The Ship Enthusiast thread

[Salty seadog]

I bet you have...

Though I'd imagine the larger and more modern ferries can take the weather better than the 6,000 gross tonners I grew up crossing the Channel on. I remember how much of a revelation the Prins Filip (now MV Calais Seaways) was compared to everything else sailing to Belgium at that time.

They do handle it a lot better but when the seas a playing up they all get thrown about. The Calais seaways is a bit top heavy and does move about a fair bit. One I do remember for that behaviour was the old Stenna Invicta, when that came in through the harbour entrance and started to make it's turn around, by jove did it lean over. It was quite tall and quite narrow so didn't have the tread in the water that something like the old Kent had.

 

[classic33]

Oooo, will go have a looksy. Thanks.

http://ferryfantastic.webs.com/stenainvicta.htm

 

[slowmotion]

Neat I take my hat off to you.

On good days it must be great, on bad days...

Have been on my fair share of umm, interesting crossings. One particular run from Dover to Zeebrugge springs to mind, where the ship was rolling so much that the bottles in the bar and duty free were falling out of the racks and smashing. Apparently when that happened, that was the crew's share to do with what they wanted. Though that night, some also got broken accidentally on purpose. But they had to shut the duty free on account of the broken glass...

Here's one for the seadogs.

 

[Reynard]

Try MV Ulysses

Cripes, she's mahoooooosive!!! That's twice the size of the Filp...

 

[classic33]

Cripes, she's mahoooooosive!!! That's twice the size of the Filp...

And nearly always sails less than half full.

 

[Reynard]

They do handle it a lot better but when the seas a playing up they all get thrown about. The Calais seaways is a bit top heavy and does move about a fair bit. One I do remember for that behaviour was the old Stenna Invicta, when that came in through the harbour entrance and started to make it's turn around, by jove did it lean over. It was quite tall and quite narrow so didn't have the tread in the water that something like the old Kent had.

Actually, the Filip (AKA Calais Seaways) was a joy to sail on - for all her height, she could handle weather really well. Don't think I'd ever had a bad crossing on her. The other Oostende ships were a mixed bag. You definitely didn't want to be on the Reine Astrid in bad weather - she was always very tail happy, even in calm seas, so you definitely wanted to be at the bow end of the ship...

 

[Reynard]

Reine Astrid: http://ferryfantastic.webs.com/stenaquartet.htm

 

[Reynard]

And nearly always sails less than half full.

Which sort of defeats the point, really...

 

[classic33]

One thing I've never understood, given their size. Why are ferry ports treated with a different level of security to airports. After all you'd not expect anyone to be able to just walk up to and on to an airplane. Yet I've managed it twice at UK ferry ports.

 

[classic33]

Which sort of defeats the point, really...

Kinda, too much, too late.


Got used to sailing from Liverpool
http://www.irish-ferries-enthusiasts.com/

 

[classic33]

The Cú na Mara (Hound of the Seas)

 

[Reynard]

View attachment 339999
The Cú na Mara (Hound of the Seas)

Oh, Jetfoils! Those are real fun Lots of Dover / Ramsgate - Oostende crossings on those, mainly the Stephanie, sometimes the Clementine. The engineering principles are cool too.

 

[classic33]

Oh, Jetfoils! Those are real fun Lots of Dover / Ramsgate - Oostende crossings on those, mainly the Stephanie, sometimes the Clementine. The engineering principles are cool too.

Only lasted one year on the Irish Sea, last heard of sailing in Japanese waters.

 

[Reynard]

Only lasted one year on the Irish Sea, last heard of sailing in Japanese waters.

The Princes Stephanie and the Princesse Clementine are also in Japan afaik. They used to cross to Oostende in 100 minutes, which was 20 mins faster than the Seacats they later had on that route.

 

[classic33]

The Princes Stephanie and the Princesse Clementine are also in Japan afaik. They used to cross to Oostende in 100 minutes, which was 20 mins faster than the Seacats they later had on that route.

Calmer waters?