A strange ship.

[DavidofMersea]

From West Mersea looking east through bins, probably somewhere off Jatwick, we can see a strange ship. This ship is white, and looks like some sort of cruise ship, but has 6 (I think) big black "things" sticking up.

One of my neighbours suggested it was something to do with a wind farm, but I did not think that they were building wind farms this far down the coast. Also this ship looks white, and this is not a usual colour for a workboat.

It is just too far for us to make out clearly. We are curious. Has anybody else seen this ship?

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[halcyon]

We had the wind farm laying ship in Falmouth. it is big, white and has 6 large legs.
Looked very odd when jacked up in the docks, driving into the village the hull was over the house roofs.

Brian

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[Cantata]

Indeed sounds like the wind farm ship. And you are getting a windfarm down your way, on the Gunfleet Sands!
Before that however it will be starting work on the Kentish Flats farm, 5 miles N of Whitstable.


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[tillergirl]

Went through the Spitway yesterday on the Balmoral and it appeared to actually be the other side of the mast erected on the Gunfleet for surveying the Sands for the Windfarm and clearly is to do with the erection of the Windfarm which we will be able to see from West Mersea. However, we can see the nucleur power station at Bradwell and that is seriously ugly. I don't know if it was an optical illusion but it appeared the hull was clear of the water and it was standing on the piers that look like masts.

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[DavidofMersea]

I live on Kingsland Beach in West Mersea right opposite the power station, and I spend most of my day looking at it, and I don't think it "is seriously ugly". The Bradwell shore is a long bleak shore, and the power station breaks up that bleakness. Also at night, when it is all lit up, it looks quite pretty.

I saw the Balmoral going up the Blackwater yesterday. I was told that it was supposed to go to Maldon, but only got as far as Thurslet - is this true?

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[tillergirl]

Well each to their own - some of us like bleak and I respect your right to like a rectangular concrete building - given the current rumours about re-opening you won't be deprived and maybe even we will be able to hear the whine of the generators again.

We were due to get the Balmoral at Maldon but on arrival there (they could have told us before) the car park attendant (who was the only person who had the courtesy to explain said that the expected captain had had a death in the family and the replacement didn't have a licence to go to Maldon. I think it would have been interesting to see her turn at Maldon - there was the usual collection of Barges on the Hythe. So we went to Brightlingsea where she came in a little late - whether she did a little excursion up the Blackwater first after she came down from Ipswich, I don't know. The weather wasn't the kindest but it was an interesting trip up to Tower Pier and of course having Tower Bridge open for us was kind of special - I guess I will only do that once in my lifetime.

She leans a bit to a gust aided by the passengers tending to favour the lee rail!

Back on buildings I can't say I'm impressed with the Dome at all but the Mayor of London's building is quite nice.

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[Bejasus]

'fraid I can't quite come to terms with the aesthetics of the buildings at either Bradwell or Sizewell, as much of a pain in the ass as they are, they have an ominous silhouette, and I would much rather look at the windmills. I only wish that one day, along with all the other ideas, they will become an acceptable and efficient means of supplying the power reqjuirements we require.

All IMHO

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[DavidofMersea]

Re: The Balmoral.

I think that the rumours about Bradwell re-opening are just that, rumours. I have a very close friend that is involved with Bradwell and if it was likely to re-open I would have heard about it.

Where did the Balmoral come from? Is this going to be a regular run, or was this a one off, and how did you get to hear about it Tillergirl? You are saying "it would have been intersting to see her turn in Maldon" What about turning in Brightlingsea? I would have thought that that was much tighter.

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[AndrewB]

Wind Surf

What you saw might have been the five-masted sailing cruise liner <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cruisediva.com/windsurf1.htm>Wind Surf</A>, which I watched leave Dover last Tuesday. Though why it should visit Jaywick would be rather a mystery.

 

[AndrewB]

PS ... pic

Forgot I'd taken this shot of her leaving ...

 

[charles_reed]

And here she is again

in palma de mallorca on 05 april 2003

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[tillergirl]

Re: The Balmoral.

She had come down from Ipswich that day but I think she has a varied itinery. A neighbour booked this trip up but I have seen the Balmoral and Waverley advertised in the Evening Gazette for a variety of different trips up and down the East Coast. I have looked but we don't have it any more.

Yes you are right about turning in Brightlingsea. I didn't see the turning of her because for security reasons were were not allowed onto the quayside at Brightlingsea until she had berthed, so the only sight we had of her docking was reversing up to the berth - she must have spun round in front of Stone and ? which I think has a little more room than Maldon but I accept not that much.

I was on the passenger flat immediately behind the bridge when she docked at Tower Pier. It was quite interesting watching how she came alongside with the captain juggling the port and starboard engine against each other - all very calm. I guess he could spin her on a sixpence if he wanted to.

Glad to hear what you say about Bradwell - Can I hold you to that - although without wishing to start another debate I am not sure that I prefer coal or oil burning power stations to nucleur. I flew from Stansted to Newcastle a copuple of years ago on a good clear day and the the smoke from Selby was streaming off downwind for miles and miles. I honestly can't conclude whether the certainty of the pollution from oil/coal burners is better than the possibility of nucleur radiation. Sure if the latter happens it will be a terrible disaster but the former is there for all to see and happening every day.

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[tillergirl]

Re: PS ... pic

No definitely not the vessel off Jaywick. It is clearly a working vessel.

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[Cantata]

Re: PS ... pic

Ship in question now jacked up on the Kentish Flats, 6nm north of Herne Bay.

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