the next generation of our workforce."

One of the apprentices, Deal-based Tom Mitchell, 18 (pictured back row, second left), said: "I was a landscape gardener but wanted to become an apprentice at P&O Ferries because it is a great opportunity and I wanted to build a career for myself. I think the scheme is brilliant and feel like I've learned a lot in the first few weeks including lifeboat and fire drills."

P&O Ferries is a leading pan-European ferry and logistics company, sailing on eight major routes between Britain, France, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Belgium. It operates 20 vessels which carry more than 10 million passengers, 1.6 million cars and 2.2 million freight units every year.

Together with its logistics division, P&O Ferrymasters, the company also operates integrated road and rail links to countries across the continent including Italy, Poland and Romania. A P&O Ferrymasters-owned rail terminal in the northern Romanian city of Oradea, which will facilitate the onward movement of goods to Britain from the Silk Road, became operational earlier this year.

ENDS

P&O Ferry The Pride of Canterbury


Many thanks to P&O for the above info. Good luck to those apprentices...ahhh a life on the ocean waves

Exceptionally good today to see those posts below from ...
Ed
Mike
Vic
Very interesting pictures as ever.
Its good to be back with the website firing on all cylinders. I got a bit worried there for a while I don't mind telling you. But all good again thanks to Chris T
( see also my earlier message in 3209 ). PB.





Friday, 11 November 2016 - 06:43

 

Post 3672

  vic matcham , Dovor

All my kind of work going on at the western end of the port if I was fit and young again I would be down there.but if they need someone to over see the work being done and they have a chair call me.

Friday, 11 November 2016 - 03:06

 

Post 3671

  vic matcham , DOVOR

Great to have you back this page has been missed.

Friday, 11 November 2016 - 03:00

 

Post 3670

  Ed Connell, Dover

Elsebeth at the DCT around Wednesday lunchtime. Lashing down with rain so one photo is from my cabin and one from the Bridge.



Friday, 11 November 2016 - 02:03

 

Post 3669

  Mike J., Dover

Thursday departures - in the morning the PRIDE OF KENT & COTE DES DUNES departed Western in rapid succession as DFDS headed for the Eastern Entrance.



In the old jetfoil terminal the jackup barge barge TOPJACK [post 3187] prepared for departure on the back of a lorry, [many lorries actually].

Already the legs have been lifted off & soon the hull will be dismantled into individual ‘pontoons’ & lifted ashore.
Riley Marine's workboat DOVER WORKER was in attendance.







Friday, 11 November 2016 - 00:19

 

Post 3668

  Sea News, Dover

 
Torch of Remembrance begins its 52nd Annual Pilgrimage to Belgium
_________________________________________________________

The British Torch of Remembrance commenced its 52nd Annual Pilgrimage to Belgium earl;ier this week with a Service of Remembrance to honour our First World War allied forces heroes at the famous War Memorial in the Old Dover Marine Station at the Port of Dover’s Western Docks.

The British Torch of Remembrance is lit annually at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey and carried by students from the Duke of York’s Royal Military School on its pilgrimage to Brussels to rekindle the permanent flame at the memorial to the Unknown Warrior in Colonne du Congres.

The service was attended by Port of Dover Chairman, Richard Everitt and Chief Executive Tim Waggott who said: "The Port of Dover has played a major role in both World Wars and so honouring our fallen heroes is hugely important to us. It is a great privilege to host and attend this prestigious, solemn and moving commemoration event this and every year."

Following the Service, the Torch of Remembrance departed the Old Marine Station and travelled to the Port’s Eastern Docks for its onward pilgrimage to Belgium. It was met by P&O Ferries Captain Steve Johnson who welcomed the British Torch of Remembrance President, Mr Chris Russell and the Honorary Secretary of the British Torch of Remembrance, Major Andrew Nunn CCF. The Torch was then ceremonially marched on board the P&O ferry to Calais, flanked by its Standards.

The Torch of Remembrance 52nd Annual Pilgrimage takes place from 7 – 12 November 2016 with key events and ceremonies taking place in Dover, Oostende, Brussels and the Menin Gate in Leper. Other historic locations include Bredene and Roeselare. Pilgrims come from all over Britain, from all three Services and none.


Ends


Re the previous post:
It looks like we are back in business. We had a nasty problem that took a few days to identify, but ace man Chris Tutthill ( of WHYTE STUDIO ) my old friend, or more accurately my young friend, found the problem and fixed it. Well done Chris and huge thanks.
Phew !
To be technical about it...We had gremlins in the gubbins yikes!
PaulB.

Thursday, 10 November 2016 - 17:18

 

Post 3667

  Sea News, Dover

Apologies - I'm afraid we are having some technical issues at the moment. Bear with us. PaulB.


Wednesday, 9 November 2016 - 08:10

 

Post 3666

  Sea News, Dover

 

Tobacco selfie smuggler jailed
__________________________

A lorry driver who filmed himself smuggling tobacco into the UK has been jailed for a year, after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Ionut-Bogdan Milea, 30, was stopped by Border Force officers at the UK’s Channel Tunnel controls in Coquelles, France, in September 2016. Officers discovered 300 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco in the lorry’s trailer unit, plus €1,950 and £300 cash in a wallet hidden in a fuse box under the dashboard. The matter was referred to HMRC for investigation and analysis of Milea’s mobile phone showed he had recorded a previous importation after passing through UK controls in Coquelles in August 2016.

Milea, a Romanian national, filmed himself in the lorry’s cab boasting that he was smuggling 200 kilos of tobacco into the UK. He explained it was hidden in a fridge, then filmed tobacco inside a box, a suitcase and a carrier bag.
 
£99,000 in duty was evaded on the tobacco smuggled on 31 August and 28 September 2016.

Alan Tully, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:

"Milea thought his crimes wouldn’t be discovered, but he was found out by officers at UK controls and further incriminated by his own mobile phone footage. We continue to work with other enforcement agencies to reduce the availability of illicit tobacco, which costs the UK around £2.4 billion a year in stolen revenue. Don’t let criminals profit by undermining legitimate retailers. Anyone with information about the smuggling or illegal sale of tobacco can report it by calling our 24-hour Hotline on 0800 59 5000."

Milea pleaded guilty to evading excise duty on Thursday 3 November and was jailed for 12 months at Maidstone Crown Court.


Ends


Thanks for that info below on Sandwich Mike....fascinating stuff for sure!



Tuesday, 8 November 2016 - 18:06

 

Post 3665

  vic matham, Dovor

Thank you for telling me the cost having done the trip some years ago we look forward to doing it again.

Monday, 7 November 2016 - 20:25

 

Post 3664

  vic matcham , Dover

Yes I done the same I was in the Army then and went back to camp that way just had anything in my hand held it up and did not stop

Monday, 7 November 2016 - 20:22

 

Post 3663

  Mike J., Dover

As to dodging the toll [1/- if I remember rightly] you could also avoid it by giving the tollkeeper a confident wave & remember my Dad doing if frequently.
I expect that many other 'locals' did the same or did Mark’s Mum’s ticket trick.

There used to be an interesting board up on the tollhouse giving all sorts of charges for all sorts of bridge 'customers' from cattle to vehicles - I wonder if it's still there ?

Vic - there is a timetable at the website given on the sIgn on the back of SOUTHERN QUEEN - she is hoped to come into service in December.

The blue vessel in post 3199, is the former ship's lifeboat mentioned in post 3187.

In ‘commercial days’ coasters used to unload timber onto the quay which was taken over the tollbridge to Felton’s sawmill just opposite the quay.

Other coasters would dock above the tollbridge, with tankers & grain ships going to berths up near Gazen Flats, where the river turns north after passing thru the town.

I also remember Sandwich gasworks still in operation in the 50s, down where that new building is being erected
In much earlier days Feltons used to have a barge-building yard just downstream of the gasworks.

Plenty of more information on Sandwich as a port on the internet.


Monday, 7 November 2016 - 17:41

 

Post 3662

  Sea News, Dover

A great story there Mark. I'm sure by now the statute of limitations has run out and your mum has well and truly escaped the clutches of the constabulary... she can relax, the sheriff is not on her trail.
Never knew that was a toll bridge..well there we are. That was the first time I saw the bridge open too.


Monday, 7 November 2016 - 16:06

 

Post 3661

  Mark Rushton, Northants

Nice pictures from Sandwich, and I'm reminded of a dark family secret. Many years ago, when my mum worked on the ferries and we lived in Thanet, she regularly crossed the toll bridge when you had to pay. You bought a colour coded ticket from the booth that gave you unlimited access to the bridge for the day. So my mum built up a collection of every colour ticket, kept them under the dashboard, and simply watched what colour ticket the car in front was issued with before grabbing the right colour from her collection and getting across for free. Should I tell her to turn herself in ? Albeit she now lives in Harrogate and the North Yorkshire plod might not be that interested 30 years on. Glad I've got that off my chest....

Monday, 7 November 2016 - 11:12

 

Post 3660

  Sea News, Dover

Vic I don't have any times but we have a number for you...see below.
Give them a call and they will be able to tell you times, costs etc..
as you can see they go over to visit the Roman Fort and the Seals and so on. It sounds good doesn't it. PaulB.
  

See the Sandwich pictures below in 3199 and in post 3183.


Monday, 7 November 2016 - 11:09

 

Post 3659

  vic matcham , Dover

Please can you get any times for boat trips up the RIVER from Sandwich.thank you.

Monday, 7 November 2016 - 09:35

 

Post 3658

  Sea News, Dover

As promised here we are with the second group of pictures from Sandwich...taken Sunday last week . Always nice to enjoy the colourful river over there and on this trip not only were we surprised to find the Southern Queen plying her trade there, but we found this new one also doing the riverbus thing. New to yours truly anyway...and called the Sandwich Tug. Business must be good for the riverbus trade over there in Sandwich, what with trips to the forts and the seals and so on.

Also worth noting the new 'boathouse' at the waters edge. Its probably not really a boathouse as such, but its not clear at this stage what its purpose is. The building isn't finished but is an interesting development. Another picture of the wide open bridge included below. See also earlier Sandwich post 3183.

   
   
   
   
  
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

If the seafront maintenance guys from the Port are looking in this morning...for the past few days..or indeed 5 out of the last 7 days, the seafront lights opposite the Gateway have not been working. We have total darkness. We've definitely had a spooky Halloween period on the old seafront.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, 7 November 2016 - 07:07

 

Post 3657

  Sea News, Dover

 


Great pictures below lads..great to get that angle from Mike of the departing Marco Polo and as ever cracking shots from Ed of the DCT. I also captured the arriving Schweiz Reefer today so am adding these new ones to Ed's shots. The ship made a swift right turn into the Cargo end without coming across the bay as it were, which is generally the mode of operation ( modus operandi )...so I just captured her in time as she made the fairly sharp turn, aided and abetted by both tugboats...Doughty and Dauntless.
Its a shivery oul night here on Dover Seafront so it is.
PB.

Sunday, 6 November 2016 - 17:34

 

Post 3656

  Ed Connell, Dover

Schweiz Reefer at the DCT today.



Sunday, 6 November 2016 - 15:31