New QE

Item Posted: 01/09/10 21:02

Queen Elizabeth due here on the 8th October 2010. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth will be naming Cunard’s latest vessel, the QUEEN ELIZABETH in Southampton on Monday, October 11, 2010, just prior to the ship’s maiden sailing on October 12.. This will be the fourth Cunarder named by Her Majesty, who launched the SS CARONIA while still a princess in 1947. She also christened the RMS QE2 in 1967 and the MV QM2 in 2004. Cunard namings have proven to be among the most spectacular in the cruise industry and this promises to be a gala event. The QUEEN ELIZABETH has successfully undergone sea trials in the Adriatic and is being completed at Italy’s Fincantieri Shipyard.

Barge retreives sail

Item Posted: 01/09/10 11:42

Difficult to see on this picture but spud barge arriving at Ryde Pier this morning with what looks like a large mast and sail off a yacht which it retreived from the Solent somewhere near Bravo. Also unloading some girders - probably for the Ryde Pier works. -------- Probably this one ---------- Lifeboat crews rescued a racing team competing in a 1,750-mile round Britain race in the Solent a week or so ago – close to the starting line. Cowes RNLI lifeboat rushed to Osborne Bay, in the Isle of Wight, after an Austrian ocean racer’s yacht was dismasted in the strong winds as it headed off at 26 knots. The six crew members were not injured but the mast and almost all its rigging had disappeared beneath the choppy seas. The yacht was one of 30 that had made off from Cowes for the gruelling race.

Al Shamikh

Item Posted: 01/09/10 07:14

Al Shamikh, the first of three 99 metre corvettes was recently launched and now showing on AIS. The ships are being built by BAE Systems Surface Ships at their Shipyard in Portsmouth Naval Base, as part of a £400m deal which will also include training by VT Group.

Princess Daphne

Item Posted: 01/09/10 06:49

Princess Daphne departing Portsmouth yesterday 31st Aug.

Old cruise ship due in Portsmouth

Item Posted: 30/08/10 07:41

Interesting cruise ship due in Portsmouth tomorrow 31st Aug Princess Daphne ex Port Sydney built 1955.

Bulk carrier due

Item Posted: 30/08/10 07:12

Large bulk carrier Atlantic Hawk due for the grain berth tomorrow 31st Aug.

Ryde Pier repairs

Item Posted: 27/08/10 07:28

Wightlink has pledged it will maintain pedestrian access during the months it is expected contractors will take to repair Ryde Pier. A spokesman for the ferry company confirmed a new pedestrian walkway would be created to allow people to walk the pier during its reconstruction. Wightlink now has to raise the cash to carry out the work to the Grade II listed pier and says it is not releasing details of the projected cost or how long it was expected to take until it has done that. The pier has been closed to vehicles for nearly a month.

C Columbus

Item Posted: 25/08/10 13:27

C Columbus off Cowes this morning 25th Aug

RNLI Hovercraft

Item Posted: 24/08/10 15:37

Seen near the container port at Southampton today 24th Aug was the RNLI hovercraft H-002 'The Hurley Flyer'. A Griffon 470SAR it is powered by 2 Volkswagen 1.9 litre turbo diesel engines giving it a maximum speed of 30 knots. This particular hovercraft was the first to enter operational service on the 23rd December 2002 and is based at Morecambe Bay. It has a crew of 2/3 and a 3 hour endurance. Photo by Mike Rhodes.

Container ships new visits

Item Posted: 21/08/10 13:38

PLEASE READ THIS========Some people do not realise that the enlarged pictures on the news have hot spots on them. If you click on the left or right area of the image it will go to the next or previous news item. If you click in the central area it will go back to the thumbnails. This and other usefull navigation tips can be found by clicking on the 'help' at the bottom of the news pages. SIMPLES!!+++++++++++++++Container ships new visits:--------4/9 the new Hapag-Lloyd Sofia Express will arrive at Southampton on her maiden voyage 93,750grt built 2010------MOL Expeditor due 27/9 and again 6/12 (she is a Panamax ship built in 2003 of 53,096 grt)----------- CMA CGM Pegasus due 16/9 (new ship of 131,322 grt, sister to the Andromeda)----------- CMA CGM Medea due 23/9 she has transferred from the FAL 2 which had no UK call to FAL1 (built in 2006, 107,711 grt)---------- MOL Charisma due 13/10 she is the former APL France which has reverted to her original name following the end of her charter.--------- 11/10 APL Turkey makes her first call at Southampton 72,200grt 2009.--------- APL Ningbo due 20/10 (new ship of 89,370 grt) she is the sister of the recently introduced APL Zeebrugge (ex Bunga Seroja Tiga) and like her, is an MOL ship which was due to have been chartered to MISC as Bunga Seroja Empat until they pulled out of container shipping and the Grand Alliance.-------- China Express due 28/10 (2003 76,199 grt) she is the former NYK Phoenix--------- NYK Altair due 02/11 (new ship of 105,644 grt) sister of the recently introduced NYK Adonis.

Swanland in trouble

Item Posted: 20/08/10 09:50

At 01:30 a.m. this morning (Friday) the coaster `Swanland, which is a frequent visitor to the Solent, with nine persons on board suffered engine failure 4 nautical miles south west of Lizard Point in Cornwall. The master reported to Falmouth Coastguard problems with the fuel injectors and that he had no engine power. She had a cargo of stone for London aboard. With the wind blowing from the south west at force 5-6 the vessel was drifting towards Lizard Point and was in danger of going aground. The Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Anglian Princess was asked to depart from her anchorage in Falmouth and proceed to standby the vessel, and the Penlee RNLI all weather lifeboat was launched. At 03:25 a.m. the ETV arrived on scene and the decision was made to caution the Master of the vessel that the Secretary of States Powers of Intervention may be invoked if the owners failed to take suitable steps to alleviate the situation. The vessel was less then 1.5 nautical miles from Lizard Point, and the owners agreed to take up a tow from the Anglian Princess. The Swanland is now under tow by the Anglian Princess for Falmouth, where repairs can be carried out.

Regatta

Item Posted: 19/08/10 22:35

Oceania Cruises Regatta leaving Southampton for Zeebrugge this evening

Dauntless Southampton visit

Item Posted: 18/08/10 09:24

HMS Dauntless will be in Southampton from September 12th-14th for the boat show.

UK MOD accepts PACSCAT

Item Posted: 18/08/10 09:08

The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) has accepted an innovative fast landing craft prototype as a technology demonstrator. QinetiQ's PACSCAT (Partial Air Cushion Supported CATamaran) Innovative Solution Demonstrator Craft (ISDC) was accepted as a trials vessel following the successful completion of initial maneuvering and propulsion trials. Between now and year's end, it will undergo a series of tough practical evaluation trials at the Royal Marines facilities at Instow, Devon. QinetiQ was awarded the contract to manage the design and build of the PACSCAT landing craft ISDC in September 2007. In a series of contractor evaluation trials held with Griffon Hoverwork Ltd at its base in Hythe, Southampton, the PACSCAT completed in excess of 100 hours at sea that included operations at unloaded speeds exceeding 30 knots in Sea State 2. The high speed, all aluminum PACSCAT ISDC vessel is 30 m long, 7.7 m in the beam, has a design vehicle payload of 55 tonnes and an approximate loaded weight of 175 tonnes. It is propelled by twin MJP water jets driven by MTU diesel engines. The fast landing craft design requirement is to off-load front line vehicles from Royal Navy amphibious ships to the beach. The Innovative Solution Demonstrator Craft is designed to test at full scale the hydrodynamics of the PACSCAT hullform and to investigate its feasibility to deliver significantly faster speeds than traditional landing craft.

Might Ships TV series

Item Posted: 17/08/10 09:31

Second series of Mighty ship starts tonight on Quest at 2100 - Oasis of the Seas.

Ship+Photo+Queen+Elizabeth[89] - Copy

Item Posted: 14/08/10 11:02

Ship+Photo+Queen+Elizabeth[tt9] - Copy

Item Posted: 14/08/10 11:02

Delphin

Item Posted: 13/08/10 06:57

Small cruise ship Delphin in Portsmouth today.

Slipway trials at Bembridge

Item Posted: 12/08/10 10:36

Slipway trials at the new Bembridge lifeboat boathouse with reserve lifeboat 16-10 Edward and Barbara Prigmore.

Cap Stephens

Item Posted: 11/08/10 19:10

Hamburg-Sud container ship due on Saturday - the Cap Stephens which is replacing the Majestic Maersk on the New York service.

Selection of vessels at Hythe

Item Posted: 11/08/10 14:27

PJ yacht, T1 and the two cats.

Palmer John cuts

Item Posted: 10/08/10 18:34

Palmer Johnson has cut 15 jobs from its Hampshire workforce at Hythe. Despite the job losses Palmer Johnson’s boss insists its ambitious plans for the former VT site in Woolston would still go ahead with work due to begin later this year but I think we will have to wait and see on that one.

Rapparee arriving.

Item Posted: 10/08/10 12:59

Rapparee arriving.

Raparee

Item Posted: 09/08/10 15:27

Rapparee, ex Fastcat Ryde, shown here departing Swansea Docks early this morning 9th Aug. Her AIS is showing incorrect info so possible ETA Southampton Tuesday PM. Photo by Keith Foley.

Island Sky

Item Posted: 09/08/10 08:36

Small cruise ship shown here anchored off Cowes yesterday 8th Aug. The brightly couloued rib is the Harbour Master.

New Palmer Johnson Yacht

Item Posted: 08/08/10 20:50

PJ501 on trials off Calshot.

Solent Scene

Item Posted: 08/08/10 20:49

Passing Calshot inward board for a check after the grounding.

Cruise ship calls in 2011

Item Posted: 08/08/10 17:21

Calls by German cruise ships to Southampton will be increasing again in 2011. This year we have seen just one call by TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff. Coincidentally, most of the calls will take place in September. TUI Cruises will be making 3 calls in 2011 with their new vessel Mein Schiff 2, 76,522 GRT (ex Celebrity Mercury - pictured here). The first call is on Tuesday 17th May (when she will be in port with both MSC Opera and MSC Poesia) on a cruise from Hamburg to Kiel via Southampton, Le Havre and Oslo. Her next two calls will be in September 2011, on Tuesday 20th on a Round UK Cruise and again the following Monday (26th September) on a positioning cruise from Hamburg to Palma Majorca. Phoenix Seereisen will also make 5 calls in 2011 with Artania (ex Artemis / Royal Princess) on 16th July and 13th September, Amadea on 16th August and 2nd December and Albatros on 2nd September.

Solent Scene runs aground

Item Posted: 08/08/10 06:39

Portland Coastguard coordinated rescue of 37 people from the passenger vessel Solent Scene after it drifted aground near Old Harry Rocks, Dorset, whilst on a trip from Poole for a tour around the rocks. Passengers were watching Red Arrows when she ran aground, Swanage RNLI All Weather and Inshore Lifeboat and Poole RNLI All Weather Lifeboat were sent to the scene whilst the Swanage Coastguard Rescue team kept members of the public away from the edge of Old Harry Rocks. All passengers were transferred to a RNLI lifeboat to the nearby passenger vessel Bournemouth Belle who took them to Swanage Pier where they were met by Coastguard Rescue Officers from the Swanage team. None of the passengers needed medical attention and they will be transferred from here back to Poole Quay.

End of Whitaker contract

Item Posted: 06/08/10 12:07

The Rix Merlin is due to load tomorrow at Fawley. She left Falmouth after major engine repairs, straight from dry dock in Newlyn, this morning. The Humber Energy discharges her last cargo of Derv tomorrow, she pumped petrol on Thursday, both tanks at Cowes had run dry! There were three Brits per watch on the Energy - not sure of the watch arrangements on the Merlin. Interesting to see if Rix Merlin passes safety inspection. ---------------------- Pace, the fuel importer at Cowes ex BP, have canceled the contract with Whitaker and the Humber Energy. With the Poles running the service the Island should see a reduction in petrol prices - but of course that will never happen!!

Titanic Exhibition

Item Posted: 06/08/10 06:41

The Titanic Honour & Glory exhibition is gearing itself up for a busy three days from 5th to the 7th August. Over this long weekend in the summer holidays, the exhibition in The Bargate Shopping Centre will be holding a series of events to commemorate the Titanic's tragic sinking in the Atlantic in 1912. For the whole three-day period the 'Heart of the Ocean' necklace as worn by Kate Winslet in the block-buster film of 1997, will be available for a photographic opportunity for those wishing to wear it. A thoroughly unique opportunity for local girls and women! Added to this we will be announcing a new fund to commemorate the local hero, Captain Rostron of the Cunard liner Carpathia. He lived in West End, Southampton and was, as captain, responsible for saving the lives of all those fortunate souls on the Titanic that cold night of 15th April 1912. Until now he has received little local recognition of this life-saving sprint to the aid of passengers ad crew of Titanic. His grave is in the crematory at West End's church but we intend to erect a plaque at his residence in Chalk Hill, West End. Alastair Arnott will be in attendance on Saturday between 12 and 2 pm for a book signing. Additional to these events, we announce the search is on to locate as many relatives of the passengers and crew of Titanic. We wish to hold a re-union of as many of those people who had a direct link to the relatives on board the ship. Our re-union event will be held in the autumn of 2010 in Southampton and in readiness to bring together as many people as possible for the 100th anniversary of the sinking in 2012. An opportunity will be available to register for this exciting event in the autumn / winter. Titanic Honour & Glory is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and from 11am to 3pm on Sundays. www.oceanlinerexperience.co.uk end of release The exhibition is going to continue for the forseeable future we are pleased to announce. Please see posters attached and if you would be so kind as to display them where possible we would appreciate it. Contact:- Glen Gardner Co-Project Director Southampton Ocean Liner Experience Tel: 07977 422505 / 02380 434263 www.glen_gardner@hotmail.com www.oceanlinerexperience.co.uk

Fastcat Shanklin returns

Item Posted: 03/08/10 14:39

Latest info - Passing Calshot 14:15 today 3rd Aug. Shown here passing Cowes. Rapparee (ex Fastcat Ryde) is due to return to Hythe on Tuesday --------------------------- Severnlink ferries up for sale. Seems Severnlink has been unable to get berthing facilities set up for this year in Swansea, Penarth & Cardiff & as it is now late in the season, Severnlink are now planning for a 2011 launch. That does seem very odd! Evidently the mortgage holder of the two cats has put them on the market. No work has been done on the jetty this week. So if you are looking to replace your boat, now might be the time to get a bargain.

Luminous Orange

Item Posted: 02/08/10 07:24

Woodchip carrier Luminous Orange was the Grand Oji Pioneer which was here last year.

GB Conte

Item Posted: 31/07/10 18:28

GB Conte passing Cowes

GB Conte departs - finally

Item Posted: 31/07/10 17:35

GB Conte departing

Highland Eagle

Item Posted: 30/07/10 16:11

Supply Vessel/Tug Highland Eagle arriving this afternoon.

Solent Express at Portsmouth

Item Posted: 28/07/10 16:36

Solent Express made a "first" visit to Portsmouth Gunwharf on Monday 26th for a PR event & photo shoot.

Delphin Voyager

Item Posted: 28/07/10 16:31

Delphin Voyager departing Portsmouth last night 27th.

Arco Dart

Item Posted: 28/07/10 16:17

Arco Dart arriving at Kendall's Wharf Langstone today 28th July, covering for Norstone which is still in Hull undergoing repairs

GB Conte

Item Posted: 28/07/10 14:35

GB Conte towed off the mud berth today and onto a pontoon in deeper water. Departure from here will not be tide dependant. Currently shown as departing am on 30th but we will have to wait and see!!

Nedlloyd Honshu

Item Posted: 27/07/10 15:27

In empty and out with empties

Navy Days 2010

Item Posted: 27/07/10 07:13

You probably all know that Navy Days at Portsmouth is from Friday 30th July – Sunday 1st August 2010. What I didn't know is that it would cost me £19.50 to get it. During these hard times perhaps they need more subsidy from the general public to keep whats left of our Navy as well as taxing them!

New type 45

Item Posted: 27/07/10 07:04

HMS Diamond bue to arrive Portsmouth on 22nd September 2010.

The World

Item Posted: 26/07/10 07:52

The World arriving at Southampton this morning. She serves as a residential community owned by its residents. The residents, from about 40 different countries, live on board as the ship slowly circumnavigates the globe — staying in most ports from 2 to 5 days. Some residents live on board full time while others visit their floating home periodically throughout the year.

Jakarta Tower

Item Posted: 25/07/10 14:05

Looks like Jakarta Towerfinally made it away today. Picture by Andrew & Donna Cooke, Cruise & Ferry Writers/Photographers www.donandmaritime.com

Longbow

Item Posted: 23/07/10 07:05

Looks like the Longbow is back in Portsmouth this afternoon towed by the Anglian Earl.

GB Conte

Item Posted: 18/07/10 09:30

St Catherine as GB Conte.

ANS Soumman

Item Posted: 16/07/10 07:51

Algerian naval training vessel ANS Soumman due to leave Portsmouth early this morning 16th July.

New Cruise Terminal

Item Posted: 16/07/10 07:30

There has been more news about Southampton's 5th cruise terminal but little information apart from that it will be in the western docks. There are probably logistical reasons why it has not been done, but if it was built where the old Royal Pier is it would re juvenate the area which is delapitated at the moment and would at last open up the opportunity to have real public access to the cruise ships which is sadly lacking for a major cruise port.

GB Conte

Item Posted: 16/07/10 07:18

St Catherine showing on AIS this morning complete with new name and Italian callsign but that destination seems to be stuck!

CMA CGM Christophe Colomb

Item Posted: 14/07/10 07:15

Bit after the event because I was on holiday but here are the pictures of the CMA CGM Christophe Colomb that people sent me. Please note that some images are copyright. Please view them for your own personal enjoyment and do not distribute them.

New Bembridge Lifeboat

Item Posted: 13/07/10 07:33

The new Tamar class boat "RNLI 16-17 Alfred Albert Williams" Was handed over from her builders in Plymouth on the 15th June. Coxswain Steve Simmonds and Engineer Bryan Jones brought her to RNLI at Poole on that day. On the 12th August slipway trials will take place at Bembridge and it is hoped she will be brought from Poole to Bembridge on the 26th September. Dedication will take place in the spring when the inshore boathouse is built.

Webmaster back from holiday

Item Posted: 12/07/10 10:15

This is a flavour of what I saw on holiday.

Godetia

Item Posted: 12/07/10 10:13

The Godetia a command and logistical support ship of the Belgian Naval passed through Solent this morning 12th July. Quite an old ship now as she was built in 1965.

Bulker due

Item Posted: 02/07/10 09:50

Bulker Clipper Lis due. What is unusual for a 2009 built vessel is an oval section funnel as most recently built vessels have a square section because they don't have to go through all the effort of bending the plates.

US Submarine visit

Item Posted: 01/07/10 11:33

The Nuclear Powered Submarine Boise will visit Portsmouth Harbour between the 5th and the 12th of July 2010.

More life for the United States

Item Posted: 01/07/10 10:55

The UNITED STATES, once a frequent visitor to Southampton which has been in lay up since 1969 and due to be scrapped, may have had a reprieve. S.S. United States Conservancy, a group dedicated to saving her from scrap, have managed to get a deal in place to buy the historic liner from the NCL Group for US$3 million. The Philadelphia berthed UNITED STATES will be given a grand celebration in honor of the 58th anniversary of her record-breaking maiden voyage. A feature of the special program will include a recreation of artist Robert Wogan’s lighting of the ship’s funnels, bridge, and radar mast along with an outdoor screening of the documentary “SS United States: Lady in Waiting”. Despite an offer from scrap dealers for the ship at US$5.9 million, NCL reportedly stated, “We are pleased with the current arrangement with the conservancy.” The proposed sale still must overcome some hurdles, primarily to satisfy Environmental Protection Agency concerns related to toxic PCBs aboard the nearly 60-year-old ship. Also, the preservationists will be responsible for the US $60,000 per month docking fees in Philadelphia. The funding has been provided by Gerry Lenfest, a Philadelphia philanthropist. The S.S. United States Conservancy’s agreement with NCL to buy the ship expires in February 2011, and if the sale is completed, according to the the agreement with Mr. Lenfest, the group has 20 months of financial support to develop a long-term plan that would make the ship financially self-supporting.

HMS Daring

Item Posted: 29/06/10 16:21

HMS Daring arriving at Southampton today.

Floating crane

Item Posted: 28/06/10 12:22

Ex US Army floating crane and spud barge just moored up to the west end of Ryde Pier Head engaged in the constructionof 78 new car parking spaces.

Nesting Gulls

Item Posted: 27/06/10 13:16

If you are a nature loving boat owner you can provide a home for the birds.

Luxury Yacht

Item Posted: 27/06/10 13:01

Luxury yacht Bel Abri inbound for Southampton today 27th June. (select 'with sail and pleasure' map to see it on AIS). The Bel Abri is a 52.3m tri-deck with steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The word abri has french origins and abri means “a safe secure place of structure (refuge or shelter) giving protection from danger or harm”. It has a cruising speed of around 13 knots and a transatlantic range of 4,500 nautical miles.

Le Boreal

Item Posted: 27/06/10 12:40

Le Boreal off Calshot yesterday

Norwegian Epic passing Cowes

Item Posted: 25/06/10 08:34

Norwegian Epic passing Cowes

Navy Days

Item Posted: 24/06/10 15:23

Some of the ships at Navy Days:-FS Coromoran P 677 JS Kashima TV 3508 JS Yamagiri TV 3515 JS Sawayuki DD 125 RFA Argus A 135 HMS Daring D 32 HMS Dauntless D 33 HMS Richmond F 239 HMS Westminster F 237 HMS Gleaner H 86 HMS Tyne P 281 HMS Cattistock M 31

British Services Transglobe Expedition 2009-2010 returns

Item Posted: 24/06/10 15:13

The three yachts participating in the British Services Transglobe Expedition 2009-2010 will culminate their year-long adventure in a co-ordinated return to Portsmouth on Thursday 1 July 2010. The Transglobe Expedition is a Round the World Tri-Service Adventurous Sail Training Exercise taking place over 13 legs with the three yachts crewed at various stages by over 550 Service personnel. The three yachts taking part are: HMSTV ADVENTURE (Royal Navy), HMSTV CHALLENGER (Army) and HMSTV DISCOVERER (Royal Air Force). At 1100 on Thursday 1 July 2010 QHM Portsmouth will lead the three yachts and their official support craft from Outer Spit Buoy into Portsmouth Harbour via the Main Channel where the yachts will berth at the Joint Services Adventurous Sail Training Centre in Haslar Lake.

New orders for Cowes Shipyard

Item Posted: 24/06/10 11:12

South Boats Special Projects had another impressively good Seawork last week, signing a contract for a further two boats on the last day of the show. Both are to be 15m alloy wind farm support boats. One will be going to Turbine Transfers Ltd, the other will be going to Iceni Marine Services and will be the second boat of this type for Iceni. The two vessels will be water jet propelled with twin Scania DI12 engines rated at 650hp for the Iceni boat and DI16s rated at 748hp for Turbine Transfers. Both sets of engines will be driving Ultra Dynamics Ultrajet waterjets through Twin Disc MGX QuickShift transmissions for maximum low down thrust when holding station at wind farm turbines. The fenders are the MK IV type specially developed wind farm applications and work alongside a strong box section bow platform that has a sprung fastening for 'give' when landing and a built out 'nib' that fits between the boat landing piles, all helping to keep the boat in place against the tower. The nib also provides a shorter step off distance to the ladder of the wind turbine tower. The boats will accommodate 12 passengers be capable of some 25 to 27 knots light loaded, with a cruising speed of 20 to 22 knots.

Solent gas pipeline replacement

Item Posted: 24/06/10 08:56

Between 28th June and 2nd July 2010, weather permitting, survey vessel ‘Voyager’ (a 10m survey launch) will during daylight hours be carrying out Survey Operations on the Solent Gas Pipeline which runs between; Stansore Point and Egypt Point (at Cowes). This is in preparation for pipe replacement. Southern Gas Networks (SGN) has applied to the Department of Energy and Climate Change for development consent to replace the existing gas pipelines crossing the Western Solent from the Hampshire mainland to the Isle of Wight. As a licensed Gas Transporter, SGN has a statutory duty to ensure a safe and secure supply of gas to all of its customers and these transit pipelines are the only means of supply to the Island. Due to ground instability issues and increasing vulnerability of the existing pipelines to exposure and scour on the seabed, they need to be replaced with new pipelines on a less vulnerable and more stable ground routing. The proposed scheme will involve the replacement of the three existing 200mm dia concrete coated high pressure gas pipelines that cross the Western Solent between Stansore Point, Lepe and Egypt Point. The pipelines were originally installed in 1966 by plough/trenching and are for the most part buried at shallow depth below the seabed. The replacements will be twin 324mm dia welded steel high pressure pipelines each approximately 3900m long installed very deep below the seabed (typical depth 40m) by the technique of horizontal directional drilling along a stable ground routing between Stone Point, Lepe and Gurnard, Isle of Wight. SGN will drill from both the Lepe side and the Isle of Wight side, with the two drills meeting in the middle at a point about 40m below the sea-bed. They will then use a specialist technique to pull the gas mains from the mainland through to Gurnard. Works are due to begin in August

3 cruise ships departing in line tonight

Item Posted: 03/05/10 17:34

3 cruise ships departing in line tonight

Crew member lost overboard from Royalist

Item Posted: 03/05/10 10:08

At approximately 8:30pm yesterday 2nd May Solent Coastguard received a Mayday call from the Training Ship (TS) Royalist stating a member of their crew had fallen over the side of the ship at Stokes Bay, whilst they were at anchor. Solent Coastguard immediately scrambled the Coastguard Rescue helicopter from Solent and requested the launch of the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS). The crew member fell overboard and was recovered by the sail training rib and transferred to the lifeboat; the casualty was then taken by Rescue helicopter to the landing site for the Queen Alexandra Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Red Jet 3 engine trouble

Item Posted: 02/05/10 20:26

Red Jet 3 had a spot of engine trouble off Hythe today at around 12:45 and returned to Southampton. The cause was a small fire in the starboard engine room.

Hans Hannson

Item Posted: 02/05/10 10:55

Hans Hansson - nice little old ship at Haslar- ex-Norwegian ice-class rescue ship

Carmel

Item Posted: 01/05/10 07:56

Carmel still at Hythe - I don't know what its doing here. Originally at Hoo on the Medway several years ago. CARMEL built as Ferryhill II, later Subro Valour, Valour. Same design as the old Medina River.

Cenwulf departure

Item Posted: 30/04/10 19:36

Some more nice pictures of the Cenwulf departure with the tug Westsund. The code flags spell 'Cenwulf'. Pictures courtesy of Smedegaarden.