Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 5451

  Mike J., Dover

Very useful info from Colette - much appreciated.
Colette's comments re Ted's recent 'hustle & bustle' pix at Ramsgate reminded me that I was at Ramsgate the same day as Ted, quite late in the day & the RV AORA must have come in after Ted had left - normally in use as a survey vessel she's currently working as a Guard Ship for the NEMO cable project.


The preserved lifeboat LAURA MONCUR who left Dover on Tuesday continues her trip around the UK, leaving Weymouth Sunday morning & arriving Brixham in the late afternoon.

Our old friend the NAS PATHFINDER who spent a lot of time in Dover back in January with her tow the larger tug PUMA has finally got as far as the Med after a long stay in La Coruna & her last reported position, three days ago, showed her in the Messina Straits, between Italy & Sicily, bound for Turkey where I'm sure the shipbreaking yards are beckoning.
I’ve not heard whether the PUMA was found after she was broke adrift in the Bay of Biscay & whether she is still being towed.

Rumour has the SOSPAN DAU, currently down at Eastbourne, will soon be back in Dover.

Sunday, 27 May 2018 - 21:28

 

Post 5450

  Sea News, Dover

The Lombok Strait arrived into Port yesterday morning having come all the way from the Americas, but it was just too misty/foggy to get a worthwhile picture...so that's one above there from the treasured archives, shows her during a near-recent departure with one of our tugs bringing up the rear...

Below a shot of one of the DWDR cranes from an evening or two ago...its the end of the day and the crane drifts slowly homewards to the inner sanctum. I say drift but of course helped along by Afon Lligwy and Llanddwyn Island..


Well done with that listing below Colette. Excellent.. great info there and all will watch for those arrivals now..especially the Royal Caribbean one. Lots of the cruise ships heading to Ireland lately I notice, which is a change to the usual. Great stuff!
"not sure which car - depends on the outfit" lol!!


PaulB
UPDATE: as mentioned in ColetteB's Cruise List below..another monster approaching.. Brilliance of the Seas.

Sunday, 27 May 2018 - 06:26

 

Post 5449

  Colette B, Dover

CRUISE VISITS
_____________

Dredgers, cranes and working vessels from far afield including the tiny Finnish Survey vessel Kippo, plus MrB’s shots of the Lamborghini and Ferrari (I’m not sure which one I’ll choose, Red or Green, it all depends on the outfit)

It’s also good to see Ted’s photos of the hustle & bustle at Ramsgate Harbour, it’s all happening

Now the last visits for the Merry Month of May.

Tomorrow Sunday 27th May, we have a great feast for the eyes, the inaugural visit from Royal Caribbean’s ‘Brilliance of the Seas’
She arrives at CT2, 08.00 hours whilst on her 13 night Round trip of the British Isles having visited Edinburgh, Invergordon, Greenock, Dublin, Holyhead, Cork and the channel island of Guernsey. This will be the first of three visits from her this cruise season, she leaves us at 16.00 hours for her home port of Amsterdam, PoC.

Then on Tuesday 29th May, we have another ‘Double Whammy’!

Firstly Saga Sapphire graces us with her presence at CT1, 08.00 hours, on her 7 night Round trip to the’ Isle of Man & TT cruise’. Her ports of call are Dublin, Liverpool, Douglas and Portland returning to Dover on Tuesday 5th June. She departs at 16.00 hours, T/R.

Also at the same time the Mega ‘Costa Mediterranea’ calls into CT2 on her 7 night Round trip to Bremerhaven. Her next ports of call being Le Havre, Hamburg then Bremerhaven leaving us at 20.00 hours, PoC.

On Wednesday 30th May, the forever graceful Boudicca arrives at CT2, 06.30 hours on her wonderful 22 night ‘Rome, Amalfi, Tuscany & the Italian Riviera’ cruise....
Her ports of call are Lisbon, Port Mahon, Naples, Amalfi, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Portofino, Genoa, San Remo, Cartagena, Malaga returning to Dover on Thursday 21st June. She leaves us at 17.00 hours, T/R.

Finally on Thursday 31st May, Silversea Cruises ‘Silver Cloud’ (last seen here June 2014) calls into CT1 at 10.00 hours on her 14 night ‘Dublin to Greenwich’ cruise. She is an ultra luxurious all-suite ship being the first & oldest of eight of this Monaco-based privately owned cruise line. She left Dublin on Tuesday 19th May having visited Douglas, Isle of Iona, Lunga (Treshnish Isles), Oban, Isle of Skye, St Kilda, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Isle of Noss, Fair Isle, Aberdeen and Hull. She departs for Greenwich on ‘Old Father Thames’ at 20.00 hours, PoC.

See you in June ……


Saturday, 26 May 2018 - 19:35

 

Post 5448

  Sea News, Dover

Harking back now again to Tuesday evening (it was a busy Tuesday!) and we see the departing Saga Pearl ..she was off to the majestic Baltic on her 'Majestic Baltic' round trip. Below we spot the pilot leaving the ship a fair way out... while at the same time you can see how popular these Saga cruises are ... Pimms anyone ?



The foggy misty conditions prevail again today here in Dover...I thought they promised us a heatwave for this busy weekend.
Can I politely ask the weather bureau .."where is it??"

PaulB

Saturday, 26 May 2018 - 06:00

 

Post 5447

  Sea News, Dover

Cruise Ships at the Port of Dover: Yes they keep coming thick and fast, we have had a great number of cruise ships already and this one above is the latest...AIDAaura...there she is above arriving yesterday morning Thursday. We have had quite a range of super clean exotic AIDA ships...keep those ships a-coming!

Below we have some Dover Lifeboat action from Tuesday evening...Yes I think it was Tuesday off the top of head, as the lifeboat generally does exercise runs on Tuesday evenings.
Yes there she goes above passing underneath the mighty Costa Mediterranea on a nice sunny colourful evening, and then pressing on out to sea. No colour today here at the Port of Dover I can tell you...we are basking in a slate grey chilly mist.

Below later the same evening, and its getting quite dark-ish for these pix as its close to 9PM, the Costa Mediterranea moves off and finally in the distance has turned round heading south to warmer climes. Hard working barge Wadden 1 rests in the foreground as night draws in.



Ah - an excellent collection from Ramsgate below Ted.. great work with the camera there. Great to see those.

Nice collection from Mike too below covering all the inshore activity here in Dover. Well done our 'inshore correspondent'

Del a great spot. You are dead right...the supercars didn't use the dedicated bays. Far too super for that sort of thing...

That Brian is a cheeky chappie so he is...

PaulB

Friday, 25 May 2018 - 07:29

 

Post 5446

  Mike J., Dover

Paying an overnight visit to Dover was the 1971-built workboat BOY BRENDAN en route to her home port of Falmouth from Lowestoft-based windfarm support work.


I was told that they had delayed their sailing as there was the possibility of work in the Thames Estuary but this charter must have fallen thru as they left Dover for Falmouth soon after 0900.


The enclosed lifeboat from the Viking Marine training school, which usually lives in the Wellington Dock, has been on the waiting pontoon for a few days & has been seen ‘exercising’ in the bay.


Returning from the BRENDAN I noticed the little survey craft KIPPO [post 4922] waiting for the swingbridge to open to allow her into Wellington Dock & later found her slowly moving up & down surveying at the far end of the dock in the area known as ‘The Bubbles’ where the River Dour enters the dock thru a sluice which is usually completely submerged.



Small the KIPPO may be but she is packed with very sophisticated technology.
The Finnish owners ‘VRT’ have a most interesting website which can be found by googling ‘VRT MULTIBEAM’

If you explore their website you’ll see that VRT were working in Dover in 2016 surveying Eastern Docks & there is an amazing sonar photo of what I think is No.9 berth.
KIPPO was also involved then [do a search for KIPPO] but I don’t think that she was photographed at the time.



Friday, 25 May 2018 - 00:48

 

Post 5445

  Del Styan, Norwich

Strange that the owners of the supercars couldn't manage to put them in a parking bay. Or am I just becoming a grumpy old man? I think middle / old age is creeping up on me!

Thursday, 24 May 2018 - 23:16

 

Post 5444

  brian, dover

Probably at buck house getting their knighthood ted.

Thursday, 24 May 2018 - 12:53

 

Post 5443

  Ted Ingham, Canterbury

Four from Ramsgate........

Another Border Agency craft I had not seen at Ramsgate before...the HUNTER.

The survey vessel MPR SOUNDER and as the name suggests specialises in taking soundings.
The multi purpose work boat SD NAVIGATOR belonging to SERCO. They have a large fleet of work boats and tugs and can be seen at the Royal Navy bases around the coast.

The split barge JOHN which has now been refurbished and should be soon towed back to the Thames .She will be replaced by her sister barge PAUL.Not sure about GEORGE and RINGO.

Thursday, 24 May 2018 - 10:20

 

Post 5442

  Sea News, Dover

A Selection of Pictures of the Nordic Giant.


Yes there we are with the new dredging platform above .. the Nordic Giant, pictures taken at various locations around and about the harbour in the past few days. She is already working very well with the returned barges Wadden 1 and Wadden 4, plenty of pictures of those two already in our files...you can find them in our Search Engine above, where you can see Mike's recent shot too. Will have more to come in due course.

And now some super exotic machinery of another kind below. These two supercars arriving in the hotel carpark last evening. The Premier Inn is the hotel, you can find it right next to the 'observation tower'.
Yes a Ferrari and a Lamborghini...wowser!

Thanks Jeremy well spotted below. Always good to get updated info as there is such a lot happening.

PaulB
Update: AIDAaura approaching...

Thursday, 24 May 2018 - 05:11

 

Post 5441

  Jeremy Ward, Whitfield, Dover

Just noticed on the AIS that the Pride of Kent is back with us after a long time away.

Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 22:34

 

Post 5440

  Sea News, Dover

Yes hugely busy in the Port lately Vic...almost too much to deal with here on Sea News...but we get there somehow. Hope you enjoy your trip to Hayling Island...looks like you have the details re petrol etc well worked out in advance.
No potholes...amazing!
PaulB


Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 18:49

 

Post 5439

  vic matcham, Dover

The Port of Dover do have a lot of coming and going of ships in 24hours per day 7days a week. Great to see all the very good photos of the movements and the work being done.Thank you we are off again soon to Hayling Island we like it there,also easy to get to up the M20 M26 M25 AND THEN down the A3 which is a new road and no pot holes YET and then the A27 fuel cost are very low on the Island which helps on the way home.

Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 10:52

 

Post 5438

  Sea News, Dover

MUST SEE NORMANDY - JUST A FERRY RIDE AWAY
_______________________________________________

Discover the beauty of rural France with DFDS crossings from £54.

This summer DFDS is offering holidaymakers wanting to explore Normandy and surrounding regions, crossings from just £54 for 2 people each way, or £61 for 2 adults and 2 children each way.

Passengers travelling from Newhaven can reach this beautiful region of France in just 4 short hours, making favourites such as Rouen and Honfleur within easy reach of the UK.

Holidaymakers can ensure their trip gets off to the best start by making the most of DFDS’ extensive on-board facilities including self-service restaurant, bar and children’s soft play and video games areas. Budding marine biologists can also join on-board experts from marine life charity ORCA and learn about the local wildlife in the English Channel as well as wildlife watching from the deck.

Families looking to tour the region can enjoy trips to the historic Mont-Saint-Michel, visit the famed Bayeux Tapestry as well as spending time exploring the many cobbled streets and winding ramparts which offer spectacular coastal views. From 26 May to 10 June visitors to the region can also join in the celebrations of the D-Day Landings by enjoying the abundance of firework displays along the coast, military parades, parachute drops and more!

For couples wishing to make the most of a romantic weekend away the tranquillity and beauty of Giverny, nestled on the banks of the Seine, is the perfect spot. Its beautiful landscape was the inspiration for Monet’s impressionist Water Lilies series and is perfect for couples wanting to spend lazy days dipping in and out of cafes.

DFDS and the Normandy Tourist Board have also partnered to offer up the chance to win a holiday for two to Normandy with ferry crossings, hotel and more included. For more information or to book a crossing,
visit: www.dfds.co.uk

-Ends-

Dunkerque Seaways and Cote des Flandres above. That's the delightful Honfleur above top.

* *

Many thanks to the DFDS team for the suggestion above.
We've added our own pictures to it.
Ah its certainly nice down that way...Honfleur, Deauville etc.

A couple of pix now of the Dover Lifeboat guys exercising in the harbour two days ago.

The shot above is a close crop of the first one.

I know the lads posting below have already uploaded pictures of these guys leaving...or more accurately Saga Pearl departing alongside the Costa.. but here is the arrival early morn of the Saga Pearl, dwarfed once again as you can see by the giant Costa Mediterranea in the background.




Well done Mike. Great all round collection below there and lots of info re all the comings and goings. Very enjoyable

Nice work too below there Patrick. Right in on the action there keeping us up to speed.

Don't miss those posts below....and..we have lots more coming!

PaulB



Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 05:10

 

Post 5437

  Cyril Jackson, Dover

Just before 0700 Tuesday LAURA MONCOR sailed, later arriving safely at Littlehampton.


The COSTA MEDITERRANEA was berthing on Cruise-2 with the tug ISA in the foreground in the Jetfoil terminal.


As Paul suspected the powerful-looking ISA was indeed the tug that brought in the WADDENs & that’s an interesting ‘catch’ of the crewman working on the slope below the wheelhouse - H&SE would have had kittens, altho’ he may have had a safety line that we can’t see.

Attitudes change - I have some movie film, filmed in the 60s by a deceased friend, of a Birkenhead tug underway with a crewman standing OUTSIDE the steel bulwarks touching up the paint of the tug’s name on the bow !
No lifejacket or safety line of course.

Later I caught the departure of the SAGA PEARL 2 as she passed the COSTA MEDITERRANIA.


As soon as the cruise ship was clear the WADDEN 4 entered, she'd been waiting off the port after dumping spoil.


A little later the SCOT VENTURE entered, coming in from Belfast, & docked on Cruise-1, presumably loaded with more DWDR concrete sections.



The most interesting vessel seen from the Ad.Pier this afternoon [for me anyway] was the tiny Finnish survey vessel KIPPO returning to Western Docks.


Looking at her AIS track she seems to have been launched by the Granville Dock boat lift, probably from a lorry, about 0900 this morning & spent some time taking a look at the DCT & the Eastern Arm.
She’s so small that I had trouble finding her later amongst the plastic boats on the Tidal Basin pontoons !


Wednesday, 23 May 2018 - 01:43

 

Post 5436

  Patrick, Marine Parade

More of the new tug 'ISA' yesterday manoeuvering the 'Nordic Giant' into position. This dredger is the latest to arrive for work in the Inner and Outer Harbours.





and today another little and large double - the towering Costa Mediterranea making her second visit of the season - and the more elegant (in my view) and smaller (cosy!) Saga Pearl II - here outbound having swung off the berth before passing the Costa



Tuesday, 22 May 2018 - 22:24

 

Post 5435

  Sea News, Dover

New on the Scene: Yes this is the newly arrived tug called ISA and quite a large impressive tug she is too. Mike got a picture of her earlier, see below 4915. I believe she is the tug that brought the Wadden barges back into DWDR action. This picture was taken yesterday. Look at the chap climbing up the frontal area there...brings new meaning to the term 'climbing the walls'


Tuesday, 22 May 2018 - 16:11

 

Post 5434

  Sea News, Dover

DWDR - Moving Forward.


The latest pictures above from the ever extending new marina pier. The hardworking guys are seen above there slotting the latest concrete section into place. It drops down from above with some delicate crane-work and they finish it tidily into position.

Yours truly is still catching up with all the goings on...and below we have some shots of the departing Prinsendam. Last Saturday evening it was...and she was off to 'de emerald oisle' in fine style. See ColetteB's listing for more details..as ever type in cruise visits in the Search Engine and away you go.

You can also see the returning Dover Lifeboat … yes just returning from action at the right time for the pictures.




Nice collection below Mike. You are certainly getting about and covering all the inshore activities.

PaulB
PS: the huge Costa Mediterranea is back in with us again today. Worth popping down to have a look..
Saga Pearl also approaching. Yes we have Little and Large today..

Tuesday, 22 May 2018 - 06:15

 

Post 5433

  Mike J., Dover

Arrival of the PACIFIC REEFER Monday morning from Piata, a small port in Peru.
Sorry ‘bout the damned lighting pole !


Unusually the SAGA SAPPHIRE stayed overnight after arriving Sunday morning & sailed Monday about 1700 for Bergen.
This gave them the opportunity to carry out an engine change for their No.5 tender & for the crew to sample Dover’s Sunday night’s nightlife.



The LAURA MONCUR is in Granville Dock & is expected to sail for Littlehampton on Tuesday morning.

Just waiting to see whether Sarah is going to post about her trip on the LAURA MONCUR as there’s no point in duplicating pix & info.
Very friendly crew aboard the 57-year old lifeboat, owned & sailed by a brother & sister.
The LAURA has an excellent website - just google ‘Laura Moncur’


Tucked away in a corner of Granville Dock is the unusual small workboat PATRIOT who has been there for months.


Whilst waiting for Sarah’s arrival on Sunday afternoon DWDR’s SHAMROCK went out for a spot of surveying.




Monday, 21 May 2018 - 22:50

 

Post 5432

  Sea News, Dover

Above there we have the Luzon Strait leaving for Vlissingen earlier this morning in the rather misty conditions. Both tugs were giving assistance but just one is showing in shot. Its incredibly busy at the Cargo Terminal as her vacant slot was taken up almost immediately this morning by the Pacific Reefer. Good to know we will have more terminals coming with the new development. See post below.

(Oddly this picture came out on display much bigger than expected...and it isnt bigger in reality.
I seem to be having a few haywire moments since the major Microsoft machinations..)

See todays interesting earlier posts below.

Monday, 21 May 2018 - 15:22