Unregistered User
Are to be deployed to get stranded people home from the Channel Ports, could be some good photo opportunities if they come into Dover.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Yeah, it's just been on the news that Ark Royal is to be deployed on this operation. Is the port deep enough, specifically the ro-ro berths?
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I would imagine they would return to Portsmouth where they are tried and tested..
Been nice knowing you :)
Whole load of kids from our school + teachers stuck in the Gambia.
Serves them right. All I got at school was an exchange visit to a town in France!
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
French Navy amphibious assault ship Mistral has been sitting off Calais all day.
Nothing more than a political gesture which has taken our Gordie days to put inplace. As the traveller on the news tonight said, "I could have made that decision in a few seconds and wouldn't need to sit round a big table discussing it for days".
Besides, there is ample capacity on the ferries to relieve those who reach Calais, os what are the RN needed for? Activity to make Gordie (who really did come badly last in the tv programme) look like a decisive leader. Perhaps for him, the RN playing ferry company will be his Falklands when it comes to the GE?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Anyone hears anything, I`d like to get a shot of any unusual vessels coming in the port.
P.S. Nice pics above Ed.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
It'll be the empty ones we hear Colin; they usually make the most noise!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
there is a couple of nucler subs laying of shakespeare beach.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Now that the Easter rush is over and (most) children back at school, the ferry companies will probably have plenty of spare capacity to repatriate any air passengers who can make their way back to Calais. It's probably a little late for the Royal Navy to be deployed to the Channel ports. I agree the government took too long to respond - COBRA should have been convened as soon as British airspace was closed. The biggest problem is probably now for those air passengers who are further afield at the long-haul destinations. Even when airspace is opened, they face long waits for flights back to the UK. The government should probably focus its efforts there at this stage. Having said that, the media would probably love the sight of Ark Royal steaming into Dover! They could even arrange for the girl from Britain's Got Talent to sing 'Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover' as they arrrive.......You couldn't make it up!
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
I agree with Kevin that it was too little, too late. To be honest I can't really see what use the ships will be - they don't have ro-ro capacity, and it wouldn't be needed for stranded air passengers anyway.
As for the French ship, Mistral, she's probably just loitering to stop any further "Dunkerque" attempts by that chap who took 5 RIBs into Calais harbour to get his mates home!!
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i think that the government are being unfairly maligned, each day since the ash became a front page story we have been told that flights were due to resume shortly.
all very similar to the snow fiasco we had ,damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
you mean to tell me we still have a navy,they have kept that quite havent they.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
If it is a political gesture, why have the main party leaders agreed with the decision to send Ark Royal in? I think I did hear Mr Cameron saying on the news last night it was his suggestion to the P. M.
I think it is a waste of time as yes I would think that the Ferries can cope, but I just do not see that it was political gesture when other party Leaders agreed with it.
