First of the 2012 cruise ships
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
13 September 2012 15:48191298coletteb,i let you into howards little secret,that is either taken from the field behind my gaff or from st martins battery,my little crows nest is a few paces from my gaff.
- 13 September 2012 17:55191322st martin's it was brian, don't go into ropewalk field any more other people keep an eye on the dexters there.
having said that they still need more people to check on them there, so if you know anybody!! - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
13 September 2012 19:10191339talking of dexters i havent seen them for a few days howard. - 13 September 2012 19:15191341I haven't seen them either, and I'm up there nearly every day. Shame - they are such beautiful animals. Paul was up there one day with a lady who went to find them and check them which she did as she told us when she came back. Paul was picking up more litter
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok". - 13 September 2012 19:37191348brian
always difficult to see then in ropewalk field.
jacqui you can see them close up by going through the gate walking down and turning left but i wouldn't recommend it.
instead a walk along the path outside the field will lead you past the gun emplacement and when the path turns left look down and you are more or less certain to see them hiding as in the photo. - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
13 September 2012 20:53191377all so much better from my car park,you get a panoramic view of the docks to the east and dungeness to the west,and not forgetting poor old france.but will end up saying that your picturs are quite stunning,. - 14 September 2012 16:16191479As we are a bit quiet on the cruise ship front for the moment, thought you might like to see this one. Giant crane platform moving down the choppy waters of the channel yesterday..or ermm was it the day before. It was being towed. But the tugboat towing it is quite a distance in front out of shot to the right.
email: dover7@msn.com - 14 September 2012 16:22191482I saw it lurking over the horizon from Deal on WednesdayBeen nice knowing you :)
- 14 September 2012 16:43191485I wonder what it is going to be used for, raising a ship or for a drilling rig or the like? Does anyone have an idea?
- 14 September 2012 16:53191489Can't see anything on AIS so perhaps just passing through as they regularly doBeen nice knowing you :)
- 15 September 2012 11:59191550This is going off-topic a bit, but ........When on the move these platforms invariably have a long tow (in fact so long that on occasions it's difficult to identify the much smaller tugs from a distance). The progress of these things is very slow, and warnings are transmitted to other shipping by Coastguard bulletins.
This monster passed us in 2010 and even with the perspective compression and haze you have to gawp at the size of the thing. I think it was off to the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster.
- 15 September 2012 16:10191564Here is another one of those monster movers John..its quiet for cruise ships at the moment. This one also from 2010 and I think it was the worlds biggest...I think I'm remembering that correctly. Caused a bit of a stir and even Your Dover contacted me asking if I had one with better resolution that they could use in their newspaper. I didnt...the range was too far. But worth another look. i forget the name of it now..but here's the picture i took back then..
email: dover7@msn.com - 15 September 2012 16:55191567Saipem 7000. An extraordinary beast capable of lifting 14,000 tonnes in one go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipem_7000 - 15 September 2012 17:36191587this is the last time it passed through.
http://www.doverforum.com/letters/viewtopic.php?id=8330&p=1 - 15 September 2012 17:37191588Thanks Howard - forgot that I took those !!Been nice knowing you :)
- 16 September 2012 07:54191636Ah Saipem 7000 thats the one. Well done Ed. Must try and make a note of that on my pictures for future ref.
You know I dont think I ever saw those ones by Scotchie there..must have missed that thread somehow..so well done there Howard reviving it. And well done that young Scotchie feller.
All quiet on the cruise liner front.email: dover7@msn.com - 16 September 2012 13:40191693I saw Saipem 7000 probably on the same day as Paul did, 5th Aug. 2010. What makes this colossus more astonishing is that she is has her own propulsion system so she can travel the world without he need of tugs (albeit not very fast) and is therefore a proper ship in her own right. Most other rigs and platforms have propulsion systems - but only for positioning.
I see the Albatros is due again tomorrow. If you thnk she looks familiar she's one of three ships built for the up-market Royal Viking Line in the early '70s. All were stretched at roughly the same time and as the market developed they were sold on. Two of these fine ships are now owned by Fred Olsen, Black Watch and Boudicca, and the third is the Albatros.
- 17 September 2012 06:59191765Good stuff all round lads. Thanks for the tip re the Albatross John..here she is approaching right now. This is as "live" as we can make it...see her in the far distance on the left of pic..long way off as yet.
and now..getting ever nearer...
And now..entering the harbour...
Also in today the Saga Rubyemail: dover7@msn.com - 17 September 2012 08:44191786incredible colour in that top one.
- 17 September 2012 11:44191820Wow! Great top shot there PaulB
