Topics

1

Site related news, functions and modules / Accessing site

« on: February 14, 2022, 03:28:49 PM »

Is anyone else having difficulty accessing the site? Over the past 24 hrs I've not been able to access using either of my laptop's or my tablet...the error message is unable to connect to site. I can access using my mobile phone over the same internet connection. I can access other sites without any issues.

2

Site related news, functions and modules / Site policemen

« on: January 09, 2021, 11:03:41 AM »

Does anyone else feel that there are too many people starting to try and police the site with regard to copyright of photographs, often making vague comments such as "copyright?", without actually knowing if there is a copyright breach.

No-one should question the copyright of a photograph unless they actually know there has been a breach, i.e. they know the original source of the photograph, and can actually prove there has been a breach. Making vague accusations impinges on the integrity of the poster, which may be totally unjustified. Any doubts should be expressed privately to the Webmaster, so they can investigate without the integrity of the poster being questioned in public. The Webmaster can publish any conclusions if they feel it's appropriate.

Personally I'm only concerned if the copyright of any of my own photographs is breached. I leave the policing of any potential third party breaches for the Admin's, who can do that work in private.

3

Shipping News and information / Columbus

« on: June 03, 2019, 07:45:24 PM »

Cruise and Maritime's Columbus has suffered a major engine problem. Current cruise aborted, and vessel is on a lay-by berth in Ijmuiden, awaiting to shift to a drydock in Rotterdam for repairs. Next cruise, due to depart Tilbury on Wednesday has been cancelled. Subsequent cruises await full assessment of damage.

4

Site related news, functions and modules / Criticism of other members photographs

« on: September 01, 2018, 07:10:27 AM »

I have noticed over the last 24 hours that one member has taken to comments on the photographs of another member that his photographs are "uninteresting". I find that unnecessary and petty. There are many thousands of members on here, so there will be lots of members interested in lots of different aspects and types of ships. Just because you are not interested, it doesn't mean others aren't. If you are not interested just click past the photographs, and find something you are interested it. There will be members who are not interested in your photographs just as you are not interested in theirs. There is no need to make derogatory comments.

5

Site related news, functions and modules / Recategorising of vessels

« on: June 30, 2018, 07:47:24 PM »

I have just had a couple of my photographs re-categorised from ro-ro vessels to general cargo vessels. I am in discussion over this with the admin for that category, as I know they are ro-ro vessels, as I have chartered other vessels of the class during my shipping career. However looking at the guidance notes for this category they refer to various sources where members may find information regarding the correct to enable the photograph to be uploaded to the correct category. If I look at these sources the vessel is classed as ro-ro, so if Shipspotting is using definitions that are at odds with their own recommended sources, it makes if difficult for members to categorise vessels, especially in some of the more ambiguous categories, such as offshore vessels, and certain types of multi-purpose tankers.
Has any thought been given to reviewing the categories, especially with the development of more versatile vessels, that can fulfil multiple purposes that cross over current categories.

6

Shipping News and information / Miramar

« on: June 10, 2015, 06:58:03 PM »

Anyone else having problems with Miramar at the moment. Since the demise of GrossTonnage it's the next best resource, but it seems to be off air at the moment.

7

Site related news, functions and modules / Photographs on this site

« on: May 02, 2015, 06:59:41 PM »

I have just started seriously posting photographs on this site, having just completed scanning over 30000 taken over the past 40 years. I have tried to restrict myself to one per ship, and have not posted any which obviously do not meet site standards, but I have to admit that I've taken a chance with one or two which I thought were borderline acceptable. Inevitably some older ones were taken with poor equipment and not much skill. What has surprised me is that none of these have been deleted, but the few deletions I've had have been from shots which I considered very much acceptable. There is also great inconsistency across the categories. I stress that I'm not being critical of the photo admins, they do a difficult job, and I have accepted any deletions without argument.

However it has made me ask what is the philosophy of the site, i.e. what is more important, the ship or the photograph? Is it better to have, say, hundreds of excellent shots of QM2, or a few of slightly dubious quality of a ship with little or no coverage? That is where the main inconsistency lies I feel. some admins appear to be more tolerant of a slightly inferior shot if it is of a vessel with little or no coverage, whereas others apply the standards ruthlessly regardless of the ship.

That brings me to another question. Why do people post, using QM2 as an example, yet more shots of a ship already well covered. What does this add to the site? Server space is limited, and doing this just clutters the site, in my opinion. Once you get towards fifty or so shots of the same ship, that's probably enough, unless the shot is significantly different. Maybe photo admins need to consider this issue as well. I know people are proud of their shots, or want to be considered a top poster, but there has to be limits.

It seems to me that other members are also of this opinion. I've noticed that my photographs of vessels already well covered receive relatively few views, even if they are good shots, whereas older or less well covered vessel get far more views and complementary comments, even if they are of lesser quality.

It would be interesting to hear other members views. However I do not want this topic to generate critisim of the Webmaster and Photo Admins, they do a thankless job under difficult circumstances. I really want a more general discussion.

8

Shipping News and information / Miramar Ship Index

« on: April 27, 2015, 06:22:12 AM »

Anyone else having problems logging on to them at the moment, or is it just me??

9

Site related news, functions and modules / It is really disapointing.....

« on: November 16, 2014, 05:24:35 PM »

Once again we see threads throwing mud at administrators, there has been too much of this recently. These people give their time freely, and try and work for the benefit of all site users, and should not be the subject of abuse, rude complaints, and in one case recently, downright untrue comments.

I realise that sometimes cultural differences and use of a second language for some posters mean that perhaps they come across as more aggressive than they mean to be, but, nevertheless, some recent posts have been unacceptable.

Remember, this site is free, and run by volunteers. It's not always perfect, and things do go wrong, but we should be grateful for the time and effort put in by the volunteers, and accept that things will not always be just how we would like it.

The rules are there to ensure the site runs as smoothly as possible. The rules about deletion of photographs seem to be the most emotive and subjective, but, that will always be the case, if you don't like it don't upload your photographs. The only suggestion I would make in this respect would be that if a photograph that doesn't meet the site rules is the first photographs of a vessel, then perhaps it could be given provisional acceptance until better photographs are uploaded. The photographer should be informed of this, and that the photograph could be deleted in future.

However it is not only photographs that have resulted in unacceptable posts. Several unnecessary posts were made a few weeks ago when the site had server problems. A lot of people put in a lot of work to put things right, but that wasn't good enough for some people.

Again, remember this site is free, and run by volunteers. They do not deserve abuse, even when things go wrong.

10

Help and Advice / Ship Photography Location directory

« on: April 23, 2014, 09:39:21 AM »

I wonder if it worth considering a specific page on the web-site for this. I know the site is run by volunteers, and it would need administering, but it seem that putting such information in one place, rather than scattered around different forum topics would be helpful to a lot of people. There are members all around the world who have good local knowledge, and can give good advice on the do's and don'ts of a particular location. Quite a few aviation web-sites have good information like this for airport's.

It's just a thought.