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Shipspotters all over the world => Shipping News and information => Topic started by: Robert J Smith on April 14, 2017, 09:42:57 AM

Title: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on April 14, 2017, 09:42:57 AM

https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/news/ferry-services/new-tilbury-to-gravesend-ferry-operator-announced
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: davidships on April 15, 2017, 11:13:59 PM
http://www.jetstreamtours.com/ (http://www.jetstreamtours.com/)

Will they be offering the Cruise Experience, or the Jet Experience?
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on April 16, 2017, 11:14:47 AM
I heard that they were going to use a trimaran like this

ShipSpotting.com (http://www.shipspotting.com/)
(http://www.shipspotting.com/photos/small/1/9/3/1704391.jpg) (http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1704391)
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Riverman2903 on April 16, 2017, 12:05:59 PM
Farewell Duchess M, welcome back the "plastic peril"  :(   

Certainly capable of providing a 'lively' crossing if caught in the wake of anything bigger!

"THAMES SWIFT is a Class V passenger vessel capable of carrying 50 persons.  She is a fast ferry trimaran design unique to the Thames and is specially designed to use V shaped berths commonly found around the port to provide safe and easy boarding"
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: davidships on April 16, 2017, 03:13:36 PM
I wonder whether the fact that this is an "interim" contract indicates that the dfinitive one to be let later in the year involves a new vessel?
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: John Jones on April 18, 2017, 01:35:05 PM
Good spot Bob,

Could be some interesting berthing manoeuvres if her sister vessel's track record is anything to go by!

https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/contact-made-by-passenger-ferry-uriah-heep-with-hythe-pier (https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/contact-made-by-passenger-ferry-uriah-heep-with-hythe-pier)

Best Regards
John
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Allan RO on April 18, 2017, 02:44:34 PM
after the unmitigated disaster of using this type (Heap seemed an appropriate name)on the Hythe - Southampton run, you are most welcome to using them to cross the Thames.

Allan
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Phil English on April 18, 2017, 03:30:35 PM
Maybe the new operator will purchase (or lease) the current incumbent, Duchess M. It would seem a sensible move considering the failings of the plastic peril!

Brgds
Phil
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: chrisg46 on April 18, 2017, 09:40:48 PM
Sounds excellent and exciting - I'll have to go down and film a clip for Shipping TV - have to wear my hard hat and toe-cap boots!
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: John Jones on April 18, 2017, 10:13:38 PM
Maybe the new operator will purchase (or lease) the current incumbent, Duchess M. It would seem a sensible move considering the failings of the plastic peril!

Brgds
Phil

The press release states that all will be the same as before except they will only be able to carry bicycles and not motorcycles so it sounds as though it will be a plastic peril rather than the 'Duchess m'.
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on April 19, 2017, 11:04:21 AM
THAMES SWIFT due to start service at the end of the month, she's in Chatham Docks at the moment.
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: John Jones on April 19, 2017, 08:46:08 PM
Hi Bob,

Do you know which one she is ex? Think they were all named after Dickens characters.

Best Regards
John
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: davidships on April 21, 2017, 12:04:14 AM
She's been around on the Thames as THAMES SWIFT for well over a decade
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/search.php?query=thames+swift
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Allan RO on April 21, 2017, 09:00:07 AM
From their record, I would have no 'Great Expectations' for the service...

Allan
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on April 21, 2017, 03:23:23 PM
Hi Bob,

Do you know which one she is ex? Think they were all named after Dickens characters.

Best Regards
John

Hi John,

I can't find any info on her history at the moment. She at Gravesend at the moment.

Regards

Bob
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on May 02, 2017, 01:16:19 PM
Starting the new service today
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Phil English on May 02, 2017, 03:03:29 PM
What's happened to the Duchess M, Bob? Any clues?

Brgds
Phil
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on May 02, 2017, 04:13:58 PM
Hi Phil

She's still moored at Gravesend. No idea what's happening with her but I heard that the owners are going to operate the Princess Pocahontas till the end of the season, after that, we will have to wait and see.

The Princess Pocahontas is on the slip at Dentons at the moment

Regards

Bob
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: John Jones on May 02, 2017, 11:04:35 PM
Phil, Bob,

So this could be one of the last pictures or the 'DUCHESS m.' on the service taken late on Saturday. Somebody told me she had another 10 days to go, but perhaps they were wrong. You need to pan a bit because it's a big (reduced!) image.

Cheers
John J.
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: John Jones on May 02, 2017, 11:22:15 PM
I saw parties of 20-30 bicycles on touring events getting on to the Duchess m. several times on Saturday. I doubt this replacement will be able to accommodate them?
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on May 03, 2017, 11:00:22 AM
The end of one era and the start of another.

I think she still takes bicycles but no longer motorbikes, a few longer journeys for some then.

Regards

Bob

ps. reduce photos to 800 and they fit just right  :)
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Phil English on May 05, 2017, 03:57:31 PM
Thanks Guys. I guess It's a case of wait and see with the Duchess M

Brgds
Phil
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Bob Scott on May 05, 2017, 04:23:44 PM
Took a trip on the THAMES SWIFT yeaterday. It certainly has more-comfortable seating than DUCHESS M but is much more susceptible to rough waters than the older, larger vessel. Taking photos of passing ships during the crossing was next to impossible. I should imagine that, with a strong wind blowing against the tide, it will be a relly rough ride indeed.
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Robert J Smith on May 08, 2017, 02:39:02 PM
I heard the other day that the new ferry was having problems mooring at Tilbury, today I noted that she was using the berth at the back of the stage
Title: Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
Post by: Bob Scott on May 08, 2017, 04:34:33 PM
Apart from negotiating some semi-submerged obstructions on the approach, there were no problems berthing on the inside of the landing stage on my trip. The waterjet-propelled vessel is quite manoeuvrable. However, it was an ebb-tide that afternoon. THAMES SWIFT is specially designed to use V shaped berths commonly found around the port to provide safe and easy boarding and it is to one of these that she berths on the Tilbury side, on the inside of the stage. Berthing must be a bit more difficult when making a stern-tide fetch.
Embarking and disembarking is very easy at the Tilbury side, where ship's deck and berth are dead level. Not so at the Gravesend terminal, where the large step twixt ship and berth will present difficulty to less-mobile and eldery passengers or those with heavy baggage (such as those coming off or heading for a cruise ship at Tilbury)