Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 6170

  Sea News, Dover

The pictures above show Baltic Klipper arriving here at the Port of Dover late last week, just as the fog begins to lift and pull back.


Let's build a global Britain says Charlie Elphicke MP

In the 2016 referendum, some two thirds of the voters in Dover and Deal voted to leave the European Union. The decision was clear – to take back control of our borders, laws, money and trade.

People voted to leave the EU knowing that it would not be easy. They knew there could be bumps in the road. Indeed that was pretty much all the Remain campaign talked about – how the economy would go into recession, everyone would lose their jobs, house prices would collapse and so on.

Yet despite all these dire warnings, voters here in Dover and Deal opted to leave the EU. That decision took real political courage. Political courage that has not been matched by the House of Commons.

Having triggered the Article 50 two year countdown clock, MPs have been looking for ever more inventive ways either of watering everything down to a "soft" Brexit or seeking to stop Brexit altogether. We are meant to be leaving at the end of this week. The only thing we can safely predict is that won’t happen.

Everyone knows I backed Remain in the referendum. A key reason was because I was doubtful as to the ability of our government machinery and political system to deliver a really big project like Brexit. In that I have not been disappointed. Yet I am a democrat – and the decision having been made I have done all I can to implement the instructions of the people I represent.

I have listened carefully to what people locally have been saying recently. I have thought deeply about the current situation.

I have always been clear we must respect the referendum result and leave the EU, deal or no deal. Sadly, people who never accepted that will not allow us to leave without a deal - and look set to force through a soft Brexit or even a second referendum.

I believe this would cause serious damage to this country's great tradition of democracy. It would also lead to endless argument over Brexit - when people want us to get on with it and focus on other hugely important things, like schools, hospitals, home ownership and law and order.

I will therefore give my support to the Withdrawal Agreement. Because as some of the longest and strongest supporters of Brexit have said, while it is not a good deal, it is better than not leaving at all. And that is the choice we now face.

It means an end to billions for Brussels bureaucrats. An end to uncontrolled immigration. An end to having to adopt new EU laws on tax, the environment, labour, state aid and business. New controls over farming and fishing.

Over the next two years, after we have left the EU, strong leadership will give us the opportunity to negotiate a positive future relationship and escape the Backstop trap.

That is where I believe our efforts should now be focussed. Our goal should be nothing less than a truly global Britain.

ENDs


The newsletter above came through late last week...and we know what happened to the Withdrawal Agreement - it went downnnn…. which way will Charlie flip this week?


Another shot below of the lifting fog... this time looking along a deserted seafront at 9am... not a soul about.



I've had this picture below sent in...it came through from a 'reliable source' who assures me that its an up to date picture of some of the Government front bench as they ponder Brexit...
the source is normally reliable and I know I've seen these guys somewhere before, but something doesn't feel right...I know Brexit is taking its toll .. but...


PaulB
ps: AIDAluna in port..
some new Dover Lifeboat pictures up tomorrow, still in camera but will catch up...

Monday, 1 April 2019 - 08:10

 

Post 6169

  Sea News, Dover

Delighted to see the new cranes at the new western cargo terminal in the pic above. This picture was taken a couple of days ago and also shows the Russian ship Kapitan Sakharov which was picking up quite a load of grain we understand. They are still working on the cranes but for a brief period they looked this way and we happily got the shot.

I was hoping to get Kapitan Sakharov departing so we could enjoy some better images but alas alas she slipped away.


Night falls on the Kapitan….


And now the Fog on Friday....
"Is there anybody out there? is there anybody...out there !"

Re our picture of the Dover Lifeboat the other day, see post 6166...
we understand the guys were off out on a shout. A small local boat had suffered an engine failure south of the Varne lightship. In such circumstances its always great to see the Lifeboat guys coming your way.

PaulB

ps: Don't forget the clocks go forward one hour today....
I was nearly caught out myself sure..
Boudicca back with us today.

Sunday, 31 March 2019 - 07:27

 

Post 6168

  Sea News, Dover

A great collection of pictures in the post below there Sarah, really great to see those close-ups. Ace work indeed. The picture above there from yours truly is slightly odd...it also shows Border Force Seeker. It was taken on...let me see... yes Thursday morning. The picture has the look of a 'fifties sci fi movie' about it, with all those men in the orange suits and white helmets, you can see them there in the foreground. Was quite surprised to see Seeker. While in the background we see tug Dauntless valiantly holding the Admiralty Pier in place!

Well Del yes its the oddest thing...the nightmare goes on. All our sitting MPs seem to know what they don't want, but seemingly have no idea what they do want. We now have another couple of weeks to try and find a solution. But it has all got very nasty, particularly amongst the Tories who are absolutely scathing with each other.
Theresa May is trying to fall on her sword, but somehow keeps missing the sword !!

PB

Saturday, 30 March 2019 - 06:14

 

Post 6167

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Following on from Paul's post I took some photos of HMC Seeker leaving Ramsgate today to go on duty. Regarding the other Cutters, Vigilant & Searcher have now been joined by Seeker which recently returned from Gibraltar. Protector has returned back from the Med she is currently at Plymouth receiving some TLC before returning to duty. Valiant is either still in the Med or has been sent to Gibraltar to replace Seeker.









Seen with Estuary Elan



Friday, 29 March 2019 - 23:30

 

Post 6166

  Del Styan, Norwich

11.00 on 29 March, and we still seem to be " in Europe ". Its a wonder Mr Trump hasn't suggested a wall yet.

Friday, 29 March 2019 - 23:13

 

Post 6165

  Sea News, Dover

Above there we have Border Force Vigilant powering by the Port of Dover a couple of days ago...cutting a dash for sure. The cutter was going at considerable speed so may have had a..ermmm..pressing engagement!

As we have heard on the news, there have been yet more migrant boat incursions, so its a busy time for the Border Force. And...there are more vessels now...we had a pic of Protector recently, above we have Vigilant, and Seeker was spotted here yesterday...picture will follow in due course...still in camera, will catch up. So it looks like Home Secretary Sajid Javid actually kept his promise, was able to deliver, and got them back from the Mediterranean.

From the BBC...

"

Two children were among 18 migrants intercepted off the Kent coast in two small inflatable boats after crossing the Channel. They were all brought to Dover and transferred to immigration officials.

"
Just caught the Lifeboat yesterday late afternoon as she powered off into the distance. Although bright, the visibility was poor at the time, so the picture below isn't great but the best we could get before the distant mist took hold. The picture is a bit forced. Looks like an emergency callout...


The foghorns wail as I write...

PaulB

Friday, 29 March 2019 - 06:55

 

Post 6164

  Sea News, Dover

Some pictures above there from yesterday showing the new cranes being further assembled over at the new western cargo terminal. We will have more pictures in due course. The pictures have been pushed as large as we can go so that hopefully all can see ok. The cranes have also recently had a red warning/safety light fitted to the top. As mentioned...more pictures in due course. Things are taking shape with speed.

Below we have a moving floral tribute on the small pier across from the Premier Inn. A substantial and impressive floral collection in place there now as you can see. We also have further pictures of the people laying them, but in case those laying the flowers are grieving … well its best not to use them.

Yours truly not sure of the circumstances behind the tribute... so if anyone knows...


As you can see a hugely impressive collection of flowers above there ….

PaulB
ps: more Border Force pictures to follow along soon..

Thursday, 28 March 2019 - 06:02

 

Post 6163

  Sea News, Dover

Atlantic Reefer


Sea News appears to have gone reefer mad at the moment with lots of them on show. The pictures this time above show Atlantic Reefer as promised. She stayed just a fairly short time, arriving Sunday morning, departing Monday morning… and there she be. Off to Vlissingen in the yellow early morning light...

The pictures below show Toploader yesterday removing the Exclusion Zone marker buoys. The yellow chain and flashing buoys are now gone and just two navigation buoys in blue have replaced it all, and these have been situated close to the entrance to the new marina. They flash a blue/green light at night...and very nice too.. very welcoming. Now that the Exclusion Zone is gone yours truly will be able to swim 20 lengths of the harbour every morning before breakfast...




PaulB

Wednesday, 27 March 2019 - 06:31

 

Post 6162

  Sea News , Dover

The Atlantic Klipper



The above pictures show regular favourite the Atlantic Klipper moving off on a high bright Sunday morning, last Sunday morning in fact ..the 24th, she was heading all the way across the afore-named Atlantic to Bridgetown in Barbados.. a long haul once again. No sooner had she left when in to Port came the similarly named Atlantic Reefer...more on that one later. So 'twas a busy Sunday morning for the cargo terminal....

PB
ps: Doughty is the tug in action there.

Tuesday, 26 March 2019 - 06:36

 

Post 6161

  Sea News, Dover

Top picture shows Boudicca once more...picture taken on Saturday evening as she moves gently astern through the western exit. She was off on a mystery cruise...

Yours truly couldn't resist a zoomed-in shot below of the passengers on the top deck as they take in their last glimpse of Dover for a while...searching no doubt for yours truly's 'observation tower' which is clearly amongst the local highlights...


Just harking back to our ol' friend the Duzgit Harmony. We saw her arriving in the earlier post...just adding this one below to show her alongside Boudicca providing the necessary services..



A recent one below of Border Force Alert as she heads off for another day in the frontline...


This one below is a mystery...help needed...(see below)
the vessel below which I thought was the Royal Navy at first was spotted off the port in heavy mist a few days ago... hmmm Thursday I think... no just double checked, it was Friday.
Its Border Force, but not the usual Border Force cutter ... or...
perhaps its a Mediterranean returnee ??
Its a very misty picture alas...


UPDATE re ABOVE: From a reliable source....

"
Just been reading your posts on sea news as I always do!

The Border Force cutter you captured is called "Protector" which quite rightly so is one of the cutters that has arrived from the Med. They have 5 cutters I believe. Seeker, Searcher, Vigilant, Valiant and Protector. All of them have been in the area recently …..

"

So there you have it...
Many thanks as ever.

PaulB

Monday, 25 March 2019 - 06:09

 

Post 6160

  Sea News, Dover

Some pictures above there of Duzgit Harmony. They were taken yesterday morning as she came towards port, her mission... to service our ol friend the cruise ship Boudicca. Conditions were very misty as she approached the port, the pictures are a wee bit forced as a consequence...but hopefully okay.

*****

And speaking of cruise ships. You will have seen/heard the news about the Viking Sky...she is currently in difficulty off Norway with passengers being evacuated/airlifted off and so on. Her engines failed in rough seas.

This is a picture below of the very ship in Dover last year. One shudders to think of anything happening to these ships...
The inscription on the picture was written at the time. She is a very new ship dating from just 2017 as I understand it..



Great set of pictures below Sarah. Hugely enjoyable, always good to see your shots as ever.
Thanks for those Patrick.. great pictures there too...yes will be great when all done. Keep snappin'

PaulB

Sunday, 24 March 2019 - 07:01

 

Post 6159

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Clyde Class Lifeboat 70-001 now called "Dolphin" leaving Ramsgate Harbour early in the morning.



Spotted passing Tilbury from Gravesend later that day.





Gravesend Pilot Boat "Guide" formerly Ramsgate Pilot Boat "Estuary Guide"








Saturday, 23 March 2019 - 20:04

 

Post 6158

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Mike J’s interesting photo of the new lock cut and marina pier taken from the heights shows two vans parked at the entrance to the pier. I recall an earlier post asking how wide the new pier was going to be.
From Mike’s photo it doesn’t appear (sorry about the unintentional pun) to be anywhere near as wide as the old Prince of Wales.

Great photos all round as usual. Can’t wait for it all to be finished.

Saturday, 23 March 2019 - 09:57

 

Post 6157

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Another view of the open Bascule Bridge taken a few days ago before the temporary work bridge was removed.



Saturday, 23 March 2019 - 09:33

 

Post 6156

  Sea News, Dover

Mike mentions the new bridge below and mentions that he has yet to see it open...this picture below was taken earlier in the week and shows it open, and you can see it here dwarfing the Hythe Bay Restaurant and the Seasports Centre …



Just at the left corner of the top shot you can just see the new Marina Control building. Here it is below, they are still working on it as you can see...a chap in orange suit, as per norm, works on the windows.


Interestingly without knowing it...my lens reached all the way into the tidal basin and on the left above...you can just catch a glimpse of Border Force Hunter at rest. I've enlarged the picture below so all can see a bit more clearly. Wasn't aware I could get into the inner harbour with lens...they must have cleared some structures out of the way. Anyway here we are...



Very enjoyable collection below Mike..well done with those. All great to see...great one of the bridge for sure.

PB

ps: we mentioned previously that its a bascule bridge...here we are with some further explanation..

"
A bascule bridge (sometimes referred to as a drawbridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or "leaf", throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single or double-leafed.

The name comes from the French term for balance scale, which employs the same principle. Bascule bridges are the most common type of movable span because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate, while providing the possibility for unlimited vertical clearance for marine traffic.

"

Yes I had to look it up ...the above from Wikipedia.


Saturday, 23 March 2019 - 06:37

 

Post 6155

  Mike J., Dover

Wednesday visitors - CARDIUM II & RENOWN IV are Whitstable shellfish vessels, also an overnighting floating cocktail cabinet which had departed by Thursday afternoon when CARDIUM II was in Granville Dock & RENOWN IV blocked-up in the boatyard, presumably both here for refit.




Pontoons are starting to appear in the new marina.


The temporary bridge over the new cut has disappeared & the new bridge has been reported opening & closing on test, but never when I’ve been up at St.Martins !



Re Paul’s remarks about ‘things getting better/worse’ the only sure thing that you can be sure about with the whole Brexit shambles is that you can’t be sure about anything . . . . . .



Friday, 22 March 2019 - 09:48

 

Post 6154

  Sea News, Dover

Dover, Bad Traffic Blues:
Yes indeed, that was the scene yesterday morning at 8am...more traffic chaos here in Dover and its not likely to get any better anytime soon, with Brexit in the offing. Our politicians leap from chaotic shambles to chaotic impasse and to all stations in between....and are unable to fix anything. Although you could in fact say ... that they've fixed it good and proper already!

From the BBC:

The boss of the UK's busiest port has warned people travelling to the European mainland in the run-up to Brexit to be prepared for disruption. Dover Harbour Board chief executive Doug Bannister told the BBC families should allow sufficient time and have snacks and water in their cars.

"If it takes an additional two minutes to process a vehicle, that could lead to a 17-mile queue," he said.

Dover handles 17% of the UK's goods trade, worth more than £120bn.
Every year, 2.3 million tourist vehicles pass through the port.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March, although there is a possibility that the deadline will be extended.
( short extension now granted ).
The government said last year that Dover and other Channel ports could face disruption for up to six months in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Ends

Remember previously...those massive holdups a year or two back...

Having a Fag in the Fastlane


The top picture taken yesterday shows Jubilee Way again and you can see local traffic stuck in the lorry queue. A pity. As we mentioned before... have the middle lane coming towards the Port rather than away ( there are currently 3 lanes)....it will work and keep local traffic moving. Imagine a local mum or dad stuck there trying to get the little ones to school...and you cant move. I've seen people out of sheer frustration 'do a 180' there and turn into the oncoming 2 lanes in an effort to get back to the roundabout at the top of the hill. Not safe. The lane re-alignment seems a simple helpful idea.

Thanks Brian ..yes it goes on...
like they used to say "it will get worse before it gets better "

PaulB

EXTRA:

Poor government engagement hampers business Brexit planning
____________________________________________________

21st March 2019

The Road Haulage Association is frustrated with HMRC’s continuing failure to help businesses prepare for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.

Trade bodies including the RHA have criticised Whitehall officials about their "quality of engagement" which has left industry with a "fragmented understanding" of government plans.

HuffPost reports that businesses attending the Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) told HMRC that firms aren’t ready for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit. They said that the department hasn’t given industry enough information about new customs processes and is sceptical of how they would work in practice.

RHA managing director of policy and public affairs, Rod McKenzie said that the government is still keeping firms in the dark about ‘no-deal’ preparations leaving them unable to plan for the future.

"We’ve not been able to fully communicate government plans to our members; the information we can share is woefully inadequate, incomplete and doesn’t give firms the support they need. Government inertia has left UK businesses unprepared for the realities of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit."

-ENDS-

Friday, 22 March 2019 - 07:09

 

Post 6153

  brian dixon, dover

yeah your right paul. road clear at 0700 this morning. TAP now back on again for the third day running.

Thursday, 21 March 2019 - 09:59

 

Post 6152

  Sea News, Dover

And now some pictures of the Pacific Reefer arriving on a gorgeously bright colourful morning...
which made a pleasant change from all the ongoing grey.


Almost too bright those pix...we need an eyesight adjustment to come to terms with the brighter springtime conditions. If indeed the springtime conditions are here at last. One lives in hope...

Thanks Brian ...Im afraid the prospect for continual traffic chaos is on the immediate cards

Hi Del yes the politicos have slipped down the popularity scale in recent times...no two can seem to agree on anything and the chance of getting some sense from any one of them recedes ever further. Cliff edge Brexit approaches while they look on in wide-eyed bewilderment. And yes as you said.. the 15 mile tailbacks have been ongoing.

The hotel looks good now that its complete. Will watch out for those foxes...

PaulB

Thursday, 21 March 2019 - 07:14

 

Post 6151

  Del Styan, Norwich

I don't think Charlie is entirely up to date - the work to rule has been on going for the last 4 weeks, not just last week. I think it's time he went for a visit to Calais.

Nice to see the Premier Inn complete.

Hope the weather improves - spring is here! More fox shots on the cliffs please!

Wednesday, 20 March 2019 - 23:21