I am reliably informed that the new ferry Cote d'alabatre will be udergoing berthing trials at Newhaven on 14 or 15 Feb. If she performs as well as her predessors -on the sandbank on 16th, Pete (*))
seems like a bit of a beast Andy, she has quite a beam on her! lets see what she does entering newhaven with a S/W force 8 mate, Seaford beach here she comes do you think. nice to know newhaven gets a new one after all these years. last new ferry on that run may have been the "V" class Villandry???? I can remember the arrival of the Brighton, half the town turned out to see it.
All except Lisieux and Brighton are purpose-built car ferries. These two were the last classic passenger steamers on the line.
Though not a N/D ship in that sense, you could also count the tug Meeching (1960, GB) as a newbuild, of course!
Every other ship on the run since 1950 has been a conversion (Falaise, Normannia) or has been elsewhere first. Take your pick here from the Compeigne (First car ferry to use the Newhaven linkspan - before the Falaise innaugurated the route) to the Sardinia Vera or Dieppe.
On one occasion when the Stena Cambria was on the run, before her P&O Stena days, she had to enter Newhaven in a 'bit of a blow' with one of her Holyhead masters as jockey. He went screaming through the entrance, put his port engine full astern (if memory serves me correctly) and with full bow thrust he went thundering up the harbour at a rate of knots where she came to a nice stop in the berth. All fast alongside, and with adrenalin running down his trouser legs, the Newhaven master who was acting as Pilot whispered "well done, we don't usually try that in winds above 45 knots!"
I know Billyboy! The Stena Cambria was a highly manoeuverable and powerful ship - lots of uff in the bow chuffter but when I paid my one and only visit to Newhaven in 2000 and from the west pier watched the Stena Cambria arrive (in P&O Stena colours) I could only smile at the thought of that tale!! (Applause)
billyboy said:
would love to have been a fly on the wheelhouse bulkhead when he done that cambria ... LOL
(?HUH) (?HUH) Well, the 14th has come and (almost) gone. No Valentine's present from Transmanche yet. Maybe tomorrow.... (?HUH)
Yes ferries and high winds go 'well' together here. I can remember being on Meeching on the 'wrong' side of Senlac at one time and on another seeing my Dad ring Full Ahead (unheard of, owing to the CE's dislike of high revs!) just to keep Senlac against the East Quay in an Easterly F9. Then there are all the exploits on the East Beach - come on, it's happened for years, even with the passenger steamers and cargo ships. That's what the beach is there for, to hoover up those who miss the entrance!
No sign, I've been looking out every hour or so since Tuesday. Maybe Seafordpete has some news......?
Andy
PS Maybe Friday then? Maybe they've lost her somewhere in Dieppe or think she's too good for poor old Newhaven. Still, what's a few days after 33 years!
"Hello everyone. I have not posted recently due to heavy workloads. I can exclusively reveal that the M/N Cote d'Albatre will arrive in Newhaven for berthing trials in the last week of february. It was due on the 13th feb but this has been delayed due to technical hitches. Meanwhile Barreras have started work on building her sister ship the 'M/N Seven Sisters'. We would like to wish you a pleasant navigation aboard Transmanche Ferries in the near future. The Dieppe will continue to serve the route along with the M/N Cote d'Albatre. The M/V Sardina Vera will return from its charter to the Nuova Trans Tirreno Express company."
Côte d'Albâtre leave Vigo thursday, arrive at Newhaven saturday or sunday and arrive at Dieppe monday 10h00.
The first commercial crossing sunday 5 march
Pierre Launay
Sat in carpark at Newhaven today for three hours just in case! - rien.
Pilot went out and backtwice in that time - don't know what for.
Will return to car park tomorrow. By the way does anyone know where the daily shipping movements in/out/by Newhaven are posted publicaly?
I don't think they post movements any more. I'll be looking out all morning - getting someone else to do Sunday lunch. (*)) If she arrives, I'll put a quick post in this thread.
Just got back, frozen ,nothing there again except about 8 other cars with occupants staring out into the wild blue yonder. the Sardine arrived on berth at about 1130 and still there with the bow up at 1245. sad to say but isn't this typical of this route? P***ed off Pete formerley SeafordPete
I was told on Wednesday by one of the RNLI that it was definite for Sunday and their training was going later so they were available just in case...or was it as a welcoming escort?. They normally go out 9-10am Sundays, today they left 1130 prompt, looked like the did some RV drills with a small vessel for about 40 minutes and then returned. Pete
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ships Nostalgia
1.1M posts
124.7K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to Ships, boats, and vessel owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about crew logs, maritime history, shipping lines, shipwrecks, cruise ships, weather, and more!