Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
Its passing up the channel right now as I write..or down the channel heading west. Its a long way out.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#2
The bridge does not look long/big enough to me but it could be the angle.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#3
Here's another one..its going at one heck of lick. Thats a nautical term there, shure to be appreciated by Ed
Pity it didnt come closer to shore to improve the photo opportunity. Clearly they're not thinking along the same lines as our beloved politicians.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#4
The profile looks a bit more like a traditional flat-top to me rather than an Invincible class ship like Ark Royal. Not really sure if thats a ski jump I can see or an optical illusion/my imagination. HMS Ocean? not sure.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#5
see it this morning heading towards dunkirk way.
#6
Just back from Folkestone and saw this vessel too. I thought it was just a very large container ship, but I didn't have any binoculars with me to get a good look.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
#7
The ship in question is the French amphibious assault ship "Mistral" which I posted some photos of on the "Royal Navy" thread the other day.
http://www.doverforum.com/letters/viewtopic.php?id=4142
The "Ark Royal" has a totally different profile with two streamlined funnels and a long low island structure, together with the ski ramp in the bows. Her two sister ships are HMS "Illustrious" and HMS "Invincible." The "Illustrious" has visited Dover in the past, berthing on the Admiralty Pier, and is seen here passing Dover five years ago with a Harrier posing on the ski ramp.
More photos of the "Mistral" off Calais on my fotopic site at:
http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1839532.htmlGuest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#8
ah thanks Ed yer a star as ever..cleared that one up. Have been watching out for a possible Ark Royal arrival following the travel and ash crises, but I guess it probably wont appear now. Would obviously need it to get closer to shore though as a long way out overstretches the camera's capabilities.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#9
Not that far off guessing HMS Ocean in the sense that it is an amphibious assault ship.
Thanks Ed.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#10
Just back from a weekend away, and can confirm that Ark Royal is in Portsmouth and has been since it was recalled from somewhere en route to Santander as the rescue mission was deemed surplus to requirements. Sadly, Invincible was in Pompey too, mothballed pending a final decision on the two new ships.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#11
Thanks for that info Andy..sadly it looks now that it wont make these immediate waters, shame as I was ready and fully primed with my Box Brownie to bring pictures to Doverforum. Great pity. Did you have your camera with you by any chance Andy?
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#12
Indeed I did, Paul. I'll let you have a copy when I get them uploaded.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#13
Here's Ark Royal in Portsmouth last Sunday with the Spinnaker Tower in the background (well worth a visit!):
Interesting also to note that we can't afford to build ships of our own, but we can for other countries. Here's a picture of the brand new Port of Spain, a Coastguard Protection vessel for the Trinidad & Tobago government built in the BAe Systems shipyard in Portsmouth and still undergoing sea trials. There is a sister ship to this being built in the shipyard as well, also destined for Trinidad & Tobago.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#14
I agree about the Spinnaker Tower Andy. One of my favourite places to go for a weekend visit, Portsmouth, there is just so much to see and do. Gunwharfe Quay is great with a budget hotel there....
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#15
Well done with those pictures Andy. Great to see the Ark Royal there and that's the Spinnaker Tower, well I never! In fact nearly missed these pictures ...I blame all this political huffing and puffing thats going on.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#16
Yes my wife and I am off there for the weekend after the Election, just to have two days rest.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#17
Good choice Vic. The Holiday Inn Express at Gunwharf is good value, near the Dockyard, close to the Spinnaker and a great selection of restaurants and, dare I say, shops....a casino, nightclubs.....
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#18
Thank you for that BARRY I do not have alot of cash so I think the Holiday inn might be to much for us.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#19
Barry's right, Vic. Gunwharf Quays is a wonderful place to base yourself, and the Holiday Inn is actually a Holiday Inn Express, a budget hotel, not one of the more expensive Holiday Inns.
Anyway, what weekend off? You'll be too busy familiarising yourself with the ins and outs of the Palace of Westminster to be swanning off to Hampshire for the weekend!
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#20
Thank you for that Andy, I will take my weekend off first,but you and John and Mr Kidd will be with me so we can m
ake it a working weekend but my wife will not be happy about that.
email: dover7@msn.com
True friends stab you in the front.
