Ships in the Port of Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/ 137 rows en-gb 60 Norman Spirit http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1781506.html Norman Spirit Sunday 15 November 2009: Norman Spirit

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]]> Sun Nov 15 2009 Old Town Gaol http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1751056.html Guide to the Old Town Gaol tourist attraction in Dover which, together with the White Cliffs Experience, was closed down several years ago when Dover District Council's finances hit rock bottom. The attraction was located beneath the Maison Dieu in what were originally the cells for female prisoners in the old Victorian prison and also included the courtroom on the ground floor above. The original entrance lobby to the attraction now serves as the Visitor Information Centre. Full Size: all photos can be viewed full size by clicking the "Full Size" box in the options beneath each opened photo and then left clicking within the photo. Sunday 6 September 2009: Guide to the Old Town Gaol tourist attraction in Dover which, together with the White Cliffs Experience, was closed down several years ago when Dover District Council's finances hit rock bottom. The attraction was located beneath the Maison Dieu in what were originally the cells for female prisoners in the old Victorian prison and also included the courtroom on the ground floor above. The original entrance lobby to the attraction now serves as the Visitor Information Centre. Full Size: all photos can be viewed full size by clicking the "Full Size" box in the options beneath each opened photo and then left clicking within the photo.

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]]> Sun Sep 6 2009 Eurodam Black Watch and Hoverport Demolition http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1731957.html Holland America's Eurodam on the Admiralty Pier with Fred Olsen's Black Watch departing. Hoverport in the final stages of demolition. Subsequently completely demolished by mid July with just the small building by the propeller left in situ, presumably containing an electricity sub-station or similar. The propeller is to go to the Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-Solent. Understand that DHB are contemplating dismantling the clocktower and re-erecting it in a different location in readiness for building Terminal 2 in the Western Docks. Monday 6 July 2009: Holland America's Eurodam on the Admiralty Pier with Fred Olsen's Black Watch departing. Hoverport in the final stages of demolition. Subsequently completely demolished by mid July with just the small building by the propeller left in situ, presumably containing an electricity sub-station or similar. The propeller is to go to the Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-Solent. Understand that DHB are contemplating dismantling the clocktower and re-erecting it in a different location in readiness for building Terminal 2 in the Western Docks.

Black Watch departing Black Watch departing Black Watch departing Black Watch departing Black Watch departing Eurodam on the Admiralty Pier Clocktower and propeller Clocktower and propeller

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]]> Mon Jul 6 2009 Dover 2009 - Louis Bleriot centenary celebrations http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1731371.html Dover 2009 was a two day event to commemorate the centenary of Louis Bleriot making the first flight across the Dover Strait from France to England. The seafront was absolutely packed with crowds enjoying all the fun of the various attractions and witnessing the aerial displays. Early on the saturday, an original Bleriot XI had reprised Bleriot's crossing from Calais to Dover. During the afternoon, the Battle of Britain flight Lancaster bomber was the star of the show and made a couple of low circuits over the harbour. Unfortunately, a Spitfire was unable to make it as it burst its tailwheel at Lydd airport. A Boeing Stearman stunt plane and an RAF air sea rescue helicopter both put in an appearance, the Stearman had earlier carried an 89 year old wingwalker across from France. To close the show, the Red Arrows staged a flypast, closely followed by their French counterparts, La Patrouille de France. Later that evening there was a spectacular fifteen minute firework extravaganza, staged from the Prince of Wales pier. On sunday, there was a freefall parachute team display followed by aerobatics from the Boeing Stearman and then the legendary Spitfire gave a stunning performance over the harbour. The Duke of Yorks Royal Military School hosted a variety of displays over the two days. Swedish 737 pilot Mikael Carlson flew an original Bleriot XI across from Calais on sunday morning. I was just in time to catch him and his team dismantling it in their marquee after the show. It looked extremely fragile and I said to him "Wow, you don't mean to say you flew that" and he replied "Yes, flew it across the Channel this morning!" Rubbing shoulders with greatness! See also - Louis Bleriot collection at: http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1203854.html Sunday 26 July 2009: Dover 2009 was a two day event to commemorate the centenary of Louis Bleriot making the first flight across the Dover Strait from France to England. The seafront was absolutely packed with crowds enjoying all the fun of the various attractions and witnessing the aerial displays. Early on the saturday, an original Bleriot XI had reprised Bleriot's crossing from Calais to Dover. During the afternoon, the Battle of Britain flight Lancaster bomber was the star of the show and made a couple of low circuits over the harbour. Unfortunately, a Spitfire was unable to make it as it burst its tailwheel at Lydd airport. A Boeing Stearman stunt plane and an RAF air sea rescue helicopter both put in an appearance, the Stearman had earlier carried an 89 year old wingwalker across from France. To close the show, the Red Arrows staged a flypast, closely followed by their French counterparts, La Patrouille de France. Later that evening there was a spectacular fifteen minute firework extravaganza, staged from the Prince of Wales pier. On sunday, there was a freefall parachute team display followed by aerobatics from the Boeing Stearman and then the legendary Spitfire gave a stunning performance over the harbour. The Duke of Yorks Royal Military School hosted a variety of displays over the two days. Swedish 737 pilot Mikael Carlson flew an original Bleriot XI across from Calais on sunday morning. I was just in time to catch him and his team dismantling it in their marquee after the show. It looked extremely fragile and I said to him "Wow, you don't mean to say you flew that" and he replied "Yes, flew it across the Channel this morning!" Rubbing shoulders with greatness! See also - Louis Bleriot collection at: http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1203854.html

Approaching the seafront Two cruise ships in port Expectant crowds on Dover beach Expectant crowds on Dover beach Eastern Docks with Maersk Dover entering Boeing Stearman stunt plane Police RIB Police RIB and MSC Lirica Lancaster over Eastern Docks Lancaster over harbour Lancaster bomber Lancaster over MSC Lirica Lancaster over Regatta Lancaster over Clock Tower Lancaster over Regatta Lancaster over MSC Lirica and Regatta Lancaster over MSC Lirica Lancaster banking Lancaster overhead Lancaster banking away Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster circling back over Eastern Docks Lancaster over Western Docks Lancaster over Dover beach Lancaster over Waterloo Mansions Lancaster over rooftops Lancaster vanishing behind Castle RAF Sea King RAF Sea King RAF Sea King over MSC Lirica Visitor Information Kent Police stand Statue of Rolls, first man to fly the Channel in both directions MN Memorial statue Granville Gardens stalls Sound stage and statue of the Waiting Miner More marquees Red Arrows commence flypast Red Arrows overhead Red Arrows over Castle La Patrouille de France following Red Arrows La Patrouille de France over Castle Exhaust trails Freefall parachute team descending

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]]> Sun Jul 26 2009 70013 Oliver Cromwell at Folkestone West http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1731207.html BR "Britannia" class locomotive 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" taking water at Folkestone West whilst heading the "Cathedrals Express" railtour on 23rd July 2009. Video of the train passing through Dover Priory a little earlier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJa9Gbexbg Thursday 23 July 2009: BR "Britannia" class locomotive 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" taking water at Folkestone West whilst heading the "Cathedrals Express" railtour on 23rd July 2009. Video of the train passing through Dover Priory a little earlier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJa9Gbexbg

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]]> Thu Jul 23 2009 Congestion in the Port of Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1730481.html These are some photos I took on 14th Sept 2004. I was up at the National Trust site above the port and noticed the huge tailback of traffic. The SeaFrance computer system had broken down. When that happens to one of the ferry operators, the queue for that operator stretches back from the booths to the point in the corner of the port called Compactor Corner. Thereupon, trucks and cars for other operators cannot get past to enter the lanes for their own booths. Consequently, the traffic comes to halt and starts to build back all the way through the port, all the way back through the town, and then all the way back along the A20 towards Folkestone. Needless to say, this causes gridlock in the town of Dover. I am posting this because the same thing has happened today, on 24th July 2009, with a computer systems failure at P&O. Friday 24 July 2009: These are some photos I took on 14th Sept 2004. I was up at the National Trust site above the port and noticed the huge tailback of traffic. The SeaFrance computer system had broken down. When that happens to one of the ferry operators, the queue for that operator stretches back from the booths to the point in the corner of the port called Compactor Corner. Thereupon, trucks and cars for other operators cannot get past to enter the lanes for their own booths. Consequently, the traffic comes to halt and starts to build back all the way through the port, all the way back through the town, and then all the way back along the A20 towards Folkestone. Needless to say, this causes gridlock in the town of Dover. I am posting this because the same thing has happened today, on 24th July 2009, with a computer systems failure at P&O.

Freight traffic choked at Compactor Corner Freight building back through the approach Freight tailing back all the way through Dover and for miles back on the A20

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]]> Fri Jul 24 2009 Norman Arrow http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1727688.html Norman Arrow Saturday 18 July 2009: Norman Arrow

On Prince of Wales with AIDAcara on Admiralty Pier Cruise Terminal 1 on 26.05.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Departing from ED3 on 17.06.09 Bow view on 24.06.09 Departing from ED1 on 10.07.09 Departing from ED1 on 10.07.09 Departing from ED1 on 10.07.09 Departing from ED1 on 10.07.09 Spring Panda and Norman Arrow on 12.07.09

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]]> Sat Jul 18 2009 Hellfire Corner 1940's Weekend 2009 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1712247.html Another colourful Hellfire Corner 1940's weekend in Pencester Gardens in the middle of Dover. See the index page for collections of photos from the two previous years. Sunday 14 June 2009: Another colourful Hellfire Corner 1940's weekend in Pencester Gardens in the middle of Dover. See the index page for collections of photos from the two previous years.

View from the entrance to Pencester Gardens Dickie Lines singing Bing Crosby Dickie Lines on the bandstand 1930's GPO van 1930's Austin Ten Gulf War Daimler Ferret with town clerk Mike Webb and wife Carole viewing Daimler Ferret scout car Contents of 1930's GPO van Buick limo Buick limo Buick with engine on display Camouflaged Jeep 354 (Dover) Squadron Air Training Corps stand Re-enactors Re-enactors Jeep with re-enactor USO canteen truck USO canteen truck USO Burlesque dancer USO Burlesque dancer USO Burlesque dancer USO Burlesque dancer USO Burlesque dancer USO Bud Flanagan singer USO Bud Flanagan singer ATC band ATC band ATC band ATC band ATC band ATC band ATC band Swingtime Sweethearts with guest Mike McFarnell videoing the Swingtime Sweethearts Veteran explaining his medals Organiser Barry Williams with my wife Chris and her sister Annette Swingtime Sweethearts with dancers Swingtime Sweethearts with dancers Swingtime Sweethearts with dancers Swingtime Sweethearts with dancers and Royal Marines

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]]> Sun Jun 14 2009 Old postcards, prints and paintings of Dover Harbour - Part 2 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1699765.html Further postcards, prints and paintings following on from Part 1. Wednesday 22 July 2009: Further postcards, prints and paintings following on from Part 1.

New life-saving dress 1883 Victoria Park in late 19th century Collision off Dover 1878 between barque Moel Eilian and Hamburg-Amerika liner Pommerania Damage to Southern Breakwater after collision during construction Reverse of Southern Breakwater damage postcard Admiralty Pier with ferries berthing and locomotive on the pier Collision off Dover 1878 between barque Moel Eilian and Hamburg-Amerika liner Pommerania - article Dover Harbour in the reign of Queen Elizabeth from a later engraving dated 1797 Dover Bay between the wars Granville Gardens Promenade looking West SECR train in Folkestone Warren White Cliffs of Dover John Heywoods guide to Dover 1892 Map of Dover 1892 View of docks in late 19th century Men of War off Dover 1652 by Isaac Sailmaker Albions cliffs and glittering sands 1902 Dover seafront May 1941 Dovor Castle 1830 The Pier and Harbour, Dovor, 1830

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]]> Wed Jul 22 2009 Dover during French fishermen's blockade 15 APR 2009 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1685654.html The Eastern Docks packed with ferries on 15th April 2009 when French fishermen blockaded Dunkerque, Calais and Boulogne. Photos taken from the National Trust property on the cliffs above the Eastern Docks. The Maersk Delft had just departed so unfortunately I missed getting all three Maerks D's in Dover simultaneously. Tuesday 21 April 2009: The Eastern Docks packed with ferries on 15th April 2009 when French fishermen blockaded Dunkerque, Calais and Boulogne. Photos taken from the National Trust property on the cliffs above the Eastern Docks. The Maersk Delft had just departed so unfortunately I missed getting all three Maerks D's in Dover simultaneously.

Pride of Burgundy on South Jetty SeaFrance NPC and Maersk Dover on ED5 and ED6 Prides of Dover, Canterbury and Kent on ED7 ED8 ED9 European Seaway and Maersk Dunkerque on ED2 and ED3 TV crew filming from National Trust Eastern Docks with check-in plaza in foreground European Seaway and Maersk Dunkerque on ED2 and ED3 European Seaway, Maersk Dunkerque, SeaFrance NPC, Maersk Dover, Prides of Dover, Canterbury and Kent on ED2-ED9 Dover Cargo Terminal and Check-in Plaza European Endeavour on ED1 Pride of Burgundy on South Jetty Langdon Bay bronze age wreck sign at National Trust Map of view from National Trust SeaFrance NPC and Maersk Dover on ED5 and ED6 Panorama from National Trust site on cliffs Panorama close-up from National Trust site on cliffs

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]]> Tue Apr 21 2009 Pride of Canterbury http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1666326.html Pride of Canterbury sailing from ED2 on wednesday 11th March 2009 following a prolonged absence of over a year after running over a wreck in the Downs and losing her port propeller. Thursday 12 March 2009: Pride of Canterbury sailing from ED2 on wednesday 11th March 2009 following a prolonged absence of over a year after running over a wreck in the Downs and losing her port propeller.

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]]> Thu Mar 12 2009 Hitachi high speed train maintenance depot in Ashford http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1642198.html A visit by the members of Castle Forum from Dover to view the new Hitachi train maintenance depot in Ashford. Three of the new Class 395 high speed trains were in residence. The depot manager, Neville Dyson, kindly treated us to an informative presentation followed by a tour of the depot. Photos of the interior of the trains were not permitted as the trains are the property of Southeastern and not yet ready for presentation to the public. The four trainsets which have so far arrived in the country have completed 35,000 miles of testing and are certified to run on every part of the Southeastern network. The remainder of the twentynine trainsets on order will be delivered from Japan over the remainder of the year and the full service will commence in December 2009. Many of the sets will be in service in the intervening period and will substitute for classic services around the network as required. Friday 23 January 2009: A visit by the members of Castle Forum from Dover to view the new Hitachi train maintenance depot in Ashford. Three of the new Class 395 high speed trains were in residence. The depot manager, Neville Dyson, kindly treated us to an informative presentation followed by a tour of the depot. Photos of the interior of the trains were not permitted as the trains are the property of Southeastern and not yet ready for presentation to the public. The four trainsets which have so far arrived in the country have completed 35,000 miles of testing and are certified to run on every part of the Southeastern network. The remainder of the twentynine trainsets on order will be delivered from Japan over the remainder of the year and the full service will commence in December 2009. Many of the sets will be in service in the intervening period and will substitute for classic services around the network as required.

Rather blurry view of the depot entrance Three trainsets in residence at the time of the visit Our leader poses in front of one of the high speed trains. Stores area in background. Maintenance platforms run the length of each train Frontal view showing streamlined nosecone Neville Dyson expounding Depot track switchboard First of the class 395 001. The sliding doors are a tried and tested Japanese design in use for many years. All parts can be handled by one man Inspection pits run the length of each train Nosecone opened to access coupler Neville Dyson and train buffs My son-in-law Vince used to be a train guard and his old canteen is somewhere under the foundations Streamlined form reveals ancestry - Series 400 Shinkansen bullet train was used as base for design. Castle Forum group photo Castle Forum group photo

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]]> Fri Jan 23 2009 Townsend car ferry S.S. "Forde" http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1615019.html Townsend car ferry S.S. "Forde" Sunday 23 November 2008: Townsend car ferry S.S. "Forde"

Forde with an impressive array of automobiles waiting on the quayside. Forde at the quayside from a photo in 1937 from a book entitled Cross-section of the Forde. Townsend route map.

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]]> Sun Nov 23 2008 Calais sunbeams http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1614200.html Dramatic sunbeam fan streaming down on Calais from behind dark clouds. For all the world it appeared that Calais had been targetted by a small air burst thermonuclear warhead! Friday 21 November 2008: Dramatic sunbeam fan streaming down on Calais from behind dark clouds. For all the world it appeared that Calais had been targetted by a small air burst thermonuclear warhead!

Maersk Delft with Calais bathed in dramatic sunbeams. Close-up of Calais sunbeams. Calais port structures sharply delineated in sunbeam fan. Closer view of Calais sunbeams.

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]]> Fri Nov 21 2008 Burlington House abseil http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1601941.html Firemen abseiling down the side of Burlington House in Dover on 27 OCT 2008. Burlington House is a derelict skyscraper which has been empty for several years and is awaiting demolition as part of the regeneration scheme for the whole area, designated the DTIZ (Dover Town Investment Zone). Monday 27 October 2008: Firemen abseiling down the side of Burlington House in Dover on 27 OCT 2008. Burlington House is a derelict skyscraper which has been empty for several years and is awaiting demolition as part of the regeneration scheme for the whole area, designated the DTIZ (Dover Town Investment Zone).

Preparing the abseiling equipment. First pair over the top. First pair ready to descend. First pair part way down. First pair further down. Second pair prepare to descend. Second pair on their way down. Second pair continue descent.

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]]> Mon Oct 27 2008 Merchant Navy Memorial unveiling 03 SEP 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1573070.html Unveiling of the Merchant Navy memorial on Dover seafront on Merchant Navy Day 3rd September 2008. The dedication speech was made by Winston Churchill, grandson of the legendary wartime leader. The driving force behind the erection of the memorial was Donald Hunter who had served as a Radio Officer on the Atlantic convoys and with the Normandy invasion forces. This memorial therefore specifically commemorates those merchant seamen who lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Normandy invasion, a sacrifice which Don rightly feels has not received the attention it deserves. The statue depicts a navigating officer looking out to sea across the Dover Strait through the Western Entrance to Dover Harbour. Monday 8 September 2008: Unveiling of the Merchant Navy memorial on Dover seafront on Merchant Navy Day 3rd September 2008. The dedication speech was made by Winston Churchill, grandson of the legendary wartime leader. The driving force behind the erection of the memorial was Donald Hunter who had served as a Radio Officer on the Atlantic convoys and with the Normandy invasion forces. This memorial therefore specifically commemorates those merchant seamen who lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Normandy invasion, a sacrifice which Don rightly feels has not received the attention it deserves. The statue depicts a navigating officer looking out to sea across the Dover Strait through the Western Entrance to Dover Harbour.

WW2 poster Assembled veterans and public prior to the ceremony. BBC Southeast interviewing a veteran prior to the ceremony. Don Hunter with dignitaries prior to the unveiling. Banners arriving. Reverend Ridley conducting service prior to the unveiling. Winston Churchill making a fine speech, it was as though his grandfather was speaking through him. The statue unveiled - actually the wind had already prematurely removed the red duster! Veterans with banners. Don Hunter and Winston Churchill. Don Hunter and Winston Churchill. Statue with the Ghurka band in the background. Marching away with banners after the ceremony. Marching away with banners after the ceremony. Marching away with banners after the ceremony. Marching away with banners after the ceremony. Marching away with banners after the ceremony. Veterans and dignitaries. Don Hunter with the statue. Don Hunter and Winston Churchill with the statue. Front of plinth. Veterans and dignitaries. Winston Churchill giving TV interview. Don Hunter. Winston Churchill and Don Hunter. Statue from the front. Plinth from the front. Statue from the front. Statue from the front. Plinth from one side. Statue from one side. Statue from one side. Statue from one side. Plinth from the rear. Statue from the rear, looking out through the Western Entrance. Statue from the rear, looking out through the Western Entrance. Plinth and wreaths from the other side. Plinth from the other side. Statue from the other side. Statue from the other side.

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]]> Mon Sep 8 2008 Maison Dieu cannons and grappling iron http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1572302.html Various photos of the three small ships cannons located outside the Maison Dieu. Will add some details shortly. Tuesday 2 September 2008: Various photos of the three small ships cannons located outside the Maison Dieu. Will add some details shortly.

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]]> Tue Sep 2 2008 SeaFrance Moliere in Dover August 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1564199.html SeaFrance Moliere seen conducting berthing trials on ED3 and ED9 on 17 AUG 2008. Then photo of her at sea on 25.08.08. Then sequence of her approaching Eastern Entrance on 26.08.08. Monday 18 August 2008: SeaFrance Moliere seen conducting berthing trials on ED3 and ED9 on 17 AUG 2008. Then photo of her at sea on 25.08.08. Then sequence of her approaching Eastern Entrance on 26.08.08.

Moliere at sea 25.08.08 Astor, MSC Armonia, Balmoral, SeaFrance Moliere, Pride of Burgundy, SeaFrance Berlioz. MSC Armonia and SeaFrance Moliere. In berth 9 on 26.08.08.

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]]> Mon Aug 18 2008 Romanian navy three masted barque Mircea passing Dover 16.08.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1562896.html Romanian navy three masted barque Mircea passing Dover 16.08.08 Sunday 17 August 2008: Romanian navy three masted barque Mircea passing Dover 16.08.08

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]]> Sun Aug 17 2008 French customs patrol vessel Jacques Oudart Fourmentin http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1558548.html French customs patrol vessel DF P1 "Jacques Oudart Fourmentin" passing in Dunkerque approaches. Built 2007 and based in Boulogne. Plus rather a super painting of French customs officers in the old days entitled; "June 1908 Contamines-Monjoie (Haute-Savoie). Stout shoes, an umbrella and a campbed were the only resources available to Customs officers pursuing smugglers in days gone by." Saturday 9 August 2008: French customs patrol vessel DF P1 "Jacques Oudart Fourmentin" passing in Dunkerque approaches. Built 2007 and based in Boulogne. Plus rather a super painting of French customs officers in the old days entitled; "June 1908 Contamines-Monjoie (Haute-Savoie). Stout shoes, an umbrella and a campbed were the only resources available to Customs officers pursuing smugglers in days gone by."

Jacques Oudart Fourmentin passing in Dunkerque approaches Jacques Oudart Fourmentin close-up Jacques Oudart Fourmentin passing yacht Jacques Oudart Fourmentin passing Dunkerque deepwater anchorage French customs officers pursuing smugglers in 1908

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]]> Sat Aug 9 2008 Dover in World War One http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1554060.html Dover in World War One Saturday 6 September 2008: Dover in World War One

Cruiser HMS Hazard with submarines alongside. Map of bombs and shells on Dover in WW1. Buchanans scotch whisky advert showing destroyers off Dover. Destroyers off Dover from a Buchanans scotch whisky advert. Warships in Dover Harbour pre WW1. The sinking of U-8 off Dover. The sinking of U-8 off Dover in 1915. HMS Vindictive returning from Zeebrugge. Monitor HMS Glatton which blew up in Dover Harbour in 1918. Battlecruiser HMS Inflexible awaiting scrapping at Stanlees shipbreakers yard in the Camber. Battlecruiser HMS Inflexible off the Promenade Pier awaiting scrapping at Stanlees shipbreakers yard in the Camber. Stanlees shipbreakers yard in the Camber showing dreadnoughts with superstructure removed. German submarine U-9 in the Camber in 1919. Most notoriously successful U-boat of WW1. Under the command of Otto Weddigen, sank three armoured cruisers of the U-9 on Dover beach in 1919 with the Promenade Pier in the background. On the way from Harwich to Morecambe Bay for scrapping. Went aground for a month enroute and was towed into Dover in sinking condition for repairs. Sank in the harbour. Raised and beached in front of Waterloo Mansions. Eventually repaired in the Camber. Those evil torpedo tubes in the photo accounted for the deaths of 1459 men of the Live Bait squadron alone. Dover seafront during the Peace Celebrations in 1920. Small tender Dover Harbour WW1 plan. P&O liner SS Maloja sinking after hitting a mine off Dover in 1916. Stanlees shipbreakers yard in the Camber with dreadnoughts St.Vincent and Superb etc waiting to be scrapped.

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]]> Sat Sep 6 2008 Helicopter filming advert for Norfolk Line http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1549475.html Helicopter G-CPOL filming Maersk Dover leaving and Maersk Delft entering Dover on 21st July 2008. Chopper then landed at Dover Coastguard station. Film to be used for future Norfolk Line advertising. Wednesday 23 July 2008: Helicopter G-CPOL filming Maersk Dover leaving and Maersk Delft entering Dover on 21st July 2008. Chopper then landed at Dover Coastguard station. Film to be used for future Norfolk Line advertising.

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]]> Wed Jul 23 2008 Alexander von Humboldt in Dover 18 JUL 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1545993.html First arrival of small cruise ship Alexander von Humboldt in Dover. Thursday 17 July 2008: First arrival of small cruise ship Alexander von Humboldt in Dover.

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]]> Thu Jul 17 2008 Carnival Splendor maiden voyage http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1542695.html Carnival Splendor visiting Dover on her maiden voyage. Christened by the classical musician Myleene Klaas whilst in port, with a Royal Navy diver ascending a rope from underwater to break the bottle on the ships bow. At 113,000 gross tons and up to 4,914 passengers, she is the largest cruise ship to visit Dover and the first in Carnival Cruise Line colours. The Dover Lions hosted an event on the seafront to coincide with her departure. Thursday 10 July 2008: Carnival Splendor visiting Dover on her maiden voyage. Christened by the classical musician Myleene Klaas whilst in port, with a Royal Navy diver ascending a rope from underwater to break the bottle on the ships bow. At 113,000 gross tons and up to 4,914 passengers, she is the largest cruise ship to visit Dover and the first in Carnival Cruise Line colours. The Dover Lions hosted an event on the seafront to coincide with her departure.

Statue of The Waiting Miner, soon to leave Dover, watches the new arrival. Berthed on the Admiralty Pier. Viewed through the Channel Swimmer plinths. Framed in a herbaceous border! Speed One entering for her berth on the Prince of Wales. Girl group Chix wiv Pix. Dover Lions selling raffle tickets for meals for two on the Carnival Splendor. Maersk Dunkerque departing with yachts in foreground. P&O and SeaFrance ferries with yachts. Seafront with locals enjoying the entertainment. Singer Louise Orfila. Speed One departing in her characteristic cloud of diesel. Nigel Collor. transport supremo; Charlie Elphick, Conservative prospective MP, with aide; and my partner Christine. Dover Lions collecting for charity. Carnival Splendor leaving the berth. Heading across the Bay. Further across the Bay. Approaching the Eastern Entrance. Tug giving watercannon salute. Passing Port Control and away.

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]]> Thu Jul 10 2008 Alicante Carrier entering Dover on 01.07.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1538428.html Del Monte reefer Alicante Carrier entering by Eastern Entrance on 01 JUL 2008. Photos taken from Maersk Dover which elected to depart by Western Entrance to save waiting. Thursday 3 July 2008: Del Monte reefer Alicante Carrier entering by Eastern Entrance on 01 JUL 2008. Photos taken from Maersk Dover which elected to depart by Western Entrance to save waiting.

Alicante Carrier enters by Eastern Entrance. Alicante Carrier in the bay with Pride of Dover departing. Alicante Carrier in the bay. Knuckle light in foreground. Roman pharos and Norman church prominent on skyline. Officer's Mess cloaked in green netting. Pride of Dover departing via Eastern Entrance with Coastguard Cottages prominent on cliff top.

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]]> Thu Jul 3 2008 HMS Exeter in the Dover Strait 23.06.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1534245.html Type 45 destroyer HMS Exeter seen passing down the Southwest Lane with Richborough power station chimneys in the background. Tuesday 24 June 2008: Type 45 destroyer HMS Exeter seen passing down the Southwest Lane with Richborough power station chimneys in the background.

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]]> Tue Jun 24 2008 Sheerlegs Norma arrives to shift WW1 German U-boat http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1532591.html Belgian sheerlegs Norma on the Eastern Arm in Dover on 22nd June 2008 with accompanying Smit tug Eerland 26. Will be shifting German U-boat UB38 which sank off the Varne bank in 1918. The wreck has moved around over time and Trinity House are concerned that it now presents a potential hazard to deep draught vessels passing down the Southwest Lane. Sunday 22 June 2008: Belgian sheerlegs Norma on the Eastern Arm in Dover on 22nd June 2008 with accompanying Smit tug Eerland 26. Will be shifting German U-boat UB38 which sank off the Varne bank in 1918. The wreck has moved around over time and Trinity House are concerned that it now presents a potential hazard to deep draught vessels passing down the Southwest Lane.

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]]> Sun Jun 22 2008 Hellfire Corner 1940's Weekend 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1529573.html Another brilliant annual Hellfire Corner weekend in Pencester Gardens in the centre of Dover. First photo shows Barry Williams, the organiser, with my partner Chris. The RAF living history re-enactors simulated an attack by German aircraft followed by one being shot down and the pilot brought in for interrogation, have added a wartime photo of a pilot shot down near Dover. The young lady singing is Kas. The two ladies singing in RAF uniform are the Swingtime Sweethearts. The dance troupe are the Lindy Hoppers. The brass band are the Betteshanger Colliery Band. All were absolutely outstanding. Supported by numerous military and civilian re-enactors walking around, and Terry Nunn doing his usual superlative job on the sound equipment. Great weekend. Tuesday 17 June 2008: Another brilliant annual Hellfire Corner weekend in Pencester Gardens in the centre of Dover. First photo shows Barry Williams, the organiser, with my partner Chris. The RAF living history re-enactors simulated an attack by German aircraft followed by one being shot down and the pilot brought in for interrogation, have added a wartime photo of a pilot shot down near Dover. The young lady singing is Kas. The two ladies singing in RAF uniform are the Swingtime Sweethearts. The dance troupe are the Lindy Hoppers. The brass band are the Betteshanger Colliery Band. All were absolutely outstanding. Supported by numerous military and civilian re-enactors walking around, and Terry Nunn doing his usual superlative job on the sound equipment. Great weekend.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jun 17 2008 The Russian raid on Dover 31st May 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1522341.html It is a popular misconception that the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS “Bulwark” entered Dover on 31st May 2008 and sent her landing craft onto the beach to land three hundred innocent cyclists on a charity bike ride and that no notice was given of this event and the great majority of Dovorians were unaware that it was happening. This is, of course, preposterous. Who could possibly believe that a major British warship could conduct a beach landing in the middle of Dover with nobody being any the wiser? The truth is very different and the full story of what really happened on that fateful day can only now be told. The Russian Navy is back in the ascendant, the Cold War is a dim memory and Russia’s new-found wealth through exploiting oil and gas reserves has funded a huge new warship building programme. The latest developments in Stealth technology pale before their new invention, the ability to morph a warship to represent another of their choosing. To test this revolutionary breakthrough and to lay the groundwork for future conquest, they decided to mount an exploratory raid on Dover, a crucial target in any future war, boasting as it does the busiest ferry port in Europe. They correctly reasoned that few would know they were coming, few would know when they were here, and few would care when they had gone. With the garrison withdrawn, the only defence that Dover could muster was a reconstituted Home Guard. By good fortune, a last minute warning filtered through from a secret agent and there was just sufficient time hastily to man the defences. There are empty places at the dinner tables of Dover tonight and smoke still rises from the shattered seafront but we have weathered the storm and can hold our heads high. Our intrepid front-line war correspondent braved the hail of shot and shell and lived to tell the story of that epic encounter in the dramatic words and pictures below: Wednesday 4 June 2008: It is a popular misconception that the Royal Navy amphibious assault ship HMS _Bulwark_ entered Dover on 31st May 2008 and sent her landing craft onto the beach to land three hundred innocent cyclists on a charity bike ride and that no notice was given of this event and the great majority of Dovorians were unaware that it was happening. This is, of course, preposterous. Who could possibly believe that a major British warship could conduct a beach landing in the middle of Dover with nobody being any the wiser? The truth is very different and the full story of what really happened on that fateful day can only now be told. The Russian Navy is back in the ascendant, the Cold War is a dim memory and Russia_s new-found wealth through exploiting oil and gas reserves has funded a huge new warship building programme. The latest developments in Stealth technology pale before their new invention, the ability to morph a warship to represent another of their choosing. To test this revolutionary breakthrough and to lay the groundwork for future conquest, they decided to mount an exploratory raid on Dover, a crucial target in any future war, boasting as it does the busiest ferry port in Europe. They correctly reasoned that few would know they were coming, few would know when they were here, and few would care when they had gone. With the garrison withdrawn, the only defence that Dover could muster was a reconstituted Home Guard. By good fortune, a last minute warning filtered through from a secret agent and there was just sufficient time hastily to man the defences. There are empty places at the dinner tables of Dover tonight and smoke still rises from the shattered seafront but we have weathered the storm and can hold our heads high. Our intrepid front-line war correspondent braved the hail of shot and shell and lived to tell the story of that epic encounter in the dramatic words and pictures below:

Home Guard private Mick Jenkins mans the forward observation post, wearing his helmet and combat jacket. We are getting him matching camouflage trousers and a pair of boots next year. A gun would have been nice but Mick's loud cries of We were able to rush up two green pillboxes from a rural location inland. There was no time to paint them to match the shingle. Russian forces circled behind and the two black marks show where the armour piercing rounds went in. Rest in peace, Bert and Ernie, sorely missed. Canoes left by Russian special forces who had been conducting secret reconnaissance missions prior to the landing. The diminutive couple sitting in the top left boat are spies who had mingled amongst the local community. A young maiden flees for her life and her honour as the debauched elite cycle troops pour ashore. This is what we are fighting for. General Ivan Penkovsky, Chief of Combined Operations, strides ashore bearing a camera to record defensive emplacements for when they return in force. Nothing was left to chance. The logistics backup was superb. Here a consignment of spare inner tubes and bicycle clips comes ashore. The home front was not found wanting. Here wives and girlfriends bring more ammo up to our boys fighting on the front line. One minor triumph was that we brought down all of their airborne troops, firing incendiaries from the roof of the Churchill Hotel. Here yet another of their doomed paratroopers spirals down in flames. Their rugged troop commander, Colonel Oleg Sokolov, known as the most dangerous man in Europe, congratulates his force on a task well done and promises they will be back to finish the job. Dover defiant. We shall never surrender. Here small children gather stones to fling at the invaders. The propaganda unit followed hard on the heels of the troops. Here Olga Kuznetsov, known as Moscow Rose, recounts how she initiated the operation over the Voice of Russia with the coded message Mission accomplished, The Russian landing ship

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Jun 4 2008 HMS Bulwark storms the beach in Dover 31.05.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1521086.html The Royal Navy Amphibious Assault ship HMS Bulwark arrived in Dover Harbour during the late afternoon on 31st May 2008. She was transporting 300 cyclists engaged in the “ Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride” in support of the Help for Heroes charity which is collecting money to build a swimming pool and gym complex at Headley Court, a tri-service rehabilitation centre in Surrey. The cyclists departed from HMS Victory in Portsmouth and took the ferry to Ouistreham then cycled through northern France visiting the sites of WW1 and WW2 battles before boarding HMS Bulwark by landing craft at Dunkerque, 68 years after the legendary WW2 evacuation. On arrival in Dover, Bulwark conducted a full amphibious offload, flooding her dock to discharge her four LCU’s and lowering two of the smaller LCVP’s from her davits. The landing craft ran up on the beach on Dover seafront and discharged their cargo of cyclists, whilst men from the Red Devils parachute team dropped in the sea around them. The cyclists made their way up to London the following day to conclude a ride which raised over a million pounds. Sadly, hardly anyone in Dover had been made aware that this extraordinary landing was taking place and there were very few spectators to witness this incredible spectacle and welcome the cyclists ashore. Sunday 1 June 2008: The Royal Navy Amphibious Assault ship HMS Bulwark arrived in Dover Harbour during the late afternoon on 31st May 2008. She was transporting 300 cyclists engaged in the _ Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride_ in support of the Help for Heroes charity which is collecting money to build a swimming pool and gym complex at Headley Court, a tri-service rehabilitation centre in Surrey. The cyclists departed from HMS Victory in Portsmouth and took the ferry to Ouistreham then cycled through northern France visiting the sites of WW1 and WW2 battles before boarding HMS Bulwark by landing craft at Dunkerque, 68 years after the legendary WW2 evacuation. On arrival in Dover, Bulwark conducted a full amphibious offload, flooding her dock to discharge her four LCU_s and lowering two of the smaller LCVP_s from her davits. The landing craft ran up on the beach on Dover seafront and discharged their cargo of cyclists, whilst men from the Red Devils parachute team dropped in the sea around them. The cyclists made their way up to London the following day to conclude a ride which raised over a million pounds. Sadly, hardly anyone in Dover had been made aware that this extraordinary landing was taking place and there were very few spectators to witness this incredible spectacle and welcome the cyclists ashore.

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]]> Sun Jun 1 2008 Eships Barracuda in for repair 16.05.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1511846.html Small tanker on the Eastern Arm undertaking repairs to her bulbous bow after a collision with an Italian tanker at anchor in the Dunkerque waiting area. Saturday 17 May 2008: Small tanker on the Eastern Arm undertaking repairs to her bulbous bow after a collision with an Italian tanker at anchor in the Dunkerque waiting area.

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]]> Sat May 17 2008 Hornbay in the evening sunshine 08.05.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1507386.html Two views of the Hornbay in the evening sunshine on thursday securing a stern tug prior to negotiating the Eastern Entrance. First has the South Foreland lighthouse in the background. Second has the groove made in the cliffs when salvaging the cargo from the wreck of the five masted sailing ship Preussen in 1910. Friday 9 May 2008: Two views of the Hornbay in the evening sunshine on thursday securing a stern tug prior to negotiating the Eastern Entrance. First has the South Foreland lighthouse in the background. Second has the groove made in the cliffs when salvaging the cargo from the wreck of the five masted sailing ship Preussen in 1910.

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]]> Fri May 9 2008 MSC Armonia in Dover 04.05.08 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1504464.html MSC Cruises have started using Dover in a big way. The MSC Armonia is seen here on Cruise Terminal 2 on sunday 4th May 2008. Sunday 4 May 2008: MSC Cruises have started using Dover in a big way. The MSC Armonia is seen here on Cruise Terminal 2 on sunday 4th May 2008.

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]]> Sun May 4 2008 MSC Lirica in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1497523.html MSC Lirica in Dover on 15th April 2008. Also seen later after departure Dover proceeding up the Northeast Lane past Cap Blanc Nez and Calais with the MPC buoy in the foreground. Tuesday 22 April 2008: MSC Lirica in Dover on 15th April 2008. Also seen later after departure Dover proceeding up the Northeast Lane past Cap Blanc Nez and Calais with the MPC buoy in the foreground.

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]]> Tue Apr 22 2008 MSC Poesia in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1487962.html Latest addition to the MSC Cruises fleet. Arrived in Dover 04 APR 2008 and hosted reception for the travel industry. Christened in Dover on saturday night by Sophia Loren. Sailing sunday on maiden cruise to Venice. Last photo shows her in the snow a few hours before she sailed for sunnier climes. Sunday 6 April 2008: Latest addition to the MSC Cruises fleet. Arrived in Dover 04 APR 2008 and hosted reception for the travel industry. Christened in Dover on saturday night by Sophia Loren. Sailing sunday on maiden cruise to Venice. Last photo shows her in the snow a few hours before she sailed for sunnier climes.

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]]> Sun Apr 6 2008 Dunkerque in the snow on Easter Sunday http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1480390.html Dunkerque in the snow on Easter Sunday Monday 24 March 2008: Dunkerque in the snow on Easter Sunday

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Mar 24 2008 European Endeavour in trouble http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1479507.html I was onboard Maersk Dover when this incident took place. We had experienced a fairly rough crossing from Dunkerque with a northerly gale blowing in the Dover Strait but things looked considerably calmer as we entered Dover harbour and came under the shelter of the South Foreland. The vessel swung and went astern into berth No.2. Whilst still some way off the pads, the European Endeavour in berth No.1 was heard advising Port Control that one of their stern mooring lines had parted. Shortly thereafter she must have lost the rest as her stern came off the quay and she started to be blown down onto Maersk Dover. We promptly headed back out into the bay after a brief delay when we were caught in a sandwich waiting for the Pride of Calais to clear our path as she had just departed her berth, by which time the stern of the European Endeavour had come within less than fifty feet. Safely out in the bay, we watched the drama unfold. The Endeavour scraped down the Eastern Arm at right angles to the quay until her bow lodged against the knuckle on the end of the arm whereupon she rotated and drifted stern first across the entrance. At this point, DHB Doughty arrived in a cloud of spray, having hurtled across from the Western Docks, and commenced to assist. The Endeavour had both anchors down and, with a line to the tug, came to rest off the knuckle on the southern breakwater. Doughty then assisted her back to her berth on the Eastern Arm. Pleased to say that I have not heard any reports of any injuries on the Endeavour as it is a lethal business when ropes start parting, a second mate in Norfolk Line was killed a few months ago in the Irish Sea when a rope parted. Fortunate also that Maersk Dover had not finished berthing and still had her engines running so was able to clear out of the way. The penultimate photo depicts the atrocious weather out in the Dover Strait at the time. Final photo is of the front page of the Dover Mercury who contacted me and asked if they could use a couple of these photos. Sunday 23 March 2008: I was onboard Maersk Dover when this incident took place. We had experienced a fairly rough crossing from Dunkerque with a northerly gale blowing in the Dover Strait but things looked considerably calmer as we entered Dover harbour and came under the shelter of the South Foreland. The vessel swung and went astern into berth No.2. Whilst still some way off the pads, the European Endeavour in berth No.1 was heard advising Port Control that one of their stern mooring lines had parted. Shortly thereafter she must have lost the rest as her stern came off the quay and she started to be blown down onto Maersk Dover. We promptly headed back out into the bay after a brief delay when we were caught in a sandwich waiting for the Pride of Calais to clear our path as she had just departed her berth, by which time the stern of the European Endeavour had come within less than fifty feet. Safely out in the bay, we watched the drama unfold. The Endeavour scraped down the Eastern Arm at right angles to the quay until her bow lodged against the knuckle on the end of the arm whereupon she rotated and drifted stern first across the entrance. At this point, DHB Doughty arrived in a cloud of spray, having hurtled across from the Western Docks, and commenced to assist. The Endeavour had both anchors down and, with a line to the tug, came to rest off the knuckle on the southern breakwater. Doughty then assisted her back to her berth on the Eastern Arm. Pleased to say that I have not heard any reports of any injuries on the Endeavour as it is a lethal business when ropes start parting, a second mate in Norfolk Line was killed a few months ago in the Irish Sea when a rope parted. Fortunate also that Maersk Dover had not finished berthing and still had her engines running so was able to clear out of the way. The penultimate photo depicts the atrocious weather out in the Dover Strait at the time. Final photo is of the front page of the Dover Mercury who contacted me and asked if they could use a couple of these photos.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Mar 23 2008 HMS Cumberland in the Dover Strait http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1478090.html The Batch 3 Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland in transit down the Southwest lane past Dover on 19 MAR 2008. Maersk Dunkerque in background. Thursday 20 March 2008: The Batch 3 Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland in transit down the Southwest lane past Dover on 19 MAR 2008. Maersk Dunkerque in background.

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]]> Thu Mar 20 2008 Dunkerque West trucks http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1473983.html The Norfolk Line terminal at Dunkerque West on 12th March 2008 jam packed with trucks due to atrocious weather, Seafrance on strike, and P&O with two ships off the run. Thursday 13 March 2008: The Norfolk Line terminal at Dunkerque West on 12th March 2008 jam packed with trucks due to atrocious weather, Seafrance on strike, and P&O with two ships off the run.

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]]> Thu Mar 13 2008 Cote D'Albatre berthing trial in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1470384.html Newhaven-Dieppe ferry Cote D'Albatre conducting berthing trials on ED1 in Dover on her way to Dunkerque for refit. Thursday 6 March 2008: Newhaven-Dieppe ferry Cote D'Albatre conducting berthing trials on ED1 in Dover on her way to Dunkerque for refit.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Mar 6 2008 Dunkerque in WW1 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1469236.html There is presently a campaign being mounted to secure the award of the George Cross to Dover for endurance under continuous attack in WW2, when it was referred to as "Hellfire Corner." It seems to me that there is a vanishingly small chance of Dover being awarded the George Cross so long after the event. Malta G.C. richly deserved the honour which commemorated the devastation endured by the tiny colony under sustained onslaught by the full might of the Axis forces at a pivotal point in the war. Other ports and cities in the UK received tremendous punishment without receiving medals. One thinks, for example, of the holocaust which was the London Docks during the Blitz, ablaze from end to end, or the levelling of the centre of Coventry lending a new verb to the lexicon in “to coventrate.” Dover’s suffering was long drawn out, a continuous attrition culminating in a last frenzy as the cross-channel guns fired off their remaining ammunition in the final days, but my personal opinion is that medals are for rewarding acts of courage by human beings and are inapposite when applied to towns and cities. Malta was a one-off and the island and the honour are inextricably linked in the appellation Malta G.C., an association which we and they have made automatically for a lifetime and take great pride in. To claim the same honour for Dover well over half a century later seems inappropriate and more likely to baffle and bemuse our fellow countrymen than to attract the respect and recognition which we understandably feel contemporary Dovorians were not accorded at the time. However, whilst my personal viewpoint might be lukewarm, the following information may be of some use to those mounting this campaign, if indeed they are unaware of same. There is a local precedent for the award of a medal by the British sovereign to a town and port for extended endurance under bombing and shellfire. During the First World War, Dunkerque similarly suffered protracted enemy bombardment from start to finish. Unlike ourselves, the French have a long tradition of honouring towns and cities with medals. Accordingly, Dunkerque was awarded the Croix de Guerre and later the Legion d’Honneur. Dunkerque was a very important base for the Royal Navy. Warships of the Dover Patrol operated from the port and aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service attached to the Patrol operated from local airfields. Accordingly, Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, commanding the Dover Patrol from 1915 to 1917, requested that it be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the naval decoration for gallant or distinguished naval service in face of the enemy. As he states in his book: “Rightly the town was awarded the Croix de Guerre. I asked for it to be given the D.S.C., but this was a flight of imagination above the official British mind; we do not grasp the patriotism of locality in England in the same vivid manner as they do in France. It is a pity.” .... (footnote).... “Since writing the above, H.M. the King, with his usual insight and tact, has presented the D.S.C. to this war-torn town.” Tuesday 4 March 2008: There is presently a campaign being mounted to secure the award of the George Cross to Dover for endurance under continuous attack in WW2, when it was referred to as "Hellfire Corner." It seems to me that there is a vanishingly small chance of Dover being awarded the George Cross so long after the event. Malta G.C. richly deserved the honour which commemorated the devastation endured by the tiny colony under sustained onslaught by the full might of the Axis forces at a pivotal point in the war. Other ports and cities in the UK received tremendous punishment without receiving medals. One thinks, for example, of the holocaust which was the London Docks during the Blitz, ablaze from end to end, or the levelling of the centre of Coventry lending a new verb to the lexicon in _to coventrate._ Dover_s suffering was long drawn out, a continuous attrition culminating in a last frenzy as the cross-channel guns fired off their remaining ammunition in the final days, but my personal opinion is that medals are for rewarding acts of courage by human beings and are inapposite when applied to towns and cities. Malta was a one-off and the island and the honour are inextricably linked in the appellation Malta G.C., an association which we and they have made automatically for a lifetime and take great pride in. To claim the same honour for Dover well over half a century later seems inappropriate and more likely to baffle and bemuse our fellow countrymen than to attract the respect and recognition which we understandably feel contemporary Dovorians were not accorded at the time. However, whilst my personal viewpoint might be lukewarm, the following information may be of some use to those mounting this campaign, if indeed they are unaware of same. There is a local precedent for the award of a medal by the British sovereign to a town and port for extended endurance under bombing and shellfire. During the First World War, Dunkerque similarly suffered protracted enemy bombardment from start to finish. Unlike ourselves, the French have a long tradition of honouring towns and cities with medals. Accordingly, Dunkerque was awarded the Croix de Guerre and later the Legion d_Honneur. Dunkerque was a very important base for the Royal Navy. Warships of the Dover Patrol operated from the port and aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service attached to the Patrol operated from local airfields. Accordingly, Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, commanding the Dover Patrol from 1915 to 1917, requested that it be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the naval decoration for gallant or distinguished naval service in face of the enemy. As he states in his book: _Rightly the town was awarded the Croix de Guerre. I asked for it to be given the D.S.C., but this was a flight of imagination above the official British mind; we do not grasp the patriotism of locality in England in the same vivid manner as they do in France. It is a pity._ .... (footnote).... _Since writing the above, H.M. the King, with his usual insight and tact, has presented the D.S.C. to this war-torn town._

Dunkerque bombs and shells 1914-18 The Dover Patrol 1915-17 Page 446 The Dover Patrol 1915-17 Page 447

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Mar 4 2008 Maersk Dover refit 2008 including Seven Sisters, Seafrance Renoir, Jade River and Sandettie Lt.V http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1454935.html Maersk Dover half way through her February 2008 refit. The dredger Jade River is shown in the floating drydock where she has been for several weeks. Seafrance Renoir on the Quai de Panama. Sandettie lightvessel on the Quai de Suez. Seven Sisters on the Quai de Douvres, in for attention after contact with the Western Breakwater in Newhaven. New norfolkline.com logo being applied to the topsides of Maersk Dover. Last four shots were taken through the window of the crew relief coach departing for Dunkerque West. Thursday 7 February 2008: Maersk Dover half way through her February 2008 refit. The dredger Jade River is shown in the floating drydock where she has been for several weeks. Seafrance Renoir on the Quai de Panama. Sandettie lightvessel on the Quai de Suez. Seven Sisters on the Quai de Douvres, in for attention after contact with the Western Breakwater in Newhaven. New norfolkline.com logo being applied to the topsides of Maersk Dover. Last four shots were taken through the window of the crew relief coach departing for Dunkerque West.

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]]> Thu Feb 7 2008 Maersk Dunkerque return from refit 31 JAN 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1454809.html Maersk Dunkerque sailing from Dunkerque West on resuming service after refit. Thursday 7 February 2008: Maersk Dunkerque sailing from Dunkerque West on resuming service after refit.

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]]> Thu Feb 7 2008 Maersk Delft in drydock 15 JAN 2008 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1439764.html Maersk Delft in Arno's shipyard in Dunkerque for her annual refit in January 2008. The Belgian jack-up platform "Vagant" shared the drydock with her. This jack-up assisted in the cutting up of the car carrier "Tricolor" in 2003. Seen on the other side of the Quai de Douvres is the bulkcarrier "Navigator II", ballasted down by the stern in order to have damage to her bulbous bow repaired. The attractive Belgian oceanographic research vessel "Belgica" is lying on the Quai de Suez. The "Seafrance Berlioz" is alongside the Quai de Panama. Also included are some plans of the area and a couple of photos of an excellent small model of the ship displayed on the Bridge. Friday 11 January 2008: Maersk Delft in Arno's shipyard in Dunkerque for her annual refit in January 2008. The Belgian jack-up platform "Vagant" shared the drydock with her. This jack-up assisted in the cutting up of the car carrier "Tricolor" in 2003. Seen on the other side of the Quai de Douvres is the bulkcarrier "Navigator II", ballasted down by the stern in order to have damage to her bulbous bow repaired. The attractive Belgian oceanographic research vessel "Belgica" is lying on the Quai de Suez. The "Seafrance Berlioz" is alongside the Quai de Panama. Also included are some plans of the area and a couple of photos of an excellent small model of the ship displayed on the Bridge.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Jan 11 2008 Honduras Star with weather damage http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1423156.html Reefer Honduras Star on Dover Cargo Terminal on 11 DEC 2007 with weather damage to starboard bulwark. Looks like a stack of containers went overboard damaging the bulwark as they did so. One damaged container visible on deck. Wednesday 12 December 2007: Reefer Honduras Star on Dover Cargo Terminal on 11 DEC 2007 with weather damage to starboard bulwark. Looks like a stack of containers went overboard damaging the bulwark as they did so. One damaged container visible on deck.

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]]> Wed Dec 12 2007 DDC Wind Turbine http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1419423.html The wind turbine recently installed outside the Dover District Council offices in Whitfield, Dover. Followed by a couple of photos of the adjacent aerial mast. Have also put a short video on YouTube at: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3JlOCHbKRFo Wednesday 5 December 2007: The wind turbine recently installed outside the Dover District Council offices in Whitfield, Dover. Followed by a couple of photos of the adjacent aerial mast. Have also put a short video on YouTube at: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3JlOCHbKRFo

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]]> Wed Dec 5 2007 Maersk Delft and SeaFrance Manet 30.10.07 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1416310.html A contrast in size and generation. Maersk Delft and SeaFrance Manet on opposite sides of Pier A on 30th October 2007. Thursday 29 November 2007: A contrast in size and generation. Maersk Delft and SeaFrance Manet on opposite sides of Pier A on 30th October 2007.

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]]> Thu Nov 29 2007 Discovery Bay in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1404481.html Refrigerated cargoship "Discovery Bay" discharging fruit at the Dover Cargo Terminal on 06 NOV 2007. Thursday 8 November 2007: Refrigerated cargoship "Discovery Bay" discharging fruit at the Dover Cargo Terminal on 06 NOV 2007.

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]]> Thu Nov 8 2007 Bessemer http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1403805.html Bessemer Wednesday 5 December 2007: Bessemer

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]]> Wed Dec 5 2007 Fugro Commander http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1400999.html Dynamically positioned geotechnical survey vessel "Fugro Commander" berthed on the Eastern Arm in Dover on 03 NOV 2007. The vessel has been conducting geotechnical surveys for the London Array Wind Farm in the Thames Estuary. Saturday 3 November 2007: Dynamically positioned geotechnical survey vessel "Fugro Commander" berthed on the Eastern Arm in Dover on 03 NOV 2007. The vessel has been conducting geotechnical surveys for the London Array Wind Farm in the Thames Estuary.

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]]> Sat Nov 3 2007 HMS Severn in Dover 26 OCT 2007 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1396782.html Royal Navy "River" class offshore patrol vessel HMS "Severn" alongside the Eastern Arm in Dover on 26th October 2007 with French trawler "Saint Jacques II" tied up abreast, presumably under arrest. Saturday 27 October 2007: Royal Navy "River" class offshore patrol vessel HMS "Severn" alongside the Eastern Arm in Dover on 26th October 2007 with French trawler "Saint Jacques II" tied up abreast, presumably under arrest.

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]]> Sat Oct 27 2007 Norwegian Gem http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1383932.html Norwegian Gem on her maiden voyage. Naming ceremony in Dover on 5th October followed by a big party in the evening with celebrities Ruby Wax and Jilly Goolden, accompanied by a firework display which attracted an estimated 8,000 spectators along Dover seafront. Seen here departing on the 6th for a round trip to Amsterdam. Initially went to the west of the port for a photocall with the helicopter which can been seen flying past in several of the photos. The last photo is of my old oppo, retired ETO Mike Jackson, with my partner Chris. Saturday 6 October 2007: Norwegian Gem on her maiden voyage. Naming ceremony in Dover on 5th October followed by a big party in the evening with celebrities Ruby Wax and Jilly Goolden, accompanied by a firework display which attracted an estimated 8,000 spectators along Dover seafront. Seen here departing on the 6th for a round trip to Amsterdam. Initially went to the west of the port for a photocall with the helicopter which can been seen flying past in several of the photos. The last photo is of my old oppo, retired ETO Mike Jackson, with my partner Chris.

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]]> Sat Oct 6 2007 Hythe Venetian Fete 2007 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1349198.html A selection of the floats passing on the Royal Military Canal during the biennial Hythe Venetian Fete on 15th August 2007. Thursday 16 August 2007: A selection of the floats passing on the Royal Military Canal during the biennial Hythe Venetian Fete on 15th August 2007.

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]]> Thu Aug 16 2007 German warships visit on 5th August 2007 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1341278.html Visit by two Type 423 Oste class intelligence gathering vessels of the German Navy on 5th August 2007. Originally built for the East German Navy in 1988. The distinctive fairing and radome housing the SIGINT and ESM gear gives them their nickname "tit boats"! Sunday 5 August 2007: Visit by two Type 423 Oste class intelligence gathering vessels of the German Navy on 5th August 2007. Originally built for the East German Navy in 1988. The distinctive fairing and radome housing the SIGINT and ESM gear gives them their nickname "tit boats"!

A53 Oker passing A52 Oste on the Admiralty Pier

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Aug 5 2007 SR Lord Nelson at Folkestone http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1335371.html Preserved Southern Railway express passenger locomotive "Lord Nelson" hauling the Golden Arrow up the 1 in 30 incline from Folkestone Harbour on 28th July 2007. Saturday 28 July 2007: Preserved Southern Railway express passenger locomotive "Lord Nelson" hauling the Golden Arrow up the 1 in 30 incline from Folkestone Harbour on 28th July 2007.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Jul 28 2007 Hellfire Corner 1940's Weekend 2007 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1305799.html A superb weekend of activities staged in Pencester Gardens during 16th/17th June. Commemorating Dover's ordeal as the focus of sustained German shelling and bombing in Hellfire Corner during WW2. Most of the photos have my partner Chris and sister Lyns in them as they are basically family photos. Lyns was visiting England from her home in Turkey and hugely enjoyed the afternoon. There was a lovely atmosphere redolent of everybody pulling together in the face of the common threat, with lots of re-enactors wandering around in forties uniform and civvie clothing. Barry Williams, who organises this annual event with his wife Alison, is in one of the later photos. Terry Nunn, who ably managed the sound system, is in one of the early photos. Sunday 17 June 2007: A superb weekend of activities staged in Pencester Gardens during 16th/17th June. Commemorating Dover's ordeal as the focus of sustained German shelling and bombing in Hellfire Corner during WW2. Most of the photos have my partner Chris and sister Lyns in them as they are basically family photos. Lyns was visiting England from her home in Turkey and hugely enjoyed the afternoon. There was a lovely atmosphere redolent of everybody pulling together in the face of the common threat, with lots of re-enactors wandering around in forties uniform and civvie clothing. Barry Williams, who organises this annual event with his wife Alison, is in one of the later photos. Terry Nunn, who ably managed the sound system, is in one of the early photos.

Home Guard G.I. chatting up Women's Land Army RAF trucks Terry Nunn organising the sound system Bandstand Betteshanger Colliery Band Lyns and Chris posing with the Austin Ten NAAFI refreshments US Airforce truck Jeep Downed aircraft memorabilia American classic car Fire Guard's hut In the Fire Guard's hut Camouflaged post RAF trucks RAF truck Mrs B's collection of wartime kitchen items Mrs B's collection of wartime kitchen items Barry Williams as Commander R.N.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Jun 17 2007 Drop Redoubt open day 10 JUN 2007 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1300240.html Drop Redoubt open day 10 JUN 2007 Monday 11 June 2007: Drop Redoubt open day 10 JUN 2007

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jun 11 2007 Dover - The Railhead of Britain http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1297933.html Article from the December 1936 edition of The Railway Magazine. Friday 8 June 2007: Article from the December 1936 edition of The Railway Magazine.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Jun 8 2007 Dolphin demolition and the sunken crane barge http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1297213.html First photos show seagulls nesting in the ringbolts on the dolphin between piers A and B in Dover Eastern Docks. Subsequent photos show the dolphin being demolished to grant easier access to ED3 for the much larger ferries of today. Unfortunately crane barge Ogem One, which was employed in the later stages of demolition, capsized overnight whilst unattended. Final photos show the arrival of the sheerlegs "GPS Apollo" and the subsequent successful salvage operation. Friday 18 April 2008: First photos show seagulls nesting in the ringbolts on the dolphin between piers A and B in Dover Eastern Docks. Subsequent photos show the dolphin being demolished to grant easier access to ED3 for the much larger ferries of today. Unfortunately crane barge Ogem One, which was employed in the later stages of demolition, capsized overnight whilst unattended. Final photos show the arrival of the sheerlegs "GPS Apollo" and the subsequent successful salvage operation.

The dolphin prior to demolition Seagull nesting on a dolphin! 14th February 14th February 22nd February 22nd February 7th March 19th March 14th April 14th April 17th April 17th April 17th April 17th April 17th April GPS tug Muria GPS tug Muria 20th April 20th April 20th April 20th April 21st April 21st April 21st April Wheelhouse on quay Tug Hermes joins Muria Workboat 14th May 14th May

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Apr 18 2008 Evelyn Maersk in the Dover Strait http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1296266.html The latest in the series of container ships being built for Maersk. This class are presently the largest boxboats in the world. Seen in the Northeast lane of the Dover Strait on 05 JUN 2007. The penultimate photo was downloaded from somewhere and shows the vertiginous view down from the bridge of her sister ship Emma Maersk. The final photo shows the corresponding view from landward, taken on 16 AUG 2006 as she was towed stern first out of Odense Fjord. Tuesday 5 June 2007: The latest in the series of container ships being built for Maersk. This class are presently the largest boxboats in the world. Seen in the Northeast lane of the Dover Strait on 05 JUN 2007. The penultimate photo was downloaded from somewhere and shows the vertiginous view down from the bridge of her sister ship Emma Maersk. The final photo shows the corresponding view from landward, taken on 16 AUG 2006 as she was towed stern first out of Odense Fjord.

View from the bridge of the Emma Maersk Emma Maersk in Odense Fjord

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jun 5 2007 Pride of Canterbury in the fog http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1293550.html Pride of Canterbury departing Dover Eastern Entrance on 1st June 2007 and disappearing almost immediately into the dense fog enveloping the Dover Strait. Saturday 2 June 2007: Pride of Canterbury departing Dover Eastern Entrance on 1st June 2007 and disappearing almost immediately into the dense fog enveloping the Dover Strait.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Jun 2 2007 HMS Bulwark in the Dover Strait http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1291543.html Royal Navy assault ship HMS Bulwark in Northeast lane of Dover Strait traffic separation scheme on 30th May 2007. Wednesday 30 May 2007: Royal Navy assault ship HMS Bulwark in Northeast lane of Dover Strait traffic separation scheme on 30th May 2007.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed May 30 2007 Dover Eastern Docks Exit Scheme http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1285663.html Dover Eastern Docks Exit Scheme Wednesday 23 May 2007: Dover Eastern Docks Exit Scheme

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]]> Wed May 23 2007 Dover Harbour http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1285660.html Dover Harbour Wednesday 23 May 2007: Dover Harbour

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]]> Wed May 23 2007 Costa Magica and Speed One in Dover 18.05.07 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1282246.html Costa Magica and Speed One in Dover 18.05.07 Saturday 19 May 2007: Costa Magica and Speed One in Dover 18.05.07

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat May 19 2007 Star Princess, Norwegian Dream and Deutschland in Dover 17.05.07 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1281696.html Thursday 17th May 2007 was a big day for cruise ships in Dover with Star Princess, Norwegian Dream and Deutschland in port. Friday 18 May 2007: Thursday 17th May 2007 was a big day for cruise ships in Dover with Star Princess, Norwegian Dream and Deutschland in port.

Deutschland, Star Princess, Norwegian Dream seen from Drop Redoubt Star Princess Deutschland Norwegian Dream Pride of Canterbury entering by Western Entrance Pride of Canterbury, Deutschland, Star Princess Deutschland and Star Princess Deutschland, Star Princess, Norwegian Dream seen from the seafront Star Princess with Norwegian Dream departing Star Princess

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri May 18 2007 RFA Mounts Bay in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1240162.html The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Mounts Bay berthed at Cruise Terminal 2 in Dover on 24th March 2007. One of the four Bay class amphibious landing ships which have recently entered service with the RFA. Classified as a Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary). Length 176.6m. Width 26.4m. Draught 5.1m. Speed 18 knots. Complement 60. Replacements for the Sir class Landing Ships (Logistic). Intended to form the second wave of an amphibious assault after the beachhead has been secured by the LPH HMS Ocean and the LPDs HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. Able to carry 24 Challenger main battle tanks or 150 jeeps. Would normally carry 356 troops but this can be increased. Can operate Merlin and Chinook helicopters from the flight deck. Also an LCU from the floodable stern dock, and two LCVP's and two Mexeflotes externally. Additionally has a side door discharge ramp. Able to be fitted with Phalanx and 30mm gun CIWS. Monday 26 March 2007: The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Mounts Bay berthed at Cruise Terminal 2 in Dover on 24th March 2007. One of the four Bay class amphibious landing ships which have recently entered service with the RFA. Classified as a Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary). Length 176.6m. Width 26.4m. Draught 5.1m. Speed 18 knots. Complement 60. Replacements for the Sir class Landing Ships (Logistic). Intended to form the second wave of an amphibious assault after the beachhead has been secured by the LPH HMS Ocean and the LPDs HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. Able to carry 24 Challenger main battle tanks or 150 jeeps. Would normally carry 356 troops but this can be increased. Can operate Merlin and Chinook helicopters from the flight deck. Also an LCU from the floodable stern dock, and two LCVP's and two Mexeflotes externally. Additionally has a side door discharge ramp. Able to be fitted with Phalanx and 30mm gun CIWS.

Alongside on the Admiralty Pier Berthed at Cruise Terminal 2 Looking forward towards superstructure Looking aft towards flight deck Crane on starboard side of container deck Ladder to Bridge GMDSS console Wheelhouse view from starboard side Propulsion controls and radars Dynamic positioning control panel Control panel on stbd side of centre console Electronic Chart Display Integrated Bridge System Point Defence control room Chart Table ECDIS and echosounder in Chart Room Forward end of vehicle deck Aft end of vehicle deck Side Door on starboard side Floodable dock at stern Part of one of the messes Part of one of the messes Sick Bay operating theatre View from bottom of gangway

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Mar 26 2007 Dover Railways http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1217002.html An article from The Railway Magazine Oct 1959 giving details of train performances from Dover to London. Includes two tables showing the special runs made by Kirtley 4-4-0 No.16 in 1896, before the Boer War, which remain the fastest ever made by a steam train. Sunday 15 February 2009: An article from The Railway Magazine Oct 1959 giving details of train performances from Dover to London. Includes two tables showing the special runs made by Kirtley 4-4-0 No.16 in 1896, before the Boer War, which remain the fastest ever made by a steam train.

Dover Priory Station 1867 Boat train times Page 698/699 Boat train times Page 700/701 Boat train times Page 702/703 Boat train times Page 704/705 O1 Class 0-6-0 31434 at Dover on 06.07.58 Dover Marine Station facade with visiting Historical Model Railway Society enthusiasts 1957 Dover-London timetable 1962 front cover P Class 0-6-0 31323 at Dover on 06.07.58 L Class 4-4-0 31775 at Dover Priory on 06.07.58 West Country pacific 34100 Appledore at Dover in Golden Arrow regalia in 1961 Dover-London timetable 1962 first section Dover-London timetable 1962 second section Dover-London timetable 1962 back cover Golden Arrow departing Dover Marine Station behind a beautiful Merchant Navy class Pacific Dover Shed April 1959 Shakespeare beach sidings with coal trucks

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Feb 15 2009 Trinity House pilot vessels http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1214505.html A number of views of the pilot cutters and tender operated by Trinity House from Dover up until the seventies. Tuesday 20 January 2009: A number of views of the pilot cutters and tender operated by Trinity House from Dover up until the seventies.

Bembridge looking aft from Bridge Bembridge looking forward Bembridge lower deck Bembridge pilot leaving Blue Star Line reefer Fremantle Star (one of my old ships) Bembridge with Blue Star Line reefer Fremantle Star and Ellermans cargoship City of Hull Khina bow with Finnmaster Khina stbd view as private yacht 1966 Khina bow with Patricia ahead Khina bow Khina launch with Dover MP John Arbuthnot. The seaman on the tiller is my late father-in-law Ernie Black. Khina looking forward Khina in rough weather Khina portside view Khina poop Khina view abeam Pathfinder starboard side view Pathfinder aerial view Pathfinder Capt Jim Brown Pathfinder on station Pelorus on station Penlee alongside Penlee boat deck Penlee foremast Penlee with launch astern Penlee off Dungeness Penlee port looking forward Penlee sending pilot across Pilot cutter in Granville Dock Pilot cutter wheelhouse. The AB on the wheel is Dougie Randall Private harbour launch King John II Pre-war Pathfinder (I) Pre-war Pathfinder (I) Pre-war Pathfinder (I) in Granville Dock Pilot boat No.2 in the Wellington Dock from postcard dated 1918

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jan 20 2009 Halladale in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1214504.html Halladale in Dover Wednesday 21 February 2007: Halladale in Dover

Billy Clark, Ernie Black,

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Feb 21 2007 Dover Aviation - Louis Blériot http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1203854.html Louis Blériot was the first man to fly across the English Channel and his flight is commemorated by the Blériot Memorial in Dover. The first photo below, showing Blériot flying across the coast at Dover, is actually a fake. Genuine photos of the event are rare or non-existent, many newspapers produced reconstructions with the image of the aeroplane superimposed on a photo of the coastline. This location has been identified as the Ropewalk at Aycliffe whereas Blériot actually turned into Broadlees Bottom close to the Coastguard Cottages. This is as shown on the cover of the book written by Charles Fontaine who commissioned the painting used from M. Etienne Dewinter. It is said to be an exact representation of the true scene. The postcard with the French stamps is obviously another fake montage but is accurate in the location selected, showing Blériot over Broadlees Bottom with the Coastguard Cottages in the background. A Royal Navy pre-Dreadnought battleship is depicted in the harbour. From an article I wrote for the Dover Express: "Louis Blériot settled painfully into the wooden seat in his tiny aeroplane. He had burnt his foot badly when the engine exhaust cover had detached on a recent flight and was barely able to walk. The time was shortly before dawn on Sunday 25th July 1909 and he was about to attempt the seemingly impossible, to fly his primitive machine across the English Channel. A thickset man with a walrus moustache, he had been waiting several days for the weather to moderate. The winds had finally abated at 2 a.m. and he had been roused from his hotel in Calais and taken to the nearby farm at Les Baraques where he was storing his monoplane in a disused barn. On the way, he placed his wife onboard the destroyer Escopette which set sail to guide him across. Arriving at the farmyard he started the engine and a farm dog was chopped to pieces in the propeller, not a good omen. After a short test flight, he was ready for the off. It was now or never. At 37 years of age, he had made a small fortune from manufacturing automobile headlights but had virtually bankrupted himself in developing a succession of flying machines. The Blériot types IX and X had never got off the ground but with the type XI he had already managed lengthy flights and hoped he could stay airborne long enough to complete the 21 miles across the water to Dover. A rich Haitian planter had loaned him the money for the attempt and Blériot stood to win Ł1,000 prize money put up by the London Daily Mail for the first aviator to cross the channel in powered flight. Speed was of the essence for, close by at Sangatte, a young challenger was also awaiting favourable weather. The sophisticated Anglo-Frenchman Hubert Latham had a much larger and more powerful machine, the bird-tailed Antoinette IV. He had already made one attempt but the engine had failed a few miles out. On this night, nobody had wakened Latham and he slumbered on. Dawn broke and Blériot was off, the sand dunes passed beneath and he was over the open sea. At 40 mph, he soon overtook the Escopette but pressed on regardless despite lacking even a rudimentary compass. His crude Anzani engine rattled and banged away, covering him in a continuous stream of hot oil. No born aviator, he was renowned for the number of crashes he had walked away from, but for ten minutes he had little to do. Then a sidewind sprang up but fortuitously brought rain and mist which cooled his struggling engine. Carried off course to the North, he was relieved to see the coast of England appear in the distance. Seeing ferries below and assuming they were going to Dover, he turned to follow their heading. He knew that the beach at Dover was too narrow for him to land on and his little aeroplane could not fly high enough to pass over the White Cliffs. A French journalist named Charles Fontaine had reconnoitred the terrain and had sent him picture postcards showing a gap in the cliffs just east of Dover Castle, where Jubilee Way now curls down to the Eastern Docks. Buzzing down the coastline from St. Margaret’s, he came to the gap and saw Fontaine waving a large Tricolour. Turning into the gap, the little plane was caught by gusts of wind and whirled around three times. Blériot cut the engine and crashlanded down a slope in Northfall Meadow. It was 5.18 a.m. and in the 37 minutes since he had taken off he had made history. Fontaine ran up and wrapped him in the Tricolour and a crowd quickly gathered. A Customs man arrived and solemnly recorded him as master of a yacht. The Escopette docked and Madame Blériot joined the throng. The little aeroplane was exhibited at Selfridges in Oxford Street and is now in a museum in Paris. Blériot gave up flying after another crash but his company prospered and built the famous SPAD fighters in World War One. He died in 1936 after spending his second fortune. Latham ditched again on his second attempt to cross the channel. Two years later he was kicked to death by a wild buffalo in the Congo. A memorial was constructed from granite blocks in the shape of Blériot’s machine in the exact spot where he landed. In those days, the entire area was grassland. Today the site is surrounded by dense thickets." Update: This whole area has now been extensively landscaped in preparation for the centenary celebrations which took place on the weekend of 25/26 July 2009. Saturday 25 July 2009: Louis Bl_riot was the first man to fly across the English Channel and his flight is commemorated by the Bl_riot Memorial in Dover. The first photo below, showing Bl_riot flying across the coast at Dover, is actually a fake. Genuine photos of the event are rare or non-existent, many newspapers produced reconstructions with the image of the aeroplane superimposed on a photo of the coastline. This location has been identified as the Ropewalk at Aycliffe whereas Bl_riot actually turned into Broadlees Bottom close to the Coastguard Cottages. This is as shown on the cover of the book written by Charles Fontaine who commissioned the painting used from M. Etienne Dewinter. It is said to be an exact representation of the true scene. The postcard with the French stamps is obviously another fake montage but is accurate in the location selected, showing Bl_riot over Broadlees Bottom with the Coastguard Cottages in the background. A Royal Navy pre-Dreadnought battleship is depicted in the harbour. From an article I wrote for the Dover Express: "Louis Bl_riot settled painfully into the wooden seat in his tiny aeroplane. He had burnt his foot badly when the engine exhaust cover had detached on a recent flight and was barely able to walk. The time was shortly before dawn on Sunday 25th July 1909 and he was about to attempt the seemingly impossible, to fly his primitive machine across the English Channel. A thickset man with a walrus moustache, he had been waiting several days for the weather to moderate. The winds had finally abated at 2 a.m. and he had been roused from his hotel in Calais and taken to the nearby farm at Les Baraques where he was storing his monoplane in a disused barn. On the way, he placed his wife onboard the destroyer Escopette which set sail to guide him across. Arriving at the farmyard he started the engine and a farm dog was chopped to pieces in the propeller, not a good omen. After a short test flight, he was ready for the off. It was now or never. At 37 years of age, he had made a small fortune from manufacturing automobile headlights but had virtually bankrupted himself in developing a succession of flying machines. The Bl_riot types IX and X had never got off the ground but with the type XI he had already managed lengthy flights and hoped he could stay airborne long enough to complete the 21 miles across the water to Dover. A rich Haitian planter had loaned him the money for the attempt and Bl_riot stood to win _1,000 prize money put up by the London Daily Mail for the first aviator to cross the channel in powered flight. Speed was of the essence for, close by at Sangatte, a young challenger was also awaiting favourable weather. The sophisticated Anglo-Frenchman Hubert Latham had a much larger and more powerful machine, the bird-tailed Antoinette IV. He had already made one attempt but the engine had failed a few miles out. On this night, nobody had wakened Latham and he slumbered on. Dawn broke and Bl_riot was off, the sand dunes passed beneath and he was over the open sea. At 40 mph, he soon overtook the Escopette but pressed on regardless despite lacking even a rudimentary compass. His crude Anzani engine rattled and banged away, covering him in a continuous stream of hot oil. No born aviator, he was renowned for the number of crashes he had walked away from, but for ten minutes he had little to do. Then a sidewind sprang up but fortuitously brought rain and mist which cooled his struggling engine. Carried off course to the North, he was relieved to see the coast of England appear in the distance. Seeing ferries below and assuming they were going to Dover, he turned to follow their heading. He knew that the beach at Dover was too narrow for him to land on and his little aeroplane could not fly high enough to pass over the White Cliffs. A French journalist named Charles Fontaine had reconnoitred the terrain and had sent him picture postcards showing a gap in the cliffs just east of Dover Castle, where Jubilee Way now curls down to the Eastern Docks. Buzzing down the coastline from St. Margaret_s, he came to the gap and saw Fontaine waving a large Tricolour. Turning into the gap, the little plane was caught by gusts of wind and whirled around three times. Bl_riot cut the engine and crashlanded down a slope in Northfall Meadow. It was 5.18 a.m. and in the 37 minutes since he had taken off he had made history. Fontaine ran up and wrapped him in the Tricolour and a crowd quickly gathered. A Customs man arrived and solemnly recorded him as master of a yacht. The Escopette docked and Madame Bl_riot joined the throng. The little aeroplane was exhibited at Selfridges in Oxford Street and is now in a museum in Paris. Bl_riot gave up flying after another crash but his company prospered and built the famous SPAD fighters in World War One. He died in 1936 after spending his second fortune. Latham ditched again on his second attempt to cross the channel. Two years later he was kicked to death by a wild buffalo in the Congo. A memorial was constructed from granite blocks in the shape of Bl_riot_s machine in the exact spot where he landed. In those days, the entire area was grassland. Today the site is surrounded by dense thickets." Update: This whole area has now been extensively landscaped in preparation for the centenary celebrations which took place on the weekend of 25/26 July 2009.

Blériot Memorial at Northfall Meadow Close-up of Blériot Memorial Inscription on Blériot Memorial Blériot Memorial at Northfall Meadow Historic Dover information board 80th anniversary plaque from great-grandsons Blériot over Ropewalk in Aycliffe (inaccurate montage) Landing in Northfall Meadow Painting commissioned by Charles Fontaine Blériot over Broadlees Bottom (accurate montage) A meticulously reconstructed re-enactment of Louis Blériot’s landing following his epic flight, staged on the Blériot memorial in Dover. The memorial is composed of granite slabs in the shape of his monoplane, set into the grass on the exact spot where he landed in Northfall Meadow. The seat in his cockpit was made of wood so I plonked a wooden chair where the cockpit would have been and sat on that, grasping the The plane safely on the ground at Northfall Meadow

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Jul 25 2009 DHB Plans for Terminal 2 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1194233.html Plans for the new ferry Terminal 2 to be built in the present Dover Western Docks. The physical model constructed in the tank at HR Wallingford Ltd. Concept drawings by three firms of architects regarding the associated marina and leisure facilities. See the collection entitled "Western Entrance Blockships" for details of the blockship Spanish Prince which is to be removed. Saturday 27 January 2007: Plans for the new ferry Terminal 2 to be built in the present Dover Western Docks. The physical model constructed in the tank at HR Wallingford Ltd. Concept drawings by three firms of architects regarding the associated marina and leisure facilities. See the collection entitled "Western Entrance Blockships" for details of the blockship Spanish Prince which is to be removed.

Moss Urban Solutions concept Llewelyn Davies Yeang concept CTM Architects concept LLewelyn Davies Yeang concept Preliminary Berth Layout Indicative Terminal 2 Layout Plan Harbour Capacity Study Indicative A20 Access drawing Potential Property Development Physical model at HR Wallingford Physical model at HR Wallingford

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Jan 27 2007 Western Entrance Blockships http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1193631.html During the First World War, two blockships were sunk at right angles to each side of the Western Entrance. They were the old cargoships Spanish Prince and Livonian which had been stripped of their superstructure and equipped with gantries from which anti-submarine and anti-torpedo nets were strung between them. The first photo shows Spanish Prince ready for sinking in March 1915. The second photo shows a ferry departing postwar with the gantries of the Livonian visible in the foreground and one from the Spanish Prince in the background. The third photo shows another ferry departing postwar with the gantries on the Spanish Prince visible. The sixth photo is an extraordinary multi-beam sonar survey of the Spanish Prince conducted recently. She was moved to her present position in the 1930's. The bow is close to the Southern Breakwater and the wreck buoy can be seen marking the stern. She was left in situ to lessen the effects of tidal flows within the harbour. To be removed when the second ferry terminal is constructed in the Western Docks. Livonian was removed between 1930 and 1933. The Canadian Pacific liner Montrose was originally intended for use as a blockship but broke free of her moorings and drifted out onto the Goodwin Sands and was lost. She was famous for sending the wireless message which resulted in the arrest of the notorious wife murderer Dr Crippen. In the Second World War, the fleet oiler War Sepoy had her back broken in a Stuka attack in 1940 and was subsequently dragged across the Western Entrance in three pieces. The trampship Minnie de Larrinaga was burnt out in an air raid on the London Docks and was used to finally seal the entrance. Both of these wrecks were removed in the sixties and the first ship to use the reopened Western Entrance was the Invicta on 26th April 1963. The photos of the matchbook holder illustrate one purchased in a charity shop in Dover recently, which is engraved with the legend "S.S. Montrose." To round off, there are modern day photos of the Western Entrance and the wreck buoy to illustrate the position of the Spanish Prince. Full Size: all photos and charts can be viewed full size by clicking the "Full Size" box in the options beneath each opened photo and then left clicking within the photo. Attributions: The multi-beam sonar survey was photographed on a display panel at a DHB exhibition of the plans for Terminal 2 in the Western Docks. The "Blockships in 1927" and "Blockships in WW2" charts are copied from the "Port of Dover Tidal Atlas," copyright DHB 1999, with permission. Thursday 6 August 2009: During the First World War, two blockships were sunk at right angles to each side of the Western Entrance. They were the old cargoships Spanish Prince and Livonian which had been stripped of their superstructure and equipped with gantries from which anti-submarine and anti-torpedo nets were strung between them. The first photo shows Spanish Prince ready for sinking in March 1915. The second photo shows a ferry departing postwar with the gantries of the Livonian visible in the foreground and one from the Spanish Prince in the background. The third photo shows another ferry departing postwar with the gantries on the Spanish Prince visible. The sixth photo is an extraordinary multi-beam sonar survey of the Spanish Prince conducted recently. She was moved to her present position in the 1930's. The bow is close to the Southern Breakwater and the wreck buoy can be seen marking the stern. She was left in situ to lessen the effects of tidal flows within the harbour. To be removed when the second ferry terminal is constructed in the Western Docks. Livonian was removed between 1930 and 1933. The Canadian Pacific liner Montrose was originally intended for use as a blockship but broke free of her moorings and drifted out onto the Goodwin Sands and was lost. She was famous for sending the wireless message which resulted in the arrest of the notorious wife murderer Dr Crippen. In the Second World War, the fleet oiler War Sepoy had her back broken in a Stuka attack in 1940 and was subsequently dragged across the Western Entrance in three pieces. The trampship Minnie de Larrinaga was burnt out in an air raid on the London Docks and was used to finally seal the entrance. Both of these wrecks were removed in the sixties and the first ship to use the reopened Western Entrance was the Invicta on 26th April 1963. The photos of the matchbook holder illustrate one purchased in a charity shop in Dover recently, which is engraved with the legend "S.S. Montrose." To round off, there are modern day photos of the Western Entrance and the wreck buoy to illustrate the position of the Spanish Prince. Full Size: all photos and charts can be viewed full size by clicking the "Full Size" box in the options beneath each opened photo and then left clicking within the photo. Attributions: The multi-beam sonar survey was photographed on a display panel at a DHB exhibition of the plans for Terminal 2 in the Western Docks. The "Blockships in 1927" and "Blockships in WW2" charts are copied from the "Port of Dover Tidal Atlas," copyright DHB 1999, with permission.

Multi-beam sonar survey of Spanish Prince Spanish Prince ready for sinking in March 1915 Postwar view showing blockship gantries Postwar view showing gantries on Spanish Prince Postwar aerial view showing blockship gantries Postwar view of Western Docks showing blockship gantries Canadian Pacific liner SS Montrose Dr Crippen and Ethel le Neve onboard SS Montrose The arrest of Dr Crippen and Ethel le Neve German WW2 aerial reconnaissance photo. War Sepoy is labelled 1 War Sepoy Shell exploding off the Prince of Wales pier. War Sepoy wreck centre left Minnie de Larrinaga Blockships in WW1 Blockships in 1927 Blockships in WW2 Typical matchbooks Wreck buoy 24.05.2007 Wreck buoy 24.05.2007 Searchlight positions on the Southern breakwater Southern breakwater with wreck buoy Southern breakwater showing gun emplacements Wreck buoy 26.10.2007 Spanish Prince lies between lighthouse and wreck buoy Western Entrance with wreck buoy Matchbook holder from SS Montrose Matchbook holder from SS Montrose Blockships in WW1 Admiralty Chart 1944 with blockships and wrecks.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Aug 6 2009 Calais Berth Collapse 08 FEB 2005 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1191835.html Three photos from La Voix du Nord showing the collapsed linkspan at No.7 berth in Calais following the failure of one of the supporting wires on 8th February 2005. Tuesday 23 January 2007: Three photos from La Voix du Nord showing the collapsed linkspan at No.7 berth in Calais following the failure of one of the supporting wires on 8th February 2005.

Lorries overturned on ramp Front page of La Voix du Nord Port staff viewing overturned artic

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jan 23 2007 HMS Lancaster in Liverpool http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1190757.html A series of shots of the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster taken in Liverpool on 20.10.05 as she swung off North Brocklebank Branch Dock to enter the Langton River Entrance lock out into the river. Monday 22 January 2007: A series of shots of the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster taken in Liverpool on 20.10.05 as she swung off North Brocklebank Branch Dock to enter the Langton River Entrance lock out into the river.

Tugs assisting with swing View from off port bow Completing swing View opening out to port broadside Bridge superstructure Bow with Mark 8 4.5 4.5 Mid section Close-up of stern and flight deck Old Norse Merchant ferry berth at North Brocklebank Branch Dock Close-up of mid section

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jan 22 2007 Lobourg Channel and Palaeovalley System http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1189073.html Lobourg Channel and Palaeovalley System Saturday 20 January 2007: Lobourg Channel and Palaeovalley System

Dover Strait shaded contour map Lobourg Channel

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Jan 20 2007 Odds and Ends http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1187682.html This collection has nothing to do with Ships in the Port of Dover. It is just a convenient place to stick photos to illustrate topics that I am discussing on various forums. Thursday 18 January 2007: This collection has nothing to do with Ships in the Port of Dover. It is just a convenient place to stick photos to illustrate topics that I am discussing on various forums.

Granada cinema in Castle Street in 1944 Chessington log flume Murmansk stamps in back of discharge book Queen Salote and the Sultan of Zanzibar and his wife. Dead tree blown over in Victoria Park during high winds 18.01.07 Victoria Park gatehouse with red phone box. Concorde and Spitfire passing Dover Patrol Memorial

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Jan 18 2007 Pentalina B in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1150325.html Small ferry owned by Pentland Ferries. Built 1970. 1,324grt. 15 knots. Length 74m. Previously operated as the Iona for Caledonian MacBrayne on their services to the Scottish islands. Latterly used by Pentland Ferries for their service from near John o'Groats to Orkney. Has now taken over from the Claymore on charter to Farmers Ferry engaged in the cruel transport of livestock from Dover to Dunkerque. Seen here in the Western Docks in Dover, tied up on the Admiralty Pier beside the nineteenth century Admiralty Pier Turret with its two huge muzzle-loading guns entombed within. In the wide angle view of the Western Docks, the new Trinity House vessel Alert can be seen in the tug haven. Prince Philip had just paid a visit. Friday 1 December 2006: Small ferry owned by Pentland Ferries. Built 1970. 1,324grt. 15 knots. Length 74m. Previously operated as the Iona for Caledonian MacBrayne on their services to the Scottish islands. Latterly used by Pentland Ferries for their service from near John o'Groats to Orkney. Has now taken over from the Claymore on charter to Farmers Ferry engaged in the cruel transport of livestock from Dover to Dunkerque. Seen here in the Western Docks in Dover, tied up on the Admiralty Pier beside the nineteenth century Admiralty Pier Turret with its two huge muzzle-loading guns entombed within. In the wide angle view of the Western Docks, the new Trinity House vessel Alert can be seen in the tug haven. Prince Philip had just paid a visit.

Pentalina B on the Admiralty Pier Pentalina B at top left, new Trinity House vessel Alert at bottom right Pentalina B and the Admiralty Pier Turret

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Dec 1 2006 Hook of Holland http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1125843.html Some views of the breakwater at the entrance to Rotterdam during heavy weather whilst inbound on the Stena Searider for the Hoek van Holland. HSS Discovery berthing at the Hook. Stena Hollandica leaving her berth at the Hook. Stena Transfer departing Europort. Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate FFG-40 USS Halyburton departing Rotterdam. Arleigh Burke class Aegis guided missile destroyer DDG-80 USS Roosevelt passing Europort with Pride of Hull in background. Pipelayer trenching support vessel Calamity Jane. Pilot vessel Markab. Maersk Anglia and Maersk Flanders. Wednesday 1 November 2006: Some views of the breakwater at the entrance to Rotterdam during heavy weather whilst inbound on the Stena Searider for the Hoek van Holland. HSS Discovery berthing at the Hook. Stena Hollandica leaving her berth at the Hook. Stena Transfer departing Europort. Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate FFG-40 USS Halyburton departing Rotterdam. Arleigh Burke class Aegis guided missile destroyer DDG-80 USS Roosevelt passing Europort with Pride of Hull in background. Pipelayer trenching support vessel Calamity Jane. Pilot vessel Markab. Maersk Anglia and Maersk Flanders.

Dramatic view of sea state at entrance to Rotterdam/Europort Another view of the end of the breakwater Coaster following Stena Searider in Central section of breakwater Tanker pitching heavily after departing entrance Small outbound tanker Another view of heavy seas outside breakwater Heavy seas outside breakwater Stena Hollandica leaving berth Port broadside view of Stena Hollandica Starboard quarter view of Stena Hollandica Stena Hollandica departing Hook of Holland Stena Transfer departing Europort Stena Hollandica leaving Hook, Stena Transfer in background Arleigh Burke class Aegis destroyer DDG-80 USS Roosevelt Arleigh Burke class Aegis destroyer DDG-80 USS Roosevelt HSS Discovery approaching berth at Hook Frontal view of HSS Discovery Starboard broadside view of HSS Discovery Stern view of HSS Discovery HSS Discovery going astern onto berth HSS Discovery berthed at Hook of Holland Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate FFG-40 USS Halyburton USS Halyburton passing inbound freighter as departs Rotterdam USS Halyburton passing inbound freighter as departs Rotterdam Frontal view of Stena Britannica in berth Stena Britannica with bow thrust operating Stena Britannica going astern into berth Pilot vessel Markab Pilot vessel Markab and the Berghaven Pipelayer trenching support vessel Calamity Jane Pipelayer trenching support vessel Calamity Jane Maersk Anglia and Maersk Flanders Maersk Flanders Maersk Anglia Maersk Flanders and Stena Britannica

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Nov 1 2006 Building Dover Harbour http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1121854.html A fascinating description of the building of the Admiralty Harbour in the years 1898-1909. Taken from a weekly magazine named "Wonders of World Engineering," this article is from Part 15 published on June 8th 1937. To view each page legibly, open the page then click the "full size" box at the bottom of the screen, then hover the mouse over the document and click the box with four arrows which appears in the bottom right hand corner. Saturday 28 October 2006: A fascinating description of the building of the Admiralty Harbour in the years 1898-1909. Taken from a weekly magazine named "Wonders of World Engineering," this article is from Part 15 published on June 8th 1937. To view each page legibly, open the page then click the "full size" box at the bottom of the screen, then hover the mouse over the document and click the box with four arrows which appears in the bottom right hand corner.

Building Dover Harbour title Building Dover Harbour page 453 Building Dover Harbour page 454 Building Dover Harbour page 455 Building Dover Harbour page 456 Building Dover Harbour page 457 Building Dover Harbour page 458

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Oct 28 2006 Old postcards, prints and paintings of Dover Harbour - Part 1 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1120157.html Have accumulated quite a large selection of old postcards, prints and paintings which am gradually uploading to this collection. Monday 18 May 2009: Have accumulated quite a large selection of old postcards, prints and paintings which am gradually uploading to this collection.

Summer Fair in Dover c.1830. Watercolour by unknown artist. Dover Castle from Barton Farm looking towards Charlton c.1800 Painting of Dover Harbour in 1912 The Camber in the 1960's with the first RORO berths and the so-called Ferry leaving Western Entrance passing WW1 blockship gantries Western Docks post WW1 view showing wartime blockship gantries Admiralty Pier 1920's Admiralty Pier in 1921 with unrebuilt Stirling F class 4-4-0 locomotive. The mining of the SS Maloja off Dover in 1916 Tidal Basin looking at the Crosswall 1907 Valentines postcard from 1960. Shows castle and Eastern Docks. Must be unique as the image is reversed! Reversed image from previous postcard corrected to show the world as we know it! Back of previous postcard. Rector G.A.Parlett of St. Andrews church delivers the christmas turkey to the Master of the South Goodwin lightvessel in 1972. He was chaplain of the local Missions to Seamen and this was an annual tradition. WW1 chart of the Admiralty Harbour showing vessel dispositions. Old fisherman telling sea stories on Dover Beach. Cartoon in Punch 10th April 1869. The Queen Mum at her installation as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports on 1st August 1979 Queen Mum's installation as Lord Warden. First day cover Admiralty Pier about 1901. Ex SER line in foreground. Ex LCDR line to left. Two Turbine steamer Queen leaving Admiralty Pier pre WW1. Western Docks post WW1 with blockship gantries and viaduct Dover from an engraving in Finden's Granville Dock and Grand Shaft barracks. WW1 whisky advert with destroyers off Dover. Destroyers off Dover in WW1. The fleet visits Dover pre WW1. The return of HMS Vindictive from Zeebrugge on St.Georges Day 1918. WW1 map of the bombs and shells on Dover. An early design for the National and Commercial Harbours. An early design for the National and Commercial Harbours. S.S. S.S. S.S. S.S. Turbine steamer Destroyers moored to buoys in the harbour during or prior to WW1. Pre-dreadnought HMS Cruiser HMS Destroyer HMS Mastiff of the Dover Patrol. Famous destroyer leader HMS The sinking of U8 off Dover on 4th March 1915 by destroyers of the Dover Patrol. Battlecruiser HMS Battlecruiser HMS Shakespeare cliff with rough seas washing over the early railway line. DHB tug Cruiser HMS Photo of Queen Mum with Lord Montague of Beaulieu during her installation as Lord Warden. Taken by my brother-in-law Stephen. Southern Railway P class tank loco and Dover Corporation tram down near the Western Docks.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon May 18 2009 Dover Strait chart http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1119915.html A few small photos of parts of Admiralty Chart 1892 Dover Strait - Western Part. Thursday 26 October 2006: A few small photos of parts of Admiralty Chart 1892 Dover Strait - Western Part.

Calais Approaches Northeast Lane and French Inshore Traffic Zone Southwest Lane, separation zone, and Northeast Lane Dover, the English Inshore Traffic Zone and the Southwest Lane Dover Strait - Western Part

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Oct 26 2006 Regatta in Dover during Queen's Visit http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1111459.html American owned cruise ship belonging to Oceania Cruises and registered in the Marshall Islands. Built 1998. 30,277gt. 592ft. 680 pax. 373 crew. Originally owned by Renaissance Cruises who went bankrupt after 9/11. Renaissance used to fly American passengers to Manston to join the ship when she was operating out of Dover. One of her sister ships, now named Insignia, also calls at Dover, as does another, now named Minerva II with Swan Hellenic. All were named in the sequence R One to R Eight when with Renaissance. After the bankruptcy, six of the sister ships were laid up together in Gibraltar at one time. These photos were taken on the day the Queen visited Dover to open the new berths 8/9 in the Eastern Docks and the new watersports centre on the seafront. She also visited the Bronze Age Boat in Dover Museum - the oldest preserved cross-channel ferry! Monday 16 October 2006: American owned cruise ship belonging to Oceania Cruises and registered in the Marshall Islands. Built 1998. 30,277gt. 592ft. 680 pax. 373 crew. Originally owned by Renaissance Cruises who went bankrupt after 9/11. Renaissance used to fly American passengers to Manston to join the ship when she was operating out of Dover. One of her sister ships, now named Insignia, also calls at Dover, as does another, now named Minerva II with Swan Hellenic. All were named in the sequence R One to R Eight when with Renaissance. After the bankruptcy, six of the sister ships were laid up together in Gibraltar at one time. These photos were taken on the day the Queen visited Dover to open the new berths 8/9 in the Eastern Docks and the new watersports centre on the seafront. She also visited the Bronze Age Boat in Dover Museum - the oldest preserved cross-channel ferry!

Queen on seafront with Regatta in background On Admiralty Pier extension, Prince of Wales pier in foreground Regatta on Admiralty Pier extension with Saga Ruby on CT2 On Admiralty Pier extension, dressed overall for Queens visit to Dover

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Oct 16 2006 Schooner Alva in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1111457.html Three masted schooner built in 1939 as a sailing cargoship. Rebuilt into a charter vessel between 1989-1997. 261 gross tons. 43 metres. Has a Caterpillar engine as back-up. Owned by a Swedish company which operates charters for passengers who are invited to join in sailing the vessel. Luxurious accommodation with a spacious saloon sitting 60-70. Certified for 80 passengers or 42 in coastal waters. Photographed in Dover on 13.09.04. Unable to call in late 2006 as no berth available due to additional pontoons installed for yachts. Monday 16 October 2006: Three masted schooner built in 1939 as a sailing cargoship. Rebuilt into a charter vessel between 1989-1997. 261 gross tons. 43 metres. Has a Caterpillar engine as back-up. Owned by a Swedish company which operates charters for passengers who are invited to join in sailing the vessel. Luxurious accommodation with a spacious saloon sitting 60-70. Certified for 80 passengers or 42 in coastal waters. Photographed in Dover on 13.09.04. Unable to call in late 2006 as no berth available due to additional pontoons installed for yachts.

Berthed in Wellington Dock

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Oct 16 2006 Richborough Port in World War One http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1070897.html During the First World War, it was necessary to transport vast quantities of munitions, equipment and stores to support the British Army fighting on the Western Front. Dover was jam-packed with the huge fleet of warships and auxiliaries comprising the Dover Patrol and with ferries bringing back the wounded to the Admiralty Pier. Folkestone was dedicated to moving the millions of soldiers across to fight and home for leave. A sprawling temporary port was therefore built by the Royal Engineers at Richborough near Sandwich, north of Dover, to enable shipping these huge amounts of supplies to the BEF in France. The Inland Water Transport Section of the Royal Engineers was operating barges on the canals of France and Flanders and this was a natural progression. A great number of barges were built on site and tugs towed them back and forth, nearly two million tons being shipped in this way. Towards the end of the War, a rail ferry berth was constructed and three train ferries entered service, capable of carrying the tanks and large guns which could not go by barge. At the end of the war, they were used to transport roll-on roll-off cars, lorries and buses back from France. In 1919, they were bringing back more than a thousand lorries per week. These photos from "Richborough Port" by Robert Butler (available from Ramsgate Maritime Museum), show one of the ferries loaded with lorries, and also the two-ton electric transporter cranes in the background in the second photo, which were the forerunner of the modern container cranes shown in the third photo. The port was no longer required at the end of the war and was left to silt up. The train ferries, imaginatively named TF1, TF2 and TF3, were sold to the Great Eastern Railway and moved to Harwich. The site was used for the construction of Mulberry harbour sections prior to the Normandy landings in WW2 and and is now the location of Pfizer's pharmaceutical complex. RORO ferries were not reintroduced on the Dover Strait until the nineteen fifties, and I believe that container cranes only reappeared with the container revolution in the sixties. It seems extraordinary that RORO ferries and container cranes should have been invented by the British Army all those years ago and then lapsed only to be reinvented again so many years later. Thursday 22 October 2009: During the First World War, it was necessary to transport vast quantities of munitions, equipment and stores to support the British Army fighting on the Western Front. Dover was jam-packed with the huge fleet of warships and auxiliaries comprising the Dover Patrol and with ferries bringing back the wounded to the Admiralty Pier. Folkestone was dedicated to moving the millions of soldiers across to fight and home for leave. A sprawling temporary port was therefore built by the Royal Engineers at Richborough near Sandwich, north of Dover, to enable shipping these huge amounts of supplies to the BEF in France. The Inland Water Transport Section of the Royal Engineers was operating barges on the canals of France and Flanders and this was a natural progression. A great number of barges were built on site and tugs towed them back and forth, nearly two million tons being shipped in this way. Towards the end of the War, a rail ferry berth was constructed and three train ferries entered service, capable of carrying the tanks and large guns which could not go by barge. At the end of the war, they were used to transport roll-on roll-off cars, lorries and buses back from France. In 1919, they were bringing back more than a thousand lorries per week. These photos from "Richborough Port" by Robert Butler (available from Ramsgate Maritime Museum), show one of the ferries loaded with lorries, and also the two-ton electric transporter cranes in the background in the second photo, which were the forerunner of the modern container cranes shown in the third photo. The port was no longer required at the end of the war and was left to silt up. The train ferries, imaginatively named TF1, TF2 and TF3, were sold to the Great Eastern Railway and moved to Harwich. The site was used for the construction of Mulberry harbour sections prior to the Normandy landings in WW2 and and is now the location of Pfizer's pharmaceutical complex. RORO ferries were not reintroduced on the Dover Strait until the nineteen fifties, and I believe that container cranes only reappeared with the container revolution in the sixties. It seems extraordinary that RORO ferries and container cranes should have been invented by the British Army all those years ago and then lapsed only to be reinvented again so many years later.

Modern container cranes in Dunkerque West Train ferry carrying lorries back from France in 1919 2 ton electric transporters in background, forerunner of todays container cranes

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Oct 22 2009 St. Christopher after the 1987 Hurricane http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1066950.html Damage suffered by the St. Christopher in the 1987 hurricane when the ship came within a whisker of going down. The Forward Garage Door was buckled in. The Bosun and the Chippy both received bravery awards for clearing debris from the scuppers, without which water would have collected on the cardecks. Much damage was caused to the vehicles onboard. Some of the photos show an artic which overturned on top of a Swiss car, completely crushing it. The Swiss couple who owned it returned onboard next day to take photographs, saying that their insurance company would not believe what had happened! The Captain was Colin Roberts, who said that it was the worst night he had ever experienced at sea. Monday 28 August 2006: Damage suffered by the St. Christopher in the 1987 hurricane when the ship came within a whisker of going down. The Forward Garage Door was buckled in. The Bosun and the Chippy both received bravery awards for clearing debris from the scuppers, without which water would have collected on the cardecks. Much damage was caused to the vehicles onboard. Some of the photos show an artic which overturned on top of a Swiss car, completely crushing it. The Swiss couple who owned it returned onboard next day to take photographs, saying that their insurance company would not believe what had happened! The Captain was Colin Roberts, who said that it was the worst night he had ever experienced at sea.

Photo in normal times taken by the late Mike Sartin Laid up in Eastern Docks the day after the hurricane Bridge front view with buckled door Forward Garage Door viewed from focsle Forward Garage Door viewed from upper cardeck Upper cardeck looking forward Poop with damage to deckhead Lorry overturned on top of car Car squashed under artic Cargo spilled from overturned lorry Another overturned lorry behind coach Close-up of overturned lorry behind coach Damaged vehicles

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Aug 28 2006 MSC Opera in Valencia http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1063685.html Owned by Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, a subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Company of Geneva. Built 2004. 59,058gt. 763ft. 21 kts. 2055 pax. 720 crew. Italian officers. Registered in Panama. Sister ship MSC Lirica. Both ships were christened by Sophia Loren. The parent company MSC is one of the world's largest container shipping companies, with 306 boxboats. It purchased the Lauro cruise company in the eighties and renamed it Starlauro. After the disastrous fire onboard the Achille Lauro in 1994, MSC renamed Starlauro as Mediterranean Shipping Cruises. MSC Lirica is calling in Dover on 5.9.06 and MSC Opera is due in 2007. The Opera was delivered a year after the Lirica and has a different cabin arrangement and slightly increased pax number. Saturday 26 August 2006: Owned by Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, a subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Company of Geneva. Built 2004. 59,058gt. 763ft. 21 kts. 2055 pax. 720 crew. Italian officers. Registered in Panama. Sister ship MSC Lirica. Both ships were christened by Sophia Loren. The parent company MSC is one of the world's largest container shipping companies, with 306 boxboats. It purchased the Lauro cruise company in the eighties and renamed it Starlauro. After the disastrous fire onboard the Achille Lauro in 1994, MSC renamed Starlauro as Mediterranean Shipping Cruises. MSC Lirica is calling in Dover on 5.9.06 and MSC Opera is due in 2007. The Opera was delivered a year after the Lirica and has a different cabin arrangement and slightly increased pax number.

Berthing with tugs Starboard side view as berthing Starboard aft view ECDIS showing Opera berthing Distant view with ferries On Trasmed terminal Close-up of after section Close-up of forward section Stern view as departing Stern close-up

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Aug 26 2006 Maersk Dunkerque in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1061797.html Vessel seen departing Dover on 27th July 2006, and later that day at sea. Thursday 24 August 2006: Vessel seen departing Dover on 27th July 2006, and later that day at sea.

Leaving berth No.2 Close-up of poop Leaving berth No.2 Shaping up for Eastern Entrance Approaching Eastern Entrance Outside Eastern Entrance Port broadside view at sea Port quarter view at sea Port quarter view at sea

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Aug 24 2006 Crystal Symphony in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1061788.html Owned by Crystal Cruises, a subsidiary of NYK Line of Japan. Norwegian master and international crew. Registered Bahamas. Built 1995. 51,044gt. 781ft. 20 kts. 940 pax. 545 crew. Two views on Cruise Terminal One, followed by a sequence showing her departure via the Western Entrance on 10th July 2005. Thursday 24 August 2006: Owned by Crystal Cruises, a subsidiary of NYK Line of Japan. Norwegian master and international crew. Registered Bahamas. Built 1995. 51,044gt. 781ft. 20 kts. 940 pax. 545 crew. Two views on Cruise Terminal One, followed by a sequence showing her departure via the Western Entrance on 10th July 2005.

On Cruise Terminal One On Cruise Terminal One Leaving berth on CT1 Passing end of Admiralty Pier Leaving by Western Entrance Passing end of Southern breakwater Stern view outside Southern breakwater Starboard quarter view outside Southern breakwater Starboard side view outside Southern breakwater Framed in Western Entrance

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Aug 24 2006 Pride of Provence in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1061764.html Three views of the vessel berthed on the South Jetty on 20th December 2004 at the end of her service with P&O. Bunkering tanker Crescent Camilla alongside. Thursday 24 August 2006: Three views of the vessel berthed on the South Jetty on 20th December 2004 at the end of her service with P&O. Bunkering tanker Crescent Camilla alongside.

Starboard broadside with Crescent Camilla Close-up of mid section with Crescent Camilla Starboard broadside with Crescent Camilla

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Aug 24 2006 Club Med 2 in Valencia http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1061191.html Photographed on the Trasmediterranea terminal in Valencia on 24th June 2006. Largest five masted sailing vessel in the world, slightly larger than her near sister Wind Surf which has visited Dover in the past and was built as Club Med 1. Operated by Club Mediterranee. Built 1992. 14,983gt. 392 pax. Crew 210. Registered in Mata-Utu in the French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific. Cruises in the Meddy in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter. Wednesday 23 August 2006: Photographed on the Trasmediterranea terminal in Valencia on 24th June 2006. Largest five masted sailing vessel in the world, slightly larger than her near sister Wind Surf which has visited Dover in the past and was built as Club Med 1. Operated by Club Mediterranee. Built 1992. 14,983gt. 392 pax. Crew 210. Registered in Mata-Utu in the French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific. Cruises in the Meddy in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter.

View at night Port quarter view View of forward section View of after section Close-up of stern

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Aug 23 2006 SeaFrance Manet in Dunkerque http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1060177.html Some views taken from the Dawn Merchant in Arno's repair yard on 20th August 2005. Tuesday 22 August 2006: Some views taken from the Dawn Merchant in Arno's repair yard on 20th August 2005.

View of after section View of forward section Dawn Merchant ECDIS ACL RORO/boxboat in adjoining graving dock Distant view of Arno's repair yard

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Aug 22 2006 Pride of Aquitaine in Dover and Dunkerque http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1059794.html Some views of the vessel towards the end of her service with P&O, on the Eastern Arm and the South Jetty, followed by a photo of her laid up in Dunkerque prior to entering service with Louis Dreyfus. Tuesday 22 August 2006: Some views of the vessel towards the end of her service with P&O, on the Eastern Arm and the South Jetty, followed by a photo of her laid up in Dunkerque prior to entering service with Louis Dreyfus.

On the South Jetty (Dover Cargo Terminal) Starboard quarter view on Eastern Arm On Eastern Arm viewed from outside entrance Port broadside view on Eastern Arm Laid up in Dunkerque

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Aug 22 2006 Stena Invicta http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1056441.html I served on Stena Invicta for her entire service in Dover. She was originally built in 1985 for Danish State Railways as the Peder Paars running from Kalundborg to Aarhus. In 1991, she was purchased by Stena and used on the Dover-Calais service until 1998 when Stena and P&O merged their services and she was no longer required. She is now operated by Color Line as the Color Viking. These uploads show the deck plans and also the Emergency Plan lodged with HM Coastguard for faxing to the Fire Brigade if required to attend, which was required to depict the whole ship on one sheet of A4. Two views in drydock in Bremerhaven and view of ship as originally entered service on the Dover Strait. Monday 3 December 2007: I served on Stena Invicta for her entire service in Dover. She was originally built in 1985 for Danish State Railways as the Peder Paars running from Kalundborg to Aarhus. In 1991, she was purchased by Stena and used on the Dover-Calais service until 1998 when Stena and P&O merged their services and she was no longer required. She is now operated by Color Line as the Color Viking. These uploads show the deck plans and also the Emergency Plan lodged with HM Coastguard for faxing to the Fire Brigade if required to attend, which was required to depict the whole ship on one sheet of A4. Two views in drydock in Bremerhaven and view of ship as originally entered service on the Dover Strait.

Decks 9 10 and Profile Decks 5 6 7 8 Decks 1 2 3 4 Emergency Plan held by HM Coastguard to fax to Fire Brigade Bulbous bow and cowcatcher Propellers and rudders As originally entered service on the Dover Strait

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Dec 3 2007 Mona Lisa in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1055672.html German cruise liner owned by Holiday Kreuzfahrten, predominantly catering for German passengers. Built 1966 by John Brown, Clydebank. 27,670gt. 730 pax. 201m. Originally built as a classic transatlantic liner for Swedish America Line and named Kungsholm. Later operated as the Sea Princess and Victoria for P&O, who removed her forward dummy funnel and replaced it with the accommodation block seen, together with extending the remaining funnel. This now bears a portrait of the Mona Lisa. Friday 18 August 2006: German cruise liner owned by Holiday Kreuzfahrten, predominantly catering for German passengers. Built 1966 by John Brown, Clydebank. 27,670gt. 730 pax. 201m. Originally built as a classic transatlantic liner for Swedish America Line and named Kungsholm. Later operated as the Sea Princess and Victoria for P&O, who removed her forward dummy funnel and replaced it with the accommodation block seen, together with extending the remaining funnel. This now bears a portrait of the Mona Lisa.

Starboard broadside view on Eastern Arm Close-up of midsection Preparing to leave by Eastern Entrance On Admiralty Pier with Saga Ruby departing On Admiralty Pier with Saga Ruby departing Port broadside view Departing Western Docks Departing by Western Entrance Outside Western Entrance

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Aug 18 2006 HM Coastguard spotter plane http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1054655.html Britten Norman Islander based at Manston. Used by Dover MRCC to identify rogue ships in the traffic separation scheme, monitor any oil pollution from shipping, and assist with fishery protection and SAR operations. Wednesday 16 August 2006: Britten Norman Islander based at Manston. Used by Dover MRCC to identify rogue ships in the traffic separation scheme, monitor any oil pollution from shipping, and assist with fishery protection and SAR operations.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Aug 16 2006 Dawn Merchant Voyage Data Recorder http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1054081.html The Voyage Data Recorder on the Bridge of the Dawn Merchant (the large grey unit like a washing machine). Data recorded is continuously repeated to the Hardened Storage Unit on the Monkey Island, the one shown is from the Northern Merchant. In the event of the ship sinking, the HSU would be located via the signals from the acoustic beacon mounted on top of it. Divers or an ROV would then be sent down to bring it to the surface. Wednesday 16 August 2006: The Voyage Data Recorder on the Bridge of the Dawn Merchant (the large grey unit like a washing machine). Data recorded is continuously repeated to the Hardened Storage Unit on the Monkey Island, the one shown is from the Northern Merchant. In the event of the ship sinking, the HSU would be located via the signals from the acoustic beacon mounted on top of it. Divers or an ROV would then be sent down to bring it to the surface.

General view of Bridge with VDR Close-up of VDR on Bridge Hardened Storage Unit forward of radar mast Close-up of Hardened Storage Unit Close-up of underwater acoustic locator beacon Hardened Storage Unit on Monkey Island

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Aug 16 2006 Dover Regatta Sunday 13th August 2006 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1051017.html Second day of the Dover Regatta on Sunday 13th August 2006. Lashing rain all morning cleared just in time for a supeb air display by the Red Arrows. Fred Olsen cruise ship Black Watch on Cruise Terminal One. Maersk ferry waiting off the port as an exclusion zone was declared for the duration of the display. Various shots of the beachfront and Castle as singleton Hawks circle back into position. Last photos are of the powerboat races and the Coastguard spotter plane. Sunday 13 August 2006: Second day of the Dover Regatta on Sunday 13th August 2006. Lashing rain all morning cleared just in time for a supeb air display by the Red Arrows. Fred Olsen cruise ship Black Watch on Cruise Terminal One. Maersk ferry waiting off the port as an exclusion zone was declared for the duration of the display. Various shots of the beachfront and Castle as singleton Hawks circle back into position. Last photos are of the powerboat races and the Coastguard spotter plane.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Aug 13 2006 Dover Regatta Saturday 12th August 2006 http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1050371.html First day of the Dover Regatta on Saturday 12th August 2006. RAF Sea King staging display with Dover lifeboat and inshore lifeboats. Cruise ships Constellation and Minerva II berthed at the cruise terminals. Ferry Maersk Dover with yachts racing. Emergency Towing Vessel Anglian Monarch. Bunkering tanker Crescent Beaune. Small helicopter giving joy rides. Some funfair rides with our grandchildren. The Battle of Britain memorial flight was supposed to put in an appearance to mark the 400th anniversary of the granting of the charter to Dover Harbour Board but this was precluded by the dismal weather. Sunday 13 August 2006: First day of the Dover Regatta on Saturday 12th August 2006. RAF Sea King staging display with Dover lifeboat and inshore lifeboats. Cruise ships Constellation and Minerva II berthed at the cruise terminals. Ferry Maersk Dover with yachts racing. Emergency Towing Vessel Anglian Monarch. Bunkering tanker Crescent Beaune. Small helicopter giving joy rides. Some funfair rides with our grandchildren. The Battle of Britain memorial flight was supposed to put in an appearance to mark the 400th anniversary of the granting of the charter to Dover Harbour Board but this was precluded by the dismal weather.

Constellation with RNLI lifeboat and man overboard RAF Sea King SAR helicopter RAF helicopter lowering winchman Helicopter lowers winchman to sea level Winchman approaching man overboard Helicopter recovering winchman and man overboard View from foreshore Sea King with Minerva II in background Sea King over RNLI lifeboats Sea King hovering over RNLI lifeboat Sea King hovering over RNLI lifeboat Sea King hovering over RNLI lifeboat Minerva II, RNLI lifeboat, Sea King Constellation, RNLI lifeboat, Sea King Sea King hovering over RNLI lifeboat RNLI lifeboat, Sea King, ETV Anglian Monarch Constellation with RNLI lifeboat and Sea King Sea King lowering men onto RNLI lifeboat Sea King lowering men onto RNLI lifeboat Sea King lowering men onto RNLI lifeboat RNLI lifeboats performing high speed manoeuvres Constellation, RNLI lifeboat, Sea King RNLI lifeboat and assorted RIB's Sea King with Eastern Docks in background RNLI lifeboat Joy riding helicopter with Western Docks in background Grandchildren at Venturer Simulator Grandchildren at beach cafe Maersk Dover with yacht race in foreground Me with grandchild Nicole

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Aug 13 2006 Astoria in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1049509.html Small German cruise ship owned by Transocean Tours. Built 1981. 18,591gt. 500 pax. Saturday 12 August 2006: Small German cruise ship owned by Transocean Tours. Built 1981. 18,591gt. 500 pax.

On Cruise Terminal One On CT1 with c.Columbus on CT2 Close-up on Cruise Terminal One

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Aug 12 2006 c. Columbus in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1049504.html Small German cruise ship owned by Hapag-Lloyd. Built 1997. 14,903gt. 420 pax. Specialises in cruises up the Great Lakes. Saturday 12 August 2006: Small German cruise ship owned by Hapag-Lloyd. Built 1997. 14,903gt. 420 pax. Specialises in cruises up the Great Lakes.

c.Columbus and Astoria Starboard broadside view on Cruise Terminal 2 Starboard broadside view on Cruise Terminal 2

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]]> Sat Aug 12 2006 Seven Seas Navigator in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1047750.html Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. 33,000gt. 560ft. 20kts. 490 pax. 324 crew. American owned, Bahamas flag, Italian officers, international crew. Construction originally commenced in St. Petersburg as an oceanographic vessel for the Soviet Navy. Hull purchased in 1996, towed to Genoa, drastically modified, and completed as a cruise ship. Caters for the luxury end of the market. Thursday 10 August 2006: Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. 33,000gt. 560ft. 20kts. 490 pax. 324 crew. American owned, Bahamas flag, Italian officers, international crew. Construction originally commenced in St. Petersburg as an oceanographic vessel for the Soviet Navy. Hull purchased in 1996, towed to Genoa, drastically modified, and completed as a cruise ship. Caters for the luxury end of the market.

Port quarter view on Cruise Terminal One. View from St. Martins Battery.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Aug 10 2006 Moby Freedom and America's Cup yachts in Valencia http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1045039.html Moby Lines ferry Moby Freedom in Valencia in May 2006. Fantastic paint scheme, love it. She was in port supporting the owner of Moby Lines, Vincenzo Onorato, who has a team entered in the Louis Vuitton Cup yacht races which are being staged in Valencia and are the qualifying stages for the America's Cup which is being held in Valencia in 2007. This is the first time it has been held in Europe and is due to a Swiss yacht being the current holder. Valencia was chosen because of its dependable strong winds. A few pictures of the yachting basin and surrounds follow those of the Moby Freedom. The whole port area around the basin is one huge building site with new roads being constructed, and both the bridge in the foreground and the stand in the background in the photos have just been constructed, and a new dock entrance has been cut direct to the open sea. The old warehouses around the dock have been refurbished to serve the individual teams. Also love the lines of the little ship "Daunia" in the first photos. She is laid up in the small repair yard and would make a wonderful private yacht, have started saving up. Monday 7 August 2006: Moby Lines ferry Moby Freedom in Valencia in May 2006. Fantastic paint scheme, love it. She was in port supporting the owner of Moby Lines, Vincenzo Onorato, who has a team entered in the Louis Vuitton Cup yacht races which are being staged in Valencia and are the qualifying stages for the America's Cup which is being held in Valencia in 2007. This is the first time it has been held in Europe and is due to a Swiss yacht being the current holder. Valencia was chosen because of its dependable strong winds. A few pictures of the yachting basin and surrounds follow those of the Moby Freedom. The whole port area around the basin is one huge building site with new roads being constructed, and both the bridge in the foreground and the stand in the background in the photos have just been constructed, and a new dock entrance has been cut direct to the open sea. The old warehouses around the dock have been refurbished to serve the individual teams. Also love the lines of the little ship "Daunia" in the first photos. She is laid up in the small repair yard and would make a wonderful private yacht, have started saving up.

View in ferry berth View of cartoons on forward section View across repair yard with old ferry Daunia awaiting conversion to private yacht Departing berth Passing container berths Passing behind cruise ship View over cargo sheds Passing container ship Starboard quarter view Reaching open sea with boxboats at anchor Yachting basin in background Yachting basin in background Yachting basin with new bridge replacing old lock Yacht in converted warehouse America's Cup display near docks America's Cup display near docks New bridge replacing old lock Private yacht in centre of basin New Zealand team's HQ New Zealand team's HQ Capitalia team's HQ View over central basin New grandstand Work progressing on quayside Port entrance to America's Cup basin BMW Oracle yacht returning after day's sailing BMW Oracle yacht passing Team Shosholoza Team boats following yachts in Spanish team's HQ

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Aug 7 2006 Maersk Dover in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1044624.html Some photos of Maersk Dover on the Eastern Arm and then No.2 berth prior to taking up her first Dover-Dunkerque service on 22nd July 2006. Taken from Midnight Merchant as she berths on No.3 a few days prior to finishing her charter to Norfolk Line. Three photos added showing her during Dover Regatta 12.8.06 with a yacht race in progress. Monday 7 August 2006: Some photos of Maersk Dover on the Eastern Arm and then No.2 berth prior to taking up her first Dover-Dunkerque service on 22nd July 2006. Taken from Midnight Merchant as she berths on No.3 a few days prior to finishing her charter to Norfolk Line. Three photos added showing her during Dover Regatta 12.8.06 with a yacht race in progress.

On Eastern Arm prior to entering service On Eastern Arm prior to entering service On Eastern Arm prior to entering service View from off port bow in Eastern Docks No.2 Frontal view in Eastern Docks No.2 View from off starboard bow Window cleaning robot Bridge front from dead ahead View over Midnight Merchant's lifeboat View from off starboard bow Bridge front and focsle Forward end of superstructure View along starboard side Funnel and side windows Radar mast and starboard bridge wing Forward end of accommodation Midnight Merchant and Maersk Dover on Pier A Close-up of bridge front At Dover Regatta with racing yachts At Dover Regatta with racing yachts At Dover Regatta with racing yachts

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Aug 7 2006 Dart 3 in Dunkerque floating drydock http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1044600.html Dart Line RORO ferry Dart 3 entering the floating drydock at Arno's shipyard in Dunkerque in August 2006. Sequence then showing drydock being deballasted to bring her up out of the water. Monday 7 August 2006: Dart Line RORO ferry Dart 3 entering the floating drydock at Arno's shipyard in Dunkerque in August 2006. Sequence then showing drydock being deballasted to bring her up out of the water.

Drydock location on ECDIS Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Dock submerged Commencing de-ballast Continuing de-ballast Continuing de-ballast Dock fully de-ballasted Close-up of stern Commencing overhaul Repaint in progress Close-up of repaint Maintenance work in progress View from ashore

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Aug 7 2006 Midnight Merchant with Dunkerque pilot arriving by helicopter http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1044587.html Dunkerque pilot landing on by helicopter as ship approaches Dunkerque for refit and transfer to Acciona Trasmediterranea following her final voyage for Norfolk Line. The area marked for helicopter use is over the top of the crew accommodation and is not strengthened for helicopters to land, although if required they can kiss the deck with their landing gear. Monday 7 August 2006: Dunkerque pilot landing on by helicopter as ship approaches Dunkerque for refit and transfer to Acciona Trasmediterranea following her final voyage for Norfolk Line. The area marked for helicopter use is over the top of the crew accommodation and is not strengthened for helicopters to land, although if required they can kiss the deck with their landing gear.

Helicopter approaches from astern Helicopter passing along port side of ship Helicopter passing over port lifeboat Helicopter hovering over landing area Ship's pilot being winched down Ship's pilot landing on deck Winchman retrieving line Helicopter commences to depart Helicopter departing to starboard Helicopter away

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Aug 7 2006 Midnight Merchant at refit in Dunkerque http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1043863.html Series of photos showing Midnight Merchant alongside at Arno's shipyard in Dunkerque in August 2006. The vessel has been sold to Acciona Trasmediterranea and is being repainted in their colours. As can be seen, the ship has a dual personality. The starboard side is Acciona and the port side is Norfolk Line. The ship will be turned to paint the other side then go into the adjacent floating drydock to have her keel painted and receive attention to her propellers. Sunday 6 August 2006: Series of photos showing Midnight Merchant alongside at Arno's shipyard in Dunkerque in August 2006. The vessel has been sold to Acciona Trasmediterranea and is being repainted in their colours. As can be seen, the ship has a dual personality. The starboard side is Acciona and the port side is Norfolk Line. The ship will be turned to paint the other side then go into the adjacent floating drydock to have her keel painted and receive attention to her propellers.

Looking aft from accommodation Starboard forward view Starboard centre view Starboard quarter view Starboard quarter view Starboard quarter view Stern doors removed Stern doors removed Starboard forward view Starboard bow view Bow view Bow view Port forward view Bow view Bow view Bow view Acciona Trasmed logo Starboard funnel half and half

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Aug 6 2006 Claymore in Dunkerque http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1043751.html Ex CalMac ferry Claymore in Dunkerque. Currently employed shipping live exports from Dover. These shots were taken from Arno's shipyard and show the location of the berth which Claymore uses, which is on the fringe of the cargoship berths out where they end at the tanker berth. In the final shot, the entrance lock into Dunkerque is at the top right of the photo. Sunday 6 August 2006: Ex CalMac ferry Claymore in Dunkerque. Currently employed shipping live exports from Dover. These shots were taken from Arno's shipyard and show the location of the berth which Claymore uses, which is on the fringe of the cargoship berths out where they end at the tanker berth. In the final shot, the entrance lock into Dunkerque is at the top right of the photo.

Close-up of vessel on berth Distant view from Arno's repair yard Distant view with entrance lock in top right Berth on fringe of cargoship docks Distant view with oil refinery behind Distant view over floating drydock

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sun Aug 6 2006 Topaz in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1027612.html Japanese peaceboat Topaz in Dover on 23/24 AUG 2004. Originally built as Canadian Pacific's Empress of Britain. Friday 21 July 2006: Japanese peaceboat Topaz in Dover on 23/24 AUG 2004. Originally built as Canadian Pacific's Empress of Britain.

Topaz with SeaFrance Cezanne Port broadside view on Admiralty Pier Topaz, Regatta, Crystal Symphony Midsection view Close-up of midsection

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Jul 21 2006 Brave Merchant (Blanca del Mar) in Palma http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1027591.html Brave Merchant saw a few weeks relieving the Dawn and the Midnight on Dover/Dunkerque whilst they went for refits, after she returned from transporting army material to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War. Normally, she was employed on the Irish Sea. Here she is seen in her new guise as the Blanca del Mar on charter to Iscomar running Palma/Barcelona. Thursday 20 July 2006: Brave Merchant saw a few weeks relieving the Dawn and the Midnight on Dover/Dunkerque whilst they went for refits, after she returned from transporting army material to the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War. Normally, she was employed on the Irish Sea. Here she is seen in her new guise as the Blanca del Mar on charter to Iscomar running Palma/Barcelona.

Blanca del Mar, tall ship, Pau Casals Port broadside view Silver Cloud, Bremen, Blanca del Mar

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Jul 20 2006 Dawn Merchant exercise with Anglesey SAR helicopter http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1025241.html Dawn Merchant ran for a month or two on the Irish Sea from Birkenhead to Dublin after finishing on the Dover Strait and before going down to Spain. Here are a few photos of the RAF Anglesey SAR helicopter on 26th October 2005. They called us up on VHF as they were in the vicinity and asked if they could practise station keeping for a few minutes. The weather was a bit blustery so it was a useful opportunity for them to practise in moderately adverse conditions. Tuesday 18 July 2006: Dawn Merchant ran for a month or two on the Irish Sea from Birkenhead to Dublin after finishing on the Dover Strait and before going down to Spain. Here are a few photos of the RAF Anglesey SAR helicopter on 26th October 2005. They called us up on VHF as they were in the vicinity and asked if they could practise station keeping for a few minutes. The weather was a bit blustery so it was a useful opportunity for them to practise in moderately adverse conditions.

Helicopter approaching down port side Close-up of helicopter Hovering in way of lifeboat View from Bridge windows looking aft View from Bridge windows looking aft

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jul 18 2006 Dawn Merchant Bridge Views http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1025237.html A selection of views of equipment on the Bridge of the Dawn Merchant whilst she was berthed in Dover on 5th August 2005. Tuesday 18 July 2006: A selection of views of equipment on the Bridge of the Dawn Merchant whilst she was berthed in Dover on 5th August 2005.

ECDIS with own ship berthed on Eastern Arm X Band ARPA on short range ECDIS and port ARPA AIS, DGPS, chart and logbook Automatic Identification System CCTV, AIS and DGPS Bridge centre console Centre console controls Helmsman's stand Centre console controls S Band ARPA on medium range Third ARPA used as back-up Starboard Bridge wing view View across Wheelhouse Port wing console ECDIS Port wing console controls VDR and Fire Detection panels Chart Room Chart Table GMDSS radio console

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jul 18 2006 Dawn Merchant (Pau Casals) in Palma http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1025234.html Various photos of Pau Casals in Palma plus a letter and photo from the NUMAST Telegraph showing the whale that became lodged on her bulbous bow off Barcelona. Tuesday 18 July 2006: Various photos of Pau Casals in Palma plus a letter and photo from the NUMAST Telegraph showing the whale that became lodged on her bulbous bow off Barcelona.

Ocean Village, Blanca del Mar, Balearia fastcraft, Pau Casals, Sea Princess Blanca del Mar, tall ship, Pau Casals Tall ship and Pau Casals Port quarter view Starboard broadside view Starboard broadside with cargoship Starboard quarter view Whale on bulbous bow

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jul 18 2006 Dawn Merchant in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1024991.html Some shots of the Dawn Merchant at sea and berthed on No.1 berth Eastern Arm in Dover. Tuesday 18 July 2006: Some shots of the Dawn Merchant at sea and berthed on No.1 berth Eastern Arm in Dover.

On Eastern Docks No.1 with Polish electrician Jerzy in foreground On Eastern Docks No.1 with SeaFrance Rodin entering View from National Trust on Langdon Cliffs Port quarter view Starboard broadside view

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]]> Tue Jul 18 2006 Constellation in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1023939.html Bahamas registered cruise ship owned by Celebrity Cruises, which was originally formed by the Greek Chandris Group. Built 2002. 91,000gt. 965ft. 1,950 pax. 999 crew. Powered by two gas turbines and a steam turbine supplying electrical power to two azimuth thruster pods. Sister ships Infinity, Summit, Millenium. Frequent caller in Dover. Monday 17 July 2006: Bahamas registered cruise ship owned by Celebrity Cruises, which was originally formed by the Greek Chandris Group. Built 2002. 91,000gt. 965ft. 1,950 pax. 999 crew. Powered by two gas turbines and a steam turbine supplying electrical power to two azimuth thruster pods. Sister ships Infinity, Summit, Millenium. Frequent caller in Dover.

Bremen, Constellation, Braemar On CT2 with Dover beach in foreground On CT2 with building works for berths 8/9 in foreground Saga Pearl, Constellation, Black Watch In original dramatic blue livery Departing by Western with Pride of Kent in foreground Constellation, Saga Ruby, Seacat Constellation with Seacat departing On CT2 with Saga Rose on CT1 On CT2 with hoverport in foreground Framed by trees on the Western Heights With bunker barge Sara alongside Constellation, bunker barge Sara, Minerva II Bunker barge Sara alongside, POW pier in foreground At Dover Regatta with RNLI lifeboat and man overboard At Dover Regatta with inshore lifeboat and SAR SeaKing At Dover Regatta with RNLI lifeboat and SAR SeaKing

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jul 17 2006 Norwegian Jewel in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1021470.html Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Built 2005. 92,000grt. 965ft. 25 kts. 2,376 pax. 1,154 crew. Seen here on the Admiralty Pier on 14.07.06. 22 JUN 2008: More views added when she passed astern of Maersk Dover after leaving Dover by Eastern Entrance. Sunday 22 June 2008: Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Built 2005. 92,000grt. 965ft. 25 kts. 2,376 pax. 1,154 crew. Seen here on the Admiralty Pier on 14.07.06. 22 JUN 2008: More views added when she passed astern of Maersk Dover after leaving Dover by Eastern Entrance.

Distant port quarter view on CT2 Middle distance port quarter view Port quarter view on CT2 View from St.Martin's Battery Norwegian Jewel and Saga Ruby On Admiralty Pier, Cruise Terminal 2 Passing astern 22.06.08 Passing astern 22.06.08 Passing astern 22.06.08 Passing astern 22.06.08

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]]> Sun Jun 22 2008 Insignia in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1019741.html American owned cruise ship belonging to Oceania Cruises and registered in the Marshall Islands. Built 1998. 30,200gt. 592ft. 680 pax. 400 crew. Originally owned by Renaissance Cruises who went bankrupt after 9/11. Renaissance used to fly American passengers to Manston to join the ship when she was operating out of Dover. One of her sister ships, now named Regatta, also calls at Dover. Another, now named Minerva II with Swan Hellenic, also calls at Dover. All were named in the sequence R One to R Eight when with Renaissance. After the bankruptcy, six of the sister ships were laid up together in Gibraltar at one time. Wednesday 12 July 2006: American owned cruise ship belonging to Oceania Cruises and registered in the Marshall Islands. Built 1998. 30,200gt. 592ft. 680 pax. 400 crew. Originally owned by Renaissance Cruises who went bankrupt after 9/11. Renaissance used to fly American passengers to Manston to join the ship when she was operating out of Dover. One of her sister ships, now named Regatta, also calls at Dover. Another, now named Minerva II with Swan Hellenic, also calls at Dover. All were named in the sequence R One to R Eight when with Renaissance. After the bankruptcy, six of the sister ships were laid up together in Gibraltar at one time.

On Admiralty Pier extension Close-up on Admiralty Pier extension

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]]> Wed Jul 12 2006 Crystal Serenity in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1019737.html Luxury cruise liner owned by Crystal Cruises, a subsidiary of NYK Lines of Japan, and registered in the Bahamas. Built 2003. 68,000gt. 820ft. 21 kts. 1,080 pax. 655 crew. Wednesday 12 July 2006: Luxury cruise liner owned by Crystal Cruises, a subsidiary of NYK Lines of Japan, and registered in the Bahamas. Built 2003. 68,000gt. 820ft. 21 kts. 1,080 pax. 655 crew.

Berthed on Cruise Terminal One

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Wed Jul 12 2006 Acciona Trasmed poster in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1019735.html Having just returned from a two month stint with Acciona Trasmed in the Meddy on Northern Merchant/Zurbaran, I was amused to see a huge billboard advertising their Portsmouth-Bilbao service on the main approach road into Dover! Wednesday 12 July 2006: Having just returned from a two month stint with Acciona Trasmed in the Meddy on Northern Merchant/Zurbaran, I was amused to see a huge billboard advertising their Portsmouth-Bilbao service on the main approach road into Dover!

Close-up of poster on Snargate Street Smye Rumsby ships electronics and the poster Poster with Happy Chef and Ships Chandlers

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]]> Wed Jul 12 2006 Sea Princess in Palma, Mallorca http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1011506.html British registered cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises, now part of the Carnival group. Built 1998. 77,000gt. 2,016 pax. 875 crew. Sister ships Sun Princess and Dawn Princess. Tuesday 4 July 2006: British registered cruise ship owned by Princess Cruises, now part of the Carnival group. Built 1998. 77,000gt. 2,016 pax. 875 crew. Sister ships Sun Princess and Dawn Princess.

View from Northern Merchant assembly area View from Northern Merchant assembly area View of forward section View of after section View from off port bow View from off end of berth View from outside breakwater

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]]> Tue Jul 4 2006 Tug Afon Wen in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1011501.html Small tug belonging to Holyhead Towing. Seen on the Eastern Arm with a large lighter loaded with earth moving equipment. Tuesday 4 July 2006: Small tug belonging to Holyhead Towing. Seen on the Eastern Arm with a large lighter loaded with earth moving equipment.

Port broadside view, harbour launch in background Another view, rolling in swell Distant view with barge

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jul 4 2006 Northern Merchant in Mahon, Menorca. http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1010326.html Some views of the berth in Mahon on Menorca, up at the end of a picturesque inlet much prized as a naval base by the English and French during the age of sail. Isla de Botafoc (St. Anselm) shares the quay. Export cars can be seen on the dock. Monday 3 July 2006: Some views of the berth in Mahon on Menorca, up at the end of a picturesque inlet much prized as a naval base by the English and French during the age of sail. Isla de Botafoc (St. Anselm) shares the quay. Export cars can be seen on the dock.

Buildings adjacent to the berth Buildings and export cars Pedro's Boat Centre Shoreside buildings looking aft over port quarter Shoreside buildings looking aft Isla de Botafoc (St Anselm) on next berth Looking aft over upper cardeck

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jul 3 2006 Northern Merchant in Valencia, Spain http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1010289.html A number of views of Northern Merchant at the Trasmediterranea terminal in Valencia. The adjacent dock is being redeveloped in preparation for hosting the America's Cup in 2007, a yacht can be seen under cover in the nearest converted warehouse, and a new bridge and viewing stand in the final shot. The central shots are a 180 degrees panorama and include a couple of her competitors on the Valencia/Palma run, the Stena Forwarder and Mercedes del Mar. Monday 3 July 2006: A number of views of Northern Merchant at the Trasmediterranea terminal in Valencia. The adjacent dock is being redeveloped in preparation for hosting the America's Cup in 2007, a yacht can be seen under cover in the nearest converted warehouse, and a new bridge and viewing stand in the final shot. The central shots are a 180 degrees panorama and include a couple of her competitors on the Valencia/Palma run, the Stena Forwarder and Mercedes del Mar.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jul 3 2006 Northern Merchant in Palma, Mallorca http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1010277.html A number of views of the berth used by Northern Merchant in Palma, Mallorca. This is the prime berth in the centre of the port and there are usually cruise ships berthed on the other side of the quay. On the busiest day recently, there were half a dozen cruise ships in port, plus the usual assortment of ferries and plethora of superyachts. Monday 3 July 2006: A number of views of the berth used by Northern Merchant in Palma, Mallorca. This is the prime berth in the centre of the port and there are usually cruise ships berthed on the other side of the quay. On the busiest day recently, there were half a dozen cruise ships in port, plus the usual assortment of ferries and plethora of superyachts.

Sea Princess on other side of berth Assembly area and Sea Princess Passenger walkway and Sea Princess Leaving berth with Sea Princess alongside Trasmed ferry Sorolla and Sea Princess Leaving berth with Costa Atlantica alongside View of berth whilst swinging On the berth with Arcadia Another view with Arcadia in background Another view alongside Arcadia

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jul 3 2006 Murillo in Palma, Mallorca http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1010166.html Trasmediterranea ferry "Murillo" photographed in Palma, Mallorca, on 17th June 2006. A later development of Norse Merchant's Racehorse class ferries with extended accommodation and the suppression of the bow loading facility. Detail external differences from the Racehorse class are depicted. In all probability, Northern Merchant (renamed Zurbaran) will be modified to a similar configuration, reflecting the high demand for passenger accommodation on the routes from Valencia and Barcelona to Palma. Murillo and Zurbaran were seventeenth century Spanish artists. Sunday 2 July 2006: Trasmediterranea ferry "Murillo" photographed in Palma, Mallorca, on 17th June 2006. A later development of Norse Merchant's Racehorse class ferries with extended accommodation and the suppression of the bow loading facility. Detail external differences from the Racehorse class are depicted. In all probability, Northern Merchant (renamed Zurbaran) will be modified to a similar configuration, reflecting the high demand for passenger accommodation on the routes from Valencia and Barcelona to Palma. Murillo and Zurbaran were seventeenth century Spanish artists.

Accommodation extended to side of ship and further aft. No bow door or forward garage door. No lower windows in bridge front for bar lounge. Additional deckhouse forward of helideck. Larger satellite TV dome. Bow view. Starboard side view.

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]]> Sun Jul 2 2006 Costa Marina in Palma, Mallorca http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c990434.html Costa Cruises vessel Costa Marina photographed in Palma, Mallorca on 11th June 2006. Tuesday 13 June 2006: Costa Cruises vessel Costa Marina photographed in Palma, Mallorca on 11th June 2006.

Approaching berth Close-up of stern Close-up of forward section Passing end of berth View from off port quarter View from off port quarter

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jun 13 2006 Star Princess in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c990429.html Princess Cruises vessel Star Princess photographed in Dover on 24th September 2005 together with Saga Rose. Tuesday 13 June 2006: Princess Cruises vessel Star Princess photographed in Dover on 24th September 2005 together with Saga Rose.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jun 13 2006 Arcadia in Palma, Mallorca http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c990418.html P&O cruise ship Arcadia photographed in Palma, Mallorca in June 2006. Tuesday 13 June 2006: P&O cruise ship Arcadia photographed in Palma, Mallorca in June 2006.

Long lines of balconies Boats and balconies Atrium with glass-fronted lifts Atrium and funnel Port forward view View off port bow Close-up from off port bow View with Sorolla from outside entrance View from outside breakwater View with Pau Casals in foreground

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jun 13 2006 Isla de Botafoc (ex St. Anselm) in Mahon http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c975641.html Some photos of the Isla de Botafoc in Mahon, Menorca. She was originally on the Dover-Calais run as Sealink´s St. Anselm and was then operated by Stena as the Stena Cambria. She is now owned by the Spanish ferry company Balearia. Have added twenty further views of the approaches to Mahon. The long inlet makes a superb natural harbour and the island was occupied by the British throughout most of the eighteenth century, providing a naval base which ensured dominance of the Western Mediterranean. A huge fort stands at the mouth to deter attack from the sea. There are three shots of a little house jutting out into the water which is owned by Richard Branson who had childhood connections with Menorca. Useless information: Mayonnaise is named for Mahon, it was originally spelt Mahonnaise. Tuesday 30 May 2006: Some photos of the Isla de Botafoc in Mahon, Menorca. She was originally on the Dover-Calais run as Sealink_s St. Anselm and was then operated by Stena as the Stena Cambria. She is now owned by the Spanish ferry company Balearia. Have added twenty further views of the approaches to Mahon. The long inlet makes a superb natural harbour and the island was occupied by the British throughout most of the eighteenth century, providing a naval base which ensured dominance of the Western Mediterranean. A huge fort stands at the mouth to deter attack from the sea. There are three shots of a little house jutting out into the water which is owned by Richard Branson who had childhood connections with Menorca. Useless information: Mayonnaise is named for Mahon, it was originally spelt Mahonnaise.

View from off port quarter View as dusk falls Stern view Close-up of stern View from off port quarter View from afar Glass-bottomed boat at quay View from off port bow Close-up of forward end

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue May 30 2006 Costa Atlantica in Dover and Palma, Mallorca http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c971738.html Two shots of the Costa Atlantica approaching the Eastern Entrance on 19th May 2005, taken from the Dawn Merchant. Followed by two shots of the Costa Atlantica in Palma, Mallorca, on 17th May 2006. The blue and white Balearia ferry in the background is the Dawn Merchant, now renamed Pau Casals and running from Palma to Barcelona on charter to Balearia. Saturday 27 May 2006: Two shots of the Costa Atlantica approaching the Eastern Entrance on 19th May 2005, taken from the Dawn Merchant. Followed by two shots of the Costa Atlantica in Palma, Mallorca, on 17th May 2006. The blue and white Balearia ferry in the background is the Dawn Merchant, now renamed Pau Casals and running from Palma to Barcelona on charter to Balearia.

Approaching Dover Eastern Entrance Approaching Dover Eastern Entrance Berthed in Palma Mallorca Berthed in Palma Mallorca

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat May 27 2006 Speed One in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c916154.html Catamaran carrying 200 cars and 800 pax. Runs Dover-Boulogne. Five round trips a day. Roughly 50 minutes per crossing. Curt Stavis broke the mould when he introduced this craft in 2004 and brought low-cost EasyJet style travel to the Dover Strait. The famous "fight the pirates" slogan and an associated BBC documentary brought a wealth of free publicity. Friday 7 April 2006: Catamaran carrying 200 cars and 800 pax. Runs Dover-Boulogne. Five round trips a day. Roughly 50 minutes per crossing. Curt Stavis broke the mould when he introduced this craft in 2004 and brought low-cost EasyJet style travel to the Dover Strait. The famous "fight the pirates" slogan and an associated BBC documentary brought a wealth of free publicity.

In catamaran berth Eastern Docks View from off starboard bow at sea Broadside view at sea Broadside view at sea Leaving berth No.1 Eastern Docks Passing Eastern Arm Shaping up to leave by Eastern Entrance Departing Eastern Entrance behind European Seaway Passing through Eastern Entrance Stern view after departing Eastern Entrance

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Fri Apr 7 2006 Northern Merchant in Dover and Dunkerque http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c914312.html Several photos of Northern Merchant whilst in service Dover/Dunkerque followed by a series of photos taken on 30 MAR 2006 showing the stern ramp being refitted at Arno's in Dunkerque at the end of her charter to Norfolk Line, to convert her back from double deck loading. Have added ten photos taken by the Spanish superintendent Miguel and the 2nd Engineer Wee John showing the ship being repainted in Acciona Trasmediterranea colours. Thursday 6 April 2006: Several photos of Northern Merchant whilst in service Dover/Dunkerque followed by a series of photos taken on 30 MAR 2006 showing the stern ramp being refitted at Arno's in Dunkerque at the end of her charter to Norfolk Line, to convert her back from double deck loading. Have added ten photos taken by the Spanish superintendent Miguel and the 2nd Engineer Wee John showing the ship being repainted in Acciona Trasmediterranea colours.

In Dunkerque West 21.08.04 Port broadside 05.01.05 Port quarter 05.01.05 Starboard quarter 31.01.05 Entering Dunkerque West past Gravelines nuclear power station Stern Ramp arrives for refitting to ship 30 MAR 2006. Stern Ramp on low loader. Installing rubber seal. View of crane from upper cardeck. Maersk stars removed from funnels lying on deck. Finishing installing rubber seal. Crane with 400 ton lifting capacity. Securing lifting wires. Finishing securing lifting wires. Ramp almost in position. Ramp in position. Fitting temporary securing pin starboard side. Pin in position. Securing pin fitted port side. Low loader departing. View of crane looking aft from upper deck. Bow view over concrete slabs Workboat painting bulbous bow

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Thu Apr 6 2006 Black Watch in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c871366.html Fred Olsen Cruises flagship. Built 1972. 28,492gt. 900 pax. A regular visitor to Dover catering for a mainly British clientele. Conducts short cruises around the British Isles, and to the Baltic, Canaries, Meddy and Canada. Three of the photos show her during a display by the Red Arrows at Dover Regatta. Saturday 25 February 2006: Fred Olsen Cruises flagship. Built 1972. 28,492gt. 900 pax. A regular visitor to Dover catering for a mainly British clientele. Conducts short cruises around the British Isles, and to the Baltic, Canaries, Meddy and Canada. Three of the photos show her during a display by the Red Arrows at Dover Regatta.

Black Watch departing Dover by the Eastern Entrance 12.08.04. On Cruise Terminal 1 on 16.7.06 On Cruise Terminal 1 on 16.7.06 On CT1 with Tidal Basin in foreground 16.7.06 Black Watch with Red Arrows Black Watch with Red Arrows Black Watch with Red Arrows Port broadside view on Admiralty Pier Port broadside view with yacht

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Sat Feb 25 2006 Maersk Delft in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c866956.html Some photos of Maersk Delft at sea off the French coast in March 2006 followed by photos of her arriving in Dover for the first time and berthing on the Admiralty Pier on 20.02.06. Monday 20 February 2006: Some photos of Maersk Delft at sea off the French coast in March 2006 followed by photos of her arriving in Dover for the first time and berthing on the Admiralty Pier on 20.02.06.

Starboard broadside view Inside Eastern Entrance Going astern to berth on Admiralty Pier Going astern past Prince of Wales pier View from off port bow View from off port bow Port broadside view Port broadside view Close-up from off port quarter View from off port quarter

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Feb 20 2006 Deutschland in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c569549.html The German cruise ship Deutschland photographed in Dover on 22 MAY 2005. Owned by Peter Deilmann Reederei. Built 1998. 22,496GRT. 513 passengers. The Concorde which crashed on take off from Paris in July 2000 was on a charter flight to New York taking passengers to join the Deutschland for a cruise, all of whom perished. The name Deutschland is very symbolic for Dover. In the early years of the 20th century, German transatlantic liners used to call at Dover on passage to New York, berthing on the Prince of Wales Pier. Unfortunately, the construction of the Admiralty Harbour breakwaters interfered with this operation and the Hamburg Amerika liner Deutschland collided with the Prince of Wales. Passenger ship calls then largely ceased until the construction of the cruise terminals in recent years. Another more notorious Deutschland was the Second World War pocket battleship, sister ship of the Graf Spee and the Admiral Scheer. She was renamed Lutzow in 1940 as Hitler was concerned at the effect on morale if a ship named after Germany was sunk! Tuesday 7 June 2005: The German cruise ship Deutschland photographed in Dover on 22 MAY 2005. Owned by Peter Deilmann Reederei. Built 1998. 22,496GRT. 513 passengers. The Concorde which crashed on take off from Paris in July 2000 was on a charter flight to New York taking passengers to join the Deutschland for a cruise, all of whom perished. The name Deutschland is very symbolic for Dover. In the early years of the 20th century, German transatlantic liners used to call at Dover on passage to New York, berthing on the Prince of Wales Pier. Unfortunately, the construction of the Admiralty Harbour breakwaters interfered with this operation and the Hamburg Amerika liner Deutschland collided with the Prince of Wales. Passenger ship calls then largely ceased until the construction of the cruise terminals in recent years. Another more notorious Deutschland was the Second World War pocket battleship, sister ship of the Graf Spee and the Admiral Scheer. She was renamed Lutzow in 1940 as Hitler was concerned at the effect on morale if a ship named after Germany was sunk!

Deutschland on Cruise Terminal 2. Deutschland with SeaCat entering. Deutschland with SeaCats entering and leaving. SeaCats entering and leaving by Western Entrance. Deutschland with SeaCat swinging off the berth. Hamburg Amerika liner Deutschland berthing on Prince of Wales pier pre WW1. Hamburg Amerika liner Deutschland leaving Dover in 1908. WW2 pocket battleship Deutschland, later renamed Lutzow.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Tue Jun 7 2005 Asuka in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c569537.html The Japanese cruise ship Asuka photographed in Dover on 22 MAY 2005. Owned by Yusen Cruises, which is part of NYK Lines, who also own Crystal Cruises. She is named after the first capital of Japan in the 7th century. Built 1991. 28,856GRT. 592 passengers. She is going to be replaced by the rather larger Crystal Harmony in 2006, which will be renamed Asuka II. Monday 6 June 2005: The Japanese cruise ship Asuka photographed in Dover on 22 MAY 2005. Owned by Yusen Cruises, which is part of NYK Lines, who also own Crystal Cruises. She is named after the first capital of Japan in the 7th century. Built 1991. 28,856GRT. 592 passengers. She is going to be replaced by the rather larger Crystal Harmony in 2006, which will be renamed Asuka II.

Asuka departing from Cruise Terminal 1, passing Deutschland. Asuka departing. Pilot boat leaves by North and South. Asuka passing Prince of Wales pierhead. Asuka departing by Western Entrance. Asuka dropping pilot. Asuka outside Southern breakwater. Dawn Merchant departs by Eastern Entrance. Dawn Merchant and Asuka. Dawn Merchant heads for Dunkerque. Asuka crosses Eastern Entrance. Asuka with various ferries off Eastern Entrance.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

]]> Mon Jun 6 2005 Grand Princess in Dover http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c565341.html The British registered cruise ship Grand Princess photographed in Dover on 29 AUG 2004. Owned by P&O Princess Cruises, which is part of the American owned Carnival Cruises colossus. Built 1998. 109,000GRT. Length 290 metres. Passengers 2,600. Crew 1,100. At the time of entering service, she was the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built, until surpassed by the "Voyager of the Seas." Construction cost was 450 million U.S. dollars. She is the largest vessel ever to enter the Port of Dover. The day she visited was the busiest day ever for cruise passengers handled by the Port of Dover as both the "Saga Rose" and "Norwegian Dream" were also in port for turnrounds and over 7,000 passengers passed through the two cruise terminals. 18 JUN 2008: Have added a photo taken when Grand Princess made an unscheduled call today due to industrial relations problems in Le Havre. 10 JUL 2008: Carnival Splendor at 113,000 gross tons took the title of largest cruise ship to visit Dover. Wednesday 18 June 2008: The British registered cruise ship Grand Princess photographed in Dover on 29 AUG 2004. Owned by P&O Princess Cruises, which is part of the American owned Carnival Cruises colossus. Built 1998. 109,000GRT. Length 290 metres. Passengers 2,600. Crew 1,100. At the time of entering service, she was the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built, until surpassed by the "Voyager of the Seas." Construction cost was 450 million U.S. dollars. She is the largest vessel ever to enter the Port of Dover. The day she visited was the busiest day ever for cruise passengers handled by the Port of Dover as both the "Saga Rose" and "Norwegian Dream" were also in port for turnrounds and over 7,000 passengers passed through the two cruise terminals. 18 JUN 2008: Have added a photo taken when Grand Princess made an unscheduled call today due to industrial relations problems in Le Havre. 10 JUL 2008: Carnival Splendor at 113,000 gross tons took the title of largest cruise ship to visit Dover.

Saga Rose and Grand Princess. Grand Princess on Cruise Terminal 2. Saga Rose and Grand Princess from outside Southern breakwater. Norwegian Dream has just departed. Unexpected call on 18.06.08 due to industrial relations problems in Le Havre.

Published in Ships in the Port of Dover

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