Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 6752

  Sea News, Dover

Following along from Mike's pictures in the post below of tug Buffalo...a couple more above there, taken as she left the Port yesterday sunday a short while after midday...just checking...time of first shot 12.51 in fact. I may have a couple more in due course...taken longer range after she left the harbour.

I took the one below across the rooftops as it were...just in case I missed the departure, as a kind of insurance policy. Now that some of the redevelopment structures have gone this old shot is back. That's a pub in the background there, or was...not sure if its still open. Yours truly sampled it a few times back in the day...



Don't miss Mike's right-on-the-spot collection below...excellent stuff there...
see also 5172 for former pix of Buffalo...

PB

Monday, 13 January 2020 - 05:08

 

Post 6751

  Mike J., Dover

Sunday afternoon there was a little flurry of activity in Western Docks with three tugs & the HPL launch on the move & the arrival of the ATLANTIC REEFER from Paita, Peru.



The tug BUFFALO had arrived from Southampton late Friday & sailed for Rotterdam Sunday afternoon.

She ran stern first up the Wick.



Since her call at Dover last February [post 5172] she has changed her KOTUG ‘funnel’ logo to that of BELUDA TOWAGE, a major Spanish tug operator who have absorbed a number of wellknown tug companies.

Southampton tugwork is now mostly in the hands of Danish company Svitzer who operate worldwide & have a large presence in the Thames & Medway.

The HPL heading out with the reefer pilot aboard, followed by the DAUNTLESS.



Both DHB tugs had been busy during the day, assisting the ferries as well as the reefer.

.


Monday, 13 January 2020 - 00:48

 

Post 6750

  Sea News, Dover

Some further pictures now of superyacht Asgard as she leaves us here in Dover on Friday morning.
See also yesterdays shots and the other posts below..
We actually have some more pictures at our disposal too, but its probably best to leave it at this and not disperse it too far.


On her way above...
just nipping back a little in the sequence below and we see the pilot boat begin to turn away as Asgard nears the open sea...


Glad you enjoyed all that Del, yes a fascinating story that and the film of 'Riddle of the Sands' is a good watch. Thanks for the comments below there...

And thanks to Mike once again for the initial 'heads up'.

PaulB

Sunday, 12 January 2020 - 06:38

 

Post 6749

  Del Styan, Norwich

Following from my last post, I have just read Erskine Childers Wiki entry, and must say, what a man. Thanks for that PB.

Saturday, 11 January 2020 - 23:07

 

Post 6748

  Del Styan, Norwich

I read "the Riddle of the Sands" a while ago, but never knew there was a film or TV show. I must look him up. Thanks for that piece of info.

Saturday, 11 January 2020 - 23:00

 

Post 6747

  Sea News, Dover

Superyacht ASGARD - leaving the Port of Dover on Friday morning...



Asgard: Great to capture this mighty yacht. Without Mike's tip-off I would almost certainly have missed it.
Interestingly..same name as the yacht owned by Erskine Childers long ago, a fascinating man...British Army Officer, then Irish Republican and of course legendary author. Said yacht now preserved in Dublin.

Watch for the film of his book The Riddle of the Sands
a film of gentle sailing and espionage,
it comes on TV from time to time starring
Simon MacCorkindale, Michael York, Jenny Agutter.

The red fishing boat in shot 3 is Royal Charlotte.

We may also have further pictures.
PaulB

See also Mike's post 6745.

Saturday, 11 January 2020 - 06:08

 

Post 6746

  Sea News, Dover

Maritime Skills Academy

Some pictures above of the Maritime Skills Academy out there in the bay ( Dover Harbour) doing some training exercises on Wednesday this week. It was very misty/foggy at the time but when they came in closer to shore we managed to get some images and there we are above. They always make for colourful interesting pictures.

The picture below is from their previous sojourn in December, had the image but in the rush at the time, forgot to add it to the other pix used...doh!


Anyway ...made up for it now.

Thanks Mike for the pictures and the info there on Erskine Childers...know him only too well from my schoolbooks..

Brian very amusingly clever...lol!

Brilliant analysis of the scene Mark...really enjoyable..was the oddest sky but most interesting to read your contribution.

PaulB

Friday, 10 January 2020 - 07:49

 

Post 6745

  Mike J., Dover

Under cover of heavy rain the very smart 43mtr superyacht ASGARD came into Dover Thursday morning from Ymuiden & berthed alongside the DAVID CHURCH.
Built in Germany in 1993 as the HEITAROS she is now British-flagged & had a major refit in 2014.
More info on her on the ‘net.
It was not until mid-afternoon that the rain eased to a drizzle & some unsatisfactory photos were obtained, almost invisible up against the CHURCH.
She is expected to sail Friday morning.




Her name is interesting, being the same as a yacht that was involved in 1914 in gun-running from Hamburg to Howth [near Dublin] when owned by Erskine Childers who supported the Republicans during the Irish Civil War despite a long career with the British Army.
The original ASGARD is preserved in Dublin.

He is also remembered as the author of the novel ‘Riddle of the Sands’ written in 1903 which had a major influence on British Naval policies before WW1.


Thursday, 9 January 2020 - 23:26

 

Post 6744

  brian dixon, dover

yes paul it do, but that's the score to bach to the future

Thursday, 9 January 2020 - 14:50

 

Post 6743

  Mark Rushton, Northants

Well you've done it again ! Another fascinating skyscape. The horizontal lines do look like jet con-trails, it has to be said, but from what ? Looking at the Flightradar payback from dawn on the 4th Jan shows no obvious candidates over the channel, but there is a very busy corridor running NE-SW broadly aligned with Antwerp - Paris that could correspond with what we're looking at here. Yes, it's about 70 miles from the camera, but given the altitude of the planes it's not inconceivable - what's unusual is the high persistence of the trails.

Thursday, 9 January 2020 - 11:18

 

Post 6742

  Sea News, Dover

We have another ship in at the 'grain terminal' WD4...this time its general cargo ship RIG. The picture above shows her yesterday morning. The picture itself looks like it was taken at night but no it was actually taken yesterday morning at 07.44...through the rain gloom mist etc etc...it was that kind of day...the wailing fog bell wailed in the foggy conditions. We did hear that they were removing said bell but...

Another pic below of the Pacific Reefer approaching on Monday morning, to follow along from yesterdays shots.


The two pictures below were taken just after dawn on the 4th January....look at that odd sky, its like someone is writing a musical score in the sky. The horizontal lines, the musical notes dashed downwards...
is Mozart trying to communicate?
Natural pictures but how...? re those horizontal lines. jets cause the downward dashes but the horizontals??…
Fascinating.



PaulB

Thursday, 9 January 2020 - 06:28

 

Post 6741

  Sea News, Dover

Pacific Reefer:
Some pictures above there of Pacific Reefer approaching and arriving at the Port here earlier in the week....on Monday morning in fact. Time of first shot 10:10. Pictured below a short time later manoeuvring into the new Cargo Terminal in the Western Docks with the help of the tugs... you can see tug Dauntless in the picture.


Pacific Reefer left late last night for Vlissingen, 'twas a dark and rainy night...guessing... it was around 11pm. Another fast turnaround for sure.

PaulB

Wednesday, 8 January 2020 - 07:32

 

Post 6740

  Sea News, Dover

Some long range pictures of the Dover Lifeboat above there as she powers into the distance out there in the channel. It's Sunday morning early. We feature two different red ships in the further distance there as the Lifeboat makes her way further and further out.

Yours truly hadn't actually spotted the Lifeboat but was taken the wider sky picture below...the clouds were dramatic looking and menacing, but the day itself was relatively benign, but then that shaft of sunlight above picked out the Lifeboat. If you look below you can just see a dot centre stage...that's the Lifeboat. Something of a microdot in the wide view....so was glad that the shaft of sunlight picked them out.


A short time afterwards the Border Force joined the scene... that's Vigilant in the picture below ... also powering along at speed...presumably both were engaged in a further migrant situation.


Thanks Del...its always very colourful early morning..ermm 'cept when its grey!! makes the pictures that bit easier..

PaulB
ps: Pacific Reefer came and went yesterday...very fast turn around at the new Cargo Terminal West. These reefer ships don't turn about in the bay anymore which is depressing news for the camera !!
Will have some pix though.


Tuesday, 7 January 2020 - 07:07

 

Post 6739

  Del Styan, Norwich

You early risers put me to shame, but great pics, well done for cheering me up.

Monday, 6 January 2020 - 23:12

 

Post 6738

  Sea News, Dover

Dover Sunrise - We await the arrival of the Sun
On Saturday morning we gaze across the Channel at the early ferries as they make their way in glorious colour to Calais, France. The P&O ferry leads the way closely followed by the DFDS ferry...as we see above and below. The sun has yet to appear... but the sky awaits in dramatic style.


And then below the sun bursts through...always a spectacular moment as the golden globe climbs above Cap Gris Nez and illuminates the English Channel in dazzling light...

Dover Sunrise:

That's the view from Dover...come and visit Dover and see these great sunrises across the English Channel for yourself...if you're not already here of course !

The working week re-commences today for most. Normal scheduling resumes. Happy 2020 to all !

PaulB

Monday, 6 January 2020 - 05:03

 

Post 6737

  Sea News, Dover

Tried to get a picture of the huge container ship MSC Samar as she went down the channel on Friday night..well more Friday evening but night was falling fast, time of picture 16.10 or ten past four in old money. There was a brief late flurry of light after a grey day.

MSC Samar was only built last year ( 2019 ) and had just completed her maiden voyage from Asia to Bremmerhaven in Germany...now heading south again with a full load, presumably for the first time. She is an impressive whopper.. ( i went all technical there for a moment! ) 400 metres long and an enormous 233,000 tons approx. in weight/size. Must be one of the biggest there is...

Will watch for her again on brighter days...
a few minutes later the sky turned this way below looking west, looking to the right of the ship in top picture. She was almost heading into the sunset.


Just saw this one in the files with roughly the same listing name as the one above.... dating from...
yes found it again..dating from September 2017 showing the dramatic sky and some of the Dock Development at that stage.


PaulB

Sunday, 5 January 2020 - 07:53

 

Post 6736

  Sea News, Dover

You might remember in the background of one of the Lady Rosemary departure pictures the other day we saw, or barely saw, the Lifeboat in the distant gloom....well here we are with a bit of a better effort on that one. These are mostly computer boosted/generated images today. The top shot shows the Lifeboat at that time powering off into the distance. We understand that it was on another migrant mission. Also out there at the same time were several Border Force vessels including Vigilant. Un-pictureable through the gloom.

Also at the same time the Coastguard helicopter came onto the scene, enter stage left. Caught me out...tried to get ship and chopper together but alas the ship was cut to the quick!
Coastguard helicopter passes over Lady Rosemary... sort of...


PaulB

Saturday, 4 January 2020 - 06:44

 

Post 6735

  Sea News, Dover

A few days ago, while waiting for the arrival of one of the reefers, Tug Dauntless came over and lingered by the new 'arm' in ... errmmm.. harbour central. Wasn't there some talk at one point of them (the tugs) being stationed/located here at a future time...perhaps the guys were just checking out the new aspect. They picked a murky oul day to do it...but good to get some shots of the tug in a different location as it were and these are quiet days …

PB

Friday, 3 January 2020 - 06:09

 

Post 6734

  Sea News, Dover

Above we have an enlarged crop of yesterday's picture...showing the crewmen/dockmen at the bow of the Lady Rosemary, there are a further two crewmen in the shot. Can you spot them, that's todays frivolous puzzle. There may even be a sixth crewman minus a hardhat...can you spot him...well now..


Then afore long the Lady Rosemary was off...time of first shot below.. 09.33 on the 31st ( which was ..ermmm.. lets see, yes Tuesday). In the first picture below you can just make out the Lifeboat powering away into the distant gloom, it was very grey, there was a further migrant situation ongoing with Border Force and the Lifeboat involved at the time. Lady Rosemary was on her way to Vlissingen with a heavy load as you can see.


Lady Rosemary.

PaulB

Thursday, 2 January 2020 - 07:37

 

Post 6733

  Sea News, Dover

Happy New Year to All!

The pictures above there show Lady Rosemary approaching the port from the East after her long trip across the Atlantic. Unfortunately it was misty muggy as she approached so the pictures are not super-clear, but happy to get them nonetheless...able to do so courtesy of the vacated ferry slots. The top two shots are very similar but Sid the Seagull flew into the second one a minute later!

Then below we see Lady Rosemary entering and crossing the Port until she reaches the new Western Cargo Terminal WD5.




Time of pictures above; 15.30 to 15.50 in fading light December 30.

She has since left us (yesterday)...the turnaround appears to be quicker lately, perhaps its the all new slick terminal...will have some pictures of that departure following along, still in camera. It was murky then too.

Very interesting post below from Mike...don't miss that one. Thanks all round Mike..

Many thanks Del..

2020 here we come!

PB

Wednesday, 1 January 2020 - 07:57