Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 943

  brian, dover.

the a20 is now at a stand still.

Monday, 7 July 2014 - 19:41

 

Post 942

  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

PORT of Dover continues to assist Tunnel traffic during operational problems at Eurotunnel:
UPDATE @ 1800
_________________________________________________________________

The Port of Dover and its three major ferry customers are continuing to work hard to provide every assistance in getting Tunnel traffic across the Channel whilst Eurotunnel looks to resolve the issue with one of its tunnels. The Port continues to maximise available capacity for the additional traffic whilst maintaining a first class service for customers already heading to Europe’s busiest ferry port.

The Port continues to monitor the situation closely, in liaison with its ferry partners. Freight traffic entering the Port is currently heavy, due to the issues at the tunnel and passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey to the Port.

Customers are advised to contact their chosen ferry operator before travelling and consult the Port of Dover website (www.doverport.co.uk) or Twitter account (@Port_of_Dover) for the latest information. whilst we continue to focus on our first class services for all our customers.


Ferry Operator Contacts
Operator Type, Ferry Operator, Telephone No.
Freight DFDS Seaways 01304 218 400
Freight P&O Ferries 01304 863 340
Freight DFDS/LD Lines 01304 218 400
Freight MyFerryLink 01304 828 422
Tourist DFDS Seaways 0871 574 7235
Tourist P&O Ferries 08716 64 64 64
Tourist DFDS/LD Lines 0871 574 7235
Tourist MyFerryLink 0844 248 2100

For Ferry Operator Websites/Twitter etc...see post below

The Port of Dover wishes Eurotunnel well in restoring normal operations, as the Port remains committed to keeping our customers and community moving during this difficult time. We apologise for any delays.

The increased traffic at 17.30pm today..

Ferries today rallying to the call...




Monday, 7 July 2014 - 18:45

 

Post 941

  PaulB, Dover

PORT of DOVER assisting Tunnel traffic during operational problems at Eurotunnel:
UPDATE @1435
_________________________________________________________________

The Port of Dover and its three major ferry customers are continuing to work hard to provide every assistance in getting Tunnel traffic across the Channel whilst Eurotunnel looks to resolve the issue with one of its tunnels. Passengers have been experiencing significant delays of around 4 hours - approx 1.00hrs pre- check-in and 3.00hrs post at Eurotunnel and the Port is looking to maximise available capacity for the additional traffic whilst maintaining a first class service for customers already heading to Europe’s busiest ferry port.

The Port will continue to monitor the situation closely throughout the day in liaison with its ferry partners.

Customers are advised to contact their chosen ferry operator before travelling and consult the Port of Dover website (www.doverport.co.uk) or Twitter account (@Port_of_Dover) for the latest information.

Ferry Operator Contacts :
_______________________________

Freight DFDS Seaways 01304 218 400
Freight P&O Ferries 01304 863 340
Freight DFDS/LD Lines 01304 218 400
Freight MyFerryLink 01304 828 422
Tourist DFDS Seaways 0871 574 7235
Tourist P&O Ferries 08716 64 64 64
Tourist DFDS/LD Lines 0871 574 7235
Tourist MyFerryLink 0844 248 2100
_______________________________


Ferry Operator Websites/Twitter
· P&O Ferries
www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/routes_ travel_information_sailing_updates_sailing_updates.htm
@POferriesupdate
· DFDS
www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/Customer-Service/cross-channel/travel-update/
@dfdsseaways
· MyFerryLink
www.myferrylink.com/PA_Article_Default?packedargs=site%3DSF_Pax_Uk%26directLinkAssetId%3D1244124660143%26directLinkAssetType%3DSF_Article_Asset
@MyFerryLink

* * *

Thanks for that info below Colette.
Have updated the message at top of page.


Monday, 7 July 2014 - 15:09

 

Post 940

  ColetteB, Dover

Great close up shot of the Ocean Princess MrB What a Whopper!!!
The picture postcard style of the Saga Pearl 11, I like

Four more familiar cruise ships this week starting with the return of the AIDAStella tomorrow Tuesday 8th July at CT2, PoC.

Then the following day Wednesday 9th July the Saga Sapphire returns to CT1.

Thursday 10th, the Braemar returns to CT1, TR. No ship on Friday.

Ending the week on Saturday 12th July the Ryndam returns to CT1, TR.

Nothing then until the following Friday 18th July when the Braemar returns once more to CT1, TR.

That's it for now, be back with some more July cruises.
As you can see there are not many cruises in Dover for July but August makes up for that with at least 33 cruises scheduled & some nice surprises too



Monday, 7 July 2014 - 11:57

 

Post 939

  PaulB, Dover

The Ocean Princess departing on a fine sunday evening.

Earlier in the day the Colombian ( Columbian ) Star also left us. These pictures below however show the cargo ship arriving merely hours earlier. Once again the cargo terminal shows us how busy it has become because as soon as the Colombian Star ( shown ) departed the Lady Korcula leapt into the vacated slot.



SAGA PEARL arriving.....

Monday, 7 July 2014 - 07:04

 

Post 938

  PaulB, Dover

It is a damp drizzly dismal ol' sunday morning. In the half distance through the mist you can just make out the Ocean Princess languishing at terminal 2. If anyone is able to get a decent picture of the cruise ship today then you know what to do...pop it up on here. Always welcome. It's been a very busy weekend for those travelling. The hotels are packed, but what will have taken most people by surprise was just how rough the sea was on Saturday ( yesterday)...rough enough for July... a white knuckle ride for some..


The tip top picture was taken earlier in the day and the second one some time later. There was such a strong breeze whipping through Dover, strong enough to whip the skin off the top of a rice pudding. Not that yours truly has ever had a rice pudding..no sir !



Sunday, 6 July 2014 - 07:44

 

Post 937

  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

WELCOME TO THE TOUR de FRANCE

P&O Ferries supports Tour de France 2014
___________________________________

P&O Ferries has become an Official Supporter of the world’s greatest cycle race, the Tour de France.

The ferry company will carry the huge caravan of vehicles which support the Tour, as the race comes to the UK for its Grand Départ.
This will be the 20th time in the 101 year history of the event that the race starts outside France. The Grand Départ gets under way in Leeds on 5 July for the first stage to Harrogate. Stages between York and Sheffield, and Cambridge and London follow.

The Tour then returns across the Channel to France to resume from Le Touquet en-route to the finish in Paris on 27 July. By the time the riders approach the finishing line on the Champs Élysées they will have covered a distance of 3,656kms during
21stages.

P&O Ferries expects to carry many thousands of cycling enthusiasts to follow Le Tour. Sarah Rosier, head of marketing and sales for P&O Ferries, said: "We’re delighted to confirm our status as an Official Supporters of the Tour de France 2014.
"The timing couldn’t be better. There’s a huge surge of interest in cycling in the UK, combined with the Tour returning to our shores for the Grand Départ right on the doorstep of our services from Belgium and Holland. The Tour de France has an incredibly strong appeal across all the countries our route network serves and we look forward to supporting this ultimate pinnacle of the road racing calendar."


Also

from
THE PORT of CALAIS
_________________

The Port of Calais will play host to the legendary Tour de France cyclist race in early July, as well as welcome the caravan of the Tour and the thousands of fans that follow it. The P&O Ferries shipping company, which operates on the Channel, has announced that it has been appointed an Official Supporter of the Tour de France for the first time in 2014 and will be the official carrier for the celebrated Tour caravan.

The first leg of the race will start in Leeds on July 5, finishing in Harrogate. The following legs will take place between York and Sheffield, followed by Cambridge and London. The Tour will then return to France via Le Touquet.

The Port of Calais expects the hundreds of vehicles in the caravan and thousands of avid fans of the legendary event to use the port’s facilities.

(See also the latest pictures from Calais further down the page).




Friday, 4 July 2014 - 06:03

 

Post 936

  PaulB, Dover

And now catching up with the departing Saga Sapphire on the glorious colourful summer evening of Tuesday. She was heading south to somewhere called Montoir as I understand it according to our Channel Traffic feature, as seen at the top of our sister publication..dover.uk.com see menu left...but where Montoir is I know not alas! All looking good as she begins her journey in the dazzling sunshine.
You can see the Pilot boat readying itself to depart.
And above with a close up view.
The Pilot returns after another job well done.


Thursday, 3 July 2014 - 06:38

 

Post 935

  JanT, Dover

Yes Calais certainly has gone full steam ahead it's buzzing,
and it is worth more than a linger to have a good look round and see the changes, then after you can spend time in one of their thriving cafés.


Wednesday, 2 July 2014 - 14:12

 

Post 934

  PaulB, Dover

Many of us are too-ing and fro-ing to Calais this time of the year, most I guess are simply passing through the town, but sometimes Calais ought to be considered in its own right as a destination as it is most definitely worth a dally and a linger. There are terrific restaurants to enjoy for example and all sorts of new developments in the town itself...new fountains, new statues, and any amount of events to enjoy and so on. The town of Calais has been spending money in a big and grand way. And of course as an extra treat for us Sea Newszers on the go there are always the ships...the ships..
The Harbour at Calais is very busy this time of the year as you can imagine. The picture above shows one of team DFDS unloading or reloading. I am not sure which ship it is but maybe one of the guys will know..could possibly be the Calais Seaways also seen further down this page..
There is something bleak yet beautifully striking about the harbour cross. It is located on the small half pier in the outer harbour and the cross itself is part of an altar/memorial in remembrance of those lost at sea in times past. In the foreground you can see some of the many fishing nets spread out across the harbour. They smell earthily and magnificently of the sea...
And speaking of things reverential...Calais have spent huge money in and around the town, not least on this great building...Eglise-Notre Dame. Now beautifully restored and excellently floodlit at night and captured here by Jan Tranter on her mobile phone. The picture is even better much larger. Who would have thought it...a mobile phone, and there was I trudging around with a Nikon and couldn't match it. Just goes to show that purists cant dismiss mobile phones any more picturewise. This is the state of the art phone though...the latest Samsung Galaxy S5. I think that's what its called anyway...

Wednesday, 2 July 2014 - 06:03

 

Post 933

  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

And now one for the gastronomes for sure.....

Create Your Perfect Match with DFDS SEAWAYS this Summer
- Share your ideal wine and food combination for £5 saving each way on Dover-France crossings
______________________________________________________________________

Award winning ferry operator, DFDS Seaways, is offering passengers a £5 discount each way on their cross Channel sailings if they name their favourite French food and wine pairing.

France has long been famed for its delicious cuisine and range of fine wines. Choosing a wine to accompany your favourite French dish might seem like a dark art, but creating the right ‘pairing’ can make a real and positive difference to your dining experience. Traditional pairings include Boeuf Bourguignon and a nice red pinot noir wine from the Burgundy wine region, such as Vosne-Romanée or Morey-Saint-Denis. Other, more eclectic choices include pairing a smooth, meat paté, with a sweet wine, such as Sauterne from the Bordeaux wine region.

Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something savoury, you should be able to find a delicious French wine to suit your palette. To share your own perfect pairings visit the DFDS website: www.dfds.co.uk/pairings. All you need to do is choose your preferred vine before the end of July, tell us your favourite dish to pair it with and we will give you an offer code providing you with £5 off each way when sailing with DFDS Seaways on our Dover routes.

DFDS Seaways sails up to 44 times a day between Dover and France, providing passengers with flexible crossing times, a luxury travel experience and convenient travel options.

During your sailing with DFDS Seaways, you can enjoy a delicious meal or snack in one of the onboard cafes or restaurants, shop for holiday essentials and luxuries, or relax as the children play in the dedicated children’s area, ensuring your holiday starts as soon as you board.

To find out more information, visit www.dfds.co.uk, or telephone 0871 574 7235.

The Calais Seaways in Calais.

Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 16:42

 

Post 932

  ColetteB, Dover

Yes, thank you Brian for the update re Sunday, I'm sure great relief all round that the child is safe & well
Lol!!! Pauli, your family are always lurking around somewhere

Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 10:08

 

Post 931

  PaulB, Sea News, Dover.

Port of Dover:
Workshop Agrees Route to First Community Director
_________________________________________

On Friday 27 June representatives of the Dover Harbour Board Nomination Committee met with elected representatives of the community and the independently chaired Port and Community Forum and Port Users’ Group to debate the process for appointing the very first Community member of Dover Harbour Board (DHB).

The wide ranging workshop discussed a draft person specification, criteria for eligibility and the timetable for appointment with all parties confirming their desire to establish a process that was transparent, open and accountable.

In order to continue the momentum and positive engagement that has been evident in improved relationships between DHB and local community groups, it was agreed that the recruitment process would commence in the summer with the aim of securing an appointment in the late autumn of 2014.

George Jenkins OBE, Chairman of Dover Harbour Board said "It was a privilege to host a group of people who were willing to work together towards finding a consensus approach to securing this key appointment. I was delighted with the healthy nature of the conversation and it is clear to me that all present wished to see a positive outcome for both the port and the town of Dover."

Commenting on the workshop, Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, from whose constituency the selected candidate will be drawn said "It's great to see a shared desire from the Harbour Board and the community to build a stronger partnership to take the town forward. I am delighted we are making progress. The developments over the coming months should take us a further step to bring the port, port businesses and the people together in the shared venture of changing Dover. The deeper partnership, the investment with development of the port and the new jobs it can create could really transform things."

ENDS

Below the Saga Sapphire arriving just moments ago as I write (08.25 approx)....


Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 08:28

 

Post 930

  PaulB, Dover

Thanks for that update Brian. Good to get that latest info on the child concerned especially as it is very good news indeed.

Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 06:14

 

Post 929

  JanT, Dover

That's very good news Brian, relief for the parents too I'm sure.

Monday, 30 June 2014 - 23:04

 

Post 928

  brian., sover

child doing well,got taken to William Harvey for a head scan.got the all clear and now back safely back home.

Monday, 30 June 2014 - 19:32

 

Post 927

  PaulB, Dover

Further re the Kent Air Ambulance as mentioned further below in 858.
Yours truly had literally just walked in the door from France and saw all the goings on up along the seafront. Well done with those pictures below Colette in post 858. Both yourself and Dr BB are in my following shot although I didn't know it at the time.
Glad Briony was able to offer medical assistance if it was needed...well done.
Thanks for that info Brian. Really hope the young child is recovering well.

As all can see the helicopter was parked on the green area as shown, initially it appears to have been on the beach as seen in Colette's pictures below. Finally later we have lift off as seen here.


Monday, 30 June 2014 - 14:54

 

Post 926

  brian, dover

reports of a young child falling into the sea,according to a facebook report.

Monday, 30 June 2014 - 10:40

 

Post 925

  ColetteB, Dover

The Kent Air Ambulance landed on Dover Seafront yesterday at approximately 4 pm. Daughter Briony & I were driving along the other end of the seafront when we saw it arrive. Not sure what happened, Briony went along to the road ambulance to offer her help as a Doctor but they already had one in the ambulance. The guys from the helicopter rushed over to the ambulance, after about 30 minutes the ambulance left, no one was taken on board, the ambulance then left.

Not sure what happened.







Monday, 30 June 2014 - 09:38

 

Post 924

  PaulB, Dover

This spectacular rainbow picture was taken by Paul Sampson from the Drop Redoubt on Western Heights...
they were having a WCCP/WHPS photographic day up there on Saturday and the rainbow and Paul delivered.
Sent in via Howard


Nice pix below lads and thanks for the cruise info Colette...
keeps us up to speed.

Monday, 30 June 2014 - 08:21