Topics

1

Shipping News and information / Stena buys two routes

« on: December 03, 2010, 12:38:58 AM »

Seen today on Yahoo
December 2nd, 2010
Stena Line buys two routes on Irish Sea
Stena Line has signed an agreement with DFDS to acquire its Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast and Heysham to Belfast routes.
The acquisition, which amounts to approximately

2

Shipping News and information / Stena closes route

« on: December 03, 2010, 12:36:56 AM »

Seen today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-11899472

3

Shipping News and information / Berthing Trails - Stena Hollandica

« on: May 10, 2010, 07:59:04 PM »

Hi
Here is a photo oppertunity for anyone in Harwich or bit of land opposite the Hook of Holland.  The new Stena Hollandica is due into Harwich on the morning of the 12th for berthing trails at the new berth. She will then procede to the Hook for berthing trails there. Afterwards, go to a lay by berth to store up and train crew.
Her maiden voyage is due on the 16th May with the 14.30 (local time) departure from the Hook of Holland.

4

Shipping News and information / P&O withdraw the Bilbao service.

« on: January 16, 2010, 01:47:46 AM »

Found this today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8461624.stm

5

Shipping News and information / Last sailing of the Stena Discovery

« on: January 07, 2007, 03:08:07 PM »

Hi

The day is near when the Discovery goes. She is due to make her last sailing on Monday 8th January on the 10.30 departure from Harwich.

There is a party of Stena Bosses & Press coming on my own ship tonight with the intension of being on the last sailing. Some of the press will not be on the Discovery, but on here, presumably to photograph her passing the Brit. This she usually does twice, first time in the morning on her way in to Harwich, just as we are leaving. (This usually occurs just off Landguard pointand should be possible to photograph from the beach), and at sea when she overtakes us in mid channel.
Good oppertunity for photos from people in the Harwich area.
However the weather is starting to look a bit iffy, with the forcast being close to her restrictions, so we'll see with she sails at all.

I should be able to report on this event tomorrow

Regards

Karl
 :-)

6

Shipping News and information / St Nicholas & Black Pete arrive in Harwich

« on: December 05, 2006, 02:55:00 PM »

Hi

Something I found in a local paper.

St Nicholas & Black Peter arrived in Harwich on the local RNLI lifeboat. After giving a short service for 200 youngsters, after which he gave out sweets to them.
I presume he left the same way.

I posted this because it seems he arrives in Harwich by lifeboat every year. This is a Dutch custom which seems to have come over here. Harwich has strong links with Holland. At the end of November, I was in a Dutch town when he arrived by tug.
It also reminds me of a cartoon done by Carl Giles. Carl was a cartoonist with the Daily Express. He drew cartoons for christmas cards in support of the RNLI. One of them has Santa being rescured by lifeboat.

It also reminds us that Christmas is approaching.

Regards
Karl
 :-)

7

Shipping News and information / Missing Yacht - Ouzo

« on: December 05, 2006, 02:41:43 PM »

Hi
Something I read in the national press on Monday (4th December.
It was reported that wreckage from the Ouzo, a yacht that went missing in August, has been washed ashore on Hayling Island, near Portsmouth.

It was only a small piece in the paper, so it may not have been noticed, but I read in two of them.

Can anyone confirm if this wreckage did indeed come from this yacht?
Regards
Karl
 :-)

8

Shipping News and information / ex Dalriada

« on: November 23, 2006, 11:47:35 PM »

Hi

Someone else found this and bought it to the attention of the Ferry Enthusiasts site.
http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=147548

Regards
Karl
 :-)

9

Shipping News and information / Stena Line announces major investment

« on: November 10, 2006, 11:11:17 PM »

Hi

Today, Stena Line released a press statement in which they have ordered two passenger ships from Aker MTW Werf, Germany. The first is due in early 2010, with the second coming out later in the same year. The route they will operate on is either the North Sea or the Sweden - Poland route.
The technical facts in the press release are as follows:
LOA: 240 metres.
Beam: 33 metres.
GRT: 12,000 tonnes.
Passenger capacity: 1,200
Cabins: 540.
Lane metres: approx 5,500 (about 400 trucks)
These aim to be the biggest ferries in the world.

This is on top of the earlier announcements about operations in the North Sea for 2008. i.e. Stena Britannica & Stena Hollandica being lengthened, Stena Discovery leaving the route & two new builds for the Hook - Kilingholme route, Stena Trader (already here) and Stena Traveller due out in May 2008.

I will keep you posted on develpments as and when I can.

Regards
Karl
 :-)

10

Shipping News and information / Cranes bound for Felixstowe

« on: August 18, 2006, 09:45:44 PM »

Hi
This week I'm sure there was a crane carrying ship alongside in Felixstowe. Possibly the cranes were unloaded before I returned to my own ship. Could anyone confirm this?
There are definatly two other ships carrying cranes, one was alongside this morning and the other out at anchor in the Sunk anchorage.
I don't know how far these cranes reach out, but the port seems to be investing heavy in container cranes, as there have been frequant sighting of these ships in the past. They usually go to the last berth in the port, the one where the large ships go.
Regards
Karl
 :-)

11

Shipping News and information / Stena Trader update

« on: July 19, 2006, 11:28:02 AM »

Hi
As promised in an earlier thread, I have some news on the Stena Trader. She is due in Killingholme on the 21st July for berthing trials & due in the Hook on the 22nd, again for berthing trials. She is due to arrive about midday and depart for Schiedam for crew training & familiaristion at about 3, local time.
Her maiden voyage is due on the 25 july, departing at 19:00 local time.
Happy snapping
Karl
 :-)
This is an update on the Stena Trader. She is now due for delivery in the Hook on the Monday 24th July. Maiden voyage is now due on the 31st July. This, however, has not been confirmed, so she could be delayed yet again. I will not be here for 3 weeks after Monday night, so any developements will have to come from other shipspotters.
Regards
Karl
 :-)

12

Shipping News and information / Harwich - Hook ships to be lengthened & fast service to close

« on: July 04, 2006, 10:42:51 PM »

Hi
This bit of news is now a week old and has now offically be released to the media. It was made public on the 28th June. Although we have known about it for a long time, for obvious reasons, it could be disclosed until now.
The two ships are the Stena Britannica & the Stena Hollandica. They are to be lengthened to approx 240 metres long each, making them two of the longest RoPax Ships in the world. The insides are also having alterations. The work is being done at Lloyd Werft early in the new year.
The fast craft Stena Discovery is leaving the route on the 7th January and this service will close. I don't know what will happen to her. Watch this space for further news.
Also this month, the first of the two new Killingholme ships is expected to enter service. I'm not yet sure of the date, but I will let fellow shipspotters know so they can be on the spit of land in the middle of the harbour at Europoort, or in the Hook itself.
Many Regards
Karl
 :-)

13

Shipping News and information / Pont-Aven hit by gaint wave

« on: May 23, 2006, 10:12:32 PM »

Hi to all

I'm surprised this story has not yet been put on site, as it's been in all the British newspapers on Tuesday.
From what the press said, the Pont-Aven, which belongs to Brittany Ferries, was enroute from Plymouth to Santender, when she was struck by a 40ft - 50ft wave in the north of the Bay of Biscay, at around 10.25pm on Sunday, 21st May, sustaining damage to forward windows, flooded cabins & six injured persons. She was diverted to Roscoff for repairs.

Regards to all

Karl
 :-)

14

Shipping News and information / Stena Seatrader to Holyhead

« on: April 14, 2006, 01:19:43 PM »

Hi everyone

Stena had a press release, in which it stated the intension of transferring the Stena Seatrader from the Kilingholme - Hook route, to Holyhead - Dublin route during July 2006. She is being displaced by a new build.

Regards

Karl
 :-)

15

Shipping News and information / Hull towed past Hook

« on: March 16, 2006, 11:49:41 PM »

Hi
About 2000hrs, today (16th), a tug towed past the Hook of Holland what appears to be just the hull of a ship. It was dark, so I couldn't make out the name on the bow. The vessel was also in darkness, apart from steaming lights. When she passed, I caught the name on the stern. I'am sure it was Helle Ritscher.
Does anyone have any info on this vessel?

Regards
Karl
 :-)