Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 3533

  Sea News, Dover

The following pictures were taken in Deal last weekend. The town was buzzing over there last sunday with several events on, the restaurants generally and the pubs were packed and doing great business. The beach and the boats thereon always provide nautical picturesque opportunities for the camera and here are some images below. There aren't as many boats now as there once was, pity but...the names of the featured boats...Morning Haze and Che Sara.

  
   
   
 

Sunday, 25 September 2016 - 06:27

 

Post 3532

  Sea News, Dover

Some further pictures of Amadea from yesterday. First shot above shows her resting at Cruise Terminal One late morning. Rather surprisingly she moved away from us here around 12.30 in the early afternoon, heading for Harwich, perhaps not the most exotic of destinations in comparison to some. Yours truly would have missed the departure completely if it hadn't been for those three lonesome departing wails from the horn. Got a number of extra pix then...two of those are below. Blinding sunlight by then...



An extra one from last week shows Noah entering port late in the day...evening time. I remember Mike got a picture of her in one of the docks earlier in the season...I believe the hull was white or cream then, now obviously dark blue. You can find Mike's pic in the search engine. Just type in Noah.


Great set of pictures below Mike. I hope you didn't get dizzy up at that height..great stuff, such a huge amount of work there to repair the line and all entirely visible in the pictures.
Thanks once again Vic.
PaulB.

Saturday, 24 September 2016 - 06:49

 

Post 3531

  Vic Matcham, Dovor

They have had good weather this year for this kind of work ,will it work and keep the line open?well sorry to say but it will happen again but lets hope that will be years away yet.

Friday, 23 September 2016 - 11:09

 

Post 3530

  Vic Matcham, Dovor

Some great photos there thank you,takes me back to my own working days that is the kind of work I have done a lot of over many years.

Friday, 23 September 2016 - 11:05

 

Post 3529

  Mike J., Dover

There has been no rock-dumping on Shakespeare Beach for a few days & CHARLIE ROCK & AFON GOCH have remained in port, although AIS was showing at 0730 tis morning that the tug had just moved from the Tug Haven & is alongside CHARLIE on Cruise-2 so action may be imminent.
I’m sure that Mr.B is keeping a beady eye on the proceedings.

Visible beyond the AMADEA is a much larger rock barge that has been anchored off Samphire Hoe for at least a week & CHARLIE ROCK is presumably loaded from her.





On Shakespeare Beach itself activity continues after the re-opening of the line on 5th.September.
The rockery is being re-arranged while trains between Dover & Folkestone tip-toe across the seawall repairs.














Friday, 23 September 2016 - 10:33

 

Post 3528

  vic matcham, DOVOR

I was walking along the front and I notice Jackson workers were digging out where we had that big hole and I had to weld up the piles to stop the water getting back in. When they back filled the very big hole after a few days we had patched the piles up , I did turn to the D.H.B. boss down there and said this work we have done will only last a few years unless you put all new piles along here we will be back again and the cost will be much higher then if we do it all now. What needs to be done is a new roe of new piles in front of the ones we have patched up back fill beween the two roes and again back fill the big hole. THEY said they did not have the cash for a big job like that, I said OK but will cost the D.H.B. alot more in the long run. And it looks like the time has come for it all to be done again. Lets hope they do what they should have done in the first place. But it will not be me this time,I was talking to the site man told him what I done last time, he turned and said well do you what the job again now,I think he said it has a joke ,anyway it was taken by me as a joke,

Friday, 23 September 2016 - 08:54

 

Post 3527

  Sea News, Dover

Top shot shows the Elvira departing on Wednesday evening...following the Calais Seaways out of harbour and heading off to Rotterdam in Holland with another solid load. Below the tugs withdraw and turn after helping Elvira on her way and gently move back to base after another job well done.


And now some news that might interest us all just in from Dover District Council ...

Fit For The Future - New Leisure Centre For Dover District
_____________________________________________



A new £26m leisure centre in Whitfield has taken a big step forward – proposals for the centre have been given the go ahead by Dover District Council, and are now subject to planning permission being granted.

Exciting proposals for the new Dover District Leisure Centre include:

An 8 lane 25m county standard competition swimming pool with spectator seating for 250 people
A learner pool with a moveable floor to allow for varying depths of water
A four court sports hall, two outdoor artificial five a side football pitches and a clip ‘n’ climb climbing wall
A 120 station health and fitness gym, and two squash courts
Three multi-activity studios, and one spin studio
A sauna and steam room and a café
Free parking for up to 250 vehicles
DDC is exploring the possibility of including a new spa facility at the centre.

Recommendations to replace Dover Leisure Centre and construct a new leisure centre in Whitfield were approved by Cabinet this week, and budgetary approval was agreed at a meeting of the Council last night.

The outline design has been developed following extensive consultation and research, and work with the local community and sports groups, including a detailed questionnaire, and a wide range of consultation events, workshops and drop-in sessions. Consultation revealed that 89% of people supported the building of a new leisure centre – with 69% of people supporting the Whitfield site.

The project costs include a full range of factors, including construction of the new facility, land purchase, and the demolition of the existing Dover Leisure Centre, which is 40 years old. The proposals are for a much bigger centre, with a greater range and more accessible facilities for the area, and include a number of energy efficiency design features. The Council is also exploring ways to develop public transport options for the new leisure centre.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, DDC Cabinet Member for Property Management, said: "This represents a major investment in the future of the district, and comes as a range of regeneration projects is transforming the area. The proposals provide for a fantastic new facility, and mean we’re set to deliver a new leisure centre to meet the needs of residents now and into the future to support the growing population in the district."

ENDS

"... a range of regeneration projects are transforming the area "
The Amadea cruise ship is in Port today...no pictures as yet....



Friday, 23 September 2016 - 07:30

 

Post 3526

  Sea News, Dover

Here we are with further pictures of the barge towing from Tuesday evening. Some further pictures in the camera were just about usable and here we are. The top shot shows tugs Afon Goch and Dauntless guiding the barge Charlie Rock towards the Port coming from the west. Next shot below focuses mainly on the barge with Dauntless at the rear...while the final shot, pushed to the limit in the failing light, shows the barge close to Port with Afon Goch at the head of proceedings. Note the crew...some even in shirt and tie order, great stuff!



See also the post below for further picture of barge and tug.

Thursday, 22 September 2016 - 07:23

 

Post 3525

  Sea News, Dover

Hellas Reefer had just left the Port and soon afterwards we had the early morn arrival of Elvira, and here she is below.... all pictures from yesterday. Pictures were taken through some light soft drizzle initially but then it cleared to give better visibility. The cargo terminal continues to be very busy.




Last evening about 18.30 or 6.30PM the barge Charlie Rock was being towed in our direction. Yours truly was hoping she would make the Port entrance before the light deteriorated too much. It had been sunny but the grey/ black clouds were taking over....but just in time we got the picture below. We may have some more to follow later if they are up to speed. Picture shows our oul friends Afon Goch towing barge Charlie Rock into Port once again. Bringing up the rear in the picture is our own DHB tug Dauntless.

Thanks to Jan and Vic below.

Wednesday, 21 September 2016 - 07:31

 

Post 3524

  Jan T, Dover

Wow how close the moon looks in the pictures,almost looks as though you could reach up and touch it.

As the picture at the top of the page says the facade of the old Railway Terminal, hopefully will remain standing splendid for a good while, a piece of old dovers history.


Tuesday, 20 September 2016 - 20:41

 

Post 3523

  vic matcham, Dovor

Thank you Paul for your remarks and you are right it is the highlands of Scotland now and we have been going up there for some years now,
But back to my remarks about the goodwin sands.
The D.H.B. should not take anymore sand away from the banks .get it from other places if they do that they will keep support for their new build.

Tuesday, 20 September 2016 - 09:04

 

Post 3522

  Sea News, Dover

"I've got a ticket to the moon...."

Above there we have a couple of striking images of the beautiful moon hovering over the Port on Saturday night...it made quite a sight, fleeting in and out of the prowling racing dark clouds.. then springing back into spectacular view. With the tides gone haywire with it...the poor swimmers have to stroll out a long way at times just to catch enough water to sink into..

Below we have Hellas Reefer, she came and went on sunday...leaving in the wee small hours of the morning to make her way to Hamburg. In port today we have Elvira.. pictures to follow of that one in due course. She has just arrived as I write...08.10...so I am photographing and writing at the same time, who said I couldn't multi-task!



Nice tale below Vic, no more overseas travel now I take it, but you have great memories. PaulB.

Tuesday, 20 September 2016 - 08:17

 

Post 3521

  vic matcham, Dover

When I was in the ARMY in the late 1950s up till 1964 the best view was coming home from being overseas was seeing the white cliffs of Dover and again when working in Germany in the 1970s and again in France in the 1980s I would stand at the bow end of the ship just to see the white cliffs,When I saw them I know it was near home, but the sad times when going back overseas was seeing them getting smaller and smaller..

Monday, 19 September 2016 - 10:26

 

Post 3520

  Sea News, Dover

The Albatros left us last evening at 6pm, heading off to Amsterdam...and here she is departing...
twas a bit flat grey for the pictures as you can see...





Monday, 19 September 2016 - 06:48

 

Post 3519

  Sea News, Dover

The Albatros is back in with us today. It was too grey for a decent picture from yours truly so it gives us another chance to show the great pic of the ship which was taken by George Holland earlier in the season. What a beauty! Many thanks once again George.


Following along from yesterdays pictures of Holyhead Towing's Afon Goch...this barge moved obligingly into position for a long range shot yesterday about mid-day. At the sharp end and out of sight of the camera is Afon Goch working hard.

The shot below, from slightly later, shows the full compliment of tug and barge just offshore from the Shakespeare beach area,,,pictures long range looking across the western docks.


Sunday, 18 September 2016 - 07:32

 

Post 3518

  Sea News, Dover

And one more of Afon Goch through the rough oul weather...


Saturday, 17 September 2016 - 07:34

 

Post 3517

  Sea News, Dover

Some pictures now of Holyhead Towing's Afon Goch...the tug that works hard towing those giant barges hither and tither...currently working with the barges offshore from the railway line renewal. Here she is just after the weather changed yesterday Friday.





Saturday, 17 September 2016 - 07:24

 

Post 3516

  Sea News, Dover

The day that the rains came....


Friday, 16 September 2016 - 15:15

 

Post 3515

  Sea News, Dover

Ah what a difference a day makes..24 little hours. Looks like the sweltering heat has gone and we wake up to drizzle and a touch if the slate greys, but the picture above shows what it has been like across the Port in the recent few days. The Indian summer.

A few days back we had a bit of excitement of the three wheeled variety, when this Tuk Tuk arrived at the Port of Dover having travelled all the way across land from India. It was driven by Naveen Rabelli, 35, an engineer who came all the way..6,200 miles.. without using any traditional fuel, not a drop no sir, the trip was solar powered the whole way. You can see the solar panel elegantly attached to the front. Several photographers from the media were snapping away with much excitement.



India to UK - Zero emission journey



Friday, 16 September 2016 - 07:57

 

Post 3514

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Thanks all for the info on the landing craft

Thursday, 15 September 2016 - 09:28