Carryfast:
Edit have now read the Wiki link.Strange I’ve never known front loading on Italian routes I thought it wasn’t allowed there.
I went on an FS (Ferrovia dello Stato, Italian equivalent of British Rail) ferry from Reggio di Calabria to Messina (and back!!) a couple of times 1987/1988ish.
Both ends of the ferry were openable, so you’d drive on and off in forward gear, so a lot like many of the Cally-Mac ferries in Scotland, or Southampton - Cowes.
It wasn’t a long distance route by any means, IIRC the crossing was 20-30 mins or so.
Carryfast:
Edit have now read the Wiki link.Strange I’ve never known front loading on Italian routes I thought it wasn’t allowed there.
I went on an FS (Ferrovia dello Stato, Italian equivalent of British Rail) ferry from Reggio di Calabria to Messina (and back!!) a couple of times 1987/1988ish.
Both ends of the ferry were openable, so you’d drive on and off in forward gear, so a lot like many of the Cally-Mac ferries in Scotland, or Southampton - Cowes.
It wasn’t a long distance route by any means, IIRC the crossing was 20-30 mins or so.
I’ve used the Messina crossing ones a few times and all very similar to the Isle of Wight types.
But I’ve never seen or used a front drive on/off on Italian routes that was the first I’ve ever seen of heard of it there.Every one I’ve used from Tiziano to Flaminia, Boccaccio, Superba and Suprema all rear load only with the exception of Tiziano which was side loading.On that note don’t think I’ve ever seen any dock there which had a link span capable of front drive on/off which might explain it.But the Tor line ones also suggest a safety aspect for handling rough weather and the Med and North Sea can get really rough with a return run from Gothenburg being just about the roughest crossing I’ve ever known.Also surprised they use front load/unload for Biscay in that regard.The Estonia sinking showing the dangers of the design.
The Estonia had the old type up & over ‘visor’ bow door, which was outlawed Europewide as far as I’m aware after she sank, the current type ‘screen’ doors being the norm these days, and have been on the English channel for years.
kmills:
The Estonia had the old type up & over ‘visor’ bow door, which was outlawed Europewide as far as I’m aware after she sank, the current type ‘screen’ doors being the norm these days, and have been on the English channel for years.
Cheers, Keith
Like the old Herald etc they seem to have gone for the sideways opening clam shell type on recent designs which obviously provide a safer alternative.Although still ultimately reliant on the linkages and hinge points although the forces obviously acting to push the doors closed against the hull not tear the visor open like the up and over type.
Maybe that would explain a change in rules meaning either clam shell doors or rear load only after a certain cut off and in which rear load only is the only practical choice for docks without link spans regardless.
Gidders:
When I lived in Belgium I used to use the Breskens Ferry a lot too.I also used the ferry from Terneuzen.I didn’t know they had been replaced .
Still running but only for foot passengers and cyclists
Brerskens,i used to use it when loading chips in BERGEN OPP ZOOM and wanted to catch a boat from zeebrugeAND SHORT OF TIME and to miss ANTWERP it was about 15gelders 38TON.,and just enough time for a coffe and frickadela,then the clappers to zeebruge, i had completly forgot about that ferry ,not many used it.well uk drivers.
IT was the red light district BRESKENS,or a village near by ,“slus” rings a bell" also there was a outside TVgame played there s the royals took part ,princess anne,etc, a long time when the game was being played we all wondered if the police would shut the place down, "the girls"for the. royal visit… we also used a little border called PUTTE…al probly gone now.
Sluis is a pleasant little town worth a wander immediately on the NL side of the border from B near Knokke.It did have ■■■ shops to peruse,which Belgium didn’t.
Gidders:
Sluis is a pleasant little town worth a wander immediately on the NL side of the border from B near Knokke.It did have ■■■ shops to peruse,which Belgium didn’t.
I sailed on " Duke De Normandie " many times, mainly Portsmouth to Ouistreham (Caen), but on
one journey in 1992, I sailed on her from Plymouth to Santander, as the regular ship, " Bretagne "
was away at Brest in France having its annual refit. The following is an article from " Sea Breezes "
magazine regarding " Cornouailles " and " Duke De Normandie " by Richard Danielson.
Click on script to read if required.
Buzzer posted this great picture of Brittany Ferries " Connemara " loading at Cherbourg, Thanks John.
Connemara is on charter, and prior to doing Portsmouth to Cherbourg during this Covid 19 crisis,
it was doing Cork to Santander in Spain. I expect that some of the Irish carriers welcomed this route,
avoiding having to book a ferry from Ireland to England or Wales, and then another across the Channel,
and the long drive down through France. Not my pictures.
This Roll-on,Roll-off ferry in the Ferrymaroc fleet is " Wisteria ", formerly " Duke De Normandie " of Brittany Ferries.
It operated from Almeria City in South-East Spain to Morocco for a number of years. NMP.
Did many use the Cobelfret ferries out of purfleet. I used them every other week for about a year,(Out Via Purfleet Return Via Dover) as I was based in Purfleet then. If memory serves me right they would only carry a couple of accompanied vehicles. Food served with the crew. Ferries were nothing special but cheap compared to Dover Crossings and very close to home.
