Maritime Features

A Year in Review – December 2015

This post is the 7th installment of my series ‘A Year in Review‘ and features a selection of my own photography from December 2015


December

The main talking point in December was once again the weather. Storm Desmond hit on the 5-6th December, storm Eva hit on the 24th December and Storm Frank rounded the year off between the 29-30th of December.  Despite the wind and rain East Kent has been lucky compared to the North of the country which has seen unprecedented flooding.

One local casualty of the often very rough seas has been the main railway line linking Dover Priory to London Charing Cross and St Pancras. To the West of Dover the railway runs along the seawall towards Shakespeare tunnel and on Christmas Eve large cracks were discovered in the wall and sinkholes were discovered very close to the railway line. This resulted in the immediate closure of the railway line with no estimate of when it will reopen. However long it takes it is going to cost millions to fix. I think this December will go down as being the wettest and one of the windiest on record.

December also saw the arrival of the Royal Navy warship HMS Kent on the 7th December for a courtesy visit. Thankfully the sun was out for her arrival and the local port tugs DHB Dauntless and DHB Doughty made good use of the assembled crowd on the Prince of Wales pier to demonstrate how maneuverable there ASD 3110 Z drive tractor tugs are (Yes I did have to look that up). Thanks for the spectacle guys, it was rather impressive ☺ All port users know that the tugs and their crews are the unsung heros and you have certainly proved your worth over the last few months.

On December 16th following an unsuccessful bid to retain and operate the Nord Pas de Calais on a freight only service between Dover and Calais Groupe Eurotunnel announced that the vessel would be placed on the sales market.

My year rounded off with a trip to Calais and Dunkerque on Christmas Eve in the grip of storm Eva. December is the beginning of refit season and no less than five ferries were in or near the Damen shipyard in Dunkerque.


The DHB Dauntless getting up close and personal with the assembled photographers at the end of the Prince of Wales pier waiting for the HMS Kent

The DHB Dauntless getting up close and personal with the assembled photographers at the end of the Prince of Wales pier – now lets waltz….

© Ray Goodfellow

The DHB Dauntless putting on a show for the assembled photographers at the end of the Prince of Wales pier

  

  

  

  

  

The DHB Dauntless puts on a show for the assembled photographers at the end of the Prince of Wales pier

With the maneuvering demonstration over, the DHB Dauntless is joined by her sister the DHB Doughty to welcome the warship HMS Kent to Dover and to aid her to her berth at Cruise Terminal 1

Sisterly Love – the DHB Dauntless and DHB Doughty bowing to each other before heading for HMS Kent

The Harbour Patrol/Pilot vessel Dovorian returning to her berth after landing the port pilots on HMS Kent

The DHB Dauntless escorts HMS Kent through the Eastern entrance

HMS Kent heads across the bay for her berth at Cruise Terminal 1

With the DHB Dauntless (bow) and the DHB Doughty (stern) made fast HMS Kent commences her turn in the Western entrance

HMS Kent turning in the Western entrance before going astern to her berth at Cruise Terminal 1

HMS Kent turning in the Western entrance before going astern to her berth at Cruise Terminal 1

With the DHB Dauntless (bow) and the DHB Doughty (stern) made fast HMS Kent turns in the Western entrance

With the DHB Dauntless (bow) and the DHB Doughty (stern) made fast HMS Kent turns in the Western entrance

With the DHB Dauntless (bow) and the DHB Doughty (stern) made fast HMS Kent turns in the Western entrance

Turn complete, HMS Kent comes astern to her berth

The White Ensign, is the ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George’s Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton. It was great to see it being flown in our port once again

The DHB Dauntless (bow) and the DHB Doughty (stern) maneuver HMS Kent to her berth

The Spirit of Britain departs Dover as the weather conditions deteriorate further 

The Dover Seaways is seen at the Eastern entrance during another period of windy weather on the 21st December

The Dover Seaways is seen at the Eastern entrance during another period of windy weather on the 21st December

The DHB Doughty assisting the Malo Seaways during another period of windy weather on the 21st December

The Malo Seaways departing the Western entrance during another period of windy weather on the 21st December

Job done, the DHB Doughty is seen heading back to the tug haven in the Western docks

The Malo Seaways departing the Western entrance during another period of windy weather on the 21st December

A rather weather worn Pride of Burgundy is assisted to her berth by the DHB Doughty on Christmas Eve

Departing the Port of Dover into a South Westerly gale force 9 on the Pride of Kent on Christmas Eve

The European Seaway and the Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) pictured at the shipyard of Damen Dunkerque on Christmas Eve

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) pictured in her new DFDS livery at the shipyard of Damen Dunkerque on Christmas Eve

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) pictured in her new DFDS livery and now registered in Le Havre

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) pictured in her new DFDS livery. The new livery consists of a darker shade of blue and restyled company name and logo

The European Seaway high and dry in the floating dry dock of Damen Dunkerque. Work is underway to reinstate her bow doors to allow her to operate in drive thru mode

The European Seaway high and dry in the floating dry dock of Damen Dunkerque. Work is underway to reinstate her bow doors to allow her to operate in drive thru mode

The European Seaway high and dry in the floating dry dock of Damen Dunkerque. In this shot her bow thrusters are visable

Another visitor to Dunkerque over the Christmas period was the Seven Sisters from the Newhaven to Dieppe route. Photographers often complain about the sun being in the wrong place but I think it adds to this photograph

Another visitor to Dunkerque over the Christmas period was the Seven Sisters from the Newhaven to Dieppe route

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) and Côte des Flandres (ex Berlioz) at Damen Dunkerque

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) and Côte des Flandres (ex Berlioz) at Damen Dunkerque

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) and Côte des Flandres (ex Berlioz) at Damen Dunkerque

Stern view of the European Seaway high and dry in the floating dry dock of Damen Dunkerque receiving attention to her propulsion systems

Stern view of the European Seaway high and dry in the floating dry dock of Damen Dunkerque

The Côte des Dunes (ex Rodin) pictured in her new DFDS livery


All photographs on this page were taken with either a Canon EOS 550D, Canon EOS 700D or a Panasonic Lumix FZ72.

I would like to remind you that the photos on this page may not be used without prior permission. If you require high-resolution non watermarked copies of any of my photos for your own private collection or for publication please free to get in contact to discuss your requirements.

All photographs unless otherwise stated are the © copyright of Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos) 2016, All rights reserved.

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