Playing about on the river

Alex Brown · 05 February 2006, 15:56

Myself and a mate from work went out on the river this morning. Apart from a few commercial vessels and the odd sailing boat thingy it was just us creating ripples on the rather rough river.

Pic1: Watwick Beach, two bays round from Dale.
Pic2: Rambiz preparing for a 1000ton lift at South Hook this morning.
Pic3: 20knots down river.
Pic4: Rowers playing around down river by Texaco.

-Alex

Alex Brown · 05 February 2006, 16:01

Pic1: Looking across to Texaco in the rough conditions
Pic2: Downriver pic, by this time we were about to go in since it was getting hard holding onto things given the rough weather conditions.
Pic3: The sun pokes through a gap in the clouds to shine on the Smit Beaver (tug).

For those of you with 512k broadband, go here for this mornings video:-
http://videos.ribseadrive.co.uk/512k...05_02_06_small
Unless you want to download the 768kbps video, which is here instead:-
http://files.ribseadrive.co.uk/cruis...2-06_large.wmv

I've been trying to get the digicam fixed to the a-frame with mixed results. I think the next attempt will be in an ip rated box bolted to the radar reflector higher up but with the DV Camcorder in, padded by lots of foam to reduce the vibration.

-Alex

Millermob · 05 February 2006, 16:29

Looks like you had fun in those REALLY rough conditions, what song was on the video? i quite liked it. Thanks

codprawn · 05 February 2006, 17:41

What a grey day!!! Was quite different when I went down there in August - lovely blue skies!!!

Quite a good video - remember higher the shutter speed the less shakes you get so on a sunny day it should be a lot better!!!

Andy Moore · 05 February 2006, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millermob

Looks like you had fun in those REALLY rough conditions, what song was on the video? i quite liked it. Thanks

SHAZAM tagged THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS: "Galaxy Bounce".Go to http://www.shazam.com/r/FY3HWY to buy ringtones and downloads.

woot · 08 February 2006, 22:07

I must have just missed you Alex, I was on that very same bit of water at around 11.30ish. Did you get my PM last week?

Srellom · 09 February 2006, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Brown

Myself and a mate from work went out on the river this morning. Apart from a few commercial vessels and the odd sailing boat thingy it was just us creating ripples on the rather rough river.

Pic1: Watwick Beach, two bays round from Dale.
Pic2: Rambiz preparing for a 1000ton lift at South Hook this morning.
Pic3: 20knots down river.
Pic4: Rowers playing around down river by Texaco.

-Alex

Nice video guys, did you stop for a pie break at all?

CaptAl · 09 February 2006, 23:00

Amazing video. Quite good. Loved the music soundtrack. Really well done. Didn't notice the vibration at all. I really must get a radar arch.

Srellom · 10 February 2006, 10:47

The lack of vibration would be due to the counter-weight.

Hugh Jardon · 10 February 2006, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Brown

Pic2: Rambiz preparing for a 1000ton lift at South Hook this morning.

any idea what sort of heavy things they lift with those cranes?

Alex Brown · 10 February 2006, 22:56

Rambiz is just a massive heavy lift barge - 4000ton lifting capacity at best, although I think the crew work a fair bit less than that most of the time from what I gather.
She was involved with the raising of the sections from the Tricolor that sank in the english channel a while back - http://www.tricolorsalvage.com
In this case, she's lifting the tops of the old dolphins off the terminal and then placing them on a large concrete crushing barge which breaks them down. Once all this is complete, they're going to be re-piling and putting in a fair amount of new stuff to South Hook all ready for the first LNG ships in 2007. We'll then be providing the UK with approx 20% of its gas demand from down here.

I want a better way of fixing the cam to the a-frame really - the current setup is a bit flimsy - also getting more than 7mins would be good too. Have found bullet cameras which are suitable with a sony dv camcorder which has composite video in.... when I get paid next, I may purchase and see what the results are

-Alex

Hugh Jardon · 11 February 2006, 07:38

that was great looking thru the pics of the salvage cheers

Rogue Wave · 11 February 2006, 08:39

Nice Picks Alex, I joined the crew of a tug that was weathered in a couple of weeks ago in Pembroke Dock. and saw that site when we left. It an impressive project.

would this sort of ship be coming into the noo terminal!

http://www.humormeonline.com/archive...m_20Aug05.html

http://www.engrish.com/detail.php?im...ate=2005-04-29

Srellom · 11 February 2006, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

any idea what sort of heavy things they lift with those cranes?

..... Matey boy in and out of that Rib!

Alex Brown · 11 February 2006, 08:58

haha, I wonder if there'd be any comments if that ship did come into the new terminal.
I think they're building a load of new LNG ships at the mo, so we're likely to be seeing new stuff only I think.

You weren't on the Kingston by any chance were you Stuart?

Srellom: drop it please - re each of your 3 replies.

-Alex

Rogue Wave · 11 February 2006, 09:18

Yep Kingston, I joined it a day before it sailed, I asked a couple of the pilots how to get hold of you and they said oh Andrew Browns son, doesn't he do the IT, nah dunno were not really in his area!

It was a good little trip actually Pembroke, Plymouth back to Penzance on to Gravesend down to Bridlington, Chichester and then back to Portland. The best thing of all was the Autopilot failed on one shift so I actually got to drive the boat as opposed to watch it's progress

Alex Brown · 11 February 2006, 10:13

I soo nearly popped down to say hello on the Kingston the day before she sailed, but when I went down to the quay, although the door was open, I couldn't see anyone around on deck. Was going to ask John how the Seamaid (2nd pic) was getting on down in Portland which he bought from us on his last trip to Milford when he stayed over in the docks.

Just before that though, I had been working out on the ferry terminal dolphins, and got a snap of the tug and tow.... saw her being assisted off the berth by the Seahorse too when you left the following day.
Had a look down her engine room when she was in Milford and was staggered on the size of the main engine - it's larger than some of the far larger Svitzer tugs that we have come into the dock

Shame, the guys on the quay could have phoned across - I'd been working on/around the Pembroke Port area for the previous few days

-Alex

Rogue Wave · 12 February 2006, 10:18

Sea maid is doing fine! should be in code in about three weeks!

Re Kingston
Engine is a Merles beautiful sounding engine, it revs out at about 400 and that produces 23 tonnes of Bollard Pull!
She's a very sweet and organised tug the only bummer is the accomodation (which is skank) fortunately John is talking about putting a new wheelhouse on.

John and Tugs is a bit like me and Seariders he wants to buy every good one he sees!