Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 6412

  Sea News, Dover

The Disney Magic moves away.....






Yes away goes the Disney Magic above on Sunday evening... away on her 11 day circular cruise of Iceland..also calling at the Norwegian fjords and eventually finishing in Copenhagen. You can see the pilot boat featuring in most of the shots above ( in fact in all of the shots .. now that I double-check!)... see also the posts below 6410, 6411, for more pictures...

PB

The Spirit of Discovery back in Port today after its round Britain cruise...
will have pictures tomorrow of the new WW1 Soldier..the glass encased statue now on the seafront.

Tuesday, 23 July 2019 - 05:48

 

Post 6411

  Sea News, Dover

DFDS deal aims to make its school trip crossings top of the class for next academic year
__________________________________________________________________________

• Prices from £19 per person • Special offers for coach drivers and teachers • No baggage restrictions



Award-winning ferry operator DFDS aims to be the ‘go to’ operator for schools, as heads and their staff plan group trips to the Continent for the next academic year.

Prices start from just £19 per person and crossing options include Dover to Calais or Dunkirk or, for schools and colleges based in the North or Scotland, there is the overnight ‘cruise’ route from Newcastle to Amsterdam.
Groups can travel as foot passengers* or aboard a coach and the DFDS deal includes special offers for coach drivers and teachers, with no baggage restrictions.

Crossing time is just 90 minutes on the Dover-Calais route or two hours from Dover to Dunkirk; crossing time on Newcastle-Amsterdam is 15-16 hours but the ‘sleep over’ in comfortable en suite cabins allows time to arrive refreshed on the Continent next morning.

Colin Fawcus, Head of Sales at DFDS says "Our ferry routes can be gateways to all kinds of academic or cultural expeditions. The destinations might include battlefields or other historic sites, the homes of famous artists, writers and historical figures, or some of the world’s best museums or galleries.

"Our ferries into Calais and Dunkirk can really open up France, Belgium, Germany and Holland for short and longer school breaks or even ski groups to the Alps this winter. The overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam crossing also adds a cinema, live music and, with notice, our Guest Services team can arrange a disco for youth groups. It’s worth remembering how much fun young people will get from being on a voyage with lots of fresh air and stunning sea views.

"Mealtime can also delight. Our Dover to France ships offer a self-service restaurant, fast food restaurant or snack bar, and with vegetarian and children’s options. Groups aboard the Newcastle - Amsterdam ships offer even more, but the groups’ favourite is the ‘Explorer’s Kitchen unlimited world-food buffet’ – not surprisingly, offering dishes from all corners of the globe."

For more information on school group travel please go to https://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/school-trips

OR call the group travel hotlines: 0871 522 9933 (groups) or 0871 521 1535 (coaches)
*foot passengers only applicable on the Newcastle - Amsterdam route.




DFDS offers a free a ‘Travelling Ted’ bear when passengers spend £10 onboard
____________________________________________________________________



Award-winning ferry operator DFDS is treating passengers this summer to a FREE limited edition ‘Travelling Ted’ bear.

Whether sailing on the Dover-France or Newcastle-Amsterdam routes if you spend £10/€10 or more in the onboard sea shop and present the voucher, ‘Travelling Ted’ is yours to take home!

Take Ted on your travels and don’t forget to tag him #TedsTravelsDFDS on Twitter at @dfds_uk and Instagram
at @dfdsuk.

Download the voucher to redeem your Travelling Ted bear here: dfds.co.uk/bear


ENDS


Yes see Mike's pictures below...the Disney Magic left last evening at 6.30, not playing 'when you wish upon a star" but did so earlier . She was off on an eleven day round trip of Iceland calling also to Norway and finishing in Copenhagen in Denmark...and very nice too...

The local hotels were very busy with oodles of passengers waiting to board...
will have more pictures later...


Many thanks once again to the team at DFDS for all the brilliant info above...

See Mike's post below for the latest Disney pictures plus...Great stuff Mike !


PaulB



Monday, 22 July 2019 - 07:17

 

Post 6410

  Mike J., Dover

Departure of the DISNEY MAGIC [about 90 minutes late] on Sunday evening.




While I was waiting the Littlestone inshore lifeboat, ATLANTIC class FRED CLARKE came in towing a yacht that they had ‘collected’ further down the coast & I caught them returning to base.
I would have preferred to have got the lifeboat & tow from sea-level, but I was in the wrong place at the right time .


A friendly wave as they headed out, they were reckoning about an hour's run with a bumpy ride was in prospect as the wind was getting up a bit.






Monday, 22 July 2019 - 01:57

 

Post 6409

  Sea News, Dover

Border Force Seeker....


Top shot shows Border Force Seeker powering towards the Port on Friday early evening 17.40 and then in the second picture entering the Port. Yours truly assumed they had come in for a well earned rest...but not so...in a matter of a few minutes they were off again as shown in the picture below. You wont need me to tell you how busy it is for these guys... and indeed these pictures show it.

Border Force Seeker...busy times in Dover.

Del will do

PaulB

ps:The excitingly fabulous Disney Magic is in Port today. Great to see it...hopefully will have some new pictures later, none taken yet.
"When you wish upon a star"



Sunday, 21 July 2019 - 06:52

 

Post 6408

  Del Styan, Norwich

Give my best to Sammy next time you see him fly past!

Saturday, 20 July 2019 - 23:11

 

Post 6407

  Sea News, Dover

Celebrity Reflection once more...this time leaving the Port
Just when yours truly had everything set for the first shot, Sammy the Seagull swooped into view and ruined everything. Well.. its true...We pay him a modelling fee regularly so that he will strategically place himself in some of the pictures, but this time he overdid it...divebombing the situation...Well I never!

Situation corrected below... as the magnificent Celebrity Reflection moves away. She was heading on to Zeebrugge and then on to Amsterdam to complete her 12 day round British Isles cruise. See also yesterdays pix further below of her arrival here in Dover, we promised departure pictures and here they are today.



Celebrity Reflection Leaving the Port of Dover.

July 20 : This is the historical day Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon...50 years ago today.
See also recent moon shots 6403. Or indeed type in Moon in our Search Engine above and see more...

PaulB

Saturday, 20 July 2019 - 04:45

 

Post 6406

  Sea News, Dover

Celebrity Reflection arriving at the Port of Dover.

Showing a few extra pictures this morning in an effort to catch up on the general comings and goings. Top three shots above there show the arrival yesterday Thursday here at the Port of Dover of the magnificent and delightfully large Celebrity Reflection ( 125,000 tons plus )... as we used to say...'wot a whopper' before the term was pinched by a burger chain..

A magnificent cruise liner for sure..she is on a 12 day round trip from Amsterdam going round Britain and also calling at Dublin, Cherbourg, and Le Havre. Truly great to see ships like this here at Dover. Will have some pix of her leaving too when we catch up further.

A day or so earlier and we see the sleek Seabourn Quest below...moving away through the eastern exit on her way to Reykjavik in Iceland. A very interesting trip indeed.


Elvira, a familiar reefer arriving here with us on the 14th from Vlissingen in the Netherlands...



Elvira

Thanks to Del and Jan for the lunar comments below. Yes exciting celebrations currently... remembering the great days of moon travel and yes indeed the grainy images. It certainly wasn't HD.

Yes very exciting... but one mustn't forget one's inner 'sea of tranquillity' in the midst of all this 'lunar lunacy'... !

PaulB

Friday, 19 July 2019 - 06:04

 

Post 6405

  Del Styan, Norwich

Great moon shot- well done. I well remember watching very grainy TV of the live coverage - in fact I couldn't make it out at all, and then going into my parent's garden and looking up at the moon and feeling utterly amazed. I think I remember it so well because my parents stayed up, and that was so unusual - they always went to bed at 10.30 on the dot.


Thursday, 18 July 2019 - 23:16

 

Post 6404

  JanT , Dover

Was amazing to think that it was 50years ago the walk of the moon took place, and we were lucky enough to have such a clear night to see the partial eclipse earlier this week,we are not due to see another one until 2021.
Another big cruise ship today shame the sunshine decided not to shine today.

Thursday, 18 July 2019 - 09:42

 

Post 6403

  Sea News, Dover

Moon Shots!


This is a great week for our relationship with the moon, as we celebrate the first lunar landing 50 years ago. Many will remember the great moment when Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface and spoke those immortal words "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" it filled us all with hope and expectation. This is our small contribution to the celebration of that great moment.

The pictures above were taken a few days ago as the moon hung over the Port. Not night pix but taken late evening as the moon became more visible. The top pictures are of course zoomed in but you can see the wider general view below. All pictures taken at the same time. Top two look darker but that's because of the zooming...all taken at the same time...evening.



At roughly the same time the Harbour Patrol Boat did its evening patrol...you can see it below meandering re-assuringly around the harbour...


And finally earlier the same evening the Lifeboat returns to Port..presumably from a 'shout' as these are busy times in the Channel for all services...


PaulB
Update: The magnificently huge cruise ship Celebrity Reflection just arriving 07.05

Thursday, 18 July 2019 - 06:09

 

Post 6402

  Sea News, Dover

Military Might!
Some military muscle moving down the Channel on Sunday evening...
First shot: splitting the two ferries as they make their way to Calais...



The ship above was mysteriously represented on AIS as a US "Government Vessel" it even had the quotation marks on there as shown...so there we are. Very dark and mysterious. It was difficult getting pictures of it too ...ie dark grey on grey...but the sun came through on the French coast which helped. Fascinating ...so there we are... Headline: "Government Vessel" moves south.

Within the same hour on Sunday evening, the Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans was also seen moving south. Lets hope they are not all destined for the Gulf...a de-escalation needed there. Who was it that said "Jaw Jaw not Waw Waw"



PaulB


Wednesday, 17 July 2019 - 07:04

 

Post 6401

  Sea News, Dover

As promised ...some pictures now of the Rowing Regatta which took place on Saturday..
not full coverage by any means as it was a day-long event but just some shots to mark the dynamic occasion .. and here we are..






Later the same day yours truly just caught the Lifeboat returning ..
watched it come back to Port from a long way out as evening fell...
The Lifeboat returns...we were quite grey and gloomy here weather-wise but across the water in France they are basking in a nice late evening sun as you can see in the background there.....

Have just come across this one below.. a forgotten one from the past files and thought it worth including, another evening pic, there's the link to the two. Its a few years old, will double check in a moment ( june 2016 )... note the old logo on the P&O ferry.



Nice schooner below there Patrick

PaulB
PS: Two cruise ships in today... Seabourn Quest and Pacific Princess, the busy schedule continues..

Tuesday, 16 July 2019 - 06:39

 

Post 6400

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Tres Hombre Shipping carries sail cargo (wind only) across the Atlantic and in Europe.
Their 32m schooner 'Tres Hombres' pictured here in the channel off Dover recently can carry up to 45 tons of cargo and has a crew of 7 plus a similar number of trainees. In service since 2009 their office - Fairtransport B.V. - is based in the Netherlands




The calming influence of sail is echoed in the sunset glow in this photo of the departing 'Boudicca' this evening. She is bound for a Norwegian Coastal cruise before returning here on the 31st of this month.







Monday, 15 July 2019 - 23:14

 

Post 6399

  Sea News, Dover

Europa arriving and departing...
Way behind schedule with these pictures of the Europa cruise ship a-coming and a-going. Mike has already had a shot up from her visit here at Dover on the 9th July (6394 ), but worth while including some more pictures and here they are. Arriving above and of course with the added excitement of seeing the new berth being used at WD4 ( Western Dock 4 ) in pic 3.
Added Note: hadn't realised how biliously yellow those pix were until I put them up!

Then of course below leaving the new berth later in the day... and away she goes on a grand calm evening...heading for Hamburg.


Europa ...and the yacht is a trimaran called Freshly Squeezed. Also featured is Sea Princess above.

There was a rowing regatta here on the seafront on Saturday...will have some pictures to follow. Not full coverage by any means but just a few shots to mark the occasion.

Saga Sapphire in port today.
Boudicca also approaching...
PaulB

Monday, 15 July 2019 - 07:06

 

Post 6398

  Sea News, Dover

We are familiar with the Big Lift vessels in Dover, we have seen them bring in mammoth transformers and the like from time to time... and here we are with another one, this time passing on down the Channel and heading for Norfolk Virginia in the good ol' USA, coming from Gdynia in Poland. This particular Big Lift guy is called Happy Sky... Pictures taken on Friday.

While gazing out on the Channel...here we are with another shot, this time showing the Varne Lightvessel and Boulogne. Picture was taken yesterday Saturday. You can see the town in all its glory including the magnificent Cathedral there on the hill in the 'old town'. The lightvessel has Varne in striking large lettering on its side but alas the letter N seems to be semi obscured. Not the worst of problems of course...



Hugely enjoyable inshore post below from Mike...don't miss that one

PaulB

Sunday, 14 July 2019 - 06:11

 

Post 6397

  Mike J., Dover

Excellent pix of the DE GALLANT as she passed Dover - elegant for sure !

A few days previously Dover had an interesting visiting yacht, altho’ nowhere nearly as old as the 1916-built DE GALLANT.



The steel ketch MOYA, with the lines of a Brixham sailing pilot boat, was built in Capetown in 1997 for a South African naval officer for local use.



She later crossed the Atlantic several times, initially to Brazil & then up the U.S & Canadian east coasts before spending time in the Caribbean before crossing to Liverpool & spending time in Europe.
Still registered in Liverpool she is manned by three friendly Swiss.

Cockpit with Philippe, Christophe & [sorry forgotten], note the tiller steering, a characteristic of this design.



MOYA spent a couple of nights in Dover before heading down to Falmouth en route the Mediterranean & spent a few days in the Scillies.
She has AIS & is on Saturday evening was sailing down the southern Portugese coast.


After a phonecall from them just before they sailed on June 25 & she was caught leaving in the last gasps of dusk sunlight, but she looks best when under sail & I’m sure that Christophe won’t mind me posting this excellent photo of the MOYA doing what she does best, oriiginally posted on Marine Traffic AIS.







The SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY continues her ‘BRITISH FIRST’ maiden voyage & on Saturday was anchored off Leith, the port for Edinburgh & presumably ‘tendering’ the passengers ashore.
Next port Kirkwall, in the Orkneys, on Sunday & SOD is due back in Dover on the 23rd.


Sunday, 14 July 2019 - 03:23

 

Post 6396

  Sea News, Dover

Tall sailing ship De Gallant elegantly passing by Dover on Wednesday...



She was coming from Newhaven we understand ... and heading on to the Dutch port of Scheviningen. As always with sailing vessels...they make such an attractive sight indeed...easy on the camera's eye so it was great to spot this one.


Border Force Seeker


Yes that's Border Force Seeker entering the Port 2 days ago. The Border Force are having a busy time of it for sure with more migrant incursions in the past few days. The good and calm weather makes it a viable proposition for those desperate enough.

The second picture is a close up crop of the first...it shows the guys in earnest discussion...
who knows, they could be chatting about the following cheeky arrival...

from The Telegraph

"
Two migrant stowaways were discovered in a British Grand Prix paddock after clambering on board a truck belonging to a Ferrari F1 team supplier during its journey across the English Channel.

The pair were discovered as the truck was unloaded at Silverstone yesterday and later handed over to police.

They were believed to have boarded near the French port of Calais, according to a team spokeswoman. Humanitarian organisations estimate that several hundreds of migrants are still living in the Calais area, all hoping to find a way to get to Britain. More than 20 suspected illegal immigrants were detained by the Border Force, which intercepted a small boat crossing the Channel on Saturday.

"

Ferrari Fast Tracked:
That's a cheeky one. Not only did they get into the UK but they probably got to see the team racing/practising as well...

PB

Saturday, 13 July 2019 - 07:20

 

Post 6395

  Sea News, Dover

P&O FERRIES INSPIRES LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN TO CONSIDER FUTURE CAREERS
___________________________________________________________________________

Dover’s largest employer, P&O Ferries carried out a presentation to students at St Richard’s Catholic Primary School in Dover last week, to highlight the benefits of career planning and long term skills development in advance of joining secondary school.

Addressing a class of 30 students in Year Six, Jacqueline Burns, Business Transformation & Communications Officer at P&O Ferries, led an hour and a half session with the class to inspire them to start planning for the future. Careers in the maritime industry, as well as a variety of other pathways were showcased.

The session involved a presentation, a Q&A and the chance to try on various ferry related props including life jackets, hi-vis jackets, hi-vis vests, chef hats, Chief Engineer hats and helmets with ear defenders.

The students were encouraged to think differently by considering the difference between a job and career, with visual aids explaining the concept of ‘climbing a career ladder’. Dover’s close proximity to the continent was also used to highlight the value of learning a second language, with many of the children expressing surprise at the number of well-known figures who are bilingual.

Eager to learn more about P&O Ferries’ background, questions from the students included ‘How long does it take to build a ship?’ and ‘How do you become a Captain?’

Ms Emily Drage, teacher at St Richard’s stated, "I think the class got a lot out of it and it certainly made me look at things differently. At such a crucial time for the children’s development it was really interesting to get them thinking about where they’d like to be in future and even I learned things I did not know."

Headquartered just a few miles from the school, at Dover House, and with over 4,000 employees spanning a diverse range of sectors, P&O Ferries is well placed to offer careers advice. The company has an ongoing programme involving partnerships with local organisations and its people to support the ongoing interests of the community.

Spirit of Britain

ENDS
for more information on P&O visit www.poferries.com


* *


Some pictures now of the big Firework display on Wednesday night just prior to the Spirit of Discovery departing on its magical maiden voyage around Britain. You can see the ship all aglow in the second picture down. Here we go...explosive colour...


Fireworks for the Spirit of Discovery on July 10th.

* *

Great stuff below Mike. Cracking pictures all round there from our 'inshore correspondent'...

And excellent enjoyable pictures too further below from Ted...Great stuff Ted, always good to see your 'famous five'

Don't miss those posts below... lots of info too.

PaulB



Friday, 12 July 2019 - 07:47

 

Post 6394

  Mike J., Dover

An interesting selection from Ted with some dramatic photos on the Ramsgate lifeboat page.
Good work by the ESTUARY ELAN & the windcat as well as by the lifeboat.



9th.July arrivals -

The EUROPA enters ahead of the SOD & crosses the bay to berth on WD4




I'd just driven down overnight from the Midlands & by sheer chance came down Jubilee Way just as EUROPA entered - sometimes you get lucky.

Later in the day the SOD & SEA PRINCESS from Citadel Road on the Western Heights & & at ground level from the old Jetfoil Terminal which is expected to survive the future infilling of the Wick & Granville Dock & the Tidal Basin, surviving to serve the new boatyard.




& still the ferries keep coming . . . . . .



Friday, 12 July 2019 - 00:34

 

Post 6393

  Ted, Canterbury

"Five from Ramsgate"
The Pilot Cutter "Estuary Esprit"being lowered back into the water after an inspection of her propeller and stern gear.The Cutter normally works from Sheerness.


After sea trials the Estuary Esprit returns to her pontoon.

Low tide at Ramsgate.

Low tide looking towards the slipway.

Ramsgate Lifeboat returning from a shout.
Details taken from the RNLI Ramsgate Lifeboat Facebook site where photographs of the casualty can be found.

10th July @ 12:04 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a yacht on fire with a view to towing it back to Ramsgate. Whilst the AWB made its way to the casualty a pilot boat passing by saw the vessel alight and headed in its direction. The pilot boat then retrieved the four persons from their liferaft, took them aboard, along with their liferaft, and brought them back to Ramsgate. Also during this time a wind farm vessel had arrived on scene and using their fire hose, attempted to put the fire out. Once the AWB arrived on scene they set up two further fire hoses and assisted in trying to put the fire out. After 3/4 hour of hosing the vessel down which was still burning in some areas, it took on sea water, as the level of the hull had burnt to the sea level and unfortunately sank.

Thursday, 11 July 2019 - 12:55