Cruise Ships

gooner-paul · 30 May 2013, 16:42

My brother in law and his wife going on a crusie from southampton tomorrow evening. I am thinking of taking the rib down to wave them off / make sure they go!

Looking at the charts and southampton vts website (notices to mariners) I see I need to stay 1000m from the bow and 100m away from the rest.

I was thinking of going down to calshot and tucking in near the lifeboat, waiting for the ship to come down the river, and then following her out, or going up to hythe and following it down...not sure what the best plan is.

As I understand as soon as its cleared its turn by bramble bank and past the Prince Consort NC, im able to get a bit closer for some pics and stuff?

Have you guys ever done this? Any advise for me? Other than give it a wide berth, dont get infront of it etc..

Paul

matt h · 30 May 2013, 16:45

100 metres is close!

C2 RIBS · 30 May 2013, 16:52

We regularly do cruise ship runs and with photographer , listen to channel 12 VTS and tugs 13. Vts cruise section will give all departure times on their website and then you hear them call up slipping lines.

I would start somewhere south of Hythe Pier and follow up and drop behind if you want to swap sides to find friends.

Correct min 1000 m on bow and don't cross ahead between pilot boat and bow even if a long way apart.

Generally they run 4-10 knts and very little wake.

I would run up to Calshot and drop off when you have had enough. Remember they will turn to starboard at Calshot spit buoy but usually plenty of water outside channel marks for depth .

When going passed Fawley don't get close to tankers or tugs

Easy run out for you shout if you want more info

gooner-paul · 30 May 2013, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

We regularly do cruise ship runs and with photographer , listen to channel 12 VTS and tugs 13. Vts cruise section will give all departure times on their website and then you hear them call up slipping lines.

I would start somewhere south of Hythe Pier and follow up and drop behind if you want to swap sides to find friends.

Correct min 1000 m on bow and don't cross ahead between pilot boat and bow even if a long way apart.

Generally they run 4-10 knts and very little wake.

I would run up to Calshot and drop off when you have had enough. Remember they will turn to starboard at Calshot spit buoy but usually plenty of water outside channel marks for depth .

When going passed Fawley don't get close to tankers or tugs

Easy run out for you shout if you want more info

Thats great thanks for the advise.. I will do that then,start at Hythe..

nmcleanphoto · 30 May 2013, 20:35

Matt h, nice shot, any more?

spartacus · 30 May 2013, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

100 metres is close!

You're telling me! Bet they're loud and clear on the VHF.

C2 RIBS · 30 May 2013, 20:55

Here are some I took whilst out with a few people, All Southampton Water bewteen Hythe and Calshot

Tim M · 30 May 2013, 20:56

They ensure the front clearance area rigorously but don't really worry about the sides or rear, so providing you're not close enough to be suspected of being a terrorist I really wouldn't worry about pulling in close for a couple of photos.

C2 RIBS · 30 May 2013, 21:02

whisper · 30 May 2013, 21:08

Or if you can't launch your rib for any reason then Calshot is the place by car, the slip is always full of family waving people off, it's really annoying when they park on the slip but it is the best place as that's where they turn so you see them for longer.

Crusher · 30 May 2013, 21:24

Good advise from the others above, I've done both by rib and from Calshot spit. Right at the end of Calshot you are almost as close as you'll get by Rib , so if weather is poor and you don't want to launch it is a good option.
Either way it's good fun.
Make sure you get the people on the ship to take a flag or something similar to make identifying them easy..... It's a big ship to find your friend/relatives
(Pictures bellow taken with iPhone from Calshot so u can see how close they pass)
Have fun

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whisper · 30 May 2013, 21:55

Were we at the same place at the same time when it was honking its horn at the sail boat at it's bow?

Last weekend?

gooner-paul · 30 May 2013, 22:41

Thanks guys some really useful info there I will keep my distance as it's bigger than me!!!

matt h · 31 May 2013, 08:17

i know its nothing to do with a cruise ship, well was on one to get there but......

matt h · 31 May 2013, 08:22

took some pics of the engine room of the Oceana i think it was...
The Green thing is a eff off electric motor for the props.. with 4x V14 for the power generation..

matt h · 31 May 2013, 08:23

and some more

Anchorhandler · 31 May 2013, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

When going passed Fawley don't get close to tankers or tugs

Ahhh, best advice i've seen on Rib.net in a long time....
" Get orrrfff arrrr laaaand !!! "

Technically its 140m but we dont release ours dogs Asterix and Ibex until well under that....

Cheers Ian

Simon

gtb · 31 May 2013, 21:26

I was out on the Solent today with the family and we came across Ventura, followed closely by Azura, and a third cruise ship coming down the channel (likely Oceana, but we didn't get close to her).

We were able to get quite close enough to the side of Ventura and Azura to wave to people. Didn't know anybody on there, just being friendly! We crossed behind, remarkably little wash - less than the ferries.

Those big cruise ships are very impressive feats of engineering, and they turned at Calshot quite nimbly.

gooner-paul · 31 May 2013, 21:35

We went today and saw the same ones and followed the azura out whilst waving at them they are massive!! Never been on one that might have to be next holiday now!

gooner-paul · 31 May 2013, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtb

I was out on the Solent today with the family and we came across Ventura, followed closely by Azura, and a third cruise ship coming down the channel (likely Oceana, but we didn't get close to her).

We were able to get quite close enough to the side of Ventura and Azura to wave to people. Didn't know anybody on there, just being friendly! We crossed behind, remarkably little wash - less than the ferries.

Those big cruise ships are very impressive feats of engineering, and they turned at Calshot quite nimbly.

The third one was the oriana we past that on the way down to Hythe. .

Was you in an orange rib? Sorry didn't see the make!