New Bembridge Lifeboat Station

Item Posted: 04/02/10 17:24

First frames of the new Bembridge Lifeboat Station now in place.

New Cromarty Ferry

Item Posted: 04/02/10 16:47

A new Cromarty-Nigg ferry is being built by Southamptom Marine Services on the river Itchen. The present Cromarty Ferry the Cromarty Rose is a 50 passenger and 2 car ferry and is the smallest car ferry in Britain. The new ferry will carry four cars and up to 50 passengers. The ferry crosses the entrance to the Cromarty Firth.

Visit of foreign warships

Item Posted: 04/02/10 10:09

German frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern arrived at Portsmouth this morning and is showing on AIS. The Type 123 Brandenburg Class frigates were ordered in June 1989 to replace the Hamburg Class. The frigates are primarily tasked with anti-submarine operations, but they also contribute to anti-air defence, the tactical command of group forces and surface operations. The ships form part of the Wilhelmshaven-based 6th frigate squadron. The all-steel ship has stealth features, extra space for task group personnel and fin stabilisers. It is designed to carry two AgustaWestland Sea Lynx mk88 helicopters and a rigid inflatable boat for boarding operations. The Brandenburg class has a displacement of 4,700t fully loaded and an overall length of 138.9m. The ships have a maximum speed of 29kt using the gas turbines and 18kt using the diesel engines, with a range of 4,000nm at 18kt. The ship can accommodate 118 crew (including 19 air crew). The Dutch auxillary vessel Johan de Witt is due tomorrow.

Naval Vessel AIS

Item Posted: 04/02/10 07:40

I have noticed this year that many more warships are displaying AIS. Not sure sure whether this is a change of policy. Its a pity that they have not sorted out a common desination for the ship name with some showing the name, some showing 'coalition warship', some showing 'RN default' and some showing various other things. I now have a separate folder for warship pictures.

Naval Stuff

Item Posted: 03/02/10 08:04

Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship, RFA Largs Bay, will sail shortly loaded with shelter equipment and heavy lifting machinery among other things, essential to the relief operation in Haiti. It will sail from Marchwood military port at Southampton, known as the Sea Mounting Centre. RFA Largs Bay will carry essential relief supplies that will be needed by the people of Haiti in the weeks and months ahead. On arrival in Haiti, RFA Largs Bay is expected to support the UN relief operation by delivering these supplies to ports around Haiti. The aid to be carried has been provided by the Department for International Development, and British and international Non-Governmental Organisations funded from the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. ------------- The HMS Illustrious has arrived in Rosyth for a £40m refit. She is currently sitting at the cargo terminal at Rosyth to allow the MOD to prepare for the refit. The refit is going to start in March and is going to consist of replacing 500 metres of pipework, 650 valves and all eight exhausts; painting the ship with 540,000 litres of paint; and making the ship more fuel-efficient and will take approximatly 18 months

Sheildsman

Item Posted: 02/02/10 06:01

Originally destined to be a night spot, the Sheildsman shown here ar Saxaon Wharf may have been sold to a new buyer as it has had a survey for future use as a houseboat.

Dolfijn

Item Posted: 01/02/10 14:19

Dutch submarine Dolfijn passing the Forts outward from Portsmouth

Progess with Bembridge Lifeboat Station

Item Posted: 31/01/10 16:51

Progess with Bembridge Lifeboat Station

map3654

Item Posted: 31/01/10 15:52

Brittany ferries to increase sailings from Portsmouth

Item Posted: 31/01/10 15:35

The Barfleur, which for 17 years has been plying the route from the port to its twin town Cherbourg, is to be withdrawn in the spring. The loss of the conventional ferry will leave the high-speed May to September service on the Normandie Vitesse, alongside the freight ferry Cotentin sailing to Cherbourg and Santander, Spain. Although the Barfleur is being taken out of service the company will be offering more crossings from Portsmouth. The Barfleur will sail the route for the last time at the beginning of February and the Armorique will make the crossing until March 8.

Red Funnel news

Item Posted: 29/01/10 16:45

Red Osprey now back in her normal colours. On Monday Red Jet3 is going into refit at Marchwood for about 10 days. At the end of this they hope to undertake a lightship survey and reassign the loadline thus increasing her current allowable passenger carrying capacity.

Paddle steamer Ryde

Item Posted: 29/01/10 16:37

It looks like the Ryde is finally going to be scrapped. Hardly surprising because it is a heap of rust - it would be cheaper to build a new boat than to preserve it!!

St Catherine sold

Item Posted: 29/01/10 13:11

It has been reported the St Catherine has been sold to Delcomar in Italy, handover in March.

Ferry chief’s ‘wake-up’ warning to Island

Item Posted: 29/01/10 07:09

Article in the Isle of Wight County Press about Red Funnel

List of container ships 2009

Item Posted: 28/01/10 16:57

List of container ships that called at Southampton last year.

New Southampton Patrol

Item Posted: 26/01/10 16:17

New Southampton Patrol Vessel Pathfinder now up and running Click link for pictures.

Fastcat Shanklin departs

Item Posted: 26/01/10 11:40

Fastcat Shanklin heading west past the Sconce on the way to the Severnlink service. She takes shelter at Dartmouth today.

Red Jet leaves passengers behind

Item Posted: 25/01/10 15:13

Last week Red Jet 3 departed Cowes leaving about 20 people waiting at Cowes. Red Jet 3 has, in the eleven years since she was built, gained weight. This is a normal situation with any vessel as new equipment is added, seating and carpets upgraded, layers of paint build up etc. It is known as ‘lightship growth’. This lightship growth, in Red Jet 3’s case, means that the available payload is reduced. Whereas before Red Jet 3 could be loaded to capacity before the load line (similar to the Plimsoll Line) was reached she now reaches the load line before the maximum number of passengers is embarked. The average number of passengers that can be embarked before the load line is reached is now 150, against a seating capacity of 190. The total may vary as a result of the mix of passengers on board and the amount of luggage carried by those passengers. Procedures are in place to maximise the passenger uplift – we reduce the fuel load at peak times, we have recently lifted the vessel to clean off marine growth, we try to ensure that no excessive stores etc are loaded on the vessel however it still means that around 40 seats will be unoccupied when the vessel is loaded to capacity. Long term solutions to this problem are being explored. We are working with our naval architects and regulatory body to change the loadline to a position similar to that of Red Jet 5 which will allow the vessel to lift her full compliment of passengers; however, this is a very technical and complicated procedure that may take some weeks or months to complete. This issue in no way detracts from the safe operation of Red Jet 3, in fact limiting the passenger load is a decision taken in the interests of safety in order to comply with the vessel loading conditions.

Bembridge Lifeboat Station progress

Item Posted: 24/01/10 17:59

Bembridge Lifeboat Station progress.

Severnlink cat

Item Posted: 24/01/10 15:44

Severnlink cat ex Fastcat Shanklin in Haslar Marina.

TV programme about the Royal Navy

Item Posted: 22/01/10 08:19

Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World Friday 22nd January on BBC2 at 9 - 10pm for 4 weeks. Episode Two - The Golden Ocean In The Golden Ocean, Snow charts the period from 1690 to 1759 and reveals how England - soon to be Britain - and her Navy rose from the depths of military and economic disaster to achieve global supremacy. Empire of the Seas tells the story of how the navy expanded from a tiny force to become the most complex industrial enterprise on earth. The four-part series is presented by Dan Snow, starting Friday 15th January at 9pm and follows the progress of the Royal Navy from the defeat of the Spanish Armada to the First World War. Rising through the administrative brilliance of Pepys, Anson and Sandwich and the inspirational leadership of Blake, Hawke and Nelson, the Royal Navy became the most powerful navy in the world. But the conviction of Britain’s navy as undisputed ruler of the waves encouraged a sterility in strategic thinking and complacency during the ‘long peace’ of the nineteenth century leading to the bruising experience of the Battle of Jutland. The Royal Navy has provided the country with many of its heroes, including Drake and Nelson. In addition to them, hundreds of thousands of men served with the fleet over the centuries. This is the story of the effect they had on the world.

Anti pirate measures tested on Methania

Item Posted: 22/01/10 08:17

A Hampshire company has invented a device which it claims will help prevent pirates boarding ships at sea. A number of rotating cannons, which connect to the fire hose present on all merchant ships, fire out high-pressure water down the sides of the vessel. Chandler's Ford-based Dasic Marine says anyone climbing up a ship would be thrown off by the force of the water. The device has been made in response to a growing number of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia. Dasic Marine, which specialises in manufacturing machines to clean marine equipment, said the automated cannons can also be remotely fired by the ship's crew. The first cannons to be put on the market are currently in production.

Largs Bay loading for Haiti

Item Posted: 22/01/10 07:21

RFA Largs Bay is being rapidly stored before sailing for Haiti to aid the relief operation. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship will be loaded with supplies provided by the British government, as well as goods bought with donations from the British public in response to the disaster. She is expected to arrive in Haiti within three weeks. The ship, which is due to sail before the end of the month from Marchwood, Southampton, is being sent at the request of the United Nations. She is expected to stay in the region for some weeks to help the UN ferry bulk supplies around small outlying ports in Haiti. Largs Bay will be able to undertake a whole range of tasks, from transporting stores to providing a sea base for UK personnel employed in the humanitarian relief effort. She is equipped with a Mexeflote raft - a powered raft that can be used to offload ships at anchor and bring stock and equipment into shore when there is no established port.

Ark Royal returns as flagship

Item Posted: 21/01/10 13:45

From 25th Jan, HMS Ark Royal will return as the Fleet’s Flagship and the UK’s high readiness aircraft carrier after her 7-month refit last year. She will also become the Nation’s Strike Carrier: operating Harrier aircraft from Naval Strike Wing, maintaining the UK’s ‘Strike’ capability as HMS Illustrious prepares for hew own maintenance period. The coming weeks see HMS Ark Royal reammunition, visit Newcastle and receive the first of her embarked Harriers in addition to 814 Squadron.

Red Jet 4

Item Posted: 19/01/10 17:00

Looks like Red Jet 4 is having something done at Marchwood.

Fastcat Shanklin

Item Posted: 19/01/10 15:29

Fastcat Shanklin in funny place.

Amphibious Excercise

Item Posted: 19/01/10 11:58

Commencing Tuesday 19th January through Thursday 21st January a Naval Amphibious Exercise involving major Warships will be taking place in the Browndown / Stokes Bay areas of the Central Solent The majority of the Amphibious Exercise will be conducted from two Warships lying at anchor in the vicinity of Stokes Bay and the beach at Browndown. The exercise will be conducted by both day and night and will include a number of Rotary Wing Aircraft, Landing Craft and other small boats operating between the Warships at anchor and to or from the foreshore at Browndown. The firing of blank ammunition will take place for some of the exercises.

Floating Bridge out of service

Item Posted: 17/01/10 12:44

The Cowes floating bridge will be out of action this weekend for essential repairs. It was halted Thursday night after a drive shaft, in service for 34 years, failed. A local firm will make a replacement, to be produced and fitted over the weekend. The Jenny Lee will operate in the meantime, while vehicles will be diverted via Newport. Shown here on the west bank 17th Jan.

Revised Wightlink Service

Item Posted: 15/01/10 23:15

After days of disruption, there have been more changes to Wightlink’s service between Ryde Pier Head and Portmouth today 15th Jan following a collision earlier this week between a Fastcat and Ryde Pier. Some sailings will be operated by charter vessels. Wightlink will really have to get it together with this service - they have two new vessels what's going wrong?

Portsmouth - Bilbao route to cease

Item Posted: 15/01/10 16:52

P&O are ceasing the Portsmouthb - Bilbao service in September when the Pride of Bilbao's charter ends.

Superyacht in St Helens anchorage

Item Posted: 15/01/10 13:29

The 85 metre superyacht Vibrant Curiosity is anchored in St Helens anchorage.

Renault car contract

Item Posted: 14/01/10 13:02

Lineas Suardiaz RORO vessels will be making a return to Southampton (we haven’t seen them here for a couple of years) as a result of a new contract with Renault. There will be a regular service commencing this month linking Santander, Le Havre, Southampton, Zeebrugge, Teesport and Cuxhaven using the 1100 car Gran Canaria Car, La Surprise and L’Audace.

New tug pontoon

Item Posted: 13/01/10 11:35

Piling works are expected to commence on the southern end of Fawley Marine Terminal on 14th January 2010, and are expected to take approximately 6 days to complete. The piles will allow installation of a new pontoon for Solent Towage. The piling will be conducted by barge ‘Walcon Wizard’ during daylight hours only.

Fastcat Ryde crashes into Ryde Pier

Item Posted: 13/01/10 11:13

Fastcat Ryde crashed into Ryde Pier last night Tues 12th Jan. No injury was caused to any passengers or crew. It has as been withdrawn from service while a full investigation is carried out. Looks like Mark Rayment will be making money again. Anyone got any pictures of damage??

Jiu Hua Ha

Item Posted: 13/01/10 05:51

Jiu Hua Hai taking bunkers at the scrap berth.

Pilot boat Hampshire in a spot of trouble

Item Posted: 11/01/10 18:23

Pilot Vessel Hampshire got stranded a couple of miles south west of the Nab with a 20mm rope round her props yesterday 10th Jan evening. Both SP and Hamwic tried to get her free but no luck and the crew had to spend the night on her. She was freed up earlier today.

Hellespont Centurion

Item Posted: 11/01/10 08:29

Nice clean looking white tanker from the Hellespont Fleet due tomorrow. The largest ever tanker to visit Fawley was the Hellespont Grand at 425,000dwt but we don't see those real VLCC's any more.

Cunard and Novovirus again

Item Posted: 10/01/10 16:13

Another outbreak of Norovirus has been reported, this time aboard Cunard's luxury Queen Victoria, which is sailing an eight-night transatlantic voyage from Southampton to New York. Some sourses are reporting that there is a chance that the ship may be denied permission to dock in New York on its scheduled January 12 arrival date if the number of ill passengers reaches an epidemic level -- 15 percent or more of the ship's occupants. Cunard spokesperson Jackie Chase confirmed that there are several sick passengers but was unable to say how many, exactly, have come down with the gastrointestinal virus, which causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and possibly headaches, fevers and abdominal cramps. Earlier this week, the virus made appearances aboard Holland America's Noordam and, most recently, Royal Caribbean's new giant, Oasis of the Seas. Two of U.K.-based Fred. Olsen's ships, Balmoral and Boudicca, were also plagued by the virus during recent Christmas and New Year's sailings.

Port of Spain on trials

Item Posted: 10/01/10 08:53

The Port of Spain one of two Offshore Patrol Vessels being built by BAE Systems for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will on trials for the coming weeks. The two 90m Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are part of a £150 million contract to build, integrate, test and commission (up to sea trials) three ships for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Under the programme the defence company will also provide training and a five year in-service support package, while the UK Ministry of Defence is providing advice to the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and operational sea training to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard crews. Photograph courtesy of http://www.ptsphotographic.co.uk

Captain drunk in charge

Item Posted: 09/01/10 16:10

A couple of days ago ABP notified the Maritime and Coastguard Agency via Solent Coastguard after concerns were raised that a vessel ‘Balu C’ was not being managed correctly on its passage into a berth at the port. The Master of the ‘Balu C’ 52 year old Mr. Valery Semenov was breathalysed by the Police upon arrival into Southampton Port, and he was found to have 94 microgrammes (mg) in 100 millilitres of breath. In the case of breath, 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres is the legal limit. Therefore Mr. Semenov, a 52 year old Russian national was nearly three times that legal limit. The ‘Balu C’ is a 2008 built general cargo ship registered in Antigua and Barbuda. Her deadweight tonnage (carrying capacity) is 8,045 tonnes. She was on passage from Amsterdam to Southampton with a cargo of grain with a crew of 12. At Southampton Magistrates Court, Mr. Semenov pleaded guilty and was fined £2000 plus £100 costs. He has also lost his job and income of £50k pa.

Captain Ian McNaught leaves Cunard

Item Posted: 08/01/10 06:53

Former Master of Queen Elizabeth 2 and laterly on the Queen Victoria Captain Ian McNaught, has "resigned" from Cunard Line and will be transferred to a position at the ultra-luxury brand of Carnival Corporation's Seabourn Cruise Line.

Thames Fisher

Item Posted: 06/01/10 16:14

Preliminary examination report on the Thames Fisher. At 0036 on 4 October 2009, Thames Fisher departed Esso's marine terminal at Fawley after discharging her cargo of petroleum products. She sailed in the ballast condition, and had a pilot on board. As the vessel increased speed to 8 knots, the chief engineer received a high temperature alarm on the main cooling fresh water. He called the master and was informing him of the situation when the main engine shut down on high cooling water temperature. The pilot immediately called for tugs, which arrived in the scene about 20 minutes later. The vessel was taken to a safe anchorage, where the chief engineer found the cause of the problem to be a blocked sea water inlet filter at the fresh water cooler. After cleaning the filter, the vessel continued on her way at 0224. The investigation found that the Thames Fisher had a history of sea water cooling system related failures. Actions Taken The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents wrote to James Fisher Shipping Services Ltd, advising the company to: •Conduct a detailed technical assessment of the cooling water system arrangement fitted to Thames Fisher and her sister vessels, with the objective of removing the potential for unpredictable blackouts and engine failure. •Review the company's safety management system to ensure that a mechanism exists to detect, and therefore correct, repeated or systematic failures on board its vessels. James Fisher shippping Services Ltd: •Has undertaken a prompt review of its quality management system. •Is replacing the plate strainers in the sea water suction and fresh water cooler inlet filters with basket-type filters, and is installing a by-pass facility to the sea water inlet filter of the fresh water cooler and adjusting alarm settings of the main engine fresh water cooling circuit.

Wight Light

Item Posted: 06/01/10 09:35

Wight Light a bit off her normal route. I find the 'moored' status a bit hard to believe! She was due to go into the dockyard at Portsmouth this morning and set off from Lymington at 08.00. At 09.00 off Cowes she was told to turn back due to whiteout conditions at Portsmouth precluding getting her into the basin. She has now returned to Lymington.

Queen Elizabeth launched

Item Posted: 05/01/10 17:33

Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard launched the Queen Elizabeth today 5th Jan. The 294m-long, 90,400 gt vessel has 1,046 cabins and capacity for 2,500 guests and 1,097 crew. Last year, all places on the October 2010 Maiden Voyage from Southampton sold out in a record 29 minutes after coming on sale.

NYK Line

Item Posted: 05/01/10 10:47

Nippon Yusen Kaisha is set to cut its owned containership fleet by half and reduce total lifting capacity by about 30% by 2015, in favour of short-term charters to better control costs and increase profitability. It might mean we get some different ships here.

Fireworks

Item Posted: 05/01/10 10:31

On Thursday 7th January 2010, a firework display will take place in the vicinity of The Middle Swinging Ground, River Test, Southampton, to mark the departure of the cruise ship ‘Saga Ruby’. The firework display will take place at 21:30 from the barge ‘Wilcarry 300’, positioned on the margin of the navigational channel in the vicinity of Cracknore Buoy, and will last for approximately ten minutes.

Blade Runners back in action

Item Posted: 05/01/10 10:29

The blade runners are now operating out of the Eastern Docks in Southampton by Blade Runner Shipping Ltd. Transport services for awkward cargoes are offered within Southampton and Portsmouth waters. These vessels are able to operate in an area ranging from Lymington, West of Southampton Eastward to Chichester, West Sussex. The barges are able to provide 910m2 of deck space or up to 280 tonnes of weight capacity with each barge having the ability to undertake two round trips per day from Southampton to the Isle of Wight. These versatile vessels are able to operate in very shallow waters having a loaded draught of only 0.75 meters and an unloaded draught of 0.65 meters. This makes them ideal for small rivers and estuaries. The core service offers customers a bespoke Freight Shipping Service between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. The vessels offer customers an alternative to existing ro-ro services. The freight service specialises in Project Cargo, extra long and awkward loads and conventional containers. To compliment the shipping services the company offers a Stevedoring service who specialise in the handling of Wind Turbine Components and other Project Cargos.

Addition to Brittany Ferries

Item Posted: 05/01/10 10:19

Brittany Ferries have purchased Superfast V for Portsmouth Santander route which will be re named Cap Finitstere when she arrives in the UK.

Going round in circles

Item Posted: 02/01/10 18:37

Red Jet 4 going round in circles on one engine. If you grab the slider at the bottom of this video you can go backwards and forwards manually. The full video may take a minute or so to download.

Red Jet 4 engine trouble

Item Posted: 02/01/10 16:32

Its Red Jet 4 this time that lost an engine at 8am this morning 2nd Dec approaching Town Quay. Seen here being assisted by the Wyetow.

Wade Stone

Item Posted: 01/01/10 17:33

Now lying at Marchwood the old Humber Star that sunk a while ago is now up for sale as the Wade Stone at £95,000.

Red Jet engine trouble

Item Posted: 01/01/10 09:32

Red Jet 5 withdrawn from service this morning with engine trouble again.

Site changes

Item Posted: 30/12/09 10:44

I have made a few changes to the site to simplify site maintenance and give more information on the AIS maps. I have integrated the Webcams and Current Ship List into the AIS Maps section of the site. I have also increased the number of ship icon colours to indicate more types of ship, with a flashing icon for the Coastguard Helicopter.

Who is that listening to the radio?

Item Posted: 26/12/09 11:37

Some one has been connected to the radio for nearly 49 hours!! I think that is long enough and I am going to kick you off now.

Change of tankers at Fawley?

Item Posted: 26/12/09 08:51

British oil imports are set to rise next year after almost doubling in 2009 in response to a 10% drop in domestic output since 2008. North Sea oil production is forecast to decline further in 2010 as oil companies are unable to start new oilfields fast enough to offset decreasing output from existing fields. Years ago Fawley saw a good variety of tankers from the middle east and other oil producing countries. Ever since the discovery of oil in the North Sea we have seen mainly shuttle tankers here and very rarely a proper VLCC. Perhaps this may change now as we will have to import oil from further afield.

Al Thumana

Item Posted: 26/12/09 07:53

LNG tanker Al Thumana was taking bunkers in Charlie early this morning 26th - due to leave approx 12:00

Merry Christmas and many thanks

Item Posted: 24/12/09 09:35

Merry Christmas and many thanks

Majestic Maersk

Item Posted: 24/12/09 06:46

The Majestic Maersk seen here at SCT recently that made a one off call to the port after being diverted from her usual port of Felixstowe.

Old Wightlink ferries

Item Posted: 23/12/09 20:09

The ferry people have posted a couple of links to videos of Lady Pam and C class engines on the message board. Link to message board right at the bottom of this page.

Want to buy a ferry?

Item Posted: 23/12/09 14:03

For Sale: 3 River ferries fully operational to be used a self propelled barges. The accommodation/wheelhouse part can be cut of and removed and the wheelhouse can be moved to another location. This gives you a complete self propelled barge driven by 2 x Voith Schneider with 4 point mooring system, 2 x 135 kva generator sets and all other needs for running a barge. Each has a knuckle ramp in each end which can be used for going on to shallow water on beaches etc, and to lay out the ramps for unloading purposes. This is a great opportunity to get a self propellered barge which is already fully operational and ready to use. One can leave the accommodation part on them or take it away as wanted. Price each £400,000.

Braveheart

Item Posted: 22/12/09 10:42

The tug Braveheart that was hanging around in Southampton for a while last month was doing so because she was detained. The vessel was detained in Southampton for 9 days because a plastic hose had been rigged in a makeshift arrangement at the bottom of the settling tank; several life jackets were found to have improperly attached lights; the records of rest were still inaccurate and false despite this being a deficiency that had been identified during the last port state inspection. A major non conformity was identified with regard to the maintenance of the ship and equipment which was not according to SMS. Other deficiencies identified included: the watertight door between the engine room and steering flat had been tied back with rope; there were oily rags in the flat bilges and there were unterminated electrical cables at the aft end of the port main engine. The vessel was released from detention on 13/11/2009.

Desktop Pager

Item Posted: 21/12/09 11:12

I have mentioned it here befoere, but for those who don't know, you can download a desktop pages which tells you when lifeboats are launched. You can select just the ones for your area. You can also get alerts on your phone. There are details on the RNLI site.

Support vessel in Southampton

Item Posted: 19/12/09 20:49

The support vessel Skandi Acheiver has made a call at Southampton. Designed as a dive support vessel for offshore repair and maintenance operations.

Fastcat Shankin

Item Posted: 19/12/09 16:27

If you have been wondering what Fastcat Shanklin is doing up at Porchester it is getting a paint job for Severn Link. The operators of the new Ilfracombe to Swansea ferry service has taken delivery of the first ship in its fleet. Severn Link has the 360 passenger, 34 knot Kvaerner FlyingCat passenger catamaran from Wightlink for a seven figure sum. It is currently enjoying a full exterior paint job and rebranding in its new livery as well as an overhaul, at the Portchester yard in Portsmouth. The hull is being blasted with ultra high pressure water at 40,000 tonnes of pressure per square inch to remove all previous paint layers. The build up of paint is not removed at every paint job but periodically, otherwise the increased weight makes the vessels less fuel efficient. Once the repaint is completed Severn Link will move the former FastCat Shanklin to its new base in Swansea, where a full inside refit will take place before the vessel goes into service in March. Severn Link said the entire refurbishment is expected to cost in the region of £100,000, with all suppliers for the interior refit being sourced wherever possible from Swansea and South Wales. The company is also in the process of obtaining the necessary approvals and permits from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for its new vessel, prior to it being moved from Portsmouth to Swansea. Severn Link says "This excellent modern vessel will make a crossing from Swansea to Ilfracombe fun, fast and affordable" - they won't say that after its had a 50 minute crossing in a force 8 south westerly up the Bristol Channel!!

Virus outbreak on Boudicca again

Item Posted: 19/12/09 15:03

Some 180 passengers and crew contracted sickness and diarrhoea on board Fred Olsen's vessel Boudicca, which returned to Portsmouth yesterday 18th Dec. A company spokeswoman said only 20 were still ill by the time it docked. There were 1,152 people on board.

Live Radio

Item Posted: 17/12/09 15:54

I have been playing around with the live radio and have included a 'both' streams flash player button which many of you are using. It also shows how many people are listening. The two lights show the server status. Green = OK. Amber = my streaming has failed. Red = the streaming server has failed - can't do much about that. Sorry no balance control on flash.

Saga Rose

Item Posted: 15/12/09 08:55

Currently at anchor in Gibralta eastern achorage about 2 miles off Gibraltar. Reported to have a crew of 66 - I have no idea what her next move is.

Methania

Item Posted: 15/12/09 08:39

Methania shown here on berth 38/9 on the move this morning up to berth 202 where the Margaret Hill was.

Norman Arrow

Item Posted: 14/12/09 15:13

Norman Arrow has arrived in Portsmouth. I think she moves into the inner basin on the 18th Decmeber for lay up over the winter period before starting the Portsmouth-Le Havre run next Spring

Radio stats

Item Posted: 14/12/09 10:02

I keep and eye on the listeners. Red is the scanner and yellow is ch11+12. The top line is the total.

Live Radio

Item Posted: 13/12/09 16:50

People have been listening to the radio but always fewer people on the scanner. You can hear most of the comms where they move off Ch11 and 12 to some other channel on the scanner, along with the pilots, coastguard, lifeboats, rescue helicopter, ILB's, fawley marine terminal, ships agents, southampton patrol, tugs and a whole lot more. You can now listen to two radio streams at the same time if you have not sussed that out. I've paid for another 2 weeks of server time for the scanner but will pay for a year if it gets some more use.

Finnmill

Item Posted: 13/12/09 16:45

Finnlines roro due - don't see many of these here.

Goodbye Sir Percivale

Item Posted: 12/12/09 16:20

Sir Percy finally slipped out early Sunday morning in darkness.

Wightlink High Court action

Item Posted: 12/12/09 09:49

A High Court action due to start in London on Monday could see the end of controversial new ferries on Wightlink’s Lymington to Yarmouth Solent crossing. Lymington River Association launched legal action in February shortly after the first of the three new multi-million-pound craft appeared in the Lymington River estuary. They claimed the boats would cause environmental damage and pose a risk to smaller craft because of their increased size and power. Wightlink vehemently denied the allegations. Since they entered service, the ferries have been dogged by hold-ups described as “teething problems”. They include running aground at low tide, loading difficulties, a jammed garage deck and failing a “man overboard” test. The High Court hearing is expected to last two days.

QM2 pod problems

Item Posted: 11/12/09 16:54

Carnival Corp. said problems with the Mermaid pods installed on Queen Mary 2 began shortly after the liner was put into operation and have continued to date, forcing the ship to be drydocked every two or three years instead of the standard five-year drydock cycle. In its lawsuit against Mermaid designers and manufacturers Rolls-Royce and Converteam, Carnival claims it was misled into thinking it was buying a more advanced system than the ones that were experiencing problems on other cruise ships at the time. It alleges the technology designed for the Cunard liner was ‘merely an unproven, experimental propulsion concept.’ Damages in excess of $100m are sought. Citing quality control issues during manufacture and installation, Carnival said it had been prepared to delay delivery of what at the time was the world’s largest cruise ship because it was not convinced the Mermaid pods were fit for their purpose. According to the suit, Rolls-Royce and Converteam represented that the bearing lifetimes in the QM2 pods would equate to a minimum of 15 to 20 years. In practice, Carnival said, the bearings must be changed at least every three years. It said one thrust bearing failed after less than a year in operation.

Happy Ranger

Item Posted: 11/12/09 15:22

Heavy lift ship on its way in. Not sure what its here for.

Margaret Hill finally departs

Item Posted: 10/12/09 06:33

LNG carrier Margaret Hill finally left under cover of darkness bound for Portland.

BG Felixstowe not under command

Item Posted: 09/12/09 16:08

BG Felixstowe on the way in with tug Tenax - guess she must be broken down.

Royal Princess

Item Posted: 09/12/09 16:02

The Royal Princess ex Minerva II, ex R8 is to transfer to P&O Cruises from May 2011 as the Adonia. Probably to fill the void left by the Artemis to cover the slightly longer adult only cruises visiting less accessable ports of call.

Napia delayed

Item Posted: 08/12/09 16:05

Tug Napia and tow delayed at St Helens anchorage because of an injury to the chief engineer who was taken to a hospital in Portsmouth by the Bembridge lifeboat at 19:30 8th Dec. Bound for Santander in Spain.

Afrodite

Item Posted: 08/12/09 13:20

Passing Bulwark

HMS Bulwark in excecise

Item Posted: 08/12/09 07:53

Until Thursday 10 December 2009 a Naval Amphibious Exercise involving HMS Bulwark and its associated landing craft will be taking place in the Browndown / Stokes Bay areas of the Central Solent. The majority of the Amphibious Exercise will be conducted from the Warship lying at anchor between Spithead Number 10 Anchorage (SW of Gilkicker Point) and the beach at Browndown. The exercise will be conducted by both day and night and will include a number of Landing Craft and other small boats operating between the Warship at anchor and to or from the foreshore at Browndown.

Afrodite old rust bucket

Item Posted: 07/12/09 17:49

See also earlier news item. Making its way slowly up to Hythe at 12:00 8th Dec on one engine. Ex Stena Line 1964.

New Bembridge Lifeboat Station progress

Item Posted: 06/12/09 16:10

New Bembridge Lifeboat Station progress as of 6th Dec.

Incident on Goole Star

Item Posted: 06/12/09 15:35

There was a fatality on board the Goole Star while alongside at Marchwood, Southampton on 3rd Dec. This is an aggregate barge that plys between Southampton and Newport and around the Solent.

Make use of your shortcuts

Item Posted: 05/12/09 11:44

It seems that many people are using the site in a peculiar way. They are either making heavy use of the main menu or always going in from the home page. The main menu is really only if you get lost or want obscure pages. Likewise they are setting the home page in their favourites and navigating from there - I don't know any reason for doing this. Why not set up your frequently used pages directly in your favourites. Better still, copy those most used shortcuts to your desktop. Simples!!

QE2 future uncertain

Item Posted: 04/12/09 18:15

Only a year after leaving the Cunard fleet for a new life as a luxury hotel in Dubai, the QE2 may have to be sold. The ship was bought for $100 million in 2007 by Nakheel, a specialist property subsidiary of state-run Dubai World, and has been berthed in Dubai since arriving there in November 2008. But Dubai World has run into trouble. Shares on international markets have plummeted worldwide today as the company, crippled by its $59 billion debt, has asked lenders for a six-month period of grace on repayment of loans. Although neighbouring Abu Dhabi has come up with a partial rescue package, a restructuring team from Deloitte has been called in and is likely, according to both The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph newspapers, to recommend that some of Dubai World's high-profile assets, which include the QE2 and Scotland's Turnberry golf course, are sold off. These recommendations, The Guardian says, are expected to take 'at least another week', so complex are the debts. Over the course of the year, little of the planned work has been carried out on QE2 to convert the vessel to a luxury hotel. The ship has been re-flagged and has spent some time in dry dock for work on the hull but there is no evidence that refurbishment has started on the interiors, which, according to announcements made a year ago by Nakheel, were due to be converted into luxury suites and fine dining outlets. The ship was supposed to sail for South Africa next year -- for the FIFA World Cup -- but plans have not been confirmed by Nakheel and no statement about the ship's future has been available.

HMS Dauntless

Item Posted: 04/12/09 15:27

Dauntless - the second of six new formidable air defence warships - has now been handed over to the Ministry Of Defence at a ceremony in Portsmouth today. Dauntless was launched from BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow on January 23 2007. After extensive sea trials she made her first entry into her home port of Portsmouth yesterday (December 2). She follows HMS Daring – the Royal Navy’s first Type 45 destroyer – which arrived in Portsmouth in January this year. BAE Systems, builders of the new fleet of Type 45 destroyers, handed over Dauntless today to the Royal Navy’s Deputy Commander-In-Chief Fleet, Vice Admiral Richard Ibbotson. During a ceremony on the ship’s flight deck at Portsmouth Naval Base, the BAE company flag was lowered and replaced by the Royal Navy’s White Ensign.

Red Jet 3 with engine trouble

Item Posted: 04/12/09 06:16

Red Jet 3 broke down with engine trouble at 06:13 Dec 4th when approaching Southampton. Southampton Patrol goes to assist.

Afrodite

Item Posted: 03/12/09 16:51

Lttle passenger ship sheltering in Sandown Bay. Built 1964. Ex Gloria II, ex Atlantis II, ex Nordlicht II. Looks a bit rusty to me - under observation by the UK Border Agency vessel Sentinel at 16:30 3rd Dec. Destination Beirut.

SD Independent

Item Posted: 03/12/09 15:43

New addirion to the SERCO fleet in Portsmouth

Wightlink at Yarmouth

Item Posted: 02/12/09 18:49

Wight Sun semi laid up at Yarmouth, probably there while work is undertaken on the berth in Lymington. Also it looks like the Yarmouth lifeboat is away on refit as a relief boat the Will is on station.

New callers

Item Posted: 01/12/09 11:57

New Containerships on the horizon ; OOCL Seoul / OOCL Washington (both 2009 89,097 GRT) and Vancouver Express / Seattle Express (both 2009 91,203 GRT) all due at Southampton between mid Feb and early March 2010. Artania (ex Artemis, Royal Princess) by then operated by Phoenix Seereisen is due to call at Southampton twice in the summer of 2011 (16th July and 13th September) Silversea Cruises will be increasing their Southampton port calls in 2011 with Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper and Silver Cloud all scheduled to call.

Azura

Item Posted: 29/11/09 11:52

Ballet superstar Darcey Bussell will name P&O’s Azura in Southampton April 10th 2010 before sailing on her maiden voyage around the Mediterranean on April 12th.

SERCO vessels

Item Posted: 29/11/09 09:51

SD Salmoor and tug SD Independent passing Ryde in very close formation 09:45 Nov29th

Methania

Item Posted: 26/11/09 16:22

Methania up for 38/9 today 26th Nov

Methania finally arrives

Item Posted: 25/11/09 12:34

Methania here anchored in Bravo with Cathy Jo passing.

New passenger terminal for Portsmouth

Item Posted: 24/11/09 14:26

The contract is due to be awarded today 24th Nov for the construction of a new passenger terminal at Portmouth. Start scheduled for January 2010 with a projected completion date of Easter 2011.

MSC Magnifica

Item Posted: 24/11/09 09:05

The fourth of the six Musica Class ships that has 1275 cabins will be handed over to the owner Italian-Swiss MSC Cruises during the week before the start of its inaugural cruise between St. Nazaire and Hamburg. So then, what will the ship be doing between February 24th and March 6th, the date of her christening in Hamburg ? The MSC Magnifica is due to call at Southampton PM Friday 26th Feb 2010 from St Nazaire. She will remain alongside Friday night and Saturday night and depart AM Sunday 28th Feb back to St Nazaire. If this happens, then the MSC Magnifica will pip her slightly older sister MSC Poesia to the post and become the first MSC Cruises vessel to call Southampton.

Large gas tanker due

Item Posted: 22/11/09 06:39

Methania due 25th for berth 38/9. Just spent four weeks sitting idle off Falmouth. The Belgian owner has been forced to abandon plans to resell its imported cargo of LNG because the falling price of natural gas is keeping buyers for the fuel at bay. The Methania was loaded with LNG at Zeebrugge a month ago in the hope that it might find a buyer willing to pay a higher price for the fuel, which it had imported previously to Belgium. I guess it's going to offload any cargo it may have on board before coming here. Shortages of LNG in markets as far afield as Spain, the United States and Asia have opened up a bizarre trade in fuel imported from North Africa and the Middle East, which is then reexported to distant markets. Recently, for example, a cargo of LNG was loaded in Qatar and shipped to Zeebrugge, whereupon it was reloaded and transported to Hazira in India. She is one of 50 ships that Greenpeace has selected which might be scrapped soon

Norman Voyager detained

Item Posted: 21/11/09 06:19

Safety inspectors have detained the Norman Voyager in Portsmouth moments before it was due to sail on Thursday 19th Nov evening. An inspector from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the crew of the Norman Voyager failed a basic test of emergency procedures and passengers who had already boarded the vessel were told to disembark. She is still there this morning Sat 21st Nov.

La Mitre

Item Posted: 20/11/09 15:54

French pilot boat La Mitre in Cowes a couple of days ago. Anyone know what it was doing here??

Margaret Hill update

Item Posted: 20/11/09 09:23

The UK Environment Agency has lifted stop notices preventing the laid-up 35-year-old liquefied natural gas carrier Margaret Hill, sailing from Southampton. The ship has been sold and is now set to leave Southampton for Dubai for refurbishment into a floating LNG treatment on 24th Nov..

Red Jet 4 drama

Item Posted: 19/11/09 12:58

Red Jet 4 drama

Dutch submarine

Item Posted: 19/11/09 11:45

HNLMS DOLFIJN passing Cowes at 11:30 this morning 19th Nov

Tokyo Car returns

Item Posted: 19/11/09 10:15

Tokyo Car back in Southampton after a stint in Torbay. Old picture shown when she was laid up with the Triumph. I see that on 21st Nov she is back in the Nab anchorage.

New warship named in Portsmouth

Item Posted: 19/11/09 10:07

Showing on AIS at the moment as Port of Spain in Portsmouth Dockyard, an Offshore Patrol Vessels built by BAE Systems for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Chinese tanker

Item Posted: 19/11/09 08:00

Not the first time but unuaual for us to see a Chinese tanker here. Lian Yun Hu due 21st Nov

Foreign warship visit

Item Posted: 18/11/09 16:00

Due Portsmouth on 19th HNLMS DOLFIJN (submarine), FS L'AIGLE, FS CORMORAN

TV programme

Item Posted: 16/11/09 14:16

This weeks might ship is the cable ship Tyco Resolute. See listings for Quest TV Freeview ch 38 and Sky ch 154

Thames

Item Posted: 16/11/09 14:01

Dredger Thames passing Cowes in the recent rough weather.

A bit windy today

Item Posted: 14/11/09 15:12

Commodore Clipper passing Maersk Pembroke this morning throgh choppy seas.

Marine accident report

Item Posted: 14/11/09 06:32

Report on the investigation into the contact made by the tanker Vallermosa, with the tankers Navion Fennia and BW Orinoco at the Fawley Marine Terminal on 25 February 2009

Old cargo ship

Item Posted: 08/11/09 16:16

Nice old cargo ship Ayko 2 in Sandown Bay on the 8th Nov

Various stuff

Item Posted: 07/11/09 10:06

For you naval people USS Ramage (DD61) due to depart Southampton 8th at 14:00.

Black Prince

Item Posted: 07/11/09 09:15

Black Prince departed Fri 6th evening under the name Prince.

Thomson Dream

Item Posted: 05/11/09 14:26

Thomson Dream (ex Costa Europa, Westerdam, Homeric) 53,872 GRT is to make a single Southampton call on 8th December 2010 on a re-positioning cruise to the Caribbean.

Not many reefers

Item Posted: 05/11/09 14:04

There has not been many reefers calling at berth 104 this Autumn from the Canaries. Having suffered poor returns, quality issues and high production costs, the Canary Islands salad industry has endured a challenging couple of years. Many fear that this coming season will either make or break the industry. It has been a turbulent couple of seasons for Canary Islands salad growers and exporters, and the industry’s relationship with the UK market has become more and more stretched. The decline in production this season has been widespread, with major lulls in production area in both Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Tenerife – and the industry is blaming ever-increasing production costs and low returns. The sector has been plagued by problems including higher freight and general costs, the use of non-resistant varieties resulting in poor-quality product and condition, a lack of volume and exchange rate issues. The main factor affecting Canary Islands exports to the UK is the weakness of sterling, which is crippling trade.

Wight class vessels suspended

Item Posted: 04/11/09 17:03

Wightlink suspended its Yarmouth to Lymington service this afternoon, after an inspection uncovered a fault with the rescue boats onboard the Wight Class. A two-boat service was back running by 5.35pm, and was being escorted by the Wight Scene, in accordance with Maritime and Coastguard Agency advice.

Birka Exporter

Item Posted: 04/11/09 11:36

Birka Exporter made first visit to Portsmouth this morning 4th Nov.

Loads of site visitors

Item Posted: 03/11/09 06:35

The site had loads of visitors yesterday which caused the webcam to crash a few times as the Oasis of the Seas went past. There were over 7,000 visitors looking at nearly 38,000 pages.

Oasis of the Seas pictures

Item Posted: 03/11/09 06:25

Unfortunately the Oasis of the Seas did not stop in the right place for good pictures and the light was also failing. Having said that here are some nice shots from Andrew and Donna www.donandmaritime.com/Daphne & Doug Toogood.

Tokyo Car leaves

Item Posted: 02/11/09 09:37

Vehicle carriers Tokyo Car and Triumph that have been laid up in Southampton for ages leaving this morning for Brixham

Artemis has spot of engine trouble

Item Posted: 01/11/09 07:06

Artemis had a problem as she called the tugs early. Departed 07:30 01/11/09.

This is where the old cats are going

Item Posted: 29/10/09 10:20

A ferry service connecting south Wales and Devon is set to launch at Easter. New operator Severn Link said it will run two catamarans between Swansea and Ilfracombe boosting the economies both sides of the Bristol Channel. The passenger-only ferries will run all-year round taking around 50 minutes to complete the crossing. It can get a bit rough in the Bristol Channel so I hope the old cats will keep going - especially running at 50 mina at a time!

TV programme

Item Posted: 28/10/09 06:03

Featured ships in Mighty Ships this week is the Faust. Quest TV can be found on Freeview ch38 and Sky ch167. See listings for programme times.

TV programme

Item Posted: 27/10/09 12:05

The Golden Age of Liners Thursday 29th Oct, 21:00 on BBC Four. Paul Atterbury embarks on an alluring journey into the golden age of ocean liners, finding out how these great ships made such a mark on the popular imagination and why they continue to enchant to this day. This week shipbuilding on the Clyde. You can see past programmes on BBC iplayer

Firework display

Item Posted: 27/10/09 11:20

On Saturday 31st October 2009, the annual Southampton Round Table Charity Firework Display will take place off Mayflower Park, River Test, Southampton. The firework display will take place at approximately 1915GMT from the barge ‘Wilcarry 300’, positioned outside the main navigational channel, in the vicinity of the Pier Head Buoy. The display will last for approximately 20 minutes.

Cenwulf

Item Posted: 26/10/09 16:45

Cenwulf has slight list!! Her rubbing strake rose above the height of the jetty because of the high tide and then as the tide lowered it was resting on the edge of the jetty. No holes or anything.

Seaborn Sojourn

Item Posted: 26/10/09 10:41

Yachts of Seabourn’s brand-new, ultra-luxury cruise ship the Seabourn Sojourn (2010, 32,000 GRT) is due to finish her 2010/2011 Maiden World Cruise in Southampton on Tuesday 26th April 2011. The cruise begins in Los Angeles. £42,000 pp for the Full Cruise in the best accommodation !!!!

Boudicca

Item Posted: 26/10/09 10:14

Boudicca in Portsmouth today 26th Oct