Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 6592

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Mike - re #6588 - thank you for the additional information on the 'Olympic Challenger'

Sunday, 13 October 2019 - 17:45

 

Post 6591

  Mike J., Dover

Nice 'busy' picture from Paul of DEEP HELDER & KLAIPEDA.

Mike -

Thanks for the confirmation re the ALERT's wreck buoys.
I was expecting them to have stripes, but on closer inspection they seem to be shrouded with canvas or something.

Sunday, 13 October 2019 - 17:23

 

Post 6590

  Mike Waight, Wiltshire

Further to my post about the buoys. You are quite correct in assuming they may be wreck buoys. My apologies the old grey matter didn't work fast enough; the cross topmark can be used on wreck and DZ buoys.

Sunday, 13 October 2019 - 16:13

 

Post 6589

  Mike Waight, Wiltshire (retmaster1@gmail.com)

Post 6572. The buoys on the aft deck of Alert are small DZ Buoys (Danger Zone) and are used for all sorts of things like marking race areas, works in port and at sea, army and RAF ranges, temporary prohibited zones, etc. Many DZ buoys at sea do not have topmarks so I'm guessing these are destined for sheltered waters.

Sunday, 13 October 2019 - 16:09

 

Post 6588

  Mike Waight, Wiltshire (retmaster1@gmail.com)

Post 6586; vessel "Olympic Challenger". Given the equipment fit on her aft deck she is more than a supply vessel - more likely to be an offshore support vessel of some kind, probably multi-task capable. Perhaps, drill support, surveys, diving support, etc.

Sunday, 13 October 2019 - 16:00

 

Post 6587

  Sea News, Dover

Two final pictures above there of Klaipeda...as she has now left us. She disappeared unseen, caught yours truly by surprise. There one minute..puff!! gone the next. Was hoping to get some shots of her departure. Looks like the guys in supervisory capacity are examining the full load above...before the off...

The Artania cruise ship was in with us yesterday...couldnt get a picture as the ships are almost hidden from this vantage point nowadays when at cruise terminal one...didn't used to be the case. But that's progress...

So had a stab at her leaving last night. But not only was it pitch dark but it was raining too... so no chance. Had a try below anyway, wasn't sure if it was worth putting this pic up as its not great.. but...



Mike tipped me off about the impressive Havila Subsea...she came in yesterday very briefly. Got some pictures, alas through the rain again...will do some work on those and get them up in the morning..two press releases also, various bits..

Nice catch-up pix below there Patrick, nice light on the Hebridean Sky..


PaulB


Sunday, 13 October 2019 - 08:11

 

Post 6586

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Two recent visitors during rather overcast and choppy weather on 1 October.

Noble Caledonia's 'Hebridean Sky' departing Western Docks Cruise Terminal with attendant pilot launch




Offshore Supply Ship - 'Olympic Challenger'


Saturday, 12 October 2019 - 12:43

 

Post 6585

  Sea News, Dover

Extra Pic : Another grain loading pic to compliment the one currently showing at the top of page...this one taken a day later, conditions a tad hazier... you can see some of Klaipeda there (see earlier posts below), plus Border Force Vigilant and Deep Helder, a packed shot.
See also yours truly's earlier post today...just in below...

PaulB

Saturday, 12 October 2019 - 06:22

 

Post 6584

  Sea News, Dover

Fairly long range picture above of Elvira approaching the Port of Dover a few days ago....aided by the tug there. You will remember we could see her in the earlier post (see 6579) waiting outside Port for Lombok Strait to depart. Lombok did depart of course, heading for Bridgetown and in came Elvira more or less straight away...and here she is below just after arriving...




Elvira has since left again ... and now at the cargo terminal...Royal Klipper…
obviously we cant get pictures of them all...
they will come and go in the dead of night...Grrrr

PB

Saturday, 12 October 2019 - 06:09

 

Post 6583

  Sea News, Dover

Saga Sapphire at Dover
Top two pictures there show Saga Sapphire leaving us on Wednesday evening
...just readying outside the Port of Dover above there to head south to the warmer climes of the glorious Mediterranean. Her 14 day trip majoring on Spain... Barcelona, Valencia, La Coruna etc etc...very nice.

The general cargo vessel Aldebaran below...just caught her departing the same evening as Saga Sapphire, Wednesday, now presumably fully loaded with grain after her stay at WD5 - the new cargo terminal. I believe she was heading for Amsterdam. See also Mike's picture further below which shows her at WD5.




Following along from Mike's pix below of Klaipeda and yours trulys earlier couple...one more of her arrival.


Nice enjoyable collection below from Mike...Great stuff there!

PaulB

Friday, 11 October 2019 - 06:09

 

Post 6582

  Mike J., Dover

Ref Paul's post of the arriving KLAIPEDA - its a small world - I photted her in Goole in early September.


Its not often that you see a ship registered in the same port as her name, so you get identical names on the stern.


It was managed in Ramsgate when they had their own elderly dredger - the RAMSGATE was registered in Ramsgate.

I almost managed it when I was on the bulk carrier CARCHESTER who was registered in Manchester - the MAN being replaced by CAR, the beginning of the name of the long-term charterers CARGILLS.


A little activity in the new lock chamber on Tuesday with pontoons being installed.



Rather a lot of 'supervisors' on the lock gate !

In the Wellington Dock on the same day was the elegant modern motor yacht LADY ANN, a pleasant change [for me anyway] from the over-bodied 'look at me' designs of 'Sunseekers' & the like.



Friday, 11 October 2019 - 02:49

 

Post 6581

  Sea News, Dover

Klaipeda : In the previous post below Mike speaks of the arrival of the next grain ship Klaipeda at WD4. Life is getting very exciting at WD4 the new pier/berth. Well there she is above.. coming towards the pier at 10 am yesterday...first shot above actually 09:55. She is still there as I write too so the show goes on... in pic 2 you can just see Deep Helder in the background there...

Just to catch up now with some more arrival pictures from the past few days. Taken in very early morning light under mostly gloomy skies...

AIDAbella on Monday earlier this week above
and Rotterdam arriving the next day Tuesday below.



Great info and enjoyable pix from Mike below...don't miss those...

PaulB

Thursday, 10 October 2019 - 07:35

 

Post 6580

  Mike J., Dover

Wednesday & the ALDEBARAN sailed from WD5 about 1730 for Rotterdam on completion of loading her grain cargo.


An hour earlier the SAGA SAPPHIRE had sailed for Ceuta,


DEEP HELDER was on Cruise-2 all day, loading equipment & stores & was still alongside early Thursday.


As I walked up the Admiralty Pier I was surprised to see the next grain ship, the Lithuanian KLAIPEDA already alongside WD4 & almost invisible behind the reclaim.


The Admiralty Pier will be closing on Monday & on completion access arrangements for anglers & walkers will change & the initial walk will will be a little less interesting.
It'll be necessary to go down a new set of steps to the lower level of the pier & then along a fenced path before gaining access to the upper level of the pier.

I understand that this change is due to work needed at the landward end of the upper walkway, but it is very good that DHB are investing in the Admiralty Pier for the benefit of the public.

Thursday, 10 October 2019 - 02:29

 

Post 6579

  Sea News, Dover

Lombok Strait : Some pictures above there of reefer Lombok Strait moving off on Monday morning. She didn't come over to the bay area to be photographed but nipped straight out the eastern exit from the eastern terminal like a movie star keeping a low profile.... 'shouldnt be allowed'
Was able to grab these pix because there was no ferry in either Dover 8 or Dover 9 and there we are. Off she goes on the long haul to Bridgetown in Barbados.

We got the following picture a tad earlier...looking across the rooftops as it were you can see Lombok Strait still at the Cargo Terminal...in the distance you can see Elvira waiting for the Lombok Strait departure...yes they are queuing up... will have a pic or two of Elvira arriving as well. That will be following along in due course.



Don't miss those pix below from Mike...a nice collection below there...

PaulB
Saga Sapphire in Port today.

Wednesday, 9 October 2019 - 07:58

 

Post 6578

  Mike J., Dover

Monday’s visitors.


The outer end of the Admiralty Pier, beyond the turret, was closed as usual, closing whenever a ship is on Cruise-2.




The weather deteriorated during the afternoon [I once saw an American TV weather map marked 'increasing lousiness'] & drizzle at dusk didn't improve the view of the threesome taken just before the PACIFIC PRINCESS sailed for La Coruna,
,


Wednesday, 9 October 2019 - 02:24

 

Post 6577

  Sea News, Dover

Spirit of Discovery : A sequence above there of an arriving Spirit of Discovery very early morning Oct 3. This was her previous arrival...she was back in port again yesterday after a short cruise..she came back before yours truly caught up with using her previous pix...well there they are above now. Catching up! It has indeed been a busy spell. Always good to see the Spirit of Discovery.

Enjoyable collection below from Mike our busy 'inshore correspondent' ...don't miss those!

PB
Rotterdam back in Port.

Tuesday, 8 October 2019 - 04:46

 

Post 6576

  Mike J., Dover

Mid-afternoon the VIGILANT came in from the west to land some crew members.
She drifted between the Admiralty Pier & the Prince of Wales & sent the crew ashore to the Tidal Basin in her RIB which is launched down a ramp at her stern, sadly modestly hiding her stern from the camera during this interesting operation.





On WD5 the DUBLIN PEAK was completing her loading, sailing at 2215 for Hamburg.



Another grain ship, the Lithuanian-flagged ALDEBARAN is coming down from Rotterdam & currently giving her ETA as 0900LT Tuesday.

Almost forgot - three cruise ships in as well.


Tuesday, 8 October 2019 - 01:01

 

Post 6575

  Sea News, Dover

A picture above there of fab sailing ship Gallant just below the White Cliffs a few days ago...let me see..yes Thursday. Some zoomed in pictures were also tried but there is/was too much shimmer in the results over the long range...so have settled on the wider look.

That was the sailing ship we featured as a logo at the top of the page for quite a long time...the jagged edge pic went down well on Google..so there she is again just a few days ago and looking good as you can see.

And now the departing Rotterdam
the picture sequence is self explanatory below, no words needed...and away she goes...





Rotterdam heads off.... the cliffs in France catching some misty late sun there. Pictures...Friday evening.
She is on a 28 Day cruise around the British isles, Ireland, France and finally ending in Rome.

Very interesting collection below there Mike...really enjoyable all round and great to get those shots of Peak Dublin moving across. You played a 'Peaky Blinder' there...!!
okay I couldn't resist

PaulB
We brilliantly have three cruise liners again today..Pacific Princess, The Spirit of Discovery, and also the large AIDAbella at the new pier WD4. Tugs are still active as I write...Cargo: Elvira cargo ship approaching, Lombok Strait already in Port. Packed Port!

Monday, 7 October 2019 - 06:46

 

Post 6574

  Mike J., Dover

A few more angles on the PEAK DUBLIN taken on Thursday soon after she arrived to be the first vessel to load grain on WD4.


The end-of-the-Marina-pier shot needs as high water as possible so that the hull is not below the level of the reclamation.



The PEAK DUBLIN did not load on Saturday or Sunday & during Sunday afternoon shifted to the reefer berth WD5 to make space for the AIDA BELLA who is due on WD4 at 0800 Monday, although the DHB cruise ship list calls it Berth C.






Monday, 7 October 2019 - 02:00

 

Post 6573

  Sea News, Dover

Peak Dublin: And the grain loading trucks..
Peak Dublin loading...
Three pictures above there of new arrival Peak Dublin loading grain on Friday at new pier WD4, an exciting first and a new service with the Irish ship. The pictures above show various stages of loading, the blustery wind catching some of the dusty grain, while in the background cruise ship Rotterdam rests at Cruise Terminal Two.

The picture below is from a day earlier and we see Boudicca in the background this time. Also in shot...the familiar Andros...you can just see her ( Andros ) beginning to move away..her Bunker job done..


Below we see Andros some short minutes later with pilot boat also in shot...she was on her way.
The sunny uplands of France looking good in the distance ...it was very grey over here at same time...


Just including this unscripted one of Andros from a former time...just came across this in the files, always worth another look...


Just adding this one on to the post by way of trying to catch up all round...showing HMS Mersey a few days ago catching the late sun...and in the foreground of the long range pic...the recently featured Titan Discovery returning to Port.



Great collection of pictures below there...well done Mike once again...cracking stuff!
and big thanks to Nigel for the great Lifeboat picture

PaulB

Sunday, 6 October 2019 - 08:32