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Post by mossie on Aug 29, 2016 15:05:40 GMT
Sorry for more, but have nothing better to do on a sunny Bank Holiday morning. Here is a dredger about to drop the dredge in cleaning the channel into Felistowe dock And here she is dredging, basically a powerful pump is sucking up all the rubbish and accumulated sand and shingle into the hold and the water is drained off. Here is the Oraholm, a chemical/ oil products tanker on her way to Zeebrugge
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 29, 2016 16:20:36 GMT
Well, I've missed all the new stuff you posted here in July and August, but it's very nice to look at it all at once. The pictures on this page are wonderful. I'll bet the companies that own those boats would be happy to pay for your photos to display in their offices, the pictures are so clear and beautifully composed.
I really, really appreciate your coverage of tugboats on page 3. The big boats so often get the attention, but the tugboats are doing difficult, specialized work and are quite adorable in their sturdy smallness.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2016 17:00:54 GMT
I absolutely adore this thread.
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Post by mossie on Nov 27, 2016 19:30:16 GMT
Took my morning mug of coffee in the cafe at the viewing point on Felixstowe dock this morning. One of the latest monster ships was tied up in the new berths specially built to take them. This is the largest I have seen to date, capacity 19,600 boxes. Walking along the shore to the little jetty opposite the old fort I could see there was another one in front, couldn't see the name but it was a similar size. Turning 90 degrees here is part of the old fort which once guarded the estuary It is an excellent vantage point where one can gain some idea of the scale of the dock there was also a big drilling rig across the estuary in the port of Harwich, no doubt for work on preparing foundations for a wind farm Incidentally there was a TV programme recently which visited anew Chinese super port from which these monstrous boats sail, the commentator said it covered 140 square miles compared to our largest port, Felixstowe a tiddler at 13 sq miles.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 27, 2016 20:03:10 GMT
140 square miles -- that's not a dock, that's a city!
Felistowe is certainly impressive enough. I really appreciate the pictures of the docked container ships. Are the arms extending out over them part of the offloading apparatus?
In the bottom picture, on the right side -- what are the little colored buildings? Also, is that an old lighthouse or some kind of modern control tower right there in the middle?
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Post by mossie on Nov 27, 2016 20:36:22 GMT
Bixa, the arms are the jibs of the dockside cranes which load and unload the boxes from or to the lorries which transport them, either from or to a container park on the dock, or direct from or to an external destination. The loading and unloading schedule is a really complex computer controlled job because the ship runs to a timetable. This one called at 3 or 4 ports in China before calling at Suez and then transitting the Suez Canal to Algesiras in Spain and then on to Felixstowe. From here it goes to Holland and Germany before returning to China for more jolly junk. boxes are loaded and offloaded as required throughout the route. It is reputedly cheaper to bring a box from China to Felixstowe than it is to road it the 100 miles or so from Felixstowe to Birmingham.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 1, 2016 16:17:54 GMT
Thanks for that information, Mossie. Any idea why the overland transportation cost is so high?
Really love this thread and looking forward to all the updates.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2016 7:44:54 GMT
Here is a wonderful time waster. You can zoom in anywhere and even see exactly at which dock each ship is moored: www.vesselfinder.com/
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Post by gabriele on Dec 2, 2016 9:13:31 GMT
Since I just came across the link on FB for this wonderful thread, I'm going to comment from starting page on... From our old friend at Seat 61, there is now rail/ferry service from Cambridge or London to Amsterdam. Ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland, then rail to Amsterdam. Sleep on the ship and good food too, all for a decent price: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=87948&src=veThe Panama Canal is completed but while it allows ships up to a third larger the monster ships still have to make other plans. The drought which has affected other parts of the west coast of the Americas has impacted the sources of water for raising and lowering the locks so there can be some draft problems with some of the larger ships. In the Eastern Med Egypt built (and quite quickly) an additional canal alongside the existing Suez Canal and it's handling some of the huge ships and providing a much faster transit: egyptianstreets.com/2015/08/02/7-things-you-should-know-about-egypts-new-suez-canal/and yes, it's another vessel from our friend CMA-CGM. An agency I worked for handled their vessels for a while (then they opened their own offices) so I know them pretty well. The fact that they're French helped. But as a ship's captain/port captain I knew said, 'they have a French company, they're still Armenians'. He was German with a dry sense of humor. Maersk Lines just bought Hamburg Sud so they're probably the largest company now but they have other business interests besides shipping. With the big mega-ships several lines will join together and share vessels on particular trade routes. So when one of the big ones comes into port they're probably carrying containers for three or four other lines along with their own. The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are side by side so while there are thousands of people working in the harbor (blue & white collar) people know each other. And the gossip. In the harbor Customs is God but even they can't stop people talking. Now, about the wind farms. I get emails every week from NOOA with great photos from space. Here's an article with photos about the arrays of wind farms in the Channel/La Manche: earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=89063&eocn=image&eoci=moreiotdIf the subject interests you there's a link at the bottom for a list of wind farms. As far as containerization, it was one man who started it: www.imcbrokers.com/blog/overview/detail/malcolm-mclean-the-inventor-of-iso-shipping-containersHe was a true legend. I got started in the industry working for an importer/exporter in 1984 and part of my heart is always in the harbor. I still follow the news. For the longest period of time a law firm that specialized in cargo law sent out a monthly newsletter, then other websites came along but it's still an extraordinary resource of history and especially for examples of good ships in bad places. www.cargolaw.com/gallery.htmlOne of my favorite stories (and it's funny) is www.cargolaw.com/2006nightmare_apl_panama.htmlThe Captain was in a hurry to get into port and didn't wait for the pilot. The ship ended up on the beach. And couldn't be moved. And here's another CMA-CGM ship not quite herself....(I handled cargo on that ship for another line--massive headaches): www.cargolaw.com/2001nightmare_orion.htmlIf you're interested in modern maritime news, www.gcaptain.comK2, CMA-CGM does have cabins on many of their ships; thecruisepeople.wordpress.com/tag/cma-cgm/There are other European lines which offer transport on freighters, Hapag-Lloyd is one, I know there are others. I always wanted to work on board a ship (no fancy cruising for me) but I'd have to be in the Merchant Marine (and be older than I was at the time) but it was still a dream. I did get to visit a lot of ships so I'm thankful for that. K2, you might see if you can get a used copy of John McPhee's Looking for a Ship. It's history now, but still a good story. The CMA-CGM Benjamin Franklin came into port last December; I considered going down to look at her but when you've seen a lot of the really big ships, about all you can do is say "____". What is sad is that they are so boxy they have no beauty. I prefer the older ones, there was still a spirit of adventure about them. The big ones are like a giant warehouse on water. I think someone asked about why it cost so much to move the cargo inland. There's the actual cost for the physical move and then there's all the costs for getting the cargo from the ship to the dock to the truck, out the gate and off to the warehouse. One thing that most people don't think about is the cost of cargo insurance. And with people willing to do anything to get a container load of electronic goods for the black market..well, insurance pays the customer but then the customer pays higher insurance rates...as do the truckers, etc. I don't know what the limit is for drivers in the UK but most places there's a limit as to the actual time a driver can be behind the wheel and they have to keep logbooks. So long distance, have to have two drivers to trade off. I'm sure there are some unions. And because of the time limits a driver can't take a load inland and then turn around and bring a load to the docks...not in one day. The fuel efficiency on the big rigs isn't that great so you've got big fuel bills. Then the shipping lines charge a form of rent on containers once they're taken from the dock and that can mount up. The trucking companies usually have to provide their own chassis or pay to rent a pool chassis...so much per day...so more money. But that's getting far afield from the great photos of Felistowe, the port, the city (love those houses), all the working boats always busy...my favorite of all of them is the grey one, grey clouds, almost grey water...made me think of John Masefield: "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking." Mossie, you're very fortunate to be close enough to go there and watch the changes and the things that don't change.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 2, 2016 16:02:29 GMT
Goodness gracious, Gabriele ~ what a wonderful addition to this thread! My curiosity about how ports work, container ships, etc. has certainly been piqued ever since Mossie started this report. You have answered a bunch of questions I didn't even know I had. Mossie, just wanted to say again how much I enjoy this ongoing report and always look forward to more of the history, human interest, and facts that you bring us.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2016 16:07:29 GMT
I am going to start investigating the possibility of taking a cargo ship again next month, with a target date in April. Since it mostly depends on whether a friend is willing to drive across Guatemala to pick me up, finding space on the ship and buying a ticket is really secondary. Apparently, air travel works quite well, too...
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Post by bjd on Dec 2, 2016 17:07:30 GMT
Thanks for all that information, Gabriele. I bookmarked the page about sailings, although it's not likely I will use it. But I can daydream even though it's true that those massive cargo ships are not very attractive.
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Post by mossie on Dec 2, 2016 17:33:34 GMT
Many thanks for the links Gabriele. I know little about shipping, it is just that I did a lot of work on Felixstowe Dock and Harwich and Ipswich, but have never been on one of those boats.
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Post by lugg on Dec 2, 2016 19:42:27 GMT
Loved the new additions to this fab thread thank you Mossie. Cargo ships - such behemoths . Thanks for the additional links Gabriel - really interesting.
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Post by gabriele on Dec 4, 2016 22:55:21 GMT
This is my favorite ship. She was built in Germany and brought to the US to handle cargo up and down the west coast of Central and North America. She was the Tequila Sunshine at the time and her sister ship was the Tequila Moonshine. She'd carry cargo from Vancouver down to Nicaragua and ports in between. The honey company I worked for had some containers of wild jungle honey coming in from Nicaragua. Wonderful flavor, very fragrant and no trace of bitterness. The sales rep for the company that handled the line gave me a brochure on the ships and I knew I wanted to see one. They're quite small, low draft so they can go in small harbors and with their own tackle (the cranes) on board, the don't need onshore cranes. The cargo hold can be opened up to hold containers or break bulk forest products, or a mixture. When visiting a ship it's a good idea to bring a gift so I got a basket and filled it with things a German crew might appreciate. I was shown the bridge, the safety apparatus (the pod mounted on the side of the ship which could contain the (few) crew members. Grand tour over I was asked if there was anything else? I asked to see the engine room. The brochure had info on the power unit and I wanted to see it. I'm afraid my motives were misunderstood and it was thought that I wanted to be alone with one of the officers. Not so! I spent the whole time quizzing him about what grade of bunker they used, where the engines as efficient as claimed? How well did the ship handle the small Central American ports? And on and on. It was funny when we went back to the bridge...I don't speak German but I know he disappointed them greatly when he told them I only wanted to talk about the ship and the power plant. www.shipspotting.com/ships/ship.php?imo=8410354The same ship was used in Lethal Weapon 2...as the Alba Varden: lethalweapon.wikia.com/wiki/Alba_VardenNow I have a question for everyone: A German cruise ship is going to be calling the West Coast, including the Port of Eureka (Humboldt county). The port used to handle forest product vessels, but no more. They're trying to bring more business (non-grow kind) so the locals are trying to come up with things for the visitors on the ship to do while the ship is in port. Here's the cruise: www.hl-cruises.com/cruisefinder/EUR1708The suggestions are: seeing the Victorian houses and buildings that date from the time of the lumber barons. The most attractive is a private club and no admission to anyone. The houses there are attractive but not all that more interesting than the ones in Felixstowe---or any of so many quaint/pretty towns I've seen in WE. Second choice: Go on a tour to see how oysters are farmed in Humboldt Bay. My thoughts: Since anyone who wants to know more about oyster farming can go to Brittany and not just see them raised and harvested but eat them fresh at any of a number of great places close to the beach. Would Germans pay for something like that? I can't imagine a well-to-do French couple doing it...and they'll be there in a month that doesn't have an 'R'. Third: A visit to the Humboldt Grove of Redwoods. That I can see. They're beautiful, awe-inspiring and a quick coach trip from the harbor. The travellers are going to be having gourmet meals on board the ship so there is nothing local that could be offered that would be worth it (except that people need to eat). My thought for suggestion #4 would be a visit (north of the redwoods, the highway parallels the ocean) to the Yurok Tribe's Visitor Center which also has info on the rest of the area. Native crafts are displayed (well-known for their basket work especially) as well as an introduction to the history and culture. I know people I got to know in the Ariege were very interested in American Indians and that I'd lived near three reservations and knew about their lives...always questions. So what are your thoughts---do you think this is something that would be unique enough and accessible enough that it would be of interest to people on the cruise? There would be extra costs for any of the off-ship activities so they need to be worthwhile. visityurokcountry.com/see-do/And yes, volunteers from the three local tribes have gone to be at Standing Rock. One thing happening this year that makes me proud to be an American...and proud of Native Americans.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2016 23:05:45 GMT
That photo indeed shows the kind of ship I would like to take. But I know that in reality I will be on a boxy container ship, hopefully not too huge.
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Post by bjd on Dec 5, 2016 6:32:27 GMT
re Gabriele's questions about things to see from a cruise. I wouldn't bother getting off a ship to see oysters being harvested or to look at Victorian houses, but would do so to see nature,like the redwoods -- I don't think there is anything similar in Europe or in many other countries, and also the Native American visitor centre. As long as it is informative and not just a place where they try to sell you stuff.
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Post by mossie on Feb 19, 2017 12:09:44 GMT
A rather misty and not at all busy dock this morning. Chinese industry must be slowing down.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 19, 2017 15:28:02 GMT
Nice to be transported on a Sunday morning from my dry-season home to a misty shore. Great picture, Mossie and so interesting to see all the workings of the dock still and empty for a change.
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Post by htmb on Feb 19, 2017 18:23:49 GMT
Including the person fishing along the shore in your photo really helps give it some perspective. The dock area looks like a huge operation.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 21:16:11 GMT
Having just been in Le Havre, I am struck by the similarities of the industrial port view.
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Post by mossie on Jul 19, 2017 18:39:07 GMT
For a change at my last visit to Felixstowe, and worrying about my fitness for my next Paris visit, I decided to park at the pier car park, walk along the prom and up Bent Hill into the town. First I decided to do a little beachcombing and went down to the waters edge, but strictly no paddling. Note the dock cranes on the horizon Then it was up to the prom Got to do a little boasting here, this is asphalt that i was responsible for mixing and laying, and it was done over 30 years ago. Granted it gets very little vehicular traffic, only the dustcart picking up rubbish from the bins and the sweeper to remove sand and shingle chucked up by very high tides. It does get very much foot traffic, see how the matrix has gradually been worn down and the stone stands a little proud. The stone incidentally is red Mountsorrel Leicestershire granite, which Cheery may recognise. Then it was up into the town for a coffee and a little shopping before walking back. Coming to the top of the hill back to the pier this monster ship was just heading out of Felixstowe Dock. Aptly named Titan. So home for lunch
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 20, 2017 4:15:01 GMT
Lovely to see this. Does no one go to this part of the coast in the summer?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 20, 2017 15:44:52 GMT
Always happy to see more of Feliixstowe and its dock. Exceptionally nice road there!
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Post by mossie on Jul 20, 2017 15:58:46 GMT
Felixstowe gets many visitors like me from the surrounding area, and also some from further afield. There are a couple of hotels in the town and two or three caravan,US trailer, parks, where people rent by the week for a holiday. When we lived in Bucks we did it once, memorable because the caravan was right by the sea wall and we had a high tide one night which woke us because of the noise of the waves slamming against the wall and also because our youngest, aged about 1 at the time, put his hand on the stove to haul himself up and burnt his fingers. It all makes for the holiday spirit. In the days before the main road in was improved because of the dock traffic, weekends were chaos with long queues of traffic from Ipswich heading for a day at the seaside. On Sundays now there is a very popular market just off the front and it can be impossible to find a parking space.
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Post by mossie on Jul 24, 2017 14:21:24 GMT
The dock was quite busy this morning with 2 superships on the new quay and several more on the other quays. As I had finished my coffee and was ready to go home I noticed the nearest big boat was casting off and the front tug was preparing to help heave it away from the quayside, so I went outside and readied the camera. Both vessels had good power on and she slowly pulled clear. A little girl who had been throwing stones into the sea paused to watch. I suppose all kids amuse themselves sinking stones at the seaside In the meantime this old barge, now a pleasure cruiser, was crawling down the far side of the estuary and I went home to sort out my Sunday lunch.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 24, 2017 16:01:28 GMT
Your photographs are always a pleasure to see, Mossie, and as here, so often informative as well. It's fascinating to see those massive vessels either dock or get underway, and of course the role of the tugs is crucial.
That old barge must be very old indeed, seeing as how it has sails. Any idea how long ago those were in common use?
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Post by mossie on Jul 30, 2017 19:08:04 GMT
Not such a massive vessel today, although there were a couple berthed, but this is the Vitim. This belongs to the big Maersk Line which runs the massive ships, but is a tramp serving smaller ports between Turkey and Finland. Today it left Felixstowe en route for Kotka in Finland. Kotka is a small port close to the Russian border and near St Petersburg. I quite often go down to Felixstowe on a Sunday morning just to get out of the house. The viewing area is just outside the dock complex and has a large car park and this visitor centre and cafe, which is very popular. In the other direction from the dock is the Landguard Fort and nature reserve where it is possible to have a decent walk. Here is the cafe etc, you can see how easy it is to see the boats, and if any are leaving or arriving, they have to sail past it. there are generally keen ship spotters there with their little radios listening to the ship to shore messages.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 31, 2017 19:22:18 GMT
It is endlessly interesting to see the loading and unloading of cargo at Felixstowe Dock. Today it left Felixstowe en route for Kotka in Finland Mossie, is that information posted on a board, or do you check a shipping news column or something to find out? I can certainly see the appeal of the Dock for a Sunday outing, especially with the very pleasant seeming visitors' center and the cafe.
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Post by mossie on Aug 2, 2017 15:15:36 GMT
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