"SEAFRANCE CEZANNE" sold for scrap

Another former SEAFRANCE Ferry with the same fate as the "SEAFRANCE RENOIR" was the "SEAFRANCE CEZANNE". The ship was built in Sweden in 1980 by KOCKUMS VARV AB, she served SEAFRANCE from 1996 to 2011, she was withdrawn from the Dover/Calais service in 2010 and was then laid up at Dunkirk, the vessel was sold in 2011 to KIMYA SHIPPING and renamed "WESTERN LIGHT", she departed the French Port of Dunkirk in October 2011 to her final destination, Alang, she was 8920 GRT and had a cruising speed of 20 knots. Photo of "SEAFRANCE CEZANNE" taken in 2001 arriving Calais.

The end of the "SEAFRANCE RENOIR"

"SEAFRANCE RENOIR", another very nice ship that ended her days at Alang in India. Built as the "COTE D'AZUR" in 1981 by ATELIERS ET CHANTIERS DU HAVRE in France, she was 8.862 GRT and had a cruising speed of 18 knots propelled by Diesel engines, the ship had capacity for 330 cars and 43 freight vehicles. RENOIR served SEAFRANCE on the Calais to Dover route between 1996 and 2011. She was laid up at Dunkirk in 2010 and listed as "laid up" on the 2sd of June 2010. The ship was sold to EMILY SHIPPING INC in July 2011 and renamed "EASTERN LIGHT", in September she entered dry dock at Dunkirk for an inspection prior to her departure to the breakers at Alang, where she arrived on the 31st October 2011, the ship was finally beached on the 9th of November, she was a fine little looking ship and I have fond memories sailing on her. Photo taken last June at Dunkirk when the ship was laid up awaiting a decision on her future

HMS "ILLUSTRIOUS" at Portsmouth

Seen here at Portsmouth on the 24th of January is the "HMS ILLUSTRIOUS", the ship is the last remaining aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy, having been converted to operate helicopters with the retirement of the HARRIER aircraft, she was commissioned in 1982

THE QUEEN DIAMOND JUBILEE

2012 marks the 60 years of the reign of the QUEEN, to celebrate this extraordinary achievement celebrations and events will take place throughout the UK and abroad, one of the highlights of the celebrations will be the "THAMES RIVER PAGEANT", vessels from the UK, Commonwealth and other parts of the world will muster on the river Thames in preparation for the QUEEN's barge to lead the Pageant, it's expected that at least 1000 vessels will attend the event, it's the first major public event marking the Jubilee Celebrations and will take place on the 3rd of June. The project of transforming the "SPIRIT OF CHARTWELL" into the Royal Barge is led by Joseph Bennett, the vessel is 64 metres long. The QUEEN will reach the 60Th Anniversary on the throne tomorrow and the Jubillee Celebrations will take place from the 2sd to the 5th of June. Design of the Royal Barge included, taken from the BBC NEWS website. For all the events and celebrations of the QUEEN's DIAMOND JUBILEE please visit www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee

DFDS/LD LINES ready to start new Dover-Calais route

The new joint DFDS/LD LINES passenger and freight ferry service between Dover and Calais is due to start on the 17th of February with the French flagged "NORMAN SPIRIT", the ship was previously operated by LD LINES on the Portsmouth to Le Havre route, a second vessel will be operated as soon as a suitable ship is available and of course meets the new company's needs, please click link on post below to read the press release about the new service. Photos of the "NORMAN SPIRIT" last year at Le Havre

New Calais-Dover route - DFDS Seaways

New Calais-Dover route - DFDS Seaways:

'via Blog this'

Container ship "THURO MAERSK"

"THURO MAERSK" was built in 1991 by ODENSE STEEL SHIPYARD, she is owned by AP MOLLER MAERSK, the ship has 16.982GRT, she is seen here at the Portuguese Port of Leixoes, photo dated, the 20th January 2012

HMS "DAUNTLESS" to be sent to the Falkland Islands

As tensions rise between the UK and Argentina because of the Falklands, HMS "DAUNTLESS" the Royal Navy's most powerful warship is to be sent to the region, the ship is armed with a battery of missiles capable to take all of the South America's Aircraft let alone Argentina's. HMS "DAUNTLESS" was built in 2007 by BAE Systems at Govan and handed over to the Royal Navy in December of 2009, the ship was finally commissioned on the 3rd of June of 2010, "DAUNTLESS" has a top speed of over 30 knots and a displacement of 8000 tons. Photos of HMS "DAUNTLESS" in Portsmouth on the 24th January 2012

"CAP FINISTERE" at Santander

Seen here just arrived at Santander is the BF cruise ferry "CAP FINISTERE", the ship is starting to unload, she only stays in port for a mere three hours so the crew has to work hard to keep all ship shape and guarantee the turnaround, "CAP FINISTERE" has been a busy cruise ferry doing three crossings per week from the UK to Spain, a praise for the company and the crew to keep the ship so immaculate.

DOG FRIENDLY FERRIES

 

2012 has not been a good year for FERRIES so far, first the announcement of the liquidation of SEAFRANCE, the company is no longer trading, just last sunday, the Spanish operator NAVIERA ARMAS is no longer operating the Portugal/Madeira/Canary Islands service that provided for the past five years the only Maritime Link for passengers between Madeira and Continental Portugal, I  cannot comment on things that I am not duly informed, but it seems to me that for some, FERRIES are still regarded in a discriminatory manner and this is totally retrograde, FERRIES are vital for the development of our economies, they are ESSENTIAL, I would not like to live in a Island deprived from Maritime Transportation, this is going back in time. Moving to the point of this post, today our FERRIES are fast, comfortable, green and allow us to transport our cars and even our pets on allocated cabins and this is so reassuring. BRITTANY FERRIES is a big step ahead of the competition and they are to be congratulated for this, on my regular voyages on board their ferries I always hear favourable comments, many people would not travel otherwise, so it is my duty as a frequent FERRY passenger and someone dedicated and fully committed to develop everything related to FERRIES to mention and write a few words about this, the photos included speak for themselves and were taken on board "CAP FINISTERE" on crossings from the UK to Santander and Bilbao in Spain