Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 5686

  Sea News, Dover

Jolly Boating Weather for the Jolly Roger....


Ah yes the old-style Jolly Roger was just languishing off the 'observation tower' on Friday...the weather had been mixed but they caught just the right level of sunshine as they idled by ever so slowly...
ahhhh glorious summer days...

Below and its a day or so earlier as this delightful old ketch ( I say ketch but... ) left the port. Name: Blaamann junior. Sadly my few pictures were not focussed, or to put it another way, they were blurred! So yours truly has attempted to make a watercolour painting out of the one below. The idea hides the defects but shows the picture...well hopefully, and it is sunday morning and all's well...


Cracking set of pictures below there Sarah..really capturing the fast Lifeboat action there. Blistering stuff!
Don't miss those....

PB

Sunday, 19 August 2018 - 07:38

 

Post 5685

  Sarah, Ramsgate

Dungeness Lifeboat Day - 12th August 2018.

Dungeness, Rye Harbour & Littlestone-on-Sea Lifeboats



Dungeness & Rye Harbour Lifeboats



Rye Harbour Lifeboat



Littlestone-on-Sea Lifeboat



Dungeness Lifeboat



Sunday, 19 August 2018 - 00:35

 

Post 5684

  Sea News, Dover

One for the notebook....

Merchant Navy Day In Dover 2018
__________________________________

A Merchant Navy Day Service is being held at Dover Town Hall on Monday 3 September from 10.30am, followed by a wreath laying ceremony on Dover Seafront at 12 noon.

The service and ceremony are being arranged by the Chairman of Dover District Council, Cllr Sue Chandler, along with Mr Donald Hunter, the Founder of the Dover and District Merchant Navy Memorial Fund, and all are welcome to attend.

National Merchant Navy Day takes place annually to honour the brave men and women of the Merchant Navy, including those who lost their lives at times of war, and to celebrate the vital role of merchant seafarers in the lives of our communities.

SCHEDULE:

10.00am - Town Hall opens.

10.20am - Standard bearers arrive and congregate by the side of the Town Hall (dry weather) or in Connaught Hall (wet weather). Guests arrive in Stone Hall.

10.30am - The Reverend takes his place. Sound the ‘Alert’ by bugler. Standard bearers march up the Town Hall steps (dry weather), or from Connaught Hall (wet weather), through Stone Hall to the dais at the rear of Stone Hall.

10.35am - Service.

10.55am - Speech by Mr Donald Hunter, Founder of the Dover & District Merchant Navy Memorial Fund, followed by closing speech by Cllr Sue Chandler, Chairman of Dover District Council.

11.00am - Standard bearers march out of Stone Hall. Light refreshments served in Connaught Hall.

11.40am - Those travelling on the coach take their seats. (Coach stationed outside the main entrance to the Town Hall).

11.50am - Coach departs for wreath-laying ceremony at Dover Seafront.

12 noon - Wreath-laying ceremony at the Merchant Navy War Memorial, Marine Parade, Dover Seafront.

Please note timings are approximate

ENDS





Saturday, 18 August 2018 - 06:22

 

Post 5683

  Sea News, Dover

Thanks Phil - you're a star.
I made a note of that on the picture in the system now for future ref.

PaulB

Friday, 17 August 2018 - 15:07

 

Post 5682

  Phil Chisholm, Dover

Both Spitfires - just the chopped wing variant

Friday, 17 August 2018 - 13:14

 

Post 5681

  Sea News, Dover

An extra pic above there from a previous Regatta. Looks like a Spitfire and possibly a Hurricane
(later update from Phil Chisholm see post above : actually 2 spitfires).
We were testing a situation with this picture earlier but we have now decided to leave the picture on display.
The Community Regatta is on here on Dover Seafront on the 26th August. See also the post below.

Friday, 17 August 2018 - 08:07

 

Post 5680

  Sea News, Dover

This guy was fast...
Blistering pace.....
Yes indeed this windsurfer powered across the harbour with blistering pace a couple of days ago...no doubt making the best of the freshening breeze and creating quite a dashing image. Very skilful for sure.... how do they stay on the thing, never mind go so fast...

Oh dear! The Maritime Skills Academy posted one of our Sea News pictures on Twitter in the past couple of days without any acknowledgement as to where it came from - not very nice.
It was then retweeted by the Port of Dover.
This is the picture...similar to the one we used recently in our Regatta post 5103. It dates from 2017.


Nice collection all round below there from our 'inshore correspondent'
Well done Mike. Very enjoyable pix there from our man on the spot.
Lol! re Specsavers...but yes it does look like its a-dangling there

PaulB

Friday, 17 August 2018 - 06:26

 

Post 5675

  Mike J., Dover

The tug DUTCH PIONEER paid a brief visit to Dover on Thursday to collect two barges.


The two Holyhead Towing tugs helped with forming up the tow & escorted it out thru the Western Entrance where the tow was ‘stretched out’ & the little convoy set off for Rotterdam.



While waiting for the departure & dodging the showers in the lee of the turret a Border Force RIB & one of Viking Marine’s rescue boats passed by.


Re Paul’s interesting post 5145 & ‘sand shift shovelling’ I noticed a DWDR bulldozer at work when I came off the Admiralty Pier.
When I first noticed it I thought it was dangling from the crane.
Should’ve gone to Specsavers . . . . .



Friday, 17 August 2018 - 00:35

 

Post 5674

  Sea News, Dover

Bit of a gloomy oul morning yesterday wednesday ( as it is indeed this morning ) for the arrival of she with the enchanting smile... AIDA aura.
Its been a while since we've seen the AIDA smile
And here it is..

She left in the dark last night, heading off towards Ireland.

Have you noticed...the days are suddenly getting shorter...gadzooks!
Ace shot below Patrick of the Coastguard helicopter. Great stuff! More of the incident in 5140.
Lol Del ...yes indeed that's a mouthful..

PB

Thursday, 16 August 2018 - 07:20

 

Post 5673

  Del Styan, Norwich

mmm - sand shift shovelling, tricky one.

Wednesday, 15 August 2018 - 23:10

 

Post 5672

  Patrick, Marine Parade

Last week saw a full scale search mounted in the outer harbour when it was reported that a person was missing in the water. Thankfully the person was found to be safe and well and the search, conducted in a line sweep across the harbour, by several of the DWDR support vessels, DHB launch, Dover Lifeboat and others, including the Coastguard Rescue helicopter, was called off.

G-MCGU helicopter that took part in the search using a thermal imaging camera.


Wednesday, 15 August 2018 - 17:42

 

Post 5671

  Sea News, Dover

ALL AT SEA: These pictures.. as you can see .. show a truck and a digger all the way down at the very pier tip of the new development. Shifting sands. From my angle it doesn't look possible to get a truck and a digger all the way down there to the leading edge but indeed they have and indeed they do. Some might say its the cutting edge of sand shift shovelling...


More REGATTA information now.....


REGATTA MUSICA: Here we are with a list of all the musical happenings on Regatta Day August 26...
________________________________________________________________________________________


As well as all of the maritime fun, this year's Port of Dover Community Regatta is set to be a musical extravaganza.

On Sunday 26 August, the shore side stage will provide the platform for some great local talent to perform throughout the day and into the evening.

The programme of artists for the day will be:

10:00 – 10:30 The Wiggins Sisters
Singing group of sisters, performing both covers and original material. Based in Kent.

10:30 – 12:00 Swingtime Sweethearts
The Swingtime Sweethearts are Annie Riley & Le'arna Castle, both successful solo artists, with a combined experience of over 20 years. Their affection for the forties has brought them together to perform as the Swingtime Sweethearts. Their wide range of songs from the 1940s, wartime & swing, includes the hits of The Andrews Sisters, Vera Lynn, Anne Shelton, Gracie Fields and Glenn Miller. The girls have been very busy since meeting in 2006, performing at Air shows, War events, and Festivals all over the country.

12:00 – 13:30 Happy Feet Ragroof Players
Let’s dance! The Ragroof Players present their latest participatory show, Happy Feet, in which a team of fabulous DJs and dancers take you on a non-stop dance-a-thon through the decades.

14:00 – 16:00 Kent’s Michael Buble – Jason Allen Sway
His tribute to The Great American Songbook includes some of the greatest swing songs ever written, performed by some of the world’s biggest stars including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and modern favourites Michael Buble, Jamie Cullum & Robbie Williams.

16:30 – 18:00 Cool Manière
Cool Manière are a 5 piece band from Kent. Playing music from the 60's up to current day.

18:30 – 20:30 Rudy Warman & the Heavy Weather
A popular trio from Folkestone playing all original music with their own unique sound.
So come along, enjoy the fun and watch some of Kent’s best talent perform on our beautiful Dover seafront.

ENDS

...so there you are, if all that doesn't get your foot tapping..well ..

* *

Excellent inshore coverage from Mike below, very enjoyable pictures for sure. Don't miss those below.
Excellent Cruise coverage below from Colette - will keep checking that. Always easily found in the Search Engine
Many thanks to both Dave and Vic for the comments too. Interesting info there...

PaulB

Wednesday, 15 August 2018 - 06:45

 

Post 5668

  Mike J., Dover

The MAYBE shifted across to the fuel berth Tuesday morning & sailed for Dublin about 1630.
Here’s a few pix of her as she prepared to sail & I’m sure that we wish her Bon Voyage on the next leg of her interrupted voyage.




She was very close to the Goodwins before the Dover lifeboat was able to secure the towline & efficiently bring her safely back to Dover.
Another good job well done.

The fuel berth enabled 'different' views of the tugs.



The lifeboats have changed round, with CITY OF LONDON 2 back on her usual berth by the boathouse & relief boat DANIEL L GIBSON is laid-up in Granville Dock.

Wednesday, 15 August 2018 - 01:09

 

Post 5667

  Dave, Sandwich

Re post 5139:
Don't worry Vic, I doubt Dover will be loosing any trade to Ramsgate. This Seaborne lot has got Euroferries written all over it. Even if (big if) this has any credibility I doubt that FRS are going to let the AL ANDALUS EXPRESS go anywhere. They have just invested a lot of money into her, inc. a replacement engine and she now has an internal ramp which isn't suitable for the short sea routes.

Tuesday, 14 August 2018 - 18:34

 

Post 5666

  vic, dovor

Well I did tell the D.H.B AND PUT IT ON HERE that the DHB needs to move into the Port of Ramsgate or some other company will, and looks like that will happen so that will be a lose of trade for Dover.

Tuesday, 14 August 2018 - 17:24

 

Post 5665

  Colette B, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
_____________

It’s Great to see that our brave RNLI & Coastguard are always at the ready either towing sailing boats needing a helping hand into port or searching for missing swimmers, thankfully all okay

Some wonderful photos of the departing HMS Diamond and her crew (Well Done Mike & Mr B) also the RNLI training complete with exhausted surfer and the congestion free zone. As always we have a Great Sea News Team with cameras at the ready to capture great shots of the many vessels either visiting or hard at work in the harbour.

Here we go again Chaps with another fine collection of visitors.

Tomorrow Wednesday 15th August we welcome back AIDAAura with her enchanting smile, she arrives at CT2, 08.00 hours whilst on her 14 night Round Trip of the British Isles & Ireland. Having left Kiel she has already called at Newcastle- Upon –Tyne, her next ports of call are Fishguard, Dublin, Belfast, Greenock, Invergordon and the Danish port of Aarhus before dropping anchor at her home port of Kiel on Saturday 8th September. She leaves us at 21.00 hours, PoC.

Then a few days break until Saturday 18th August when Pacific Princess glides into CT2 at 06.00 hours to begin her 8 night Round Trip of ‘Ireland, Scotland & Wales’ with the option of the Military Tattoo (I’d prefer something more feminine like a small Butterfly myself) lol!
She will be visiting the following ports; Jersey, St Helier, Milford Haven, Dublin, and Edinburgh before returning back to our shores Sunday 26th August on Dover Regatta Day.
She departs at 17.00 hours, T/R.

Our next visitor on Tuesday 21st August is the Saga Pearl II at CT1, 08.00 hours, starting her 4 night ‘Delightful France’ Round Trip cruise. Her first call is beautiful Honfleur, where it’s well worth visiting the Vieux-Bassin’s 16th & 18th century townhouses painted by many artists including Claude Monet & local artist, Eugene Boudin
She then has a stopover in Caen, famous for the Chateau de Caen built by William the Conqueror in 1060, flanked by the Romanesque abbeys of Saint Etienne & Sainte Trinite.
Also the Memorial de Caen, the museum dedicated to WWII 1944 Normandy Landings, before returning to Dover on Saturday 25th August.
She will be leaving us at 16.00 hours, T/R.

The following day Wednesday 22nd August Saga Sapphire calls at CT1, 08.00 hours for her 5 night ‘Edinburgh Fringe at Sea’ Round Trip. Her first port of call being Newcastle-upon-Tyne where you can visit many of its famous art galleries, she then visits Edinburgh with the ‘Fringe’ in full swing and by coincidence it is also the last day of the Military Tattoo. There is also a ‘Mini Fest’ on board where acts will regale you with dazzling performances. She leaves us at 16.00 hours, T/R.

Then on Thursday 23rd August we have another ‘Double Whammy’

Firstly we welcome back Viking Sun who arrives at CT1, 06.15 hours, whilst coming to the tail end of her 13 night One Way ‘Bergen to London Tilbury’ cruise. Having left Bergen she called at the following ports: Lerwick, Invergordon, Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Ullapool, Belfast, Liverpool, Holyhead then across the Irish Sea to Dublin before setting sight for Dover. After leaving us at 18.00 hours she sets course for Tilbury via Old Father Thames, PoC.

Then Hapag-Lloyd’s MV Europa arrives at CT2, 07.30 hours (not seen here since May 2016, so a Huge Welcome Back!). She is on a 14 night one way ‘Travemunde to Hamburg’ cruise having already visited the following ports, Edinburgh, Ullapool, the Isle of mull, the Isle of Man, Liverpool, Dublin, Tresco Island in the Scillies, Fowey and the Isle of Wight. After leaving our shores at 18.00 hours she drops anchor in Hamburg on Friday 25th August, PoC.

Finally on Friday 24th August, Boudicca calls at CT2, 07.00 hours to start her 5 night ‘Cruising the Seine’ Round Trip. Her first port of call is Honfleur where you can see St Catherine’s Church which is the oldest timber church in France or embark on a tour of Bayeux to see the iconic Bayeux Tapestry at William the Conqueror centre.

Then on to Rouen in the Heart of Normandy to uncover tales of Joan of Arc at Place du Vieux Marche where the’ Maid of Orleans’ was burnt at the stake in 1431. Visit the spectacular Cathedrale de Notre Dame which houses the heart of Richard the Lionheart. Tour Claude Monet’s House & explore the gardens which inspired him to paint the legendary ‘Water Lilies’ or head to Paris for a romantic liaison. Finally board the graceful lady Boudicca to head home via the River Seine. Get me on this cruise Now! ……..
She leaves us at 17.00 hours, T/R.

I will be back with the next batch of cruise calls Real Soon Folks


Tuesday, 14 August 2018 - 15:40

 

Post 5664

  Sea News, Dover

These pictures today show the fairly frantic harbour search which took place last week. a young man was reported as 'lost' in the waters of the harbour and a rapid fire and well organised search took place featuring the HM Coastguard helicopter, the Lifeboat, and various other small boats from the workings of the DWDR.

In the end there was no tragedy to report as the young man was found safe and well elsewhere. The helicopter shown hovered very close to yours truly's 'observation tower' as you can see, as they searched the waters edge.




Very interesting item and picture below Andrew...fascinating story about the possible return of a legend.

PaulB

Tuesday, 14 August 2018 - 06:48

 

Post 5663

  Andrew Humphreys, Broadstairs

A regular ferry seen in Dover in the past, the NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS, now called AL ANDALUS EXPRESS under the Cypriot flag may be returning to our shores from Spain. Press reports circulating over several months with many rumours spreading amongst ferry enthusiasts, that a ferry service from Ramsgate to Ostend will return has taken a step closer. Seaborne Freight has launched a website upon which are the aims of the Company to provide an unaccompanied freight service, passengers may follow later, together with a proposed timetable and providing certain agreements are reached; the service could be in place within the final quarter of this year. They consider that a three vessel service will be required and whilst no names of vessels are given, the NORD PAS-DE-CALAIS is eminently suitable for the role. A round the clock service is essential and it is believed dredging at Ramsgate will be required to allow for all states of the tide sailings, the cost of this may be a point of issue before the service can commence. It will be interesting to see how this develops and I shall endeavour to keep Sea News accurately informed.

Monday, 13 August 2018 - 22:51

 

Post 5662

  vic, dovor

Some of their legs look like mind and I cannot walk

Monday, 13 August 2018 - 14:52

 

Post 5661

  Sea News, Dover

Motis Ireland Limited Commercial Director qualifies for the GB Triathlon team!
______________________________________________________________________


Motis Ireland is pleased to give full support to our very own Commercial Director, Chris Polwart, who will be heading to the Gold Coast (Australia) to compete in the ITU Triathlon (Age Group) World Championship’s representing team GB in September this year.

Chris has completed Triathlons from the Shorter "Sprint" distance all the way to Full distance "Ironman" over the last 6 years and managed to secure a spot on the GB squad at a qualifying race in Chester in July where he finished 2nd in the Age Group category. This gave him the opportunity to compete in the same arena with the likes of Jonny Brownlee, Mario Mola and many of the current greats of the sport. Chris will be racing in the "Olympic Distance" race which comprises of a 1500mtr Sea Swim, 40km Bike and 10km Run.

As Motis is very much a Pan European business, Chris spends a significant amount of time visiting customers, suppliers, partners and staff throughout Europe. It is not unusual for Chris to be out running / Swimming / Cycling at sunrise (and before!) to keep fit (and hopefully fast) whilst managing a busy schedule and you are unlikely to find him travelling without at least a pair of trainers in his suitcase!

Motis Ireland is Europe’s leading supplier of Freight Ferry bookings, Motorway Toll payment systems, Truck parking, VAT reclaim, Operates the FSA Facility in Dover’s Western Docks in addition to many other services to the European Transport industry. Learn more at www.motis.com.





ENDS

Many thanks to Motis Ireland for the very interesting sporting story above there. Good luck to Chris.
Always nice to have the info coming through.

* *

And now a couple of pictures of the new western docks cargo building. Under a stormy sky just a few days ago ...the all new building was caught by the late sun making it an attractive and colourful scene...and here it is...




Ah lovely stuff below there Sarah, great action from Whitstable. Nice pictures to enjoy there for sure. Keep snapping!
Very interesting pictures and words below there Andrew too. All enjoyable and very nice shots.
Well done Mike once again for catching up for us on the inshore comings and goings.


PaulB



Don't miss all those recent posts below.



Monday, 13 August 2018 - 07:26