Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 3513

  Sea News, Dover

Just caught the aforementioned landing craft powering off down the coast yesterday morning at 08.45...caught her just as she was heading out of range and out of sight... not hugely clear I am afraid.

Thanks for all the info Mike..on both the fab Coastguard plane and the landing craft.
I will see if I have a shot in the archives of the former plane from former times...long time ago though.
Well done with the pictures as ever Jeremy.
Interesting tales Vic once again..
Thanks for the latest cruise info Colette.

PaulB.

Thursday, 15 September 2016 - 08:57

 

Post 3512

  Mike J., Dover

A little convoy of five came in via Western, all Dutch, two fairly large landing craft that could carry vehicles & what looked like three big RIBs [Rigid Inflatable Boats].

AIS showed them overnighting in the old Jetfoil terminal near Cruise-1 before leaving for Poole on Wednesday morning.

If you google 'marinetraffic.com' & then look for 'LCU L52' & 'L9752' you should be able to find photos of the two larger ones.



Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 23:48

 

Post 3511

  Vic Matcham, Dover.

Having been on landing crafts and running off the sides of them ,you never run off the front because they are still moving forward so you jump off the sides,but the very first time I had to jump off one because of where I was on the craft with a Dr to the left of me and the priest on the right side of me ,and my job was to look after both them I had to jump into the water from the front of the craft ,never done that again ,it was stlll moving forward and went over the top of me,and I am lucky to live to tell the story.And yes it does look like a landing craft of some kind .When I was in the army they were base at POOLE .

Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 20:36

 

Post 3510

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Saw this craft entering Dover on Monday. Does anyone know what it is? Looks like a landing craft.

Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 20:08

 

Post 3509

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Aida Sol all lit up and ready to go yesterday evening.

Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 20:06

 

Post 3508

  Mike J., Dover

Superb photos of the new Coastguard aircraft !

A little background info, from HM Coastguard -

. . . . . HM Coastguard has a new eye in the sky from September 2016, as a Jetstream 41 turboprop aircraft is being trialled as part of a development to support our search and rescue (SAR) helicopters.

The new plane is painted in red and white HM Coastguard colours and will be patrolling the southern and eastern seaboard.

The aim of the trial is to assess whether a fixed-wing aircraft will provide valuable additional support for our SAR helicopters. The new capability will help save lives at sea by identifying people, boats or ships in distress.

The Coastguard Jetstream is provided by Eastern Airways on behalf of Bristow Helicopters and has a dedicated crew. The aircraft will be controlled through the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC), just like our SAR helicopters, and will be tasked where there is a risk to life and in support of the helicopters.

If the trial is successful, options for permanent provision will be explored, possibly in combination with similar requirements elsewhere in Government . . . . . .



Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 14:53

 

Post 3507

  Colette B, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
____________

Some terrific cruise ships in Dover over the last couple of weeks with great photos from the Sea News team most of which passed me by as I was preparing, with much excitement, for the wedding of our beautiful daughter Briony. Thank you to all for your good wishes now passed on to the Bride & Groom

And now for some more September cruises.

On Sunday 18th, V Ships Leisure's Albatros arrives back with us again AT 08:00 hrs, leaving at 18:00 hrs, CT2, PoC. She was last here in May & will make her final appearance this season on 29th September.

Then on Friday 23rd, another V Ships Leisure, Amadea returns to CT2, PoC. She was here in July on her epic cruise from England to Australia.

See you for the final few September cruises next weekend, enjoy the weather


Good luck to the P&O Choir in Manhattan NYC



Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 10:58

 

Post 3506

  Sea News, Dover

The HM Coastguard used to have a plane frequenting the coast here in former times but yours truly had not seen it for years. The one on show above is a newer type for sure, and circulated the harbour late Monday afternoon...along with the familiar helicopter. There may have been an open day or similar at the HM Coasguard look-out station. The third picture down is of particular interest because as I followed the plane through the camera lens I suddenly jumped to see the helicopter in the same shot...sheer fluke of course from the camera point of view but the Coastguard guys knew what they were doing.

This is an extra pic below of the helicopter...its from a previous time, we don't want to leave the helicopter guys out, it was taken by our roving correspondent extraordinaire SARAH HEWES.


That should be a fascinating trip to New York for the P&O Choir Brian. Hope your retired brother enjoys it and hope the choir does well.

Yes wedding weather was good Vic..all good, yes another big ship in yesterday, the AIDA Sol...yours truly did not get a picture as it came in the dark and left in the dark at 8PM last night heading back to the Elbe in Germany. There is bound to be a pic in these pages, always feel free to use the search engine above.

PaulB.

Wednesday, 14 September 2016 - 07:11

 

Post 3505

  brian, dover

my yonger now retird brother is in that choir,is all so going to the big apple....

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 - 19:38

 

Post 3504

  vic matcham, Dovor

Big ship in this morning, lots of the public from it walking around in the town in great weather still, what more you aske for. And again thank you for the photos of the ships in the port over the last week. And all the best to your family and you had good weather for the wedding

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 - 11:06

 

Post 3503

  Sea News, Dover

P&O FERRIES' CHOIR JETS OFF TO NEW YORK TO PERFORM AT BIGGEST CONCERTS IN THEIR HISTORY
___________________________________________________________________________________

THE P&O Ferries' choir is gearing up for the biggest week in its three year history as it prepares to fly to New York for two public concerts later this month.

The choir - which consists of 16 P&O Ferries' employees from the ships and ports in Dover and Calais - will sing evensong at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in Manhattan on Sunday 18th September. The cathedral - the fourth largest Anglican place of worship in the world - is famous for its superb natural acoustics and has hosted concerts by the composer Duke Ellington as well as the funeral of Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppet Show.



The following day, the P&O Ferries' choristers will stage a joint concert with the New York City Bar Chorus, an 80-strong group drawn from the city's legal profession, to entertain under-privileged children at The Esplanade in Manhattan.

The P&O Ferries' choir was formed as part of the BBC programme 'The Choir: Sing While You Work' in 2013. They sang their way to the final where they were crowned the winners and took home the title 'Best Workplace Choir'.

Stacey Young, who works in Marketing and eCommerce at P&O Ferries, said: "Singing at a world class venue like the Cathedral of St John the Divine is a dream come true for all of us. We started off three years ago as a group of colleagues who wanted to give singing a try and no one can quite believe that we've come so far in such a short period of time."

Hilary Campbell, Musical Director of the choir, added: "Every member of the choir has worked incredibly hard to reach a level at which international partners of this standard want to work with us. The choir is a credit to the company and also to the local community from which every one of its members is drawn."

The choir recorded their first album earlier this year including classical pieces by Mozart and Bruckner as well as gospel, pop and Irish folk music. In New York, the songs they will be performing include The Storm Is Passing Over, Going up Ayonder and Happy.


The spirit of P&O... The Spirit of France in this case under a recent full moon.


ENDS


Well done the P&O Choir !
Below we have a hazily bright warm evening shot of the Balmoral heading off south to Portugal at around 5.45pm last night...with the light just catching the buildings on the hilltops of France and the pilot returning after a job well done.


The AIDA Sol is back in with us today...came in very early, too early for a pic, but that's her in the pic below alongside the Costa Pacifica....its all in the timing... PB.




Tuesday, 13 September 2016 - 06:43

 

Post 3502

  Sea News, Dover

And now...A COSTA PACIFICA SPECIAL .. plus the latest newsletter from Charlie Elphicke MP.


The two stunning pictures above were taken earlier in the season by my special colleague down at the sharp end, so delighted to be able to use them now. The Costa Pacifica is really a most magnificent ship and it is simply fab to have her coming here to the Port of Dover. The pictures below were taken by yours truly the other morning at around 6am when the great ship arrived. PaulB.




* *


Our trains are back on track. Now it’s time to fix our roads....Says Charlie Elphicke MP
____________________________________________________________________






The rapid re-opening of the Dover to Folkestone rail line – completed in just nine months – is a remarkable feat of British engineering. It was a joy to once again step on board a London-bound train at Dover Priory on Monday. Commuters have had a tough time since the sea wall collapsed last Christmas. I’m delighted they no longer have the hassle of using rail replacement buses to get to work. Our fight to fix the sea wall just goes to show what can be achieved if people work together and get on with the job.

Dedicated workers from Network Rail and Costain grafted round the clock to get our rail line back on track as soon as possible. As chair of the Sea Wall Repair Task Force, my priority was to make sure there were no bureaucratic hold-ups. And the district council gave permission for 24/7 working. As a result of this teamwork, the repairs to the sea wall were completed three months ahead of schedule.

Highways England should take a close look at how we’ve restored the rail line – and get on with scrapping the hated 40mph limit on the A20. I have repeatedly called for the speed limit to be made variable, only being enforced when Dover TAP is in place. And last Friday I met with Highways England staff at the Western Heights roundabout to reiterate how frustrating the 40mph limit is for drivers.

Surely it’s much harder to rebuild a sea wall than make a speed limit variable? But unlike the swift work of Network Rail, Highways England have spent months dawdling over the A20. Why haven’t they got on with the job already and ended this misery for motorists? Drivers are sick and tired of crawling along the A20 while being tailgated by foreign lorries. Unsurprisingly, people are using alternative routes. This means more traffic on the Alkham Valley Road and driving through Capel, creating further gridlock.

I have also urged Highways England to find a way of moving the traffic lights at the Western Heights roundabout back along the A20 and away from Aycliffe. Residents should be able to enjoy a decent night’s sleep free from noisy lorries blaring their horns.
The meeting with Highways England was positive, as they finally appear ready to start work. But this is way overdue. Sorting the A20 and the infuriating 40mph limit should be their number one priority.

But we can’t stop there. The roads of East Kent have been starved of investment for too long. We must get on with building the M20 lorry park and we need to dual the A2. Meanwhile, Dover Harbour Board need to hurry up and complete their roadworks on Townwall Street and Snargate Street.

Thanks to great teamwork our trains are back on track. Now it’s time to fix our roads.


Charlie.



The local traffic is a struggle at the moment, and with York St roundabout now closed too the difficulty is set to increase. Its difficult getting around the town from the seafront area for sure. PB.





Monday, 12 September 2016 - 06:48

 

Post 3501

  Sea News, Dover

The Pacific Princess was with us today here in a gorgeous sunkissed downtown Dover. The summer goes on...and will go on well in to September too if you can believe the weatherman. The pictures show the ship arriving this morning about 7am. She left us this evening at 5pm heading south to Le Havre...and all's well.

Will catch up with the Costa Pacifica in the morning.
Also arrived in with us today...the Baltic Klipper.

Sunday, 11 September 2016 - 18:18

 

Post 3500

  Sea News, Dover

Here we are with a couple of pictures of the Lifeboat in gentle action. She usually comes out on exercise on sunday mornings and these shots are from exactly one week ago..taken as the guys cruised slowly by the 'observation tower'. Look...I think they spotted the camera. Although the pictures are from a week ago I wanted to give them the thumbsup for all the great work they do....


The zoomed out shot below...


Great sets of pictures below lads. Great work for sure! It was all happening with the spraying tugboats everywhere.


Huge thanks to everyone for the wedding best wishes.
It all went off very well and Briony is now married to Aaron
...and I'm off the hook! lol!!
Seriously though it is always a relief when these kinds of events go well...and so now.. a new chapter begins.
PaulB.
PS. Will have some shots of the magnificent Costa Pacifica soon. She was here in Dover yesterday. Pacific Princess in port today.

Sunday, 11 September 2016 - 07:03

 

Post 3499

  Ed Connell, Dover

Dunkerque tug VB Tempete exercising her water cannons off the LNG terminal today.





Saturday, 10 September 2016 - 12:52

 

Post 3498

  Del Styan, Norwich

Congratulations to both Dad and Daughter. Hope the day went well.

Friday, 9 September 2016 - 23:29

 

Post 3497

  Mike J., Dover

Almost missed the departure of the SAGA SAPPHIRE this afternoon when she left via Eastern for the Kiel Canal & Stockholm.

I was surprised to see the salute from the two tugs, a little unexpected, maybe the weather wasn’t suitable for the traditional Saga Spitfire display or perhaps the aircraft was indisposed.

Congratulations & very best wishes to Briony.











Friday, 9 September 2016 - 07:00

 

Post 3496

  Ed Connell, Dover

Saga Sapphire at the cruise terminals today, plus views of progress on the Prince of Wales. Hearty congratulations to Briony.






Thursday, 8 September 2016 - 19:59

 

Post 3495

  brian, dover

best wishs to the happy couple.

Thursday, 8 September 2016 - 19:10

 

Post 3494

  Howard McSweeney, dover

Many congratulations to Briony may they both be very happy.

Thursday, 8 September 2016 - 12:35