Author Topic: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry  (Read 14276 times)

Offline Robert J Smith

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2017, 01:16:19 PM »
Starting the new service today

Offline Phil English

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #16 on: May 02, 2017, 03:03:29 PM »
What's happened to the Duchess M, Bob? Any clues?

Brgds
Phil

Offline Robert J Smith

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #17 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
« Last Edit: May 02, 2017, 04:18:13 PM by Robert J Smith »

Offline John Jones

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #18 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.
« Last Edit: May 02, 2017, 11:16:48 PM by John Jones »
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Offline John Jones

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #19 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?
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Offline Robert J Smith

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #20 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  :)

Offline Phil English

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #21 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

Offline Bob Scott

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #22 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.

Offline Robert J Smith

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #23 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

Offline Bob Scott

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Re: New operator for Tilbury/Gravesend Ferry
« Reply #24 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)

 

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