Rock Ships/Barges Slightly West Of Solent....

[Mark-1]

Rock Ships/Barges Slightly East Of Solent....

This was about today, clearly moving or perhaps transferring cargo about with a jcb bucket kind of arangement. Can anyone identify the vessels involved and explain why they were moving cargo about at sea rather than in a port. Can anyone say where these rocks will end up? To be used locally?


http://i39.tinypic.com/2hns28m.jpg

In spite of the title, I mean East, not west!!!

 

[sarabande]

looks like granite armouring for sea defences. Yeomans (of Somerset) bring in large amounts from Norway.

 

[Giblets]

If it was east of the Solent then it would probably be for the sea defences being constructed on the western side of Chichester Harbour entrance as there is a barge out there at the moment for just that purpose but to the west of Solent??????????

Any idea of the name of the tug alongside?

 

[prr]

This was about today, clearly moving or perhaps transferring cargo about with a jcb bucked kind of arangement. Can anyone identify the vessels involved and explain why they were moving cargo about at sea rather than in a port. Can anyone say where these rocks will end up? To be used locally?


http://i39.tinypic.com/2hns28m.jpg

I would guess that it would be changing the trim from deeper at the stern (towing) to a more level trim for crossing a bar or shallower water.

 

[Mark-1]

If it was east of the Solent then it would probably be for the sea defences being constructed on the western side of Chichester Harbour entrance as there is a barge out there at the moment for just that purpose but to the west of Solent??????????

Sorry, finger trouble - EAST!

Not sure of the tug name but Marine Traffic suggests Afon Alaw has been in about the right spot right all day.

I would guess that it would be changing the trim from deeper at the stern (towing) to a more level trim for crossing a bar or shallower water.

That fits with Giblet's theory.

 

[Giblets]

http://www.conservancy.co.uk/notices/view/97/

 

[Mark-1]

http://www.conservancy.co.uk/notices/view/97/

Thanks Giblets, I owe you a beer.

 

[Greenheart]

Anything to do with this weird-looking thing, off Ryde pier last week? From the beach, it looked like it wasn't floating...more like an artificial island:

View attachment 32774

 

[DJE]

The same barge has been delivering rock for the sea defence schemes at Medmerry and Bunn Leisure just west of Selsey for some time. They bring the rock direct from a quarry in scandinavia on a big ship and then tranship to the barge in deep water. The barge runs up the beach at high water and they push the rock off with dozers and excavators. The brage floats off on the next tide and the contractors go and fetch the rock with excavators and dump trucks at low water. Bunn Leisure are building some offshore rock islands to protect their beach; they might make an interesting anchorage when finished. Environment agency are re-aligning the sea wall at Medmerry as part of a "managed retreat" scheme.

Edit: I found a Youtube clip! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7-IRezoXA

 

[Mark-1]

Thanks DJE. I'll wander down and have a look at that, I think.