25 January 2012Spirit of France entering Dover Harbour for the first time....
See also the updated LIFEBOAT story below..
In the weak morning sun of a few minutes ago (saturday 11am) the fabulous new P & O ship Spirit of France arrived. Our two tug boats Doughty and Dauntless guided her in with one spraying a mighty greeting into the sunlit air. Great to see the arrival...pity both tugboats couldn't spray their usual dynamic welcome but nevertheless the greeting was terrific. She makes a very very useful addition to the depleted cross channel operation. See also the thread in our Forum for more pictures and comments. PB.
http://www.doverforum.com/letters/viewtopic.php?id=9243
The two central pictures here are by PAUL SAMPSON..many thanks to Paul for sending them in.
P&O Ferries has taken delivery of its second new €180 million ship, Spirit of France, during a handover ceremony at the STX Europe shipyard in Rauma, Finland.
Spirit of France then began its 1,400 mile voyage to Dover under the command of Captain Steve Johnson, Senior Master. The estimated time of arrival at Dover is 11.00hrs on Saturday 28 January. Final preparations will then be made for the new ship to take up service on the Dover – Calais route by mid February.
At more than 47,000 gross tons and 213 metres in length, Spirit of France, and sister ship Spirit of Britain which began service last year, are the largest ferries ever built for the Dover Strait. The combined cost of €360 million is the largest investment ever made by P&O Ferries.
Helen Deeble, chief executive, said: “This investment gives us the finest cross-Channel ferries ever commissioned for the Dover Strait and is a bold statement of our determination to continue to raise the bar in terms of the quality and comfort of ferry travel. I look forward to welcoming customers on board the first sailing of Spirit of France in due course.”
Spirit of France particulars:
Gross tonnage: 47,592 tons. Length: 213m. Beam: 31.43m. Number of decks: 12.
Capacity: 170 x 15m lorries + 195 cars (or 1,000 cars). 2,000 passengers.
Picture shows the Spirit of France departing Rauma in Finland and heading for the Port of Dover.
*See also the thread in our Forum with picture of the ship in snowy Finland.
http://www.doverforum.com/letters/viewtopic.php?id=9243
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UPDATE:
Dover Lifeboat Crew will be ‘rowing’ to Chiswick for RNLI SOS day challenge.
Also check out the threads in our Forum for the latest on this event.
Picture above just in directly from Tony Hawkins from RNLI and it shows the full team taking up the rowing challenge on saturday...and who do we see rowing madly in the thick of it all??...yes its Town Mayor Cllr Ronnie Philpott herself. The Lifeboat guys want to thank the people of Dover for their generosity in these austere times...sum raised was
£782.87
Earlier:Dover’s RNLI volunteers are getting ready to support the charity’s national day of Fundraising with a static rowing machine challenge. This year they are going to attempt to row the equivalent distance to Chiswick lifeboat station on the River Thames.
The event will take place on Saturday 28th January in Biggin Street outside St Mary’s Church. Over the last three years the crew have raised more than £5000 with their SOS day challenge events and are hoping that the people of Dover will be generous once again with their support.
The lifeboat crew will be taking it in turns to clock up the miles with a target distance of 105 miles (171km). Chiswick lifeboat station was chosen as this year’s ‘destination’ as it is the station where Dover lifeboat Coxswain, Mark ‘Foggy’ Finnis works his shifts as a full time lifeboatman.
The imaginary route will see the crew pass seven other RNLI lifeboat stations as they go around North Foreland, past the Isle of Sheppey and through the Thames Estuary before going through the centre of London.
Dover Coxswain, Mark Finnis said: “Unfortunately, I am working at Chiswick on the 28th but I’ll keep up to date with progress throughout the day. I’ve promised the crew I’ll have a bottle of champagne ready for their arrival at Chiswick but, if they are only going to row an imaginary route, I think I’ll get away with an imaginary bottle.
On a more serious note these challenges show the public the commitment we have to ensure the funding of the RNLI continues in the current difficult financial climate and that we are able to remain fully able to respond to emergencies at sea.”
Chairman of the Dover Lifeboat Fundraisers, Barbara Stapleton said: “Our volunteer crewmen and women go out in all weathers, so it's vital that we raise funds to ensure that their training and equipment is of the highest standard. We want our volunteers and the people they rescue to come home safely.”
Picture shows Dover Lifeboat returning home in rough weather. Many thanks to Martin Collins for picture and story.
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