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Please send me any Solent Area Shipping News - my e mail address is at very bottom of the page. Click the Help link at the bottom of the page for site navigation info. Items submitted by site visitors and third parties are posted in good faith and there is a chance they may not be correct. Don't forget to check the Message Board as there are often recent news snippets on there. You can leave your comments about shipping matters and ask questions there. You will find a link at the bottom of this page.
| Recent Shipping News from Southampton, Portsmouth and the Solent area |
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Item Posted: 08/02/10 15:45 Two men in their 60s are rescued by coastguards from a motorboat after it catches fire off Calshot Spit in the Solent. Two fire Engines, 2 Ambulances and a Paramedic were on hand besides the coast guard and two Southampton Harbour Boats. This picture was taken this afternoon close to where the caravans park up at Calshot by Gillian Moy. |
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Item Posted: 08/02/10 14:46 An angler was rescued from a life raft, after his boat sank two miles South West of St Catherines Point on the Isle of Wight. Solent Coastguard was contacted on VHF Channel 16 by the single occupant of a small angling boat reporting that he was taking on water and would abandon the vessel to a life raft. Solent Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and requested the launch of Yarmouth RNLI all weather lifeboat. Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were also called out. The angler launched a red flare as he abandoned the vessel, which was spotted by the offshore patrol vessel Port Of Spain. The Port Of Spain launched a fast response craft and picked up the casualty from the life raft who was uninjured and suffering from shock. The man will be transferred to Portsmouth this evening. The 25 foot angling boat has sunk. The man is from Lee On Solent. |
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Item Posted: 08/02/10 07:47 I am experimenting with a no frills page that will more easily be viewed on small mobile devices. As all devices seem to display web pages slightly differently I'm working a bit in the dark. You can see the page on your computer by selecting the experimental map under the AIS Maps dropdown menu. The map will automatically expand to fill the window. The direct link is http://www.ais-live.co.uk/aismap/AIS%20Maps/mobile.html |
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Item Posted: 07/02/10 17:11 I hope the site is working ok with everybody - the maps, the webcam and radio all come to you now via Atlanta Geogiia USA. |
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Item Posted: 07/02/10 07:05 |
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Item Posted: 05/02/10 17:13 Not strictly news but here is a video clip I took this afternoon of dredging in Yarmouth Harbour. |
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Wallenius Wilhelmsen wins contract Item Posted: 05/02/10 09:34 Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has won a five-year contract with Jaguar Land Rover to ship its vehicles from the United Kingdom to North America and Oceania. The contract will see WWL shipping upwards of 45,000 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in 2010 from Southampton to the following ports: • Baltimore, Brunswick, Ga.; and Port Hueneme, Calif., in the United States. • Halifax, Canada. • Fremantle, Melbourne and Port Kembla, Australia. • Auckland, New Zealand. The company will also provide terminal services for receiving all Jaguar and Land Rover models in Southampton, one of WWL’s key hub ports in Europe. To reduce environmental impact, the companies will use rail to move the Land Rover Freelander and Jaguar XK, XF and XJ models to Southampton. Additionally, the company will use space it has charted on ACL vessels to ship Land Rover Freelander models from Liverpool, close to JLR’s Halewood manufacturing plant, to Baltimore. Pre-delivery and inspection work will also be undertaken by WWL at its vehicle processing centers in Brunswick and Port Hueneme for Jaguar and Land Rover models destined for the U.S. East and West coasts. |
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Item Posted: 05/02/10 08:55 It would appear that the FASTCAT RYDE was withdrawn from regular Wightlink service on Saturday 30th January 2010. She is now receiving attention at the Hulk Moorings and, presumably, will be sent for overhaul at Portchester prior to handover to Severn Link. |
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Item Posted: 05/02/10 08:10 MSC's latest cruise ship "MSC Magnifica" will be in Southampton for two days & nights from 26th - 28th February for a pre-launch party, and will be berthed at the City Cruise Terminal. At present she is due to arrive around 1500hrs on 26th. |
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New Bembridge Lifeboat Station Item Posted: 04/02/10 17:24 First frames of the new Bembridge Lifeboat Station now in place. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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Item Posted: 01/02/10 14:19 Dutch submarine Dolfijn passing the Forts outward from Portsmouth |
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Progess with Bembridge Lifeboat Station Item Posted: 31/01/10 16:51 |
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Item Posted: 31/01/10 15:52 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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!! |
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Item Posted: 29/01/10 16:29 The Shieldsman has left Wicor Marine at Portchester and gone to Saxon Wharf Southampton. Anyone know why or have a picture of her there? |
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Item Posted: 29/01/10 13:11 It has been reported the St Catherine has been sold to Delcomar in Italy, handover in March. |
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Ferry chief’s ‘wake-up’ warning to Island Item Posted: 29/01/10 07:09 |
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Item Posted: 28/01/10 16:57 List of container ships that called at Southampton last year. |
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Evergreen may call at Southampton Item Posted: 28/01/10 13:27 Evergreen slot share with CMA CGM at the moment but they are expecting a big upturn in trade soon hence they are building new tonnage. Rumour has it that we may see an Evergreen ship here in the months to come. |
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Item Posted: 26/01/10 16:17 New Southampton Patrol Vessel Pathfinder now up and running Click link for pictures. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Bembridge Lifeboat Station progress Item Posted: 24/01/10 17:59 |
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Item Posted: 24/01/10 15:44 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Item Posted: 22/01/10 06:53 Brits sailing out of Southampton on the new Celebrity Eclipse this April will be delighted to find a few home comforts onboard -- if you consider mushy peas and steak and kidney pie to be home comforts, that is. Celebrity has unveiled a host of Brit-friendly aspects to the new vessel, sister to Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. Menus have been tweaked, entertainment tailored to British tastes and onboard lecturers and "enrichment" made more appropriate to a U.K. audience. Dishes like Beef Wellington, cod in parsley sauce, Yorkshire Pudding and mushy peas are being added to the "always available" items on the menu and there will be more vegetarian choices and Indian dishes. Slightly more off-the-wall is the curry and raisin gelato in Gelateria, the ice-cream bar. Perhaps the most welcome feature of all for the tea-loving British passengers will be electric kettles and tea bags in the cabins, which appeared to much acclaim when Royal Caribbean first brought Independence of the Seas to Britain. If these international guests are hoping to sample real British food, though, they could be disappointed. One thing absent from the menus is good old fish and chips. |
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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. |
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Item Posted: 19/01/10 17:00 |
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Item Posted: 19/01/10 15:29 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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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. |
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Superyacht in St Helens anchorage Item Posted: 15/01/10 13:29 The 85 metre superyacht Vibrant Curiosity is anchored in St Helens anchorage. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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?? |
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Item Posted: 13/01/10 05:51 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Item Posted: 01/01/10 09:32 Red Jet 5 withdrawn from service this morning with engine trouble again. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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![fr39[1]](thumbs/fr39[1].jpg "I hope the site is working ok with everybody - the maps, the webcam and radio all come to you now via Atlanta Geogiia USA.")
![Ship+Photo+MSC+Magnifica[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+MSC+Magnifica[1].jpg "MSC's latest cruise ship \"MSC Magnifica\" will be in Southampton for two days &nights from 26th - 28th February for a pre-launch party, and will be berthed atthe City Cruise Terminal.At present she is due to arrive around 1500hrs on 26th.")
![CromartyRose_20050801-01_b[1]](thumbs/CromartyRose_20050801-01_b[1].jpg "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.")
![Fregatte_Mecklenburg-Vorpommern_F218[1]](thumbs/Fregatte_Mecklenburg-Vorpommern_F218[1].jpg "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.")
![largs]](thumbs/largs].jpg "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")
![ShipPhoto+EVERSTRONG[8]](thumbs/ShipPhoto+EVERSTRONG[8].jpg "Evergreen slot share with CMA CGM at the moment but they are expecting a big upturn in trade soon hence they are building new tonnage. Rumour has it that we may see an Evergreen ship here in the months to come.")
![white_ensign2[1]](thumbs/white_ensign2[1].jpg "Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern WorldFriday 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.")
![1231b[1]](thumbs/1231b[1].jpg "Brits sailing out of Southampton on the new Celebrity Eclipse this April will be delighted to find a few home comforts onboard -- if you consider mushy peas and steak and kidney pie to be home comforts, that is. Celebrity has unveiled a host of Brit-friendly aspects to the new vessel, sister to Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. Menus have been tweaked, entertainment tailored to British tastes and onboard lecturers and \"enrichment\" made more appropriate to a U.K. audience.Dishes like Beef Wellington, cod in parsley sauce, Yorkshire Pudding and mushy peas are being added to the \"always available\" items on the menu and there will be more vegetarian choices and Indian dishes.Slightly more off-the-wall is the curry and raisin gelato in Gelateria, the ice-cream bar. Perhaps the most welcome feature of all for the tea-loving British passengers will be electric kettles and tea bags in the cabins, which appeared to much acclaim when Royal Caribbean first brought Independence of the Seas to Britain. If these international guests are hoping to sample real British food, though, they could be disappointed. One thing absent from the menus is good old fish and chips.")
![Ship+Photo+HMS+Albion[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+HMS+Albion[1].jpg "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 SolentThe 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.")
![Ship+Photo+WIGHT+RYDERI+&+II[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+WIGHT+RYDERI+&+II[1].jpg "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?")
![Ship+Photo+Vibrant+Curiosity[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+Vibrant+Curiosity[1].jpg "The 85 metre superyacht Vibrant Curiosity is anchored in St Helens anchorage.")
.JPG "Jiu Hua Hai taking bunkers at the scrap berth.")
![captain8a[1]](thumbs/captain8a[1].JPG "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.")
![Ship+Photo+Thames+Fisher[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+Thames+Fisher[1].jpg "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 TakenThe 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.")
![Ship+Photo+Queen+Elizabeth[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+Queen+Elizabeth[1].jpg "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_services_logo[2]](thumbs/nyk_services_logo[2].jpg "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.")
![Ship+Photo+MTB+BLADE+RUNNER2[1]](thumbs/Ship+Photo+MTB+BLADE+RUNNER2[1].jpg "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.")
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