Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
now now jan behave,just joking.will br poping in around 9 am to see you.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Here is a pic of the rough seas powering over the Harbour Wall this morning. Once again not a day to be out on the briney blue as we are experiencing the tail end of Hurricane Katia I believe.
Its not a black and white picture although you would be forgiven for thinking so, but its through the grey gloom of this morning. The weather has brightened up since but Ive run out of battery power!! Im currently on charge...will charge the camera later !
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
was down that stretch between sandgate and seabrook earlier wonderful sight to see the grey sea doing its worst.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
too gloomy to get good shots, but these give you an idea how rough it was.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Nature in the raw there Howard, great stuff!!
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Great Pictures
Brings back many memories. As a raw catering steward, I can remember being on the FE1, on a winter's night in gale force winds, no passengers were eating, so we were sat in the mess holding on for our lives, when an old salty said we would all be safe as long as we did not hear the list bells ringing, we started to relax a little until about 15mins later, the boat rolled and bells started ringing, panic set in and several of us ran in different directions, only to find the old salty was ringing a ships bell and many others, were laughing their heads off.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
The rough weather also led to the cancellation of three cruise ship calls in Dover today. The Black Watch, Costa Luminosa and Saga Pearl II all had to divert to other ports.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
bad news that, last i heard all the ferries were running but with delays.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Kevin.
That could be bad news for Dover.
Many cruise operators have been reluctant to use Dover in the winter months for exactly this reason, however, Dover has been quite lucky since it opened with very few being cancelled and business has been picking up in the later end of summer(early winter), having 3 cancelled is not good news. Thats 3 seperate companies being affected.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
I wonder what long term impact such cancellations have on the cruise operators? Do they take it their stride, or does it have more of an influence as to where they position their ships? Admitedly, Dover is quite an exposed port when it comes to south westerlies. It certainly seems to have had an impact on the quieter winter season, with both Fred Olsen and Saga operating all their winter season cruises from Southampton.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
As Kevin says, the port is particularly exposed to southwestery winds. Although we talk about the Western and Eastern Docks, the port actually runs from southwest to northeast so southwesterlies blow directly across the berths with no shelter provided by the land.
The ferries are highly manoeuvrable and can manage to berth in all but the most atrocious conditions. PaulB's photo on the front page at the moment shows two DFDS ferries - the Dover Seaways making her entry with the Delft or Dunkerque in the background having just departed. Although Paul says "Large ships clearly cannot negotiate the narrow harbour in rough conditions," these two are actually nearly twice the size of two of the cruise ships which had to cancel, namely the Saga Pearl II which diverted to Harwich and the Black Watch which diverted to Portsmouth. Costa Luminosa is much larger and diverted to Southampton.
This is because cruise vessels are generally less manoeuvrable than the ferries but also have to negotiate the end of the Prince of Wales and then try to stay on the berths on the Admiralty Pier without their ropes parting due to the wind strength.
General info about operating limitations in the Port of Dover appended below for anybody interested:
http://www.doverport.co.uk/?page=OperatingLimitationsGuest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Kevin.
These cancelations could have an adverse impact on future winter cruises, operators run programs as much as 3 to 5 years in advance, so the impact would not be seen for a couple of years at least but because they need to keep a close watch on current occurrences, they have to make decision's now as to future winter sailings from Dover.
Ed.
Good post, just want to add that even if they get past PoW pier, key side operations such as offloading passengers, their baggage and loading stores, is sometimes dangerous and impossible in rough conditions.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Jeez, Howard, you certainly get around! Great pix above and in a couple of my favourite places too. I love that stretch along Sandgate, Seabrook and on up to Hythe. I used to take the girls there after School, was a few years ago now, when they attended St Augustines primary school at Hythe. It was a great spot to go and enjoy the Summer sunshine and the Winter seas, ah!sweet memories
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i went down there purely because of the strong winds colette, that is when that stretch is at its best.
got some funny looks from people when i went down the steps to the pebbles, got blown over once.
