AIS T1

Item Posted: 13/03/10 17:24

AIS signal T1 at Hythe is coming from a PASCAT (partial air cushion support catamaran). This new landing craft is developed in the context of replacing much older existing barges for the Royal Navy. PACSCAT has twin hulls like a catamaran, but also has curtains between them at bow and stern not unlike the skirts of a hovercraft. Air from fans is blown into the space thus contained, lifting the hulls higher in the water than they would otherwise be and so reducing drag. The PACSCAT should be faster than a normal monohull landing craft and able to beach itself and get off again more easily, yet able to carry more than a conventional air-cushion job.

GPS Apollo departs

Item Posted: 12/03/10 17:09

GPS Apollo and tugs leaving departed Southampton this afternoon 12th - AIS shows Newhaven. Guess it found the pipe Ok

Sailing vessel visits Portsmouth

Item Posted: 11/03/10 14:35

Christian Radich is a Norwegian full rigged ship, named after a Norwegian shipowner. The vessel was built at Framnæs shipyard in Sandefjord, Norway, and was delivered on 17 June 1937. The owner was The Christian Radich Sail Training Foundation established by a grant from an officer of that name. The vessel is a full rigged three masted steel hulled ship and its homeport is Oslo. Under engine power, the Christian Radich reaches a top speed of 10 knots, while she can make up to 14 knots under sail. The crew is 18 all together. It can accommodate 88 passengers. The vessel was built for training sailors for the Norwegian merchant navy, and did so for many years. From 1999 and on, the ship has been on the charter market as well as sailing with paying trainees to foreign ports on summer trips, participating in the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race and large sail events in various European ports.

Naval tug replacement

Item Posted: 11/03/10 14:30

As part of the Future Provision Marine Services contract, a brand new range of Marine Service vessels will be completed by the end of the year to support the Navy's newest ships. Labelled the 'tugs of the future', the new fleet of 29 vessels is set to keep pace with the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers and eventually the two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers - which will be the largest the Service has ever built. Half of the new service vessels will be based at Portsmouth where they will also replace the port's ageing fleet of support vessels. Pat McFayden, Marine Services Superintendent at Portsmouth Naval Base, said: "In Portsmouth we are changing the whole fleet. There will be six new tugs in total, of which we already have three, as well as two pilot boats and a small work boat with a further three tugs and a 1,500-tonne fuel lighter still to arrive, so we are well on target. "We will eventually have four 40-tonne and two 20-tonne Twin Azimuth tugs, which is a significant increase in capability, so we can now look forward to easily coping with the size of the new capital ships." However, with the new fleet also comes a new set of instructions for the masters, mates and engineers, who are being trained up on how to pilot them. The new set of tugs have several small changes compared to the old fleet, but the main difference is the switch from twin-unit tractor tugs (TUTTs) to Azimuth stern-drive (ASDs) and Azimuth forward-drive (AFDs) tugs, which give the operators a completely different piloting perspective. Powered by propellers at the front or the stern as opposed to the cycloidal drive in the middle, as with the TUTTs, this fleet is much quicker and can pull heavier weights: "It is a learning curve, but it's one that we are enjoying," said Pat McFayden. "It is a large, very comprehensive training package that has seen more than half the masters in Portsmouth trained up so far. "It will probably then take a further six months before everyone has completed the training." The intensive training sees the operators take part in simulator training, go on a tug-handling course, and undergo command and control training with the Admiralty Pilots. As well as being taught in the classroom, the masters and mates also get plenty of practical lessons in the water - spending hours in the harbour manoeuvring against ships to ensure they will be completely ready to take control once the tugs are fully introduced.

Another sheerlegs barge

Item Posted: 11/03/10 09:22

Sheerlegs barge GPS Apollo showing on AIS in company with Multratug 17. Going to a position about 6 miles south of Selsey Bill to salvage a dredge pipe lost by the Charlemagne down off the Nab a few days back.

New Bembridge Lifeboat Station

Item Posted: 10/03/10 17:41

Roof going on.

Collapsed crane barge departs

Item Posted: 10/03/10 06:15

Collapsed sheerlegs barge Cormorant departed Southampton yesterday evening 9th March with Multratug 7 and Multrasalvor.

Saga Pearl II

Item Posted: 08/03/10 15:54

Saga Peral II pictured here by Andrew early this morning berthing at 106. Due to sail on her maiden cruise in Southampton to the Norwegian Fjords on March 15th. Image copyrighted Waterside Photographic 2010.

Sheerlegs barge collapses in Southampton

Item Posted: 07/03/10 20:12

Sheerlegs barge Cormorant collapsed at Southampton Sunday 7th am. Cormorant AIS not showing any more so I guess the equipment sustained a bit of damage! Cormorant is a self-propelled seagoing sheerlegs, with a 400 tonne lifting capacity. Fully overhauled in 1999, Cormorant is highly suitable for marine salvage and wreck removal and all kinds of inshore and offshore lifting operations. Cormorant is equipped with 2 main hooks with a capacity of 200 tonnes each, with a maximum lifting height of 30 metres. Fitted with a 300 tonne capacity Wreck Grab and a 50 m3 Bucket Grab, Cormorant is ready to be employed in operations worldwide. The jib enables Cormorant to lift weights with her auxiliary hooks, up to 200 tonnes, to a height of 45 metres. ------------------------------- Some reports have mentioned previous crane collapses in the port but I think this is a bit misleading as this crane was not connected with ABP and is not a container gantry crane.

United States may be scrapped

Item Posted: 07/03/10 09:35

According to the SS United States Conservancy awareness campaign, the SS United States, once a common sight at Southampton is in imminent danger of being bought by scrappers. This great vessel, which still holds the trans-Atlantic speed record, may soon be destroyed. Bids for purchase of the ship by scrappers are being collected by NCL this month. The current owners of the vessel, Genting Hong Kong (formerly Star Cruises Limited), through its subsidiary, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), listed the vessel for sale in February 2009 but have not announced a purchaser to date. There has been acute interest in the ship by scrapping companies. While NCL graciously offered the Conservancy first right of refusal on a sale of the vessel in 2009, the Conservancy has not been in a financial position to purchase the ship outright. The organization has been working diligently to lay the groundwork for a public-private partnership that can save the ship and sustain her for generations to come. The Conservancy understands that Genting and NCL are reluctant to continue covering the significant costs associated with maintaining the vessel in its current berth in Philadelphia and appreciates the good care the vessel has received since being purchased by NCL in 2003 with the stated intentions of returning the ship to seagoing service. The Conservancy has maintained a positive working relationship with NCL over the past seven years and looks forward to an ongoing collaboration during this critical period. The Conservancy has begun discussions with NCL with the intent of covering some of the fees associated with maintaining the ship in Philadelphia as it finalizes plans for repurposing the ship as a stationary attraction on a large metropolitan waterfront.

Tug and tow

Item Posted: 07/03/10 06:32

Crane barge Cormorant now at 102 after being towed in by Multratug 7 (1977 ex Lady Moira)

Ferry nostalgia

Item Posted: 06/03/10 09:43

Ferry nostalgia

Caedmon Farewell

Item Posted: 05/03/10 21:54

Another picture of the Caedmon leaving by Andrew & Donna Cooke www.donandmaritime.com

Strikes at Coastguard again

Item Posted: 05/03/10 18:23

Britain's coastguards are set to begin a 48-hour strike on Monday, as part of co-ordinated action expected to involve up to 270,000 workers across the civil service protesting against what they regard as unilateral changes to redundancy terms in the public sector. The stoppage comes after a series of one-day and two-day walkouts at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2008, as part of a campaign for pay parity with other UK emergency services. This time round, the coastguards will be joined by Jobcentre staff, tax workers, border agency officials, court employees, driving test examiners and many other civil service grades who are members of the Public and Commercial Services union. MCA management will seek to ensure that safety-critical services are maintained, in a manner similar to their efforts to do so in the strikes of two years ago. In practice, the industrial action at that time had little obvious impact, and the pay issue continues to remain unresolved, with the government determined to hold the line on a public sector pay freeze. A statement by the Department for Transport unit said: “Contingency arrangements are in place to ensure that the MCA will continue to provide an emergency service. The industrial action is by those responsible for co-ordinating rescues. The rescuers themselves will continue to operate as normal.” Search and rescue helicopters will continue to fly, Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats and lifeguards will be available as usual, and MCA volunteer coastguard rescue officers are “ready in their local communities”, it went on. Other ships and craft will assist vessels in distress as normal, while emergency tugs and pollution control experts will respond to any shipping incidents that threaten the environment. A spokesman for the MCA added that the industrial action will only be supported by MCA employees who choose to do so. “Some of our PCS members may choose to strike, some may choose not to. We won’t know until Monday morning. “I don’t think any of us can say what it is going to be like. I can’t say we know the exact number of staff who are members of the PCS and are going to go on strike, but we have contingency plans to continue to provide an emergency service.” Meanwhile, the PCS national executive was due to meet over the weekend to finalise further strike dates, which could include national walkouts and targeted strike action. PCS leader Mark Serwotka commented: “These cuts, which will see loyal civil and public servants lose tens of thousands of pounds if they are forced out of a job, are more about crude politicking than making savings. “We have suggested ways in which the government can make these savings while protecting the rights of existing members, yet it seems intent on penalising the people who keep this country running.”

Progress with new Bembridge Lifeboat Station.

Item Posted: 05/03/10 18:19

Progress with new Bembridge Lifeboat Station.

Caedmon on her way

Item Posted: 05/03/10 16:36

Caedmon on her way

Wightlink upgrades ferry

Item Posted: 05/03/10 08:39

St Helen now upgraded to operate a high speed service.

Clausentum

Item Posted: 05/03/10 08:07

Here is a picture of the Westsund shown here in here original Red Funnel colours (see item below).

Caedmon soon on its way

Item Posted: 05/03/10 07:34

The Danish Tug "Westsund" (ex Clausentum) Red Funnel (1980) arrived at 16:00 Thursday 4th March in preparation to tow the former Wightlink "Caedmon" to Esbjerg for scrapping. Photo by B Wales/Smedegaarden

USS Vicksburg at Portsmouth

Item Posted: 04/03/10 18:06

USS Vicksburg arriving in Portsmouth this afternoon

Margaret Hill disposal troubles

Item Posted: 04/03/10 06:13

Brussels has requested information from the UK authorities regarding the controversial liquefied natural gas carrier Margaret Hill as part of an investigation into a possible breach of the European Union waste shipment regulation. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment has asked the UK’s Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs for details regarding the ship’s final destination and fate following reports it is to be exported to a non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country for dismantling. “Following a complaint from an NGO [non-governmental organisation] we decided to investigate,” Commission environment spokesman Joe Hennon said yesterday. The English Environment Agency has contacted authorities in Dubai, where the 1974-built, 87,608 cu m vessel is currently located, and India, where the ship could be broken up, following allegations it had been duped. Concerned about the potentially hazardous material on board, the Agency prevented Margaret Hill from leaving Southampton port in August but lifted the stop notice in October when it was satisfied by assurances the ship was to be converted for a floating liquefied natural gas project. “The Environment Agency chose to ignore the NGOs early warnings. Now it is the UK’s duty to call the vessel back and hold Fortress accountable,” said Ingvild Jenssen of the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, a pressure group. New York-based Fortress Credit is reported by the Platform to be involved in the scrapping transaction. The company could not be reached for comment. A Defra spokesperson said: “Before the Margaret Hill was allowed out of British waters, evidence was provided to the Environment Agency that the Margaret Hill was being exported to be refitted, and not to be dismantled. If the decision has now been taken to dismantle the ship, we expect the Dubai Authorities to act appropriately, and we have shared information with them on the ship.” The Environment Agency said there was no power under UK legislation to recall the ship. EU law forbids the export of waste, including end-of-life ships, to non-OECD countries though a loophole allows ships to leave European Union waters for other reasons such as refits, after which they can then be sold for scrap. The European Commission is considering laws to close this loophole and improve hazardous working conditions in breakers’ yards on the Indian subcontinent. Ideas include a port tax on ship arrivals and the drawing up of a list of end-of-life ships for special attention by port inspectors. The proceeds of the tax would be used to transfer breaking technology to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Industry has opposed these proposals on the grounds that they are counter-productive. Draft legislation from the Brussels environment ministry is said to have begun an internal commission process called inter-service consultation whereby other ministries have a chance to comment.

HMS Daring

Item Posted: 03/03/10 15:18

HMS Daring captured this afternoon by Clive Welsteed passing Netley up for Marchwood.

Southampton could see more cruise ships

Item Posted: 03/03/10 10:51

Carnival UK has just released a survey called Cruise Report 2010. According to the cruise line, the industry will experience tremendous growth in the UK. During the course of the next decade, the report suggests that the cruise industry could double in size. The Cruise Report 2010 also suggested that people wanting to take a cruise would be willing to reduce their expenditures in order to save additional money for their holiday. The report also suggested that many cruisers spend time looking for the best deals, even if the cost of the cruise is already within their budget. Micky Arison, the Chief Executive Officer of Carnival, spoke about the trends that were likely to occur in the cruise industry. He suggested that cruising in the UK would be very similar to what it is currently like in America. This would include a variety of different itineraries that range in duration. “For example, there are very few short cruises in the UK right now but this will change over time because the higher quality ships with their greater range of facilities being built and operated these days will act as interesting destinations in themselves,” added Arison. One trend that is not expected to grow in popularity is online booking. According to the report, less than 5 percent of British passengers book their cruise holidays directly through the internet. This figure drops nearly in half for luxury cruise lines. Arison suggested that this percentage was unlikely to increase dramatically over the next decade.

High speed Maersk vessel

Item Posted: 01/03/10 07:07

No the Maersk Nordenham is not doing 102 knots at anchor - this is a default value for some AIS equipment when there is no valid speed input.

Old Wightlink Ferries

Item Posted: 28/02/10 18:11

Wightlink C class looking a bit shabby now. Fastcat Ryde still on the hulk moorings

MSC Magnifica

Item Posted: 28/02/10 12:56

MSC Magnifica captured today by Clive Welsteed leaving on a really grot day. She will arrive back in St-Nazaire on 1st March, returning the city to its rightful place as a cruising start and end point, a pleasure which it has not enjoyed for several decades. MSC Magnifica will then set off again for Hamburg with 2,500 German passengers on board, where she will be christened in front of the godmother for all new MSC Cruise ships, screen legend Sophia Loren, on Saturday 6 March 2010.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Although the visit of MSC Cruises latest vessel MSC Magnifica to Southampton was not graced with the presence of the ship’s godmother, Sophia Loren, who will officially name the ship in Hamburg, guests on board did have the privilege of listening to renowned British actor Sir Christopher Lee. He was on board the vessel as a special representative of United Nations children’s organisation Unicef. Sir Christ­opher’s unmistakeable voice outlined how funds raised from passenger donations would be used for education projects in Brazil. MSC has formed a partnership with Unicef, raising money from small voluntary donations of £1 or €1 from passengers on its cruiseships. Since the Get on Board for Children initiative was launched in July 2009, MSC passengers have donated over €230,000 ($314,630). Ship naming ceremonies are traditionally marked by breaking a bottle of champagne over the ship’s bow, and occasional failure of the bottle to break is a well-known hazard at such events. MSC Magnifica ’s inaugural visit to Southampton suffered the opposite problem. Although there was no naming ceremony or champagne bottle, the Port of Southampton marked the occasion by port director Doug Morrison presenting the ship’s master with a decanter and a bottle of vintage Scotch whisky. Unfortunately, during the presentation the decanter slipped out of their grasp and smashed on the deck, though the whisky bottle and its contents remained, thankfully, intact.

Portsmouth cuts steel for new carriers

Item Posted: 26/02/10 19:16

Work began yesterday at Portsmouth on the first of two new aircraft carriers. As steel cutting commenced on a section of the hull, Portsmouth became the fifth UK shipyard to start construction on the programme. The naval base will be the future home of both Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth pushed the button to start the laser cutter. This is the first of three blocks that BAE Systems Surface Ships will build for the ships in Portsmouth. At 70m long 40m wide it will use 6000 tonnes of steel. It will house space for machinery and supplies as well as switchboards and some accommodation. BAE Systems’ role in the Carrier build programme at Portsmouth is in the order of £800M, forming a substantial element of the workload at the Naval Base, where the company employs over 3000 people, including around 200 apprentices.

Cap Finistere

Item Posted: 24/02/10 07:51

Cap Finistere ex Superfast V departing Portsmouth. She will sail twice a week from Portsmouth to Santander, with three return sailings from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. Ex ferry Superfast V and still has a makeshift paint job. Photo www.maritimephotographic.co.uk

TV programme tonight

Item Posted: 23/02/10 10:23

QUEST TV Freeview CH38 Sky 134. American Port Tues 23rd at 9pm - probably repeated at other times.

map34

Item Posted: 23/02/10 09:14

Maiden Voyages

Item Posted: 22/02/10 06:18

The OOCL Seoul arrived on the 19th Feb on her maiden voyage. Other maiden voyages coming up are the Vienna Express on the 27th Feb and the Seattle Express on the 6th March. Photo Andrew McAlpine.

Seabeam

Item Posted: 21/02/10 08:10

Small survey vessell Seabeam has ben carrying out survey work in the local area for the last week so if you see it on AIS doing a funny course this is what it is doing. Seen here on Saturday doing a tortuous course in Sandown Bay.

Port of Spain

Item Posted: 20/02/10 09:15

Port of Spain is still out and about on trials - seen here returning to Portsmouth yesterday. Photo by Paul Faithfull

PS Ryde

Item Posted: 20/02/10 08:48

As a contrast to the recent picture of the Ryde posted here this is a picture of her in her hayday. Note the BR logo painted out.

PS Ryde

Item Posted: 19/02/10 06:13

A very recent picture of the Ryde sent in by Malcom Trussler showing the poor state she is in. I believe due her very bad condition it will be broken up in which case I hope to post a video here of her under the torch. There are more pictures of her on shipspotting.

Bunkering

Item Posted: 19/02/10 06:04

Seen departing Southampton container port Thurs 18th afternoon oil products tanker Sara had been bunkering NYK Venus. Operated by Aegean Bunkering Services of Piraeus, Greece. Left en-route to Hunterston. Photo Mike Rhodes.

CSCL callers

Item Posted: 18/02/10 14:47

We are going to see the next two, weekly calls by CSCL’s AEX1 Service which normally calls at Felixstowe. CSCL America (2004 90,645 grt) is due to call here on 23rd Feb followed by the CSCL Africa (2005 90,645 grt) on 27th Feb. Felixstowe is omitted on the following rotation in early March but then returns to the schedule from 15th March. Also due is the Xin Beijing. They are here to try out the port so it is possible we may see more CSCL's in the future.

Progress with Bembridge Lifeboat Station

Item Posted: 17/02/10 16:33

Progress with Bembridge Lifeboat Station

ORP Lublin

Item Posted: 16/02/10 18:25

Having arrived on 30th January ORP Lublin finally left Marchwood military port this afternoon 16th Feb. Pictured here by Mike Rhodes.

Wightlink W class ferries ruling

Item Posted: 16/02/10 12:43

You probably have already heard about the decision about the W class Wightlink ferries. A judge declared the move by Wightlink relating to Yarmouth-Lymington ferries was a breach of the European habitats directive. -------------- Wightlink's response to the judgement announced today (16 February) by Mr Justice Owen "In his judgment released, Mr Justice Owen has clarified that Wightlink was the appropriate competent authority to decide whether or not the new ferries should be introduced on the Lymington to Yarmouth route, and furthermore found that Wightlink had consulted correctly in advance of making its decision to introduce the new ferries. However, Mr Justice Owen also ruled that the way in which Wightlink took the decision to introduce the new ferries in February 2009 was in breach of the Habitats Directive. This breach was not intentional and, at the time of the decision, Wightlink believed it was acting fully in accordance with the applicable law. Wightlink notes the judgment, and will consider what steps it will be required to take in its role as competent authority to address this issue. Wightlink intends to take such steps once the outcome of Natural England’s stakeholder engagement regarding Wightlink’s mitigation proposals is known, and as soon as Wightlink has received Natural England's revised formal advice. These mitigation proposals have been made widely available by both Wightlink and Natural England to ensure full engagement and comment. The judgment acknowledges Natural England’s view that the new ferries introduced by Wightlink have not caused any damage to the protected habitats in the Lymington River to date, and that appropriate mitigation measures can ensure that no such damage will occur in the long term. Wightlink continues to work closely with Natural England to ensure the delivery of these habitat protection measures under legally binding arrangements. Wightlink’s new ferries continue to navigate the Lymington River and the historically low levels of marine risk on the river have not been eroded by the introduction of the W Class ferries. Nothing in this judgment will affect the service Wightlink offers to its customers." It will be interesting to see what happens next.

Type 45 open for Navy Day

Item Posted: 15/02/10 16:25

The Royal Navy’s two newest warships are among the star attractions lined up for this summer’s Navy Days event in Portsmouth. Type 45 destroyers HMS Daring and Dauntless will be open to the public for the three-day event which starts on July 30. The public will also get a rare chance to see specialist Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus – an aviation training and casualty receiving ship. Her hospital facility includes four operating theatre tables, ten intensive care beds, 20 high-dependency beds and 70 general ward beds. Argus is one of few ships in the world to have a CT scanner. Other attractions confirmed so far include two Type 23 frigates, an Italian warship, the Royal Marines Display Team, the Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter display team, army parachute and motorcycle displays, field gun runs and a military band.

Daring and Dauntless

Item Posted: 15/02/10 15:15

The Daring and Dauntless made a coordinated departure from Portsmouth at 12:25 today 15th, seen here at the OSB

Dost 1

Item Posted: 15/02/10 07:57

Small cargo ship Dost 1 will be anchored in Nab today for engine repairs

Petition for PS Ryde

Item Posted: 14/02/10 15:31

Help to save PS Ryde. You may wish to add your name to a petition as part of a last ditch attempt to halt the scrapping of this iconic vessel. The P.S. Ryde was laid down for the Southern Railway in 1936 and for many years operated the Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pierhead route. We are sure that many of us will have sampled her delights! For some time the PS Ryde Trust has been endeavouring to purchase the vessel for preservation and restoration but after promising progress negotiations have broken down and dismantling has started. A long shot, but a web-petition is active aiming to halt the scrapping, and if you feel that this is a worthy objective, you may wish to "sign" the petition. Click the link to go to the petiton.

Anglian Earl

Item Posted: 14/02/10 09:42

Anglian Earl seen arriving in Sandown Bay this morning for a stay of a few days. Originnaly operated by Kyne Tugs but now operated by JP Knight. Klyne Tugs were contracted by the MCA to provide Emergency Towing Vessels at four strategic locations around the UK coast until September 2011.

Amorique

Item Posted: 12/02/10 17:13

Amorique operating the Portsmouth to St Malo route for a week before returning to Poole on February 19.

Maintenance Dredging

Item Posted: 12/02/10 16:10

The trailing suction dredger ‘WD Medway II’ will be engaged in dredging the berths and channels in the vicinity of Fawley Marine Terminal and the BP Jetty, Hamble in SOUTHAMPTON WATER, for a period of approximately 3 weeks commencing on or after Thursday 11th February 2010. Bed levelling and survey work will be carried out by auxiliary vessels in the berths and channels as necessary in the period during and following the dredging programme, until approximately mid March. Dredging operations will be continuous throughout the period and mariners should expect to pass the dredgers at any time between the lower reaches of Southampton Water and the Nab disposal area.

HMS Nottingham decommissioned

Item Posted: 12/02/10 16:05

A decommissioning ceremony to mark the end of HMS Nottingham’s 30-year Royal Navy career was held at Portsmouth Naval Base FEb 11th. The Navy is replacing its ageing Type 42s with the far more capable Type 45 Daring class of destroyers. The first of the class – HMS Daring – made her first entry to her Portsmouth home in January last year HMS Dauntless followed in December. Sister ships HMS Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan are at various stages of build and will all enter service progressively through to the middle of the decade.

BBC Adriatic

Item Posted: 10/02/10 17:01

BBC Adriatic makes unscheduled stop at Portsmouth with engine trouble.

Soteria Consortium wins bid for SAR contract

Item Posted: 10/02/10 08:19

On 9th Feb the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department for Transport (DfT) selected Soteria as the preferred bidder for the Search and Rescue - Helicopter (SAR-H) programme. SAR-H is a single harmonised Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter service in the UK which will replace the current SAR helicopter service with a bespoke capability. It will ensure that military aircrew will develop their SAR skills and experience that will be transferred back to the expeditionary forces. The Contract is a 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Soteria will work in partnership with the MOD and DfT to replace the current service with initial service provision in 2012. The Soteria Consortium consists of: CHC: The largest global supplier of civilan helicopter services and the current provider of the MCA Interim SAR Service. With a dedicated culture of constant improvement when it comes to safety. RBS: Proven MOD PFI expertise with an extensive record as a PFI equity investor. Thales UK: UK Government PFI/PPPexperience, significant training provider and a leading MOD and DfT contractor. Sikorsky: S92 manufacturer and a world leader in the design and manufacture of military and commercial helicopters, with a long and distinguished pedigree in SAR. They will

Make a note of this TV programme

Item Posted: 09/02/10 13:59

Now, "Cruise Ship Diaries" is aired at 7 p.m. GMT Sundays (starting 7 February) on National Geographic Channel, the six-part documentary about the life on board Costa Cruises' 114,500-ton Costa Serena.

New SD tugs

Item Posted: 09/02/10 11:27

Here's one from this morning. HMS Nottingham pictured being cold-moved from lay-up at Fountain Lake Jetty to Victory Jetty by the brand new tugs SD Reliable and SD Independent for her decommissioning ceremony on 11 February. Note the size difference between a Type 42 and a Type 45 destroyer (Dauntless). Photo http://www.maritimephotographic.co.uk

Boat on fire

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.

Small fishing boat sinks

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.

AIS maps on mobiles

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

Change of server

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.

OOCL Nagoya

Item Posted: 07/02/10 07:05

OOCL Nagoya makes maiden call

Dredging at Yarmouth

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.

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.

Fastcat Ryde

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.

MSC Magnifica

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.