The Front Page. - Copy 113 (further on Port Privatisation, RNLI Rescue)
20 July 2010
New Government Buys Time
Latest : In response to the Ministerial Statement (see immediately below) from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Mike Penning MP, on the future of the Port of Dover....
Dover’s MP Charlie Elphicke, pictured on left, said the following:
“I am delighted that the Government has delivered on our election pledge to review the sell off proposed by the previous Government.
I intend to put forward the people’s port bid so that the people can own our port. I remain opposed to the previous Government’s plan for a fire sale of our port to the French or whoever.” Here is the actual statement by Mike Penning Shipping Minister.....
Statement by:Mike Penning MP. Date delivered:21 July 2010. Statement type:Written.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning): In January 2010, Dover Harbour Board published its proposals for a transfer scheme to enable it to privatise the Port of Dover so that, among other things, it could access private investment to build capacity at the port. There was a statutory period of eight weeks for those with an interest to make representations about the transfer scheme, which ended on 25 March.
Since publishing its proposals in January, Dover Harbour Board has continued to discuss the proposed transfer scheme and the associated proposals for a Port of Dover Community Trust and Employee Share Ownership Trust with local organisations, including the local councils, as well as port users. In recognition of this and the importance of the issue to the people of Dover, I have therefore decided to ask Dover Harbour Board to publish more information about the nature and likely impact of the scheme than was available at the time of the statutory consultation, including details of the Port of Dover Community Trust and Employee Share Ownership Trust. This will give those organisations and individuals with an interest in the Port of Dover a further and better-informed opportunity to comment on Dover Harbour Board’s proposals.
Notices inviting written representations will be published in local newspapers, and those who have already written to the Department, including the local councils, local organisations and port users, are welcome to write again and provide any further comments they may have.
The period for further comments will run until Friday 27 August 2010. End.
* *
Whilst on their way to another emergency recently, Dover’s RNLI volunteers were diverted to reports of a man swimming near Dover Harbour’s Eastern Entrance. An incident on a cross channel ferry where alarms indicated a suspected engine room fire had led to the lifeboat crew being called out, and whilst they were proceeding to rendezvous and stand by the ferry, a man was spotted in the water near the end of the Eastern Arm. The lifeboat and Harbour Patrol Launch were both informed and proceeded at best speed to the casualty.
It is believed the man had swum out from Langdon Bay. Whilst in the water he was nearly run over by a ferry that was leaving the harbour. Fortunately, when pulled from the water by the lifeboat crew, he was found to be cold but uninjured.
Dover Lifeboat Coxswain Stuart Richardson said: “This man was incredibly lucky that the lifeboat and Harbour Patrol Launch were already at sea going to the other incident. It meant we were on the scene within minutes and that he was recovered from the water very quickly. It was miraculous that he was not run down and killed by a ferry.”
The ferry, with the suspected engine room fire, was able to safely berth in Dover where it was found that there was no fire but a sensor had detected overheating in some onboard machinery.
Pictures by Dan Keen There can be no doubting that this is the busy all action time of year for the RNLI volunteers. Here now with the second story which relates directly to the pictures shown....it all ended well but could have been very different without the RNLI being onhand.
Dover’s RNLI volunteers nearly missed the annual Port Sunday church service at the Lifeboat Station on Sunday (11th) when they were called out to assist a locally based boat which had run into trouble.
The lifeboat crew were called out at 1255hrs when the boat contacted Dover Coastguard to report they were stranded after being tangled with a rope around their propeller. Once on scene with the stricken vessel a tow was established and the craft and anglers brought into Dover Marina.
Dover Lifeboat Coxswain Stuart Richardson said: “This was another of those unfortunate incidents where an unseen danger has snagged a small vessel. The skipper of the vessel had done everything he could safely do to free himself before calling for assistance. However no one was hurt and we made it back to the Lifeboat Station before the service started." end.
New Government Buys Time
on Port Privatisation Plan.
Latest : In response to the Ministerial Statement (see immediately below) from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Mike Penning MP, on the future of the Port of Dover....
Dover’s MP Charlie Elphicke, pictured on left, said the following:
“I am delighted that the Government has delivered on our election pledge to review the sell off proposed by the previous Government.
I intend to put forward the people’s port bid so that the people can own our port. I remain opposed to the previous Government’s plan for a fire sale of our port to the French or whoever.”
Port of Dover
Statement by:Mike Penning MP. Date delivered:21 July 2010. Statement type:Written.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning): In January 2010, Dover Harbour Board published its proposals for a transfer scheme to enable it to privatise the Port of Dover so that, among other things, it could access private investment to build capacity at the port. There was a statutory period of eight weeks for those with an interest to make representations about the transfer scheme, which ended on 25 March.
Since publishing its proposals in January, Dover Harbour Board has continued to discuss the proposed transfer scheme and the associated proposals for a Port of Dover Community Trust and Employee Share Ownership Trust with local organisations, including the local councils, as well as port users. In recognition of this and the importance of the issue to the people of Dover, I have therefore decided to ask Dover Harbour Board to publish more information about the nature and likely impact of the scheme than was available at the time of the statutory consultation, including details of the Port of Dover Community Trust and Employee Share Ownership Trust. This will give those organisations and individuals with an interest in the Port of Dover a further and better-informed opportunity to comment on Dover Harbour Board’s proposals.
Notices inviting written representations will be published in local newspapers, and those who have already written to the Department, including the local councils, local organisations and port users, are welcome to write again and provide any further comments they may have.
The period for further comments will run until Friday 27 August 2010. End.
* *
Dover Lifeboat crew saves man swimming in Port’s Entrance.
Whilst on their way to another emergency recently, Dover’s RNLI volunteers were diverted to reports of a man swimming near Dover Harbour’s Eastern Entrance. An incident on a cross channel ferry where alarms indicated a suspected engine room fire had led to the lifeboat crew being called out, and whilst they were proceeding to rendezvous and stand by the ferry, a man was spotted in the water near the end of the Eastern Arm. The lifeboat and Harbour Patrol Launch were both informed and proceeded at best speed to the casualty.
It is believed the man had swum out from Langdon Bay. Whilst in the water he was nearly run over by a ferry that was leaving the harbour. Fortunately, when pulled from the water by the lifeboat crew, he was found to be cold but uninjured.
Dover Lifeboat Coxswain Stuart Richardson said: “This man was incredibly lucky that the lifeboat and Harbour Patrol Launch were already at sea going to the other incident. It meant we were on the scene within minutes and that he was recovered from the water very quickly. It was miraculous that he was not run down and killed by a ferry.”
The ferry, with the suspected engine room fire, was able to safely berth in Dover where it was found that there was no fire but a sensor had detected overheating in some onboard machinery.
Charter fishing boat with fouled propeller towed to safety by Dover Lifeboat
Dover’s RNLI volunteers nearly missed the annual Port Sunday church service at the Lifeboat Station on Sunday (11th) when they were called out to assist a locally based boat which had run into trouble.
The lifeboat crew were called out at 1255hrs when the boat contacted Dover Coastguard to report they were stranded after being tangled with a rope around their propeller. Once on scene with the stricken vessel a tow was established and the craft and anglers brought into Dover Marina.
Dover Lifeboat Coxswain Stuart Richardson said: “This was another of those unfortunate incidents where an unseen danger has snagged a small vessel. The skipper of the vessel had done everything he could safely do to free himself before calling for assistance. However no one was hurt and we made it back to the Lifeboat Station before the service started." end.