MS Disney Magic Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Eastern Entrance, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Disney Magic cruise ship entered Dover Harbour via the Eastern Entrance and is now making its way across the Outer Harbour towards the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks where it will berth at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2):


(Click this MS Disney Magic cruise ship text link to see the largest size)

On the left of the photo the Eastern Arm pier juts out from the Eastern Docks (the cross-channel ferry terminal, not in view) with the Southern Breakwater bracketing the other side of the Eastern Entrance to the right of the ship.

To the right of MS Disney Magic is the Dover Harbour Board tug, DHB Dauntless; in the sky is an aeroplane on a photo-shoot of the passenger ship.

The photo was taken at 5.08 am on Saturday, 12th of June, 2010, from a point mid-way between the Porthole Shelters and the lighthouse on the Prince of Wales Pier (eastern side). A zoomed shot of about 1500-1600 yards.

The MS Disney Magic has just finished a "7-Night Barcelona to Dover Cruise" whose itinerary comprised: Barcelona (Spain), Gibraltar (United Kingdom, UK), Cádiz (Cadiz, Spain), and Lisbon (Portugal).

At 5.12 pm the Disney Magic passed through the Western Entrance of Dover Harbour and into the English Channel on a "12-Night Northern European Capitals Cruise" calling at Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Warnemünde/Rostock (Warnemunde, Germany), St Petersburg (Russia), Helsinki (Finland), and Stockholm (Sweden).

Ship information:

Rare view of the 1st Century Roman Pharos, Dover Castle, Kent, UK

The East Roman Pharos in the grounds of Dover Castle stands on a huge horseshoe-shaped rampart known as Harold's Earthwork:


(Click this East Roman Pharos text link to see the largest size)

The East Roman Pharos was built 46 AD during the reign of Emperor Claudius while Aulus Plautius was governor.

On the right-hand side of the photo is part of a low perimeter wall that runs all the way around the edge of the earthwork.

The reason the above view of the Pharos (a watchtower or lighthouse) is rare - if not unique, at least as far as the internet is concerned - is because it was taken from the west and from outside of the perimeter wall.

Behind the Pharos is the Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro.

A replica remnant of the West Roman Pharos, known as the Bredenstone, is located on the other side of the River Dour valley on the Drop Redoubt (part of a vast Napoleonic and Victorian hidden fortress embedded into the Western Heights).

MS Costa Magica Cruise Ship, Admiralty Pier, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Costa Magica passing through the Western Entrance of Dover Harbour into the Straits of Dover and English Channel beyond:


(Click this MS Costa Magica Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

The Western Entrance lies between the Admiralty Pier on the right and the out-of-shot Southern Breakwater to the left.

The above photo was taken at 6.02 pm on Monday, 17th of May, 2010, from the lighthouse and cafe end of the Prince of Wales Pier. The Dover Lighthouse in the photo is the Admiralty Pier Light (built 1908; cast iron tower 72 feet high; white flash every 7.5 seconds).

The Costa Magica arrived in the Western Docks from Santander (Spain) and is shown sailing for Kiel (Germany) to begin an 11-night "Northern Europe Cruise" on the 19th of May calling at:

Stockholm (Sweden, via the Kiel Canal), Helsinki (Finland), St. Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), Klaipeda (Lithuania), Glydnia (Poland), and Rønne (Ronne, Denmark). From Rønne the passenger ship returned to Kiel via the Kiel Canal.

A Costa Magica video from Costa Cruzeiros of Brazil:

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The Costa Magica (1) (2)

The Costa Magica is a cruise ship for Costa Cruises. She debuted in 2004 as a sister ship to Costa Fortuna, built on the same Carnival Cruise Lines' platform as the Destiny-class.

MV Braemar Cruise Ship and Admiralty Pier Light, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MV Braemar entering the English Channel via the Western Entrance of Dover Harbour at 4.48 pm on Thursday, 1st of July, 2010:



The Western Entrance lies between the Admiralty Pier and the Southern Breakwater (out-of-shot to the left). The photo was taken from the public walkway above Cruise Terminal 3 (see the MS Minerva photo) on the Admiralty Pier, Western Docks.

The lighthouse was built in 1908 and is a 72 feet high cast iron tower with a white flash every 7.5 seconds when in use: click to see the Admiralty Pier Light photo for more information.

The Braemar has just left Cruise Terminal 2 (CT2) on the Admiralty Pier after arriving earlier in the day from Stavanger in Norway at the end of the 13-night BM1013 "North Cape Navigator" cruise. The ship is now embarking on the 7-night BM1014 "Norwegian Summer" cruise. A round-trip with the following itinerary: Bergen, Olden, Flåm (Flam), Gudvangen, and Stavanger (all in Norway, of course!).

The distant ferry to the left of the Braemar is the Pride of Canterbury (P&O Ferries) which arrived in port about 15 minutes later. The Pride of Canterbury also appears in a Seafrance Nord Pas de Calais photo.

MS Braemar details:

Celebrity Constellation Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The GTS Celebrity Constellation cruise ship alongside the Admiralty Pier in the Western Docks of Dover Harbour:


(Click this Celebrity Constellation Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

MS Balmoral at CT1

The passenger ship is berthed at Cruise Terminal 2 (CT2) of the Admiralty Pier's three docking areas with the MS Balmoral, a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship, occupying Cruise Terminal 1 (CT1) out-of-shot to the right.

The Celebrity Constellation had called at Dover prior to going into drydock in Hamburg, Germany, from April 24 until May 9, to be fitted with some of the most popular venues found on Celebrity Cruise Line's Solstice-class ships: "From the minds of the world’s top designers and architects comes a class of ships that defy the imagination".

The first Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Solstice entered service in November 2008 and is the namesake of the class. All Solstice-class vessels have post-Panamax dimensions (the criteria for traversing the Panama Canal).

The photo was taken during a morning cycle ride (1) at 7.19 am on Wednesday, 21st of April, 2010 from the Prince of Wales Pier.

Video - An informative and well-made amateur video filmed after the 2010 refurbishment:

The Lost Castle of Dover, The Court's Folly Keep, Western Heights, Kent, UK

The Georgian Court's Folly, styled in the shape of the Keep, or Great Tower (night view), of Dover Castle, was built in the early 1800s on the Western Heights cliffs above Snargate Stree by two Wine Merchants, Stephen and Rogers Court:


(Click this Court's Folly Keep text link to see the largest size)

For much of its history, however, the 19th century miniature "lost castle" has been neglected and the ruins are now hidden under the trees and other undergrowth that cover this part of the White Cliffs of Dover.

Most Dovorians do not know the Court's Folly exists.

A Dover Museum webpage states (1):

...As well as leasing the shop (140 Snargate Street) and premises from Dover Harbour Board, the Courts' leased 2 plots of land behind, from Thomas Rutley and Thomas Papillon. On this land Stephen and Rogers built terracing for vines, tea gardens, 2 summerhouses, and dug an extensive network of vaults into the cliffs behind, with plastered and painted walls and chalk carvings.

Dover Castle Keep

The terracing up the cliffs was laid out as gardens, growing the different varieties of grapes that the wines they sold were made from, and also other exotic fruit such as figs and dates.

A summerhouse was built at the top of the terracing and further along the cliff-face they built a folly in the shape of Dover Castle silhouetted against the sky.

These became tourist attractions and customers could taste-test products sitting on the terracing and have tours of the vaults...

The internal dimensions of the Court's Folly are approximately 10.5 feet deep by 20 feet wide. The external length of the East Wall is actually about 13 - 14 feet deep, with the last 3 feet or so containing a horizontal oval recess (this extension is probably for cosmetic or structural purposes only). The front wall is 16 inches thick and is over 20 feet high. Only the lower half of the right-hand part of the rear wall is still standing, including a fireplace and chimney course complete with sooty residue.

Apparently, the oval windows were quite a popular design feature that had originated in an earlier period (2):

Dover Castle under Snow, Winter 2009, from the Western Heights, Kent, UK

This panoramic view, taken on December 22, 2009, is a 'winter edition' of the autumnal Dover Town and Dover Castle from the Western Heights photo uploaded on November 5th of that year:



Left of centre on the snow-covered skyline is the Norman Keep, or Great Tower (night view), of Dover Castle; further left are three masts (originally four, now reduced to two) of the Second World War early-warning Swingate Chain Home radar station.

Right of centre on the skyline are the Pharos (a 1st Century AD Roman watchtower, or lighthouse) and adjacent Saxon church of St Mary-in-Castro.

Just below the skyline towards the right-hand edge of the photo is an end view of the Victorian Officers' Mess (or Officers' New Barracks).

Stretching across the lower half of the photo is the row of large terraced houses of Victoria Park, to the left of which lies the southern entrance to the Zig Zags park; if you know where to look, the West Wall of Old St James Church is also visible (bottom right, in a line under the end houses of Victoria Park).

Within 5 to 150 yards of where this photo was taken from are: Cowgate Cemetery Nature Reserve, the Court's Folly, the 64 Steps, and the Drop Redoubt.

Many of the above-named locations are Victorian.

Filming of the 2009 North Entrance video began here. See:

MV Braemar Cruise Ship, DHB Dauntless Tug, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MV Braemar reversing past CT3 and CT2 (Cruise Terminals 3 and 2) on the Admiralty Pier of Dover Harbour's Western Docks, her bow pointing in the direction of the Western Entrance and English Channel beyond:



The passenger ship is about to berth at Cruise Terminal 1 and is being escorted by DHB Dauntless, Dover Harbour Board's sister-tug to DHB Doughty.

This post-sunrise Dover Harbour photo was taken at 6.29 am on Saturday, 29th of May, 2010, from the lighthouse and cafe end of the Prince of Wales Pier. The Dover Lighthouse in the photo is the Admiralty Pier Light (built 1908; cast iron tower 72 feet high; white flash every 7.5 seconds).

The Braemar arrived from Invergordon (Scotland) and sailed later in the day for Copenhagen (Denmark) at the start of a Baltic Seas cruise.

Ship's details:

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS Balmoral Cruise Ship framed in the Western Entrance of Dover Harbour at 6.02 am on Monday, 26th of July, 2010:


(Click this MS Balmoral Cruise Ship text link to see the largest size)

The Admiralty Pier is on the right and the English Channel is on the left; the photo was taken from the the Prince of Wales Pier.

The Balmoral passenger ship, operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, is shown arriving in the Port of Dover from Honfleur (France) at the end of a 16-night "French Connection" cruise.

Later in the day, the passenger ship left Dover at the start of a 12-night round-trip "Beauty of the North" cruise with the following itinerary:

Warnemunde (Warnemünde, Germany), Ronne (Rønne, Denmark), Gdynia (Poland), St Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Copenhagen (Denmark)

Vessel details:

Victorian Chancel of St. Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Church of England, Dover, Kent, UK

Dover's Church of St Mary the Virgin from the east showing the Chancel/Apse and surrounding graveyard:


(Click this St Mary's Church text link to see the largest size)

St. Mary the Virgin is Church of England and located in Cannon Street (ex Canon Street), Dover. It is a Norman church built between 1066 and 1086 and then restored in Victorian times, 1843-1844.

St Mary's was probably built on the site of a Saxon church, but was certainly built on top of an even earlier Roman structure.

The 'Lady Chapel' is in the right-hand aisle, the Organ in the left. The graveyard (churchyard, cemetery) was closed for burials in 1854.

St Mary's Passage runs along the south side of the church (to the left) and Dieu Stone Lane along the north side (to the right). The photo was taken from Church Street.

---

Excerpt from the "History of St Mary's Church" (1)

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin has shared to the full in both the spiritual and civic life of the ancient town and port of Dover. It is situated in the centre of the town in the main street (Cannon Street) and close by the old Market Square, for centuries the hub of activity, and still at the centre of the town's life. The Church has been increased in size three times, and excavations under the floor near the font have shown that it is built on the site of Roman baths.

The Grand Shaft Underground Triple Stairway, Western Heights, Dover, Kent, UK

Looking up from the bottom of the Grand Shaft to the open sky above the Western Heights:


(Click this Grand Shaft text link to see the largest size)

The Grand Shaft, part of Dover's "Forgotten Fortress", is built of brick and cast-iron and consists of three interleaved spiral stairways winding around an open shaft. It once linked the Grand Shaft Barracks (now demolished) on top of the White Cliffs of Dover to Snargate Street on the seafront below.

Two of the three staircases have their entrances within the shaft, the third entrance is at the beginning of the access tunnel leading to Snargate Street.

Dates vary a little, but the English Heritage Pastscape entry for the Grand Shaft states it was built between 1805 and 1807 as part of Dover's Napoleonic (and subsequently Victorian) defensive works on the Western Heights.

Legend has it that one staircase was labelled "Officers and their Ladies", the second, "Senior NCO's and their Wives", and the third, "Other Ranks and their Women".

The Bredenstone, West Roman Pharos, Drop Redoubt, Western Heights, Dover, Kent, UK

The Bredenstone, or "Devil's Drop of Mortar", is all that visibly remains of the Roman West Pharos located on the Drop Redoubt:


(Click this Bredenstone text link to see the largest size)

The Drop Redoubt is a 5-sided polygonal fortress embedded into the Western Heights above the town of Dover, England.

The basic structure, with sides between 70 and 100 yards long, was completed by the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Four caponiers were subsequently added in Victorian times. The Drop Redoubt caponiers (alt. caponier) are two-storey chambers extending into the moat that surrounds the fortress.

In the background of the photo are the five bomb-proof arches of the Soldiers Quarters. The lefthand arch has a tunnel and steps at the back leading down to Caponnier 2. Access to Caponier 3 is via the 2nd arch from the right; the rightmost arch itself originally housed a cookhouse. Access to Caponier 4 is via an opening set in the wall approaching the right of cookhouse.

Between the Bredenstone (alt. Bredon-stone) and the Soldiers Quarters is a "sunken road" leading to the bridge entrance to the redoubt (out-of-shot to the left). The Bredenstone sits above the Officers Quarters on one side of the road; on the far side are a guardroom and prison cells.

The photo was taken on the Drop Redoubt Open Day of June 10th, 2007.

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The Bredenstone (1)

The Ghost of the North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover, Kent, UK

The North Centre Bastion is part of the extensive Napoleonic and Victorian "Forgotten Fortress" embedded into the Western Heights above the town of Dover, England. It is owned by English Heritage, but is not currently open to the public.

The photo was taken in the North/South tunnel (Tunnel 1) (West Gallery) running under the Detached Bastion along its western edge:



The area of interest is the lower half of the first arch which appears to show the 'smokey' outline of a child's profile whose arms are stretched out to the right. The smokiness extends to a further figure sat against the right-hand wall with drawn-up knees.

'Interesting' photos from the North Centre Bastion (alt. North Center Bastion, Dead Man's Island, The Smokey) and related locations are initially uploaded to these Ghost and Orb image webpages.

The above photo originally appeared on the Images of Dover website at the following url (contains Google Earth satellite map):

The Ghost of the North Centre Bastion, Dover, England (1a)

An enhanced version of the photo in which the 'white level' has been increased can be seen at:

The Ghost of the North Centre Bastion (Enhanced)

There's also a three-part video of the North Centre Bastion available on YouTube:

Part 1: The Smokey, North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover UK
Part 2: The Smokey, North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover UK
Part 3: The Smokey, North Centre Bastion, Western Heights, Dover UK

Dover's 'Forgotten Fortress' on the Western Heights also includes the Drop Redoubt, the Grand Shaft, the North Entrance, the North Military Road, the Outer Bastion, the Pre-Napoleonic Earthworks, and St Martins Battery.

A Napoleonic Wars and Victorian British Army history photo.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship nearing the Prince of Wales Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

From left to right behind the MS Balmoral passenger ship are the White Cliffs of Dover, the Eastern Arm pier, and Eastern Entrance to the English Channel and the Southern Breakwater:



From Valletta, Malta; going Bergen, Norway.

Photo taken from the Prince of Wales Pier.

Ship details:

Name: 1988-1996: Crown Odyssey, 1996-2000: Norwegian Crown, 2000-2003: Crown Odyssey, 2003-2007: Norwegian Crown, 2007 onwards: Balmoral
Owner: 1988-1992: Royal Cruise Line, 1992-2004: Norwegian Cruise Line, 2004-2006: Crown Odyssey Ltd, 2007 onwards: Balmoral Cruise Ltd
Operator: 1988-1996: Royal Cruise Line, 1996-2000: Norwegian Cruise Line, 2000-2003: Orient Lines, 2003-2007: Norwegian Cruise Line, 2007 onwards: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Port of registry: 1988-1990: Pireus, Greece, 1990 onwards: Nassau, Bahamas
Builder: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, West Germany
In service: 7 June 1988
Call Sign: C6II4
IMO: 8506294
MMSI: 308785000

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship nearing the Prince of Wales Pier, Dover Harbour

Also see:

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship berthed at the Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour at Daybreak
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour at Sunrise
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship and Syros Tanker, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
Celebrity Constellation and Balmoral Cruise Ships, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, from the Western Heights

A Dover Harbour photo.

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour at Sunrise, Kent, UK

From left to right behind the MS Balmoral passenger ship are the White Cliffs of Dover, the Eastern Arm pier, and Eastern Entrance to the English Channel; the Southern Breakwater is out-of shot to the right:



From Valletta, Malta; going Bergen, Norway.

Photo taken from the Prince of Wales Pier.

Ship details:

Name: 1988-1996: Crown Odyssey, 1996-2000: Norwegian Crown, 2000-2003: Crown Odyssey, 2003-2007: Norwegian Crown, 2007 onwards: Balmoral
Owner: 1988-1992: Royal Cruise Line, 1992-2004: Norwegian Cruise Line, 2004-2006: Crown Odyssey Ltd, 2007 onwards: Balmoral Cruise Ltd
Operator: 1988-1996: Royal Cruise Line, 1996-2000: Norwegian Cruise Line, 2000-2003: Orient Lines, 2003-2007: Norwegian Cruise Line, 2007 onwards: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
Port of registry: 1988-1990: Pireus, Greece, 1990 onwards: Nassau, Bahamas
Builder: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, West Germany
In service: 7 June 1988
Call Sign: C6II4
IMO: 8506294
MMSI: 308785000

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour at Sunrise

Also see:

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship berthed at the Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour at Daybreak
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship nearing the Prince of Wales Pier, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship and Syros Tanker, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
Celebrity Constellation and Balmoral Cruise Ships, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS Balmoral Cruise Ship, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, from the Western Heights

A Dover Harbour photo.

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship at Sunset, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS AIDAcara passenger ship leaving the Western Docks by the Western Entrance for the English Channel with the Admiralty Pier on the right:



Lighthouse: Admiralty Pier Light.

Sunset view taken from the Prince of Wales Pier.

From Le Havre (France), going to Hamburg (Germany).

Passenger ship's details:

Name: AIDAcara
Owner: AIDA Cruises
Operator: AIDA Cruises
Port of registry: Italy
Builder: Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Finland)
In service: June 1996
Refit: 2005
IMO: 9112789
Call Sign: IBNR
MMSI: 247117300
Tonnage: 38,531 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 634.2 ft (193.30 m)
Beam: 90.5 ft (27.58 m)
Draft: 20.3 ft (6.19 m)[1]
Decks: 11 total, 9 passenger
Installed power: 2 diesel-electric (21,720kW)
Speed: 20-knot (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity: 1,186 passengers
Crew: 360 crew

A Dover Harbour photo.

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship at Sunset, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour

Also see:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship, Western Docks, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship near Cruise Terminal 1, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship in an Early Morning Sea Mist, Dover Harbour

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

Panorama of Balmoral Cruise Ship at the Admiralty Pier and Dover Harbour, Western Heights, Kent, UK

This snow-covered panorama of the Western Docks and English Channel was taken from the access road leading to the Commando Entrance of the Drop Redoubt on Saturday, 19th of December, 2009:



Also in view: the Fred Olsen Cruise Line's MS Balmoral Cruise Ship, the Victorian Clock Tower, Dover's RNLB 17-09 City of London II lifeboat rescue craft and Lifeboat Station, Crosswall Quay, Dolphin Hard Jetty, the old Hoverport, Lord Warden House (ex-Lord Warden Hotel and ex-World War II Royal Navy HMS Wasp shore station), the old Dover Marine railway station, Granville Dock, the Tidal Harbour and Tug Haven.

The barbed-wire fence of Drop Redoubt Road in the foreground leads to the Napoleonic Grand Shaft.

More information (including sources used) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

Panorama of Balmoral Cruise Ship at the Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Western Heights

Also see:

MS Balmoral Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour

All photos are indexed under the MS Balmoral category label.

A Western Heights photo.

Click to see all Cruise Ship, Tug, and Workboat photos.

Clickable thumbnails of all Dover Harbour- and Western Heights-related photos from the main Panoramio Images of Dover website are available on this blog at Port of Dover Page and Western Heights Page (also linked to at the top below the blog title).

The main site Panoramio photos are each accompanied by a Google Earth satellite map. However, the images are smaller than those on the Images of Dover Blog and the captions are less well formatted.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship leaving the Western Docks, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The MS AIDA Cara passing CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks, heading for the Western Entrance and English Channel:



Lighthouse is Admiralty Pier Light.

Taken from the Prince of Wales Pier.

From Le Havre (France), going to Hamburg (Germany).

Ship's details:

Name: AIDAcara
Owner: AIDA Cruises
Operator: AIDA Cruises
Port of registry: Italy
Builder: Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Finland)
In service: June 1996
Refit: 2005
IMO: 9112789
Call Sign: IBNR
MMSI: 247117300
Tonnage: 38,531 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 634.2 ft (193.30 m)
Beam: 90.5 ft (27.58 m)
Draft: 20.3 ft (6.19 m)[1]
Decks: 11 total, 9 passenger
Installed power: 2 diesel-electric (21,720kW)
Speed: 20-knot (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity: 1,186 passengers
Crew: 360 crew

A Dover Harbour photo.

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship, Western Docks, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour

Also see:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship at Sunset, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship near Cruise Terminal 1, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship in an Early Morning Sea Mist, Dover Harbour

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship near Cruise Terminal 1, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

MS AIDA Cara berthing at Cruise Terminal 1 (CT1) on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks:



Taken from the Prince of Wales Pier.

From Le Havre (France), going to Hamburg (Germany).

Ship's details:

Name: AIDAcara
Owner: AIDA Cruises
Operator: AIDA Cruises
Port of registry: Italy
Builder: Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Finland)
In service: June 1996
Refit: 2005
IMO: 9112789
Call Sign: IBNR
MMSI: 247117300
Tonnage: 38,531 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 634.2 ft (193.30 m)
Beam: 90.5 ft (27.58 m)
Draft: 20.3 ft (6.19 m)[1]
Decks: 11 total, 9 passenger
Installed power: 2 diesel-electric (21,720kW)
Speed: 20-knot (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity: 1,186 passengers
Crew: 360 crew

A Dover Harbour photo.

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship near Cruise Terminal 1, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour

Also see:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship at Sunset, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship, Western Docks, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship in an Early Morning Sea Mist, Dover Harbour

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship in an Early Morning Sea Mist, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

Behind the MS AIDA Cara (left to right) are the Eastern Arm pier and Eastern Entrance to the English Channel; the Southern Breakwater is out-of shot to the right:



Pre-fog photo taken from the Prince of Wales Pier.

From Le Havre (France), going to Hamburg (Germany).

Ship's details:

Name: AIDAcara
Owner: AIDA Cruises
Operator: AIDA Cruises
Port of registry: Italy
Builder: Kvaerner Masa-Yards (Finland)
In service: June 1996
Refit: 2005
IMO: 9112789
Call Sign: IBNR
MMSI: 247117300
Tonnage: 38,531 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 634.2 ft (193.30 m)
Beam: 90.5 ft (27.58 m)
Draft: 20.3 ft (6.19 m)[1]
Decks: 11 total, 9 passenger
Installed power: 2 diesel-electric (21,720kW)
Speed: 20-knot (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity: 1,186 passengers
Crew: 360 crew

A Dover Harbour photo.

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship in an Early Morning Sea Mist, Dover Harbour

Also see:

MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship at Sunset, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship, Western Docks, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAcara Cruise Ship near Cruise Terminal 1, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS AIDAaura Cruise Ship at Cruise Terminal 2, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

The AIDA Aura berthed at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2) on the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks:



Owner: AIDA Cruises.

Taken from Prince of Wales Pier.

The passenger ship had sailed from Hamburg, Germany, on a "British Isles Cruise".

MS AIDA Aura General Characteristics:

Tonnage: 42,289 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 665.3 feet (202.78 m)
Beam: 92.2 feet (28.10 m)
Draft: 20.3 feet (6.19 m)
Decks: 12 total, 10 passenger
Installed power: Diesel-electric (27,150kW)
Speed: 19.4-knot (36 km/h; 22 mph)
Capacity: 1,300 passengers
Crew: 418 crew
Notes: 6 elevators
Operator: AIDA Cruises
Port of registry: Italy
Builder: Aker MTW (Germany)
Cost: $350 million
Christened: April 12, 2003 in Warnemünde
Maiden voyage: October 27, 2008 to Wilmington (North Carolina, USA)
In service: April 15, 2003
Identification: IMO 9221566
Call: Sign IBNZ
MMSI: 247117400
Flag: Italy (IT)

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS AIDAaura Cruise Ship at Cruise Terminal 2, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour

A Dover Harbour photo.

Also see:

MS AIDAaura Cruise Ship after Sunrise, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour
MS AIDAaura Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour in Early Morning Fog

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

AIDAblu Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK (2)

MS AIDA Blu seen from the Prince of Wales Pier on April 27th, 2010:


(Click this MS AIDAblu text link to see the largest size)

The Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks is behind the passenger ship which is berthed at Cruise Terminal 2 (CT2).

The MS AIDA Blu passenger ship is a Sphinx series cruise ship built by Meyer Werft for the German cruise line AIDA Cruises, a British-American owned German cruise line based in Rostock, Germany (parent company, Carnival Corporation and PLC).

On 7-day German Bight Cruise: last port Le Havre (France), next Antwerp (Belgium) and Amsterdam (Netherlands, Holland); back to Hamburg (Germany).

Ship's details:

Tonnage: 71,300 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 827 feet (252.07 m)
Beam: 105.5 feet (32.16 m)
Decks: 15 decks
Installed power: Diesel-electric (about 36,000kW)
Propulsion: 4 Caterpillar MaK engines
Capacity: 2,050 passengers
Crew: 607 crew
Call Sign IBWX
IMO 9398888
MMSI 247282500

One of two photos (they look similar, but the lamp-posts are different!)

More information (including sources used) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

MS AIDAblu Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour (2)

Other photos taken this day:

MS Pride of Dover ferry, Admiralty Pier, Western Docks, Dover Harbour

AIDAblu Cruise Ship and Pride of Dover Ferry, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour

MS AIDAblu Cruise Ship at Sunrise, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour (1) (not yet uploaded)

The MS AIDAblu in 2011:

MS AIDAblu Cruise Ship berthed at Cruise Terminal 2, Admiralty Pier, Dover

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

A Dover Harbour photo.

Click to see all Dover AIDAblu, AIDA Cruises, and Cruise Ship photos.

Clickable thumbnails of all harbour-related photos from the main Panoramio Images of Dover website are available on this blog at Port of Dover Page (also linked to at the top below the blog title).

The main site Panoramio photos are each accompanied by a Google Earth satellite map. However, the images are smaller than those on the Images of Dover Blog and the captions are less well formatted.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

AIDAblu Cruise Ship and Pride of Dover Ferry, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, Kent, UK

MS AIDA Blu owned by AIDA Cruises, MS Pride of Dover owned by P&O Ferries:


(Click this AIDA Blu and Pride of Dover text link to see the largest size)

The passengers ships are berthed in the Western Docks against the Admiralty Pier on the far side of the Prince of Wales Pier in Dover Harbour.

Photo taken from the jetty at the western end of the Gateway Flats near Henry VIII's Mote's Bulwark coastal artillery fortification on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010.

The ships:

MS AIDAblu

The MS AIDA Blu passenger ship is a Sphinx series cruise ship built by Meyer Werft for the German cruise line AIDA Cruises, a British-American owned German cruise line based in Rostock, Germany.

The parent company is Carnival Corporation & PLC.

The ship is shown part-way through a 7-day German Bight Cruise. Her last port of call was Le Havre (France), the next were Antwerp (Belgium) and Amsterdam (Netherlands, Holland). The cruise then ended in Hamburg (Germany).

Vessel details:

Tonnage: 71,300 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 827 feet (252.07 m)
Beam: 105.5 feet (32.16 m)
Decks: 15 decks
Installed power: Diesel-electric (about 36,000kW)
Propulsion: 4 Caterpillar MaK engines
Capacity: 2,050 passengers
Crew: 607 crew
Call Sign IBWX
IMO 9398888
MMSI 247282500
Owners website: Aida Cruises

The Pride of Dover primarily operated the Dover–Calais route, but on a number of occasions she made crossings between Dover and Zeebrugge as a result of industrial action in France.

MS Pride of Dover

The vessel ended her P&O service on 15 December 2010 with her last crossing leaving Dover at 2345 local time. She has now been replaced by the new super-ferry, MS Spirit of Britain that arrived in the Port of Dover on Sunday, 9th of January, 2011, after a handover ceremony at the STX Europe shipyard in Rauma (Finland) on the 5th of January.

With a bigger capacity and almost double the amount of tonnage, at 49,000 tonnes, the Spirit of Britain (ex-Olympic Spirit) is the largest ferry to ever cross the English Channel. "P&O" is derived from Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

Vessel details:

Tonnage: 26,433 tonnes
Length: 169.6 m (556.4 ft)
Beam: 28.27 m (92.7 ft)
Draft: 6.12 m (20.1 ft)
Installed power: 3 x Sulzer ZA40S Diesels
Propulsion: Triple controllable pitch propellers
Speed: 22 kn (41 km/h)
Capacity: 2,290 passengers, 650 vehicles
Call Sign: GJCR
IMO: 8517736
MMSI: 232001670
Owner's website: P&O Ferries

The main photo (includes sources) was originally uploaded to:

MS AIDAblu Cruise Ship and Pride of Dover Ferry, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour

The MS AIDAblu in 2011:

MS AIDAblu Cruise Ship berthed at Cruise Terminal 2, Admiralty Pier, Dover

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

A Cross-Channel Ferry and Cruise Ship photo.

Clickable thumbnails of all harbour-related photos on the main Panoramio Images of Dover website are available on this blog on the Port of Dover Page (also linked to below the blog title).

The Panoramio photos are each accompanied by a Google Earth satellite map. However, the images are smaller than those on the Images of Dover Blog and the captions are less well formatted.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

MS AIDAaura Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour in Early Morning Fog, Kent, UK

The MS AIDA Aura cruise ship entered Dover Harbour via the Eastern Entrance and is now making its way across the Outer Harbour towards the Admiralty Pier of the Western Docks where it will berth at CT2 (Cruise Terminal 2):



On the left of this post-sunrise photo, the Eastern Arm pier juts out from the Eastern Docks (the cross-channel ferry terminal, not in view) with the Southern Breakwater bracketing the other side of the Eastern Entrance to the right of the ship.

The photo was taken at 6.14 am on Tuesday, 18th of May, 2010, from a point mid-way between the Porthole Shelters and the Lighthouse on the Prince of Wales Pier (eastern side).

MS AIDA Aura General Characteristics:

Tonnage: 42,289 gross register tons (GRT)
Length: 665.3 feet (202.78 m)
Beam: 92.2 feet (28.10 m)
Draft: 20.3 feet (6.19 m)
Decks: 12 total, 10 passenger
Installed power: Diesel-electric (27,150kW)
Speed: 19.4-knot (36 km/h; 22 mph)
Capacity: 1,300 passengers
Crew: 418 crew
Notes: 6 elevators
Operator: AIDA Cruises
Port of registry: Italy
Builder: Aker MTW (Germany)
Cost: $350 million
Christened: April 12, 2003 in Warnemünde
Maiden voyage: October 27, 2008 to Wilmington (North Carolina, USA)
In service: April 15, 2003
Identification: IMO 9221566
Call: Sign IBNZ
MMSI: 247117400

From Hamburg in Germany on a "British Isles Cruise".

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

AIDA Aura Cruise Ship crossing Dover Harbour in Early Morning Fog

Also see:

MS AIDA Aura Cruise Ship at Cruise Terminal 2, Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour
MS AIDA Aura Cruise Ship after Sunrise, Western Entrance, Dover Harbour

A new vessel from AIDA Cruises for 2011:

MS AIDAsol Cruise Ship in Dover Harbour on her Maiden Voyage

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

Click to see all Cruise Ship photos (related tags: Boats, Ferries, Lifeboats, Navy, Sailing Ships, Ships, Tugs, and Workboats).

A Dover Harbour photo.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

NAAFI, Regimental Institute and Hurst Tower, Knights Road, Dover Castle, Kent, UK

The Victorian Regimental Institute building in the grounds of Dover Castle houses the Naafi Restaurant ("Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes") and Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol. It also once housed a remnant of a Barnes Wallis 'bouncing bomb':


(Click this text link to see the largest size)

On the left is Knights Road and Hurst Tower on the Western Outer Curtain Wall; Queen Elizabeth Road lies between the viewer and the restaurant.

The ex-Regimental Institute is a Grade II Listed Building.

The following extracts are © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use Licence (PSI licence number C2010002016):

Building Details:

Building Name: FORMER REGIMENTAL INSTITUTE; Parish: DOVER; District: DOVER; County: KENT; Postcode:

Details:

LBS Number: 469564; Grade: II ; Date Listed: 08/07/1998 ; Date Delisted: ; NGR: TR3253841699

Listing Text:

TR 3242 DOVER KNIGHT'S ROAD (north side), Dover Castle 685/1/10007 Former Regimental Institute

II

Regimental institute, now offices. Dated 1868, probably by G Arnold RE (Royal Engineeers), Clerk of Works; altered c 1994. Polygonal rubble, dressings, external and ridge stacks and slate roof. Tudor Gothic Revival style. Single-depth axial plan.

HISTORY: In a similar style to the nearby Officers Barracks by Salvin (alt. Officers New Barracks, Victorian Officers Mess). Institutes were introduced to provide improving pastimes in barracks and to reduce drinking. Used for education and training at the Castle garrison, and one of the oldest institutes in an English barracks.

Listing NGR: TR3253841699

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

Hurst's Tower and Naafi Restaurant of Dover Castle (UK)

Also see:

The Victorian Regimental Institute, Knights Road, Dover Castle

Small, but perfectly formed, the Victorian Bread and Meat Store of Dover Castle

A Dover history photo.

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

The English Heritage "Pastscape" entry for Dover Castle states:

"Medieval castle possibly originating as a pre-1066 motte and bailey castle, remodelled during the reign of Henry II (Curtmantle), to became a castle with concentric defences, one of the first examples of its kind in western Europe."

All castle photos first appear under the Dover Castle tag.

The castle is one of Dover's Grade I Listed Buildings and a Dover English Heritage site.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

Queen Mary's Tower, Western Outer Curtain Wall, Dover Castle, Kent, UK

Queen Mary's Tower is located on Dover Castle's Western Outer Curtain Wall between Constable's Gateway, less than 15 yards to the right (north) and Peverell's Gate, less than 60 yards to the left (south):



This is a fairly typical D-type tower but the location within the garden grounds of Constable's Gateway (alt. Constable's Gate, Constable's Tower) prohibits getting any closer.

This view shows the internal arch and was taken looking over the garden wall from the raised ground between West Norman Road and Harold Road.

Queen Mary's Tower had its height reduced during the 18th Century in order to turn it into a gun platform (thereby removing the crenellations) like the other D-Type towers (eg Gatton's Tower, Say's Tower, Hurst's Tower).

Other names for Queen Mary's Tower: Port Tower, Porth Tower, Laswells Tower (Laswell's Tower?), and Gostling Tower.

As a rule of thumb, 'square' towers were built in the days of arrows, curved ones marked the advent of cannon.

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

Queen Mary's Tower, Western Outer Curtain Wall, Dover Castle

A Dover Middle Ages history photo.

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

All castle photos first appear under the Dover Castle tag.

The castle is a Dover Grade I Listed Buildings and an English Heritage site.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town

Prototype Barnes Wallis Dambusters Bouncing Bomb at Dover Castle, Kent, UK

A prototype World War II "Bouncing Bomb" remnant recovered off Reculver beach in 1996 and now at the English Heritage site of Dover Castle:



The relic is shown housed in the former Victorian Regimental Institute on Knights Road on the western side of the Castle. This building still contains Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol and the Naafi Restaurant but the bomb fragment has been moved elsewhere.

Barnes Wallis' bouncing bombs were used by the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron (led by Guy Gibson) in the RAF Dambuster Raid of 1943 during the Second World War.

The information board reads:

This is a prototype of the 'bouncing bomb' which was used in the famous Dambuster operation. This operation, which breached the Mohne Dam and Eder Dam in Western Germany, was carried out by No. 617 Squadron of the RAF on 16th May, 1943.

These special bouncing bombs resembled giant garden rollers and needed to spin away from the Lancaster aircraft, which were travelling at 220 mph at a height of 60 ft above ground.

This prototype was drop tested in April 1943 off Reculver beach, Kent and was rediscovered in June 1996.

More information (including sources used and a Google Earth satellite map) can be found on this photo's original webpage at:

The Barnes Wallis 'Bouncing Bomb' at Dover Castle (UK)

Links to the main Images of Dover website:

The English Heritage "Pastscape" entry for Dover Castle states:

"Medieval castle possibly originating as a pre-1066 motte and bailey castle, remodelled during the reign of Henry II (Curtmantle), to became a castle with concentric defences, one of the first examples of its kind in western Europe."

All castle photos first appear under the Dover Castle tag.

The castle is one of Dover's Grade I Listed Buildings and a Dover English Heritage site.

John Latter / Jorolat

Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town