Good old VTS

[Rogue Wave]

I drive a tug occasionally Its a tow tug and we take silt out to the dumping grounds a few miles off the Nab. ( I said S I L T!) we depart from various ports around the Solent but mostly Langstone and The Itchen. The trip in all takes eight hours and quite often is in the night!

We were out yesterday in the day and it was pretty murky I think vis was about 3 miles and we could see a warship (Fkkn About) I think it's referred to as manouveres almost dead ahead. They were having fun and the chopper was buzzing the NAB tower.

The warship kinda stopped dead in front of us about a mile away and we needed to find out who they were so we could have a chat and see if we could get them to nudge up a bit out of our way or else alter our own course.

The procedure is that you call into VTS (Vessel Trackin System) and ask the pertinent question. I called in to VTS and before I asked the question they said 'it's the Notingham, can we help you in any other way?' I really was most impressed by that response....well on the case!

Another fun bit of radio Chatter that day which made me snigger was two ships calling each other. One was called Boa Constructor and the other was called British Beaver. the Boa requested permishion to come behind the Beaver Being the deeply shallow person I am it had me sniggering for hours

Also saw a couple of seals in Langstone harbour at low tide the other day.....

[Pete7]

I would suggest a wide berth be given to HMS Nottingham given her track record.

Pete

[Rogue Wave]

I missed that one! . I forgot about all the g reef it's been through!.

on a similar vein the Donald Redford gets a lot of respect and leeway given to it

[Jonny Fuller]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I missed that one! . I forgot about all the g reef it's been through!.

Excellent!

[badbaws]

Have you not learnt yet. People like me drive grey ships.. keep clear!!!!!!!!!! we don't know what is going on.. only if the dog on the bridge barks do we know if anything is there!!!!!!!!!!
Sure they were seals.. not submarines!!!!!!
Incidentally when we leave singapore on the 13t dec i will not have driven a ship for 6 months.. I'd advise all other vessels to keep out the way especially as this ship with full opposite rudder doesn't actually stop turning.. and once it goes you just have pray and hope nothing getas close enough to get got!!!!!!!

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I forgot about all the g reef it's been through!.

I think you will find the g reef went through her.

[Rogue Wave]