First of the 2012 cruise ships
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
24 September 2012 17:51192898force 10 forcast jan,slightly bumpy but good fun.
- 24 September 2012 18:16192904It was the MSC Aurora 13,050 TEU nominal capacity, bound for Valencia. Looks like she was dropping pilots off ex Felixstowe which was her previous port of call, apologies for incorrectly guessing that she was directly out of Antwerp. This one has called Le Havre, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Dunkirk and Felixstowe. She will call at Valencia before heading off to Singapore, Chiwan (in Shenzhen, neighbour to Hong Kong, China) and Xiamen.
- 24 September 2012 18:27192907Great info there Neil, love knowing all this stuff
Force 10, slightly bumpy Brian! you having a larf!!!!
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
24 September 2012 19:01192913colette,good for 3 things,1,reastrunt,2,duty free ? 3, getting drinks at bar. - 25 September 2012 07:15192953lol! Brian..yes no takers at the restaurants.
Thanks for the MSC info Neil and Roger, very interesting stuff, and yes I suspect HMS Kent went early to avoid the worst of the weather. It was indeed a Storm 10 in the channel yesterday according to our friends on the Shipping Forecast. Very rough indeed.
The ferries were struggling...not to mention the passengers, they didnt half rock n roll coming into the harbour, it was particularly rough just there, exhausting the last bit of sea leg life out of the passengers.
Here are a couple of pictures.
And it all started off so nice and gentle too...this picture below was taken earlier the same day, flat calm, can you believe the swift deterioration.
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The Amadea is in as per Colette's list..must have come in in the dead of night. Not sure if we have seen this one before but John will know. Will try for a picture later.email: dover7@msn.com - 25 September 2012 09:09192974Amadea arrived early (has been to Dover before, Paul). Black Watch seems to have diverted to Southampton.
- 25 September 2012 09:48192978Oh yes ...... Although not a regular visitor Phoenix Reisen's Amadea has been here before. Prior to 2006 she was operated by the Japanese company NYK as the Asuka.
- 25 September 2012 15:31193012Ah Kevin and John well done..we'd be lost without you two on the info front. Nice picture there John. Yes indeed once the weather turns we often lose calls to Southampton. A big problem for Dover. As ColetteB pointed out to me today...it is very inconvenient for passengers to go all the way to Southampton as they then have to bus it back here to pick up their cars belongings etc. Not ideal. But what can ye doooo, mother nature very often inconveniences all of us.email: dover7@msn.com
- 25 September 2012 18:34193022Its the staff as well Paul regarding Southampton. My step dad works on security at Dover and was taken down to Southampton.
Started at 4:30 this morning and wont be home til arouns 10 or 11 tonight. - 25 September 2012 19:03193025Tugs will be out later I would imaging - waves were lashing against Admiralty Pier when I went past !Been nice knowing you :)
- 26 September 2012 07:09193058I wasnt able to get any pictures of the Amadea..it came in in the dark and left in the dark. I think the ships are lingering late into the night much more, presumably to avoid the horrid weather. Cant be much fun cruising at the moment for the passengers.
Yes Ian indeed...the staff have to go as well to Sothampton. Very unfortinate - thats a long day you mention there for your step dad.
Yes definitely was a tug day Scotchie. We lost a call too yesterday as mentioned, when the Black Watch couldnt make it in.
I have added a positive story though today to the frontpage ...The Marina has just had its 30,000th passenger in Dover. Have added a couple of pictures to the frontpage.
The pic above shows the channel right now LIVE as it were...
Still looking turbulent and menacing. Lightning flashing all night both here and in France.
Shiver me timbers..twas a rough oul' night out there for the mariners.email: dover7@msn.com - 26 September 2012 08:53193066great picture to look at, probably not much fun for those in the channel though.
- 26 September 2012 09:51193077We were down the seafront about 8.30pm last night. The Amadeus looked lovely all lit up but the whole scene was eerily fascinating. The moon was out and shining on the harbour. In the middle was a small boat with its mastlight on and it was swaying from side to side in a startling way, looked as if it would keel over. Then all along the seawall the waves were crashing over onto the promenade as the wind gusted and blew the ferries as they came in. I just wish I could do night photography to capture the scene. Wonderful stuff and much less boring than watching TV!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".
- 26 September 2012 09:54193078Saga Sapphire with the aid of both tugs berthing now.Audere est facere.
- 26 September 2012 09:55193079Good description there Jacqui...very stormy and eerie down here last night.
This ship, the Saga Sapphire, has just made it in with the help of two tugboats.
Ah just seeing your post Martin..we posted at the same time.email: dover7@msn.com - 26 September 2012 19:37193166Yes, a great descriptive story there Jacqui, I enjoyed reading it, I wanted to read more!
Terrific cloud formations above, the skies are very interesting at the moment, I'd be out with my camera if it wasn't so wet out there
- 27 September 2012 15:29193274Re the MSC container ship in the posts above:
Here is another MSC boxboat, the MSC Cristina, entering Dunkerque West in driving rain just before noon today.
- 28 September 2012 15:47193371Great to see that Ed. Huge beasts they are indeed.
Here is a sleeker niftier looking job resting up in the harbour as we speak. Could be sheltering from the quite strong winds whistling up the channel right now...it's ...Sailing for Jesus...as you can see.
Doing what it says on the tin!
Expensive looking job.email: dover7@msn.com - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
28 September 2012 17:17193386good god that jesus cove gets every where,what ever next.
- 29 September 2012 07:04193428lol!!
Indeed he does Brian.
Sailing for Jesus is a new one on me. They took off again shortly after the picture was taken despite the conditions, they must have been given the all clear from on-high.
It is fascinating to see the different vessels that turn up in Dover Harbour. I see John has a picture of it too..on the Visitors Passing Though thread. Im not sure if the picture tells the full tale above..it was a very large rather sleek racing type yacht worth a fortune I would guess.
On the cruise liner front it is beginning to look like its mostly all over now.email: dover7@msn.com
