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NOTES
& NEWS
UPDATES
Great efforts have been
made to catch up with submitted material and material collected by
myself during the past week. Unfortunately the material has not always
been posted in chronological order, as it has some newsworthy items have
been posted earlier. It is anticipated that the final backlog of
material, mainly collected by myself will have been cleared by the end
of the week.
TRIP OUT
GUIDE
An update supplement has
been issued to the popular comprehensive biennial guide to passenger
ship and boat services around Britain and Ireland. For further details
of the guide and supplement
MARITIME
& COASTGUARD AGENCY
YOUTHS
RESCUED AT BURNHAM BY COASTGUARD AND BURNHAM HOVERCRAFT
Swansea Coastguard
coordinated the rescue of two young men from deep mud off Burnham beach
before the tide came up on the afternoon of June 06. The Coastguard Mud
Rescue Team and their equipment were transported to the stranded
casualties using the Burnham Hovercraft and were set down within 10
metres of the two and the team was able to free them and transport them
back to safe ground.
The boys aged 14 and 19, from Kingswood, Bristol, had gone out about
half a mile over the beach at around 11am but got into difficulty in an
area which can become dangerous with thick sticky mud and quicksand. A
member of the public saw them struggling at 12.40pm and called 999 for
the Coastguard using a mobile phone.
The Burnham Hovercraft, called SPIRIT OF LELAINA which assisted in the
rescue today came into service available as a search and rescue unit
just 4 days ago. Swansea Coastguard were satisfied that training with
the Burnham Coastguard Mud Rescue Team and the new Burnham Hovercraft
resulted in a speedy response to today’s incident.
Swansea Coastguard urge people to always check tide times before
venturing out any distance from shore.
NAUTICAL
WEB SITE NEWS
The Port of Larne web site has received
a makeover: www.portoflarne.co.uk.
North Western Ship
Repairers of Birkenhead now have a very interesting web site at www.nsluk.net/
IRISH
FERRIES
CHEAP DAY
RETURN DEALS
Irish Ferries are
offering cheap day returns to Dublin between July 10 and August 28 for
just £9.00 on sailings from Holyhead to Ireland. Child fares are £2.50
Exclusive discounts on Dublin’s City
Tour Buses, meaning that adults can see the city for £8 and children
for £4. 20% off admission price for adults or free admission for one
child when accompanied by two full paying adults visiting Dublin Zoo
Alternatively, for the more
adventurous, there is the Mystery Half Day Tour. Departing from Dublin
at 1pm, the tour will take in some of Ireland’s loveliest countryside
Pembroke
– Rosslare fares are from £10 Adult and £3 child for
travel on the ISLE OF INISHMORE.
As with Dublin, Irish
Ferries has once arranged a number of deals with some of the leading
attractions:
Soak up a bit of Irish
culture and enjoy a complimentary Heritage Island Explorers pass. The
pass will entitle the bearer to special entrance prices to all Heritage
Island attractions in the South East, including 50% off the Waterford
Crystal Tour. The pass will also allow Irish Ferries customers entry to
the Dunbrody Emigrant Ship and Irish National Heritage Park
Take a walk on the wild
side by visiting Fota Wildlife Park. Known across Europe for its
breeding of endangered species, there is free admission for one child
when accompanied by two full paying adults or 20% off the adult rate
when not accompanied by children
To find out more about
Irish Ferries day-trips and mini cruises, contact a member of the
dedicated Irish Ferries team on 08705 171717 or visit www.irishferries.com
----
The
recent air traffic control problems obviously spurred Irish Ferries to
issue the following press release!
GUARANTEED
- IRELAND IN COMFORT, IN BUDGET & IN TIME!
3 June 2004
A beautiful sunny day in
UK and Ireland, summer holidays around the corner, and air traffic
control has gone down again across the UK, leaving thousands of people
stranded en route to their holidays.
Isn't it time we looked
again at where we go on holiday, and how we get there? Ferry travel is
now highly luxurious, and having your car with you on holiday gives you
the ultimate freedom on what to do and when.
And, in today's world of
delays and airport problems, ferries are one of THE most reliable forms
of getting from A to B.
Irish Ferries in
particular is raising the game on comfort and reliability with its giant
cruise ferry Ulysses (in the Guinness Book of Records no less), which is
proving to be something of a world-beater when it comes to reliability.
Since her maiden voyage
on March 25th 2001, the vessel has not lost even one sailing to weather
despite the storms which have gripped the Irish Sea over the past three
years. In fact, Irish Ferries are confident that Ulysses is not only the
biggest cruise ferry in the world, but probably the most reliable too.
With four return sailings
per day between Dublin and Holyhead, Ulysses has operated nearly half a
million sailings in the period since her introduction covering an
overall distance of 260,000 nautical miles - a distance equal to twelve
times around the world.
Just
£99 for a summer short break return trip for 2 people with their car to
Ireland - the cheapest ever! and you'll get there..
So if you can't face
another day at the airport, but fancy the open road, wind in your hair,
and planning your own destiny - oh and you fancy a good craic - Irish
Ferries and Ireland are for you this summer! With return fares staring
at just £99 for a car and two passengers - inclusive of all taxes,
it’s simply to good to miss.
ISLES OF
SCILLY STEAMSHIP COMPANY
The Sunday sailing of the
SCILLONIAN is a saviour for Saturday's fogbound visitors to the islands.
Thick fog on Friday and Saturday
caused massive delays to flights to and from the islands. It resulted in
two sailings on the SCILLONIAN on Saturday. Unfortunately there were too
many passengers for the boat. So 15 passengers volunteered to get off
the vessel and spend the night in Penzance.
Luckily for them Sunday had a
Pirate FM SCILLONIAN Sunday sailing to Scilly scheduled.
Some fog bound passengers were
lucky enough to get seats on the jet propelled boats "The
Cyclone", "The Wizard" and "Lightening" which
did trips to and from the mainland for desperate passengers.
[JHL's note:
It should be noted that these three craft are RIBS!
Must
have been quite an interesting voyage to on these diminutive vessels!
only intended for inter-island travel.]
ROYAL
NAVY
NAVY DAYS
The
Royal Navy’s biggest public event of the year, Navy Days at Her
Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth, takes place on
Saturday-Monday, 28-30th. August, 2004.
Unique
now to Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe, this
biennial occasion offers the opportunity to go on board and meet the
crews of Royal Navy ships and submarines as well as those of visiting
foreign navies. Amongst them will be the helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean,
the Royal Navy’s largest warship; the new commando ships HMS Albion
and HMS BULWARK; frigates such as HMS Montrose and HMS Norfolk and the
submarine, HMS Trenchant.
The
historic South Yard will be open to visitors with its Museum and
buildings dating from 1694, together with an exhibition area comprising
displays from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, military and
naval museums, maritime organisations and the defence industry. In
contrast will be the action of each afternoon’s display combining for
the first time Royal Navy aircraft, ships and Royal Marine Commandos.
DML is
the commercial presence in the Dockyard and will be opening some of its
facilities for the first time during Navy Days including Plymouth’s
largest building, the Frigate Refit Complex, the Weapons and Rigging
Shops.
Demand
for submarine visits will be high and to assist in this, entry tickets
will be issued at set times throughout each day. Such tickets are free
but cannot be reserved in advance.
Navy
Days will commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of D-Day in which
Plymouth and the South West played such a significant part.
A
minimum daily attendance of 20,000 visitors is anticipated
HMS
SOUTHAMPTON arrived Liverpool on Friday [June 11] evening for a weekend
visit and berthed at Canada #3 Branch Dock. She will be open to the
public on June 13.
HMS
MANCHESTER arrived Liverpool on Saturday June 12 and berthed at
Huskisson #1 Branch Dock.
MERSEY
RIVER FESTIVAL
GRAND
TURK the replica sixth rate 18th
Century frigate operated by Turk Phoenix Ltd arrived at Canning Half
Tide basin on the evening tide June 12, in preparation for next week's
River Festival. Her entry to the dock was preceded by a cavalcade of
small sailing and motor boats which had gathered off the river gate.
TRINITY
HOUSE
When it was announced
that Trinity House had decided to wind down its Penzance Depot, fears
were expressed for the future of the Trinity House National Lighthouse
Museum which occupies part of the historic depot building.
A report from BBC Radio
Cornwall confirms these fears with a report that the museum collection
could be relocated to Plymouth Dome.
Residents
in
Penzance
are angry at
proposals to move an historic museum from the town to
Plymouth
.
The
National
Lighthouse
Museum
is run by Trinity
House, which says the centre gets about 6,000 visitors a year.
It
is now considering moving the collection of lighthouse artefacts to the
Plymouth Dome.
But
supporters of the museum in
Penzance
say harbour
redevelopment plans could see funds made available to extend the
attraction.
The
proposed move to
Plymouth
has been welcomed
by Chris Murray, who is chairman of the
Devon
's Top Attractions
organisation.
He
said
Plymouth
needed something
new and the collection would be seen by more people if it was moved to
the city.
"We
have got the National Marine Aquarium, and the Mayflower Centre opening
up as well on the Barbican, and it is a fantastic location which has a
whole caucus of wonderful activities going on.
"It
would also be great for
Plymouth
to have a quality
collection of national significance," he said.
The
Dome is situated alongside Smeaton's Tower - a former lighthouse - on
Plymouth Hoe.
One
of the directors of Trinity House, David Brewer, said a decision would
be made at the end of the month.
IRISH
NAVAL SERVICE
L.E. NIAMH is to sail the
Atlantic on a goodwill and promotional visit to the USA and Canada this
summer.
JEANIE
JOHNSTON
Following the success of
her 2003 transatlantic voyage and tour of North America, the replica
Famine Ship, JEANIE JOHNSTON, has commenced her 2004 Ireland
Tour.
The ship will be open to the public on the Custom House Quay, North Wall
(opposite Jury’s Inn) from Friday June 4th to Tuesday June 8th 2004.
Visitors can experience both the conditions endured by the emigrants of
150 years ago and walk the decks of a traditional Tall Ship. The JEANIE
JOHNSTON coped magnificently with all of the gales and storms that the
Atlantic could muster between February and November 2003.
1.The accommodation deck is converted to a Famine Ship Museum in Port so
that visitors can experience the atmosphere and sounds of a crowded
emigrant ship of the 1850’s.
2.Organisations and groups can host events on board when in Port, by
pre-booking, paying a fee and organising own catering.
3. The ship is licensed only to carry crew. 24 berths are available for
sail trainees (see dates and duration of short voyages below). Trainees
must be in reasonable health, some will and some may not have sailing
experience.
IRELAND PORT VISIT &
VOYAGE SCHEDULE 2004.
DUBLIN Port Visit, June 4th to June 8th
Located at: Custom House Quays, Dublin Docklands – opposite Jury's Inn
Open for visits:11.00am to 5.00pm each day (2.00pm to 5.00pm on June
8th)
Admission: €5 per adult, €12 per family and €3 concessions
Sail from Dublin to Derry on June 9th, arrive June 12th
DERRY Port Visit, June 12th to June 13th
Located at: Queens Quay
Open for visits:2.00pm to 6.00pm June 12th and 11.00am to 5.00pm June
13th.
Admission: €5 per adult, €12 per family and €3 concessions
Sail from Derry to Belfast on June 14th, arrive June 17th
BELFAST Port Visit, June 18th to June 20th
Located at: The Odyssey Centre
Open for visits:11.00am to 5.00pm each day
Admission: €5 per adult, €12 per family and €3 concessions
Sail from Belfast to Derry on June 21st, arrive June 24thth
Second DERRY Port Visit, June 25th to June
27th
Located at: Queens Quay
Open for visits:11.00am to 5.00pm each day
Admission: €5 per adult, €12 per family and €3 concessions
Sail from Derry to Killybegs on June 28th, arrive July 1st
KILLYBEGS Port Visit, July 2nd to July 4th
Open to the Public:11.00am to 5.00pm each day
Admission: €5 per adult, €12 per family and €3 concessions
PENINSULA
& ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY
EUROPEAN
SEAWAY which had been at A&P Falmouth acting as an accommodation
ship for crews off refitting P&O ships arrived at A&P Birkenhead
around 17:15 on June 10. She berthed in the wet basin.
EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY undertook a
special charter sailing in the early hours of this morning (13 June),
sailing Larne - Cairnryan at 04:30 with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and
road crew aboard. The band had played Dublin last night and are in
Edinburgh tonight.
The EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY usually lies
over at Cairnryan on a Saturday evening following the arrival of her
20:00 ex Larne, however last night she sailed for Larne again around
23:00 (believed light), berthing around 00:45 at Curran Quay. Following
her charter sailing she was back in position for her 07:30 Cairnryan -
Larne sailing. Last night provided a rare opportunity to see the
EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER (on MacKean Quay) and EUROPEAN CAUSEWAY berthed
together at Larne.
TORPOINT
FERRY
The Torpoint Ferry service could
be slashed when new 'superferries' are introduced on the crossing next
year. Proposals unveiled at a meeting last night would mean for 10 hours
a day just one of the three new superferries would be running and there
would be less frequent services, with fewer ferries, for most of the
rest of the day.
Ferry chiefs told the meeting in
Torpoint on June 08 that current proposals were to reduce the service
from three ferries to two outside peak times:
changing from a three-ferry, 10-minute service in the middle of the day
to a two-ferry, 15-minute one; and moving to a one-ferry half-hour
service from 8pm-6am when demand is lowest.
Members of the committee which
runs the vital Devonport-Torpoint link expressed concern and said
passengers would face longer waits.
Bridge and ferries manager David
List told the meeting that as the ferries were bigger and more costly to
run, he was looking to make 'reasonable economies' to keep costs down.
He said: "The real cost of a
two-way crossing is around £4 per vehicle, but we get only 70p."
Mr List added: "If we stuck to our present schedule, there would be
lots of spare capacity."
Joint committee member Sheryll
Murray from Millbrook said there were concerns over the proposed new
service.
She said: "The people of
Torpoint are being penalised by being made to wait longer for a ferry -
an extra 15-minute wait is not fair on the community."
Torpoint town councillor Ray
Skelly suggested keeping the present timetable after the new ferries
were introduced to test the effect.
Mr List said: "We can run
three ferries 24-7 but you will have to pay - if you are happy to pay
double the toll we can afford all sorts of things."
A number of options were
considered at the meeting, including a suggestion of raising tolls to up
to £5 for tourists while keeping them at 50p for locals.
Local man Mike Howells suggested
more flexibility was needed, and said extra ferries should be laid on
when queues started to build up.
Mr List said the logistics of
quickly bringing a ferry into service were difficult, particularly with
regards to staffing.
Torpoint resident 'Mac' Mackay
said locals were reluctant to use the ferries at present because of
their unreliability, and businesses were deterred from coming to
Torpoint.
Torpoint mayor Alan Brimacombe
argued: "It's important to maintain a 10-minute service in the day
when business activity is at its peak. SWERDA has just invested £6.1
million in Trevol Business Park, which will draw more traffic from
across the water."
Today Devon and Cornwall Business
Council chairman Tim Jones said reducing the frequency of the ferries
would be a backward step as economic growth in Plymouth looked to expand
into South East Cornwall.
He said: "It's not just about
commuters. It is about growing the capacity of Torpoint. It is up to
businesses to prove there is a demand there."
The new six-lane ferries, costing
almost £5 million each, should all be in service by autumn 2005.
Mr List said consultations were
still going on, and said proposals would be put to the Joint Committee
on July 2.
A&P
GROUP
A&P
Falmouth breaks the ice with two polar visitors
Just as the port of
Falmouth bids farewell to one polar travelling visitor, a second
icebreaking ship has sailed into the port for a scheduled refit at
A&P Falmouth. The Royal Navy's Antarctic Patrol Vessel HMS ENDURANCE
has just docked ahead of a multi million pound mid-life refit that is
scheduled to take four months. This is hot on the heels of the departure
of another icebreaker, the M/V Polar Star, which left Falmouth two weeks
ago following a refit.
The award of the refit
contract is a major coup for A&P Falmouth, as is the first of its
type to be awarded to a commercial shipyard for over a decade and
demonstrates the expertise and proven track record of Falmouth over
other competing yards which also bid for the contract.
Whilst in dry dock at
Falmouth, refit work on HMS ENDURANCE will include complete hull
blasting and repainting, general refit work, steelwork and the overhaul
of the main 3,000 hp engines and auxiliary equipment.
The fourteen year-old
Norwegian built Class-1 icebreaker was originally named MV Polar Circle.
The Royal Navy chartered her in 1991 and she was later commissioned as
HMS Polar Circle, subsequently being renamed HMS ENDURANCE.
Her mission, according to
the Royal Navy, is: 'To patrol and survey the Antarctic and South
Atlantic, maintaining Sovereign Presence with Defence Diplomacy and
supporting the global community of Antarctica'. During her annual
seven-month tours of duty of the Antarctic, the ship keeps close links
with the Foreign Office, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and the
British Antarctic Survey.
HMS ENDURANCE
Mr Child said: "We
are delighted to have been successful in attracting HMS ENDURANCE to
Falmouth and my journey to Portsmouth to accompany the ship to A&P
Falmouth is our way of showing the Royal Navy the importance of the
contract to the yard. "This is our second refit contract on an
icebreaker ship in a short period of time and we have relished the
opportunity to work on such specialised ships. We have just received a
glowing letter of gratitude from the President of Polar Star's parent
company praising the efforts of everyone at the yard for the work
carried out on their ship. I can only hope that the completion of HMS ENDURANCE
in October will meet a similar seal of approval from the Royal
Navy."
Only two weeks ago
A&P Falmouth completed a seven week refit contract on Finnish built
icebreaker M/V Polar Star which is operated as an expedition cruising
vessel by Polar Star Expeditions, a company of Karlsen Shipping.
M/V Polar Star is
equipped to carry up to 105 passengers on expedition cruises that by
definition are to remote destinations. On leaving Falmouth the ship is
bound for an expedition to Spitsbergen in Norway where passengers can
expect to see polar bears and reindeer along with other artic dwelling
mammals.
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