|
NEWS BULLETIN -
September
2008
|
|
September 28 |
Acknowledgements: Gary Andrews, Tony
Brennan, Steve Mee, Dave Waterhouse, Chris Jones and "others" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CARNIVAL CORPORATION
QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 is expected to arrive at Liverpool
Cruise Terminal at 12:00 on Friday October 03 with departure,
accompanied by a firework display at 22:30. Viewing cruises are
available from Mersey Ferries.
QE2 Viewing cruises are also being operated by
Waverley Excursions' BALMORAL from Cóbh, Menai Bridge, Bangor (NI),
Portaferry, Donaghdee to coincide with the ship's final round the
British Isles cruise. Details and bookings at
www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk .
COBELFRET FERRIES
A new Rosslare to
Zeebrugge / Rotterdam service will commence on October 19, 2008 using
the ro/ro cargo vessel VICTORINE.
EXPORTS
  An
interesting export cargo at the Royal Seaforth Dock was photographed
this week by Dave Waterhouse this week.
The
old Sumburgh Coastguard Helicopter with two other Bristow
helicopters were awaiting the arrival of the weekend ACL vessel for
transportation back to the States.
HMS WHIMBREL
It appears that yet another ship preservation project
has run aground.
A report in the Liverpool Daily Post this week
indicates that the Egyptian Government have quadrupled the sale price
for the former Battle of the Atlantic veteran HMS WHIMBREL which
latterly served the Egyptian Navy as ENS TARIQ
The HMS Whimbrel Battle of the Atlantic Memorial
Project had been expected to pay around £250,000 for the ship based on
her scrap value. The cost of buying and repatriating the ship had been
expected to total around £2m.
IRISH FERRIES
ISLE OF INISHMORE will dry dock at Harland and Wolff
between November 12 and 19th
ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET
COMPANY
Photographs of the conversion work currently underway
on INCAT 050 can be found on the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company web
site. [CLICK
HERE]
LOUIS DREFUS LINES
Louis Drefus Lines commence their new Rosslare - Le
Havre service on November 16, 2008 operated by the ro/pax NORMAN
VOYAGER. One round trip per week will be offered by the ship which has
accommodation for 800 passengers. 110 Cabins are available.
Sailings Depart Le Havre every Friday at 23:59,
arriving in Rosslare at 21:30 on Saturday. The return sailing departs
Rosslare at 01:00 Sunday arriving Le Havre at 22:00 on Sunday.
P&O IRISH SEA
EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER missed sailings on
Saturday September 27 - the 16:30 ex Larne and the 20:00 ex Cairnryan
were cancelled due to a technical problem. Passengers were transferred
to the P&O EXPRESS sailings to and from Troon.
SEATRUCK FERRIES
Dusk may be falling over the RIVERDANCE but, with
tides making life difficult, workers have to grab any moment they can to
get the job done. Artificial lights allow diggers to reach the remnants
of the wrecked cargo vessel so that the part of the hull which remains
below the sands can be cut away.
Project manager for PGC Demolition, Mark Quinn, said:
"We have to pump out water to be able to work. "But when we have worked
a shift we return to find the water has returned and we have to pump out
again."
Because of tidal difficulties the wreck will be
inaccessible for much of this week but there are hopes the operation
will start again by the weekend. Mr Quinn added: "We have had bad tides
this week so we are not going to be able to dotoo much until Thursday or
Friday."
When the tides rolls over the RIVERDANCE all trace of
her disappears but for public safety and to avoid any risk of pollution
PGC have been contracted to get rid of every last vestige of the ship.
It is estimated that the last pieces of the wreck
will be carted away in about two weeks. But after that there will still
be a month of sonar scanning and raking of the site to ensure there are
no fragments which have gone undetected.
The contractors have been on site for 19 weeks so far
and the number of workers has remained constant at around 10. RIVERDANCE
has been on the beach since January 31 when she was driven there in a
storm in which 23 crew and passengers were airlifted to safety. Two
months were spent trying to refloat her before the decision was made to
break her up. The metal has gone to scrapyards, the main one being in
Liverpool. The two 40-ton engines were salvaged and sent to a company in
the North East.
[MARITIME CLIPPINGS - SEPTEMBER 26]
STENA LINE
Travelmole.com
reveals that Stena Line could confirm new Scottish terminal by the end
of this coming week on the west coast of Scotland.
Speculation is
focussed on a move from Stranraer to a purpose-built passenger and
freight terminal capable of handling larger vessels over the next 15 to
2O years.
Stena opened a £37
million new terminal in Belfast in May and is preparing to pour more
investment into a similar facility at the Scottish end of the route
which handles around 1.2 million passengers a year.
"We have to have
room for new ships that we are going to build over a 15 to 2O year
period," a source close to the company said.
"It doesn't take a
genious to work out that having built a big port on one side, we would
need another on the other side."
Stena is taking a
long term view on continuing development of ferry travel for both
passengers and freight transportation.
Although Irish Sea
carryings overall for the year to August showed a six per cent decline
in passengers and cars and a three per cent drop in coaches, the company
still handled 1.8 million passengers, almost half a million cars
and 11,000 coaches in the period. It believes a worsening airport
experience and public antipathy to paying hidden extras when flying to
Ireland with no-frills carriers will continue to help boost ferry
traffic.
SWANSEA CORK
The Irish
Government can fund up to 30% of the cost of operating a new
Swansea-Cork ferry service EU officials have confirmed. According to
Fine Gael MEP Colm Burke, about 30% of the likely costs could be met
through central government funding. He claims European Commission
legislation would allow the Government to provide significant financial
support for re-opening the link to Britain with Ireland's south-west.
Tourist
accommodation and services providers in Cork and Kerry said the loss of
the ferry over the past two years is running into tens of millions. Mr
Burke said he had approached European Commission officials seeking
information on whether the Irish Government would be allowed to back a
new ferry operation.
"The commission, in
their response, outlined that the Government can fund up to 30% of the
cost of operating this route for a period of three years.
"The ball is now in
the Government's court to supply the strategic funds to restart this
route which is of immense importance to the south-west region," Mr Burke
said.
The Port of Cork is
in discussion with potential operators to reopen the route which closed
in 2006. It is estimated the loss of the ferry link has cost the
south-west economy a staggering €38 million annually.
The Port of Cork
and British Associated Ports — which controls Swansea port — have agreed
to offer incentives to any company willing to restart the service.
Michael McCarthy,
Port of Cork marketing manager, said any financial support from the
Government would be most welcome.
"We are currently
working with a number of interested parties on the project. A business
case study has shown potential in terms of a ferry carrying passengers
and cargo. We have identified this as a profitable service.
"Providing funding
to get it off the ground would represent a vital cog in the route's
long-term viability," Mr McCarthy said.
Port of Cork
officials are actively engaged in developing specific proposals for
improving maritime links between Ireland, France and Spain through the
Western Europe Sea Transport & Motorways of the Sea (WEST-MOS project).
Mr Burke said these
potential routes can be funded as part of the Motorways of the Sea which
is a stated priority under the EU's Trans-European Networks Programme.
It would offer
enormous potential for reducing costs, CO2 emissions and congestion on
land motorways for consumers, hauliers and public authorities alike.
"In 2007 the Port
of Cork had a record throughput of 10.7 million tonnes, proving that it
is the premier port on the south coast of Ireland," the Ireland South
MEP said.
"It's obvious that
investment costs for Motorways of the Seas would amount to only a
fraction of what new terrestrial motorways would cost.
"It is time that
the Irish Government took this issue seriously and supported investment
in maritime links between Cork and Swansea and Cork to Spain," Mr Burke
said.
TAMAR BRIDGE & TORPOINT FERRY
JOINT COMMITTEE
Traffic crossing
the Torpoint Ferry has been hit this summer - with figures down by
almost six per cent compared to last year.
And traffic using
the Tamar Bridge is down by more than three per cent, compared to 2007
figures.
Between the
beginning of June and the end of August, just over two million
vehicles used the bridge, 3.7 per cent less than during the same period
in 2007, the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee will
be told next week.
David List, general
manager of the Torpoint Ferry and Tamar Bridge, said the increased
capacity of the toll plaza had significantly cut congestion in the
mornings.
Despite the lower
traffic, income from the ferry increased and from the bridge fell by
just under one per cent.
Mr List said
yesterday this was probably because occasional users preferred to pay
the higher cash toll rather than get a Tamar tag. In the past many
occasional users kept a book of concession vouchers.
The bridge and
ferry are expected to be £1.8 million in the red by the end of this
financial year - £400,000 more than was predicted at the beginning of
the year.
"We have to deal
with that," Mr List said. "The budget is ring-fenced and we need to make
a surplus over the long term, but management costs are bound to
fluctuate."
The cost of
introducing the tags and revamping the toll plaza at the bridge had
risen from around £1.5 million to more than £5 million because the scope
of the project had changed, he said.
The report to the
committee next Friday blames the introduction of tags for much of the
increase.
[THIS IS CORNWALL -
22 SEPTEMBER] |
|
September 21 |
Acknowledgements: Gary Andrews and "others" |
|
|
BRITTANY FERRIES
Brittany Ferries
have published their schedule from mid-November to Mid-March which
unusually does cover the the whole of 2009. It had been expected and
announced, that the 2009 timetable would appear at the end of August.
Gary Andrews
writes: We are no wiser yet of plans for 2009 concerning the
previously announced new Spanish route and subsequent tonnage moves, the
future of the PONT L'ABBE nor the future of the NORMANDIE EXPRESS - the
rumour mill having suggested that there may be further cutbacks or a
complete removal of her schedule.
The BRETAGNE has
nothing scheduled from early February suggesting a major overhaul -
meanwhile, the PONT L'ABBE has nothing planned for her from November...
Below are some
things I've noted from the schedule.
Portsmouth - Caen
BARFLEUR will cover
for NORMANDIE 5 January - 2 February.
Portsmouth - Cherbourg
No sailings from
NORMANDIE EXPRESS finishing at the end of this month apart from
NORMANDIE sailings on 24 & 31 December and 5 January ex Portsmouth and
26 December and 2 January ex Cherbourg. There is also a BARFLEUR
relocation sailing from Portsmouth - Cherbourg on 3 February.
Portsmouth - St Malo
PONT AVEN again
takes over from the BRETAGNE over the Winter from 11 November (15th if
you look at the St Malo - Portsmouth schedule).
Poole - Cherbourg
No passenger
sailings whilst the BARFLEUR is covering for the NORMANDIE.
Plymouth - Roscoff
PONT L'ABBE and
PONT AVEN until 8 November. Then BRETAGNE on her own Tuesday - Friday ex
Plymouth (Wed - Saturday ex Roscoff) until 20 November. No sailings over
Christmas / New Year, sailings ex Plymouth on 2 and 4 January then no
sailings until 10 February when the new ARMORIQUE enters service.
Plymouth - Santander
The BRETAGNE takes
over from the PONT AVEN from 9 November, offering sailings ex the UK on
Sundays and ex Spain on Mondays until 22 December. There are no further
sailings scheduled in the published timetable so presumably the route
will return sometime in March.
MAERSK GROUP
NORFOLK LINE
The Port of
Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal Profile & Directory 2008 -2009 which
can be downloaded from
www.portofliverpool.co.uk/downloads/publications.htm
records that new generation of ro-pax vessels will be introduced by
Norfolk Line on its Irish Sea services out of the Port of Liverpool by
2010, boosting passenger capacity by up to 25 percent and freight
capacity by up to 70 percent.
The specifications
for the new larger and faster vessels were distributed to eight
shipyards in mid-2007 and it is envisaged that the first of the new
ships will enter service across the Irish Sea within three years. "The
new generation of Norfolk Line vessels will allow us to provide greater
capacity to customers at peak times, utilising faster vessels on an
improved schedule," said Phillip Shepherd, Director, Irish Sea Ferry
Services for Norfolk Line, which is part of the A.P. Møller-Maersk
Group.
"The Port of
Liverpool has already expressed its support for Norfolk Line's
introduction of these larger ships and the future development of the
Twelve Quays Terminal to facilitate the new vessels. "In the first
instance, I would see us operating on the basis of our popular twice
daily services to Belfast and Dublin but, if it proved that the new
vessels filled quickly, we might consider increasing frequency to meet
customer requirements."
Demand for freight
and passenger capacity on Norfolk Line's Liverpool to Dublin and Belfast
services has strongly increased year-on-year since 2000. Environmentally
aware hauliers and other companies seek out sailings which minimise road
miles. Norfolk Line's Irish Sea routes, which serve to reduce the miles
travelled by cargo across the UK and Ireland, have proved highly
attractive.
If the strong
sustained growth continues, further capacity will be needed before 2010
on the Irish Sea routes and Norfolk Line is working on two
possibilities. One option is to replace its vessels currently sailing
North Sea routes with bigger ro-ro ferries, leaving the large ships
currently operating those routes available to sail on the Irish Sea - a
switch that could happen as early as this year (2008) but is most likely
to occur in 2009. The second option under consideration is the
introduction of interim tonnage out of Liverpool to respond to customer
demand for peak time capacity.
"Norfolk Line has,
traditionally, been primarily a freight carrier but we strongly
recognise that passengers are integral to the growth of our business,"
stressed Mr Shepherd. "Although driver accompanied freight tends to
maintain a year-round level, there is a dip in the amount of freight we
carry through the summer months which coincides beautifully with the
peak passenger demand for our services. The two parts of our business
fit together well and Norfolk Line places great importance on developing
services to suit both markets."
Norfolk Line
acquired Norse Merchant in November 2005 and a successful integration
took place the following year. A major advantage of this union was the
development of a web booking service for Irish Sea services, which now
accounts for around 60 percent of all bookings taken by Norfolk Line for
its services out of Liverpool.
A terminal
management system is under trial and is planned for installation at
Twelve Quays during 2008. "We are developing our business to- business
facilities with freight customers in preparation for the coming increase
in tonnage," said Mr Shepherd. "Over the next 12 months I see Norfolk
Line undertaking significant groundwork to prepare its business on
several levels for the new generation vessels and the growth in capacity
and raising of service levels which that will bring."
Norfolk Line have
announced that they will recommence operations on the North Sea Rosyth
to Zeebrugee route abandoned earlier this month by the Attica
Group.
SEATRUCK FERRIES
MOONDANCE is due to
enter Cammell Laird #4 dry dock on Monday afternoon at 16:00 for repair
/ refit which is expected to take around 14 days. She will then return
to the Heysham - Warrenpoint route. She has spent much of the summer
laid up at the company's Liverpool terminal after she was towed in for
repairs following a grounding at Warrenpoint. |
|
September 17 |
Acknowledgements: Gary Andrews, Dave
Billinge and "others" |
|
|
CAMMELL LAIRD -
NORTH WESTERN SHIP REPAIRERS
Ship repair workers
employed by Northwestern Shiprepairers in
Birkenhead have given notice of industrial action following the
breakdown of talks at
ACAS on the 2008 pay review. 100 GMB members employed rejected a
pay offer of 2.8% and voted for industrial action in official dispute
ballot earlier this month.
Talks at ACAS failed to make progress and notice of industrial action
has been served. Action short of strike will commence on Friday 19th
September and discontinuous strike action will commence on 26th
September from 14.00.
The action short of a strike which is intended to be continuous:
o
Strict enforcement of health and safety procedures
o
A withdrawal of goodwill – including non use of telephone
Work to Rule:
o
There will be no training of other workers.
o
No lone working
o
Members will cease using their own tools for work
o
No paperwork other than signing in and out of work or for health and
safety reasons
o
No call outs and no on call cover provided
There will also be a ban on overtime
The strike action is intended to be discontinuous and the intended date
for any of these employees to begin to take part in the action is: From
14.00 hours: Commencing on Friday 26 September 2008 until 8.00 am on
Monday 29 September 2008 and every Friday afternoon until the dispute is
settled.
Dave Hulse, GMB Regional Officer who represents
these members said “Unfortunately talks have broken down over the 2008
Pay Claim.
ACAS
have been involved and unfortunately conciliation was not arrived at.
GMB consider, in the present climate with increasing costs of fuel and
energy ( i.e. electricity, gas) and food, that the current offer of 2.8%
is a miserly offer.
Also, the trade unions believe that the claim that was presented to the
company was treated with contempt.”
ISLE
OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY
VIKING headed off to
Belfast on Monday for attention in dry dock to her trim tab in dry dock
at Harland and & Wolff. The trim tab having been damaged last week.
There was no disruption to sailings as SNAEFELL had been scheduled to
operate on the Liverpool service.
LEAVESLEY INTERNATIONAL /
HMS INTREPID
HMS INTREPID
arrived in Canada Graving Dock, Liverpool for recycling on September 17,
2008 having been towed from Portsmouth by Svitzer's ORMESBY CROSS.
ORMESBY CROSS was assisted by THORNGARTH for the final run up the
channel to Langton Lock.
The INTREPID was retired from the Royal Navy replaced by the new
Barrow built Landing Platform Helicopter Dock ships HMS ALBION and
HMS BULWARK which have been frequent visitors to the Mersey.
The MoD confirmed that 12,000 tonne HMS INTREPID was to be
recycled
in the Port of Liverpool by Leavesley International selected last
year as preferred bidder, the company now has the required planning
permission and environmental licences in place to enable it to
proceed Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness
Taylor, said:
"This contract reinforces MoD's determination to ensure former Royal
Navy vessels are disposed off responsibly, and in full compliance
with international environmental legislation."
MOD Defence Equipment and Support Disposal Sales Authority Assistant
Director of Operations, Richard Norris, said:
"This is an exciting initiative, which demonstrates the UK's
commitment to safe and proper disposal. It will be the first time an
MoD vessel has been recycled in the UK for many years and provides
an excellent example of the Public and Private sectors working
together to achieve environmentally and commercially sound
recycling."
 HMS
INTREPID was launched in 1964 shortly after her sister ship HMS
FEARLESS and both took part in the Falklands War. The Ships had a
dock at the stern from which they where able to launch landing craft
and flight decks from which they where able to operate helicopters
supporting Royal Marines Commandos on amphibious operations by
transporting and landing troops and equipment.
HMS
INTREPID was placed in reserve in 1991. The photograph shows HMS
INTREPID and HMS FEARLESS laid up at Portsmouth in April 2007.
In a report in
Lloyds List Leavesley International project leader said: “All permits
are now in place and the work should take 20 weeks to complete. We are
looking to recycle 95% of the vessel.”
For photographs of
the arrival of HMS INTREPID [click
here]
The following press release was issued by Peel Ports on
September 17:
Falklands War veteran HMS INTREPID which arrived in the
Mersey from Portsmouth today, is expected to be the first of
a string of vessels to be recycled by Leavesley
International under strict health, safety and environmental
controls.
The
company will employ a skilled onsite workforce of 50 on the
former Royal Navy assault ship, after being chosen as the
MoD's preferred bidder for the task, which will be carried
out under the recently published DEFRA Guidance Notes on
Ship Recycling and the Green Passport scheme adopted by the
International Maritime Organisation.
Having
secured both Liverpool City Council planning permission and
the Environment Agency's Waste Management Licence, Leavesley
and project partners Technical Demolition Services of
Birkenhead, are expected to take some five months to
complete the task at Liverpool's Canada Graving Dock.
But
Stuart Halsey, Project Leader and Head of Business
Development for Leavesley International, expressed optimism
that HMS INTREPID would be the first of many ships to be
recycled by the Liverpool operation an initiative prompted
by the growing demand for the establishment of a high
quality facility in the UK as an alternative to the disposal
of decommissioned warships in the Far East.
"There
is no shortage of ships out there waiting to be responsibly
dealt with. Their recycling is an inherently sustainable
activity where over 95 per cent of the vessel's material can
be reprocessed. We see Leavesley International being a
permanent fixture in the Port of Liverpool."
The
Mersey, he said, was chosen as the right location in which
to undertake the work because the Port of Liverpool offered
everything. "The dry dock is the right size for such
projects. The port has major metal processing operations, it
is centrally located and easily accessible by motorway and
it has an existing skills base."
Frank
Robotham, Marketing Director of Peel Ports Group, which owns
and operates the Port of Liverpool, said: "The decision by
Leavesley to locate this innovative recycling contract in
the Port of Liverpool grafts another centre of excellence
onto an already vibrant maritime sector. It not only
reflects the capability of the Port to meet the requirements
of this industry, but is also indicative of the rich and
diverse strengths of the maritime community on Merseyside,
backed by a City Council that has been pragmatic, objective
and totally professional in its response to this important
initiative."
HMS
Intrepid was built in 1964, decommissioned in 1991 and
earmarked for disposal in 1999.
LV
PLANET
The former
Liverpool Bar Light Vessel PLANET is reported to have been sold by Gary
McLarnan to two Merseyside businessmen
Alan Roberts and Tom Surtees who hope to
retain her in Canning Dock.
SEATRUCK FERRIES
RIVERDANCE- Blackpool beach is holding on tenaciously
to the last remnants of RIVERDANCE. There are no signs of the wrecked
vessel as the tide rolls out, but parts of the port side remain under
the sand.
And it could be another seven weeks before
contractors can clear it away and declare the job over. PGC Demolition
is now using diggers to reach the last pieces of the ship, with workmen
working below ground level with cutting torches to get the metal out.
After that there will be four weeks of sonar scanning and raking of the
site to ensure not a fragment remains.
Project manager Mark Quinn said: "The main structure
has gone. All that is left in the sand is part of the port side it was
lying on, so from the beach there is very little to see. "It has gone on
as long as it has because we've been asked to be meticulous to ensure
there were no accidents or pollution.
RIVERDANCE has been beached opposite Anchorsholme
Park since it was hit by a freak wave on January 31 during a journey
from Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland to Heysham. Twenty three crew and
passengers were airlifted to safety during a dramatic air and sea
rescue. No-one was injured during the massive operation.
The decision to break up the ship was taken after
more than two months of efforts to refloat it failed, largely due to bad
weather. Salvage operations have been hampered by the weather with
workers having to abandon their efforts due to high winds and rain.
The stricken ferry has attracted thousands of
tourists to the area with local businesses experiencing a huge increase
in trade over the first few weeks of its appearance.
So far the work has taken 18 weeks and the metal has
gone to scrapyards, the main one being in Liverpool. The two 40-ton
engines were salvaged and sent to be a company in the North East for
parts.
Mr Quinn explained they had to overcome a number of
obstacles to remove the Seatrucks vessel. He said: "Touch wood, we've
not had one reportable accident, we've not lost any pollutants or oil -
it couldn't have gone better. "The tidal implications caught us by
surprise, having to work in five or six-hour windows or just an hour at
times. Sometimes you can't work at all.
"It isn't the biggest job we have done but it is the
biggest maritime job we have ever done and the most high profile job -
and we've had some good press out of it!" [BLACKPOOL GAZETTE] |
|
September 14 |
Acknowledgements: Gary Andrews, Steve Mee,
Geoff Hamer and "others" |
|
|
COISTE AN ASGARD
ASGARD II -
Speculation continues as to what caused the well known sailing ship to
founder in the Bay of Biscay on Thursday. Several newspaper reports have
speculated that the vessel's hull may have been damaged by an errant
submerged freight container or a sea valve may have failed. Both of
which would have accounted for the sudden ingress of water.
This ship is
reported to be lying in 70m to 90m of water - a depth which may hamper
its recovery.
A Times newspaper
report indicates that the Insurance
policy for Asgard II, will not cover the cost of a replacement it if the
ship cannot be salvaged.
The brigantine, was insured for €3.8m, though a
replacement cost for an exact replica would be around €10m.
“ASGARD II was a priceless vessel and a one-off,”
said an official. “It was constructed by hand and its fixtures and
fittings were unique. It would take between five and eight years to
build a replica if suitable tradesmen could be found and the expertise
and materials were available."
The vessel originally cost €635,000 when she was built for the Irish
Government in 1981.
ASGARD
II was insured by Allianz, which has launched an investigation into what
caused the vessel to sink in the Bay of Biscay last Thursday. The
company will decide whether to salvage her or write her off after divers
examine the ship
In addition to the
investigation being carried out by the ship's insurers the Marine
Casualty Investigation Board and the French authorities will also be
investigating the sinking.
FERRIES OF THE IRISH SEA
CALENDAR 2009
Gordon
Hislip has produced a full colour Calendar featuring Irish Sea Ships -
for further details [Click
Here]
ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY
INCAT 50 - a
photograph of the vessel appears on the Waverley Unofficial Web Site [Click
Here] to link to the page. The photograph shows that work appears to
be getting underway with the rear passenger accommodation bulkhead
removed ready for this to be extended aft.
LEAVESLEY INTERNATIONAL / HMS INTREPID
HMS INTREPID - the
veteran warship which is bound for Merseyside for recycling departed
from Portsmouth towed by Svitzer tug ORMESBY CROSS. She was reported
rounding Land's End late on Saturday September 13.
Arrival on Merseyside
now looks likely to be Monday or Tuesday. The tug AIS originally
displayed Birkenhead as the destination - though the last AIS report at
lunch time, Saturday showed this changed to "unknown". |
|
September 11 |
Acknowledgements: Gary Andrews, Steve Mee,
Geoff Hamer and "others" |
|
|
COISTE AN ASGARD
 ASGARD
II - the graceful little brigantine which was a regular visitor to ports
around the Irish Sea and further a field is no more. Sadly she foundered
in the Bay of Biscay on the morning of September 11, 2008.
Reports indicate
that the alarm was raised at 02:20 when UK Coastguard received a
distress signal from the vessel which had been sailing from Falmouth,
Cornwall to La Rochelle, France.
The five crew and
twenty trainees safely abandoned the vessel taking to the life rafts.
They were rescued by the French Coastguard and taken to
Belle-Île-en-Mer,
Brittany. ASGARD II foundered at 08:25 20 miles SW of
Belle-Île-en-Mer.
The brigantine was
constructed at Arklow in 1981 by Jack Tyrell and took her name from
Robert Erskine Childer's historic yacht ASGARD [I]. ASGARD [I]
being a significant vessel in Irish history - having landed German
weapons at Howth on July 26, 1914 for the Irish Volunteers which
were subsequently used in the 1916 Easter Rising.
[Photo: ASGARD II sails past the Liverpool waterfront - 2004 Mersey
River Festival].
LEAVESLEY INTERNATIONAL
HMS
INTREPID is expected to depart Portsmouth on Friday under tow of ORMESBY
CROSS (Svitzer) bound for Liverpool, Canada Graving Dock, for recycling.
Departure which had originally been due for Thursday September 11, is
subject to weather.
LIVERPOOL & NORTH WALES
STEAMSHIP COMPANY
It may
come as a surprise to many people that the demolition of the last
surviving Liverpool & North Wales Steamship Company ship ST ELIAN only
got under way this week after a long dispute between the local authority
at Salerno, Italy and he owner. Many will have thought that the final
surviving L&NWSSCo ship was the diminutive motor vessel ST TRILLO.
ST ELIAN
was aid-down at Geestemünde during the First World War as a minesweeper
for the German Navy, but was eventually completed in 1919 as Hapag's
passenger steamer HÖRNUM.
She acted
as a tender and served Helgoland. In April 1922, she was sold to the
Liverpool and North Wales Steamship Co and renamed ST ELIAN for summer
excursions from Liverpool and Llandudno to Menai Bridge, Blackpool,
Holyhead, Bardsey Island, etc.
L&NWSSCo
sold ST ELIAN to SPAN of Napoli after the 1927 season, becoming the
PARTENOPE, then the ISCHIA from 1949, and continued in service in the
Golfo di Napoli untill about 1970, still steam powered.
She was
then put on the beach at Salerno and opened as a restaurant/bar.
SWANSEA - CORK
The Swansea-Cork
ferry route could be re-established if enough work is put in, the
director of the port of Cork has said.
Michael McCarthy
has pledged to keep working to see the service resume in 2009.
He said: "I will
keep working to see if we can get it up and running. "I could say there
was a five out of 10 chance, or six out of 10, or four out of 10, but
that's really speculation."
Mr McCarthy added:
"My gut feeling is if we all put enough work into re-establishing the
route we can do it."
Pressure has been
building on both sides of the Irish Sea for a return of the ferry.
Mr McCarthy said: "
I have submitted a proposal to two consultants to establish the case - a
cost-benefit analysis of the service - and a whole business case around
it."
It was hoped that a
meeting yesterday would result in an agreed package of incentives to
encourage a new operator to reintroduce the vital ferry link, which was
axed in January 2007.
It has been
estimated that the ferry route was worth around £65 million a year to
Wales in 2006.
A spokesman for the
bring back the Swansea-Cork ferry campaign said: "We at the campaign
hope this meeting will pave the way for the re-introduction of this
lifeline between the UK and the South-West of Ireland - and breathe some
life back into our flagging tourist industry in time for the 2009
season.
"Tourism in the
region has been badly hit since the ferry crossing ceased operating in
October 2006 - losses have been estimated at 100,000 Euros per day."
Managers at
Associated British Ports have said it was impossible to say when the
service will resume.
Some 1,823 people
have signed an online petition so far at
www,bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com |
|
September 07 |
Acknowledgements: Gary Andrews, Michael
Bracken, Alan Faulkner, Michael Hamms and "others" |
|
|
BALLYCASTLE -
CAMPBELTOWN
The long awaited
report on plans to reintroduce a ferry service from Campbeltown to
Ballycastle is now on the desks of the relevant government ministers on
both side of the North Channel.
Jim Mather MSP for
Argyll and Bute told The Courier that the decision on a future service
probably could be expected to be made in the latter part of September.
Alan Reid MP told
the Kintyre Initiative Working Group on Friday when the ferry report was
on the agenda: 'The concern I have is that this [report] was drawn up
while Vestas was still working and before the credit crunch started.
There is now less slack in the economy.
'The Scottish
Government does need to act quickly if its going to get the ferry up and
running next year; Tourist brochures are going out now.'
Mr Reid and
Highlands and Islands list MSP Jamie McGrigor both said they would write
to the Scottish Government saying that the ferry was now more important
than ever before.
'Also, if
Ballycastle and Northern Ireland say they have a difficulty then we
still look at it in terms of a ferry to somewhere else if necessary,'
said Mr McGrigor, 'we have got to keep the pressure on.'
Mr Reid said after
the meeting: 'Campbeltown has a lot to offer - a purpose built factory,
deep water facilities and above all, a highly skilled and motivated
workforce. 'Scottish Government must take ferry links to Northern
Ireland and Ayrshire up and running as soon as possible and to upgrade
the A83, instead of slashing spending on repairs to it as they did
recently.'
At Friday's working
group meeting the chairman, Councillor John Semple said that one of the
attractions for Vestas to Campbeltown in the first place was the ferry.
Alison Younger,
area corporate services manager for Argyll and Bute Council said of
starting the new service: 'We have to fulfil European tendering
requirements,' and she added, 'People have very, very, much said they
don't want the Claymore.'
Councillor John
Semple asked about vessel availability.
Ian Macintyre of
Tarbert and Skipness Community Council said: 'The government owns a
ferry company but CalMac doesn't seem to come into the equation.'
Earlier this year
First Minister Alex Salmond and the Northern Ireland First Minister and
signed an agreement which it was hoped will lead to the revival of the
ferry service.
[CAMPBELTOWN
COURIER
CORK - SWANSEA
Cold water has been
poured on reports that the Swansea-Cork Ferry could be back in place by
the beginning of 2009.
The commercial
manager of the Port of Cork, Captain Michael McCarthy, said he was in
talks with two Irish operators, which are keen to restart the service.
But managers at
Associated British Ports in Swansea said it was impossible to say when
the service would resume.
Deputy port manager
Clive Thomas said: "There has been a degree of interest ever since the
service closed, looking at operators from a number of quarters to
continue the link.
"These discussions
have been going on, on and off, for 18 months or so. We wouldn't go so
far as to suggest it would start next season."
"There are
potentially interested parties out there, but it is a question of
looking at suitable vessels and getting the package in place to allow it
to start running.
"A lot of work has
to go into making that happen and we are doing what we can to assist
them."
The service was
axed in January 2007, following the cancellation of the year's sailing
season.
Political pressure
has been building on both sides of the Irish Sea for a return of the
ferry.
Assembly Members
from all political parties had been pushing for the return of the
service.
Thirty staff lost
their jobs when sailings were halted and the company had hoped to resume
its service this year.
Swansea East AM Val
Lloyd said: "The continuing lack of a ferry service between Swansea and
Cork is frustrating tourists and the business community.
"The loss of this
popular service represents a serious blow to the economy on both sides.
"For example, it is
estimated that Irish visitors brought £65 million to the Welsh economy
in 2006."
The loss of the
ferry service is also being keenly felt in Southern Ireland, where a
campaign has been launched calling for it to return.
There, the ferry
was seen as an economic lifeline that brought 100,000 euros to the
region every time it docked.
Adrian Brentnall,
one of the campaign organisers, said: "Businesses across the South West
of Ireland are holding their breath and hoping for a return of the ferry
and we all take hope from the apparent confidence of the port
authorities."
The petition urging
the ferry's return has been signed by more than 1,700 people.
IRISH FERRIES
OSCAR WILDE - The
Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint concerning an
advertisement of the ship which was deployed on the company's service to
France this season.
The
advertisement in question stated “Irish Ferries Proudly Presents OSCAR
WILDE Our Luxurious New Cruise Ferry Ireland – France” and featured a
picture of the OSCAR WILDE Ferry steaming up a red carpet in the sea.
Below it stated “You’ll be lost for words!” and in the text it stated
“Irish Ferries is proud to announce the arrival of our luxurious new
cruise ferry OSCAR WILDE on our Ireland to France routes.”
The complaint said that the advertisement stated that the Irish Ferries
“OSCAR WILDE” cruise ship was “new” however the complainant said that
the ship was in fact not new but rather was new to the Irish Ferries
Fleet. He estimated that the ship was approximately 20 years old and
therefore considered the advertisement to be misleading.
Irish
Ferries stated that their advertising did not claim that the vessel was
a ‘new’ build as the complainant suggested. They said that they had
promoted the OSCAR WILDE vessel as being new to Irish Ferries, new to
their fleet and new to their Ireland – France service. They stated that
in all cases this was accurate and correct and would have been clearly
understood when the context of the message would have been taken into
account.
They said that the OSCAR WILDE was purchased in January 2007 and that
since then the vessel had undergone a major refurbishment and overhaul
which saw the complete redesign and restyling of the internal passenger
hotel areas, the introduction of new passenger facilities as well as
significant technical modifications.
They provided further details of the refurbishment of the vessel and
stated that the OSCAR WILDE brought new standards of comfort and luxury
to their long established Ireland – France route and in that context
they were pleased to promote the vessel as being ‘new’.
Finally they disputed the complainant’s remark which alluded to the age
of the ship and noted them as being extremely misleading.
The
Complaints Committee considered the detail of the complaint and the
advertisers’ response. The Complaints Committee considered that the
advertisement had referred to the OSCAR WILDE as being ‘new’ however the
advertisers had confirmed that the vessel was in fact not a ‘new build’
but rather a ‘new addition’ to the Irish Ferries Fleet. The Committee
considered that for the purpose of the Code the advertisement was likely
to mislead consumers to believe that the vessel was a new build and
therefore the advertisement had contravened the Code.
The ASA state that the claim must not reappear in its current form.
ISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET COMPANY
The recent spell of
bad weather led to a number of fast craft cancellations this week. On
Wednesday September 03, 2008 VIKING returned light to Douglas rather
than operate the 11:15 sailing from Liverpool. Passengers being sent to
Heysham for the 14:15 BEN-MY-CHREE sailing. The afternoon 15:00 / 19:00
sailings being operated by SNAEFELL.
On Thursday
afternoon VIKING operated the afternoon sailing to Belfast. The
following day Friday September 05 the afternoon VIKING sailing was
cancelled as were the Saturday sailings on September 06 again due to
adverse weather.
As the season
enters the shoulder period SNAEFELL is scheduled to operate many of the
week day sailings, with VIKING appearing
KATHLEEN & MAY
 Last
it it was reported [CLICK
HERE] that the historic west country schooner KATHLEEN & MAY had
delivered a cargo of French wine to the Cornish port of Penzance on July
22, 2008. This is the first time that a commercial cargo of wine had
been moved under sail for many years. However, the event appeared
to be overlooked by most news sources. The photograph left was
sent by Alan Faulkner.
MBRS LINES
MARY THE QUEEN -
the former Isle of Man Steam Packet Company side loading motorship
MONA'S QUEEN is reported to have arrived at Alang for breaking. She was
sold by owners earlier this year for scrap.
OCEAN LINER SOCIETY 2008 SHIP SHOW
QUEEN
ELIZABETH 2 – AN UNMISSABLE EVENT
On
Saturday October 25, 2008, the Ocean Liner Society (www.ocean-liner-society.com)
will be holding its annual London International Ship Show at The Royal
National Hotel, 38-51 Bedford Way, London.
This year, the ship show will be a special QE2 themed event, which will
include an exhibition / sales area with 60-90 exhibitors and trade
stands, together with a special talks programme, to mark the passing of
this unique ship and her career. The show will be open from 10:00 –
16:00 and is a must for all ocean liner enthusiasts.
The QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 will have arrived in Southampton from New York on
her final east bound crossing on October 22. Should any interested
passengers or crew, past and present wish to come to London for this
special occasion, they would be more than welcome to share in what will
be a highly enjoyable and interesting day.
Full details of the days events and a location map are available on the
OLS website. Should you wish to receive updates regarding this event and
speakers, which are still being finalised, please email Stephen Macey,
who will put you on a special mailing list. Details of the talks
programme as it currently stands is given below. Stephen's address is:
smacey4@btinternet.com
Always
write QE2 in the subject line.
Talks
Programme
We hope to offer three sessions: the overview, the view from the deck
and the view from the bridge. There will be no additional charge for the
talks, which will be held in a partitioned section of the main
exhibition hall.
QE2 The
Overview. - Dr. Bruce Peter.
Along with Phillip Dawson and Ian Johnston, Bruce Peter has been working
on “QE2 The Last Great Liner”, the definitive story of the
commissioning, design, construction and career of the ship. Drawing very
largely on primary research Bruce has unearthed the real story of who
actually designed her original interiors and has some hard- hitting
views on subsequent re-builds. This will be absolutely the authoritative
biography of the ship.
QE2 The
View From The Deck. - Chris Mason, Bill Mayes and Hugh Elliot.
Three former passengers, each a skilled photographer will present images
and reflect on their experience of the QE2 in different phases of the
ship's career. Chris Mason's photographs of her in original condition
were taken from two visits and a design student's perspective around
1970. Hugh Elliot sailed in her in the mid 1990's before the final, some
would say ultimately destructive, major internal refit. Bill Mayes has
sailed in her in her post-final refit form and will show her in later
life.
QE2 The
View From The Bridge.
What was it like to command the world's most famous liner?. We hope to
convene a panel of those who know best, some of her former masters. As
yet, the line up is to be confirmed.
There will be a charge of £3.00 for OLS members to attend this event and
£5.00 for non OLS members. Everyone is welcome and we would love to see
you there.
For
further information please contact Stephen Macey.
Smacey4@btinternet.com
/ Telephone 44-01202-701-053.
PEEL
HOLDINGS
LIVERPOOL &
WIRRAL WATERS
Reports in the Liverpool Daily Post this weekend have revealed that the
ambitious plans by owners Peel Holdings to redevelop the Liverpool
Central Docks and Birkenhead Docks would be placed in jeopardy if the
Government calls a public enquiry into the scheme.
Peel Holdings’ development
director, Lindsey Ashworth, said the planning regime
needed to be relaxed to ease the progress of the
company’s £10bn Liverpool and Wirral Waters scheme
to build dozens of skyscrapers on the banks of the
Mersey.
“My view
is if it goes to a public
inquiry I am finishing, all bets
will be off. We will abandon the
scheme,” he said. In a rare
public address, Peel chairman
John Whittaker had earlier
called for the North West
Development Agency (NWDA) to be
handed planning powers over the
Manchester Ship Canal corridor
where the company is planning
£50bn of investment. Last night,
the idea was described by the
NWDA’s chief executive Steve
Broomhead as an “interesting
idea that was worthy of debate”.
Mr
Ashworth and Mr Whittaker were
speaking yesterday at the
official launch of the company’s
Ocean Gateway plan.
MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL CHARITY
SWIM
 On
Friday James Whittaker, son of
Peel Holdings owner John
Whittaker, commenced the first
ever Manchester Ship Canal end
to end swim scheduled to take
two days. This is the first time
anyone has attempted to swim the
full length of the Ship Canal.
James Whittaker was accompanied
by a support craft and
followed by Mersey Ferry
ROYAL DAFFODIL
as
he made his way down the Canal.
Mr.
Whittaker's sponsored swim aims
to raise money for the
New Children's Hospital in
Manchester.
The photograph (left) shows Mr.
Whittaker returning to the water
at Ince, from the Carmet Towing
Company's pilot launch VENOM.
The photograph was taken from
Weaver Valley Cruises RIVER
PRINCESS which was operating a
charter sailing to Runcorn in
conjunction with the Daniel
Adamson Preservation Society
AGM.
REGENT SEVEN SEAS
CRUISES
SEVEN SEAS
VOYAGER made an unexpected visit to
Dartmouth this weekend. The ship on
a 10 day voyage from Copenhagen has
been scheduled to call at the
Avonmouth on Sunday September 07
before heading to Falmouth and then
Southampton
The Western
Morning News reported that civic
leaders in Bristol had prepared a
lavish welcoming ceremony for the
vessel, complete with singing choirs
and a VIP reception on the SS Great
Britain.
But at the
11th hour the company decided the
"intimate charm and character" of
Dartmouth in South Devon would be
more suitable for its passengers.
The visit has
been hailed as a major coup for the
historic port town and one which
will provide an economic boost for
tourist attractions and shops. The
ship is believed to be carrying 700,
mostly American, passengers who will
spend 12 hours in Dartmouth and the
surrounding area.
Malcolm Bell,
chief executive of South West
Tourism, said: "There is a direct
and indirect benefit to these
visits. The first is that Americans
in particular spend something like
£50 a head during their short stays.
The second is the impression you
make and the word-of-mouth effect
that makes people want to tell their
friends and come back in the
future."
The visit
comes after a successful season for
Dartmouth attracting large liners.
Nearby Torbay is also celebrating
clinching a deal for three passenger
ships to visit in 2009.
In a
statement, Regent Cruises said: "The
primary objective for the captain of
a Regent ship is the guest
experience. This is why Regent Seven
Seas Cruises have chosen one
alternative port call.
"Although
Bristol is a city of culture and
famous for the SS Great Britain, on
this cruise Regent felt that the
picturesque fishing town of
Dartmouth has the intimate charm and
character guests of the Home Coming
Cruise would appreciate."
The SEVEN SEAS
VOYAGER will double back to Falmouth
on Monday before sailing east again
to end its 10-day voyage in
Southampton.
Weighing in at
41,000 tonnes, with a length of
200m, the Seven Seas Voyager is the
largest passenger vessel ever to
visit Dartmouth, eclipsed only by
exceptional military ships. It is so
large it will have to drop anchor at
the mouth of the Dart and ferry
passengers ashore using smaller
crafts.
Tours for the
passengers are being planned,
including a trip on the Paignton and
Dartmouth Steam Railway and a cruise
up the river to Totnes
ROYAL NAVY
HMS INTREPID -
Final preparations are reported to be underway for the ship,
decomissioned in 1999, to be towed to Canada Dock, Liverpool for
recycling by Leavesley International.
At present HMS
INTREPID is expected to depart Portsmouth under tow around 08:00 to
09:00 on September 10 - arrival on Merseyside is expected to be around
September 12.
Exact times and
dates will be of course be subject to change and be influenced by the
weather. |
|
 |
|
