Interesting piece of kit

[Nasher]

This turned up off Start Bay on Friday afternoon.

Its a bad image I know, but it looks like some kind of salvage crane.

It was still there Friday evening, perhaps one of the locals knows what's going on.

Nasher

[Jimbo]

He's down in the Solent now - Tim M knows more than I, but apparently something to do with a burning Motor Cruiser salvage?

[BigFella]

Fom Portsmouth Evening News:

One of the world's largest marine cranes has appeared in the Solent.

The giant HLV Svanen, with a 200ft high crane, has anchored off Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and has been intriguing ship spotters.

Solent coastguards based at Lee-on-the-Solent said they had received numerous calls from people in Portsmouth about the mystery object looming on the horizon.


Heavy Lifting Vessel Svanen weighs 6,500 tonnes and has a crew of 40. She is self-propelled and is twin-hulled like a catamaran.

She is on her way back ot her home port of Rotterdam having been based off north Wales since April where she has been building the foundations for an offshore wind farm.

[Tim M]

As Jimbo says she assisted with a burning motor cruiser the other day.

[Jono Garton]

It's been just off Pwllheli also when the storms were on.

Jono

[Mikeallenuk]

Originally Posted by Tim M

As Jimbo says she assisted with a burning motor cruiser the other day.

A 32 foot motor cruiser put out a May Day call at about 1640 on Saturday 9th August, reported position close to a rather large crane by the forts. The Independent Lifeboat operated by the Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) was tasked. On arrival the smoke in the cabin area had dispersed, with gas and electric isolated the vessel was taken in tow for Portsmouth. Hants Fire & Rescue confirmed that no heat source was present and cause of smoke was a shredded fan belt, Gosport Independent Lifeboat then towed craft to Gosport Premier Marina at the request of crafts owner.