Monday 4th April 2009 Arkot shipping's mv PRASIDENT is arriving at BIDEFORD ROADS awaiting her earliest entry window of Monday 4th April at 1400 hrs subject to her reduced ballast draught of 3.1 metres. She will load nearly 2,200 tonnes of Ball Clay for CASTELLON in SPAIN over two days.The first Spanish cargo from BIDEFORD for 5 months. She will berth at 1515 hrs. Monday 4th.
Her last 10 ports were as follows and the crew are all Russian, bar one Ukrainian.
The new Fuchs crane has dredged the berths at the quay, ready for the the above ship.
 Don't break down in the channel! _______
Capt. Alan Pratt (nearest wheelhouse) relax on board during their atay in Bideford.(Click to enlarge.) A passenger boat the CORNISH BELLE from BRIXHAM which was on passage to BELFAST having been purchased by the LAGAN BOAT COMPANY arrived at BIDEFORD on Tuesday March 31st's am tide. She had shaft and rudder vibration problems. Local company JOHN PAVITT ENGINEERING had the job to repair the vessel which was ably completed in under two days. The rudder was removed with the assistance of Bidefords Fuchs crane.
The attractive traditional wooden vessel sailed on Friday morning tide for MILFORD HAVEN, and then towards Belfast. The Lagan Boat Company http://www.laganboatcompany.com/index.html
specialise in social cruises at BELFAST and regular 'TITANIC HISTORIC CRUISES' viewing the buildings and docks of the time. The delivery skipper was ALAN PRATT, and together with his crew and son who followed the boat around the coast had previous connections with BIDEFORD. Alan was a friend for many years with the late PETER HERBERT whom he employed on his coastal barges in the Thames area. Alan has two bunker barges, three tugs, a pontoon and a Thames lighter complete with loadline for sea use. He tends Naval and other ships in the Royal Docks in London with fresh water supply and waste water disposal. He also has a contract to fender large tankers off the East Coast during oil transfer operations.
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Bideford Pilot boat's new FORD engine and gearbox arrived on Friday 3rd April - supplied by of LANCING MARINE of SHOREHAM. The old engine and gearbox will be removed and the new installed by TDC's operational services engineering crew at WESTCOMBE.
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Lundy's old amphibious landing craft JOHN SHEARN which finished service when the jetty was built in 1999, has been laying somewhat neglected at East the Water Bideford has been sold by the writer* and found a good home and will be lifted onto a low loader and taken to start a new life on the river THAMES at Teddington.
The landing craft (or 'the barge' as she was affectionatley known) is going to ac-marine.com
where she will be renovated by the new owner STEFAN who is in the business of renovating sailing barges and works from an island or 'AIT' in the Thames and the craft will be put to work supplying heavy equipment to the island, and will supply water etc to craft moored on the Thames.
The JOHN SHEARN was designed and built by John Shearn of ILFRACOMBE in the 70's and was a unique and clever design that proved its worth time and time again. The writer worked with the barge for ten years and it proved the best vessel to carry farm trailers laden with cargo boxes to and from the OLDENBURG Lundy ferry (and previously the POLAR BEAR supply ship) whilst they were anchored at the island. Many other cargoes were carried by the barge including a vintage car owned by the agent at the island, cows, horses, sheep, Land Rovers, Tractors, JCBs, and occasionally people when conditions were too rough for the lighter passenger launch.
The barge has six wheels and her onboard winch can haul herself out of the water and up the beach or slipway - relaunch being a dramatic quick release of the securing chains and a fast gravity powered run into the water!
The late John Shearn had a 16mm film of the construction, launching and first unload at Lundy of the barge which he showed occasionally. The film is held by the Lundy Field Society now and is a fascinating historical record. (Photos to be added.)
*The barge was purchased the the late Captain PETER HERBERT from Lundy in 1999, and the writer bought a half share soon after, eventually Peter's share was bought just prior to his death.
Please click on an image to enlarge it!
 Mr John Puddy - The Lundy agent who worked with the barge for 15 years. In yellow is Adam, who introduced the new owner to the writer and has his own historic barge at Barnstaple which will be following the John Shearn to the Thames.
 Taking the strain 12 tonnes?
 The crane driver says 19 tonnes!
 UK HEAVY HAULAGE of BIDEFORD efficiently handled the tramsport. MD Matt Mahoney driver Gary. John Pavitt positions the barge - a perfect fit. John worked with the barge for years at Lundy, and Appledore where he virtually rebuilt it.
 The owner Roger sad to see her go? No, pleased that she will be working again.
 MR & Mrs Roger Chapple (Lundy Field Society) who have the original 16mm barge building film with John Puddy. Away she goes 4.5 hrs to Teddington. (She was due to be relaunched in the Thames before tea time.) And over the Bridge.
The new jetty made the John Shearn redundant. Please click on an image to enlarge it! _____________________________
ms OLDENBURG the day she unslipped at APPLEDOREin February 2009.  The official opening of Appledores fantastic Fishdock during early February.
 It rained on the dignitaries - including the minister.
 A visitor to Instow beach - Randy Northrup's revamped tug CANNIS. She is headed for Heanton Court for a sheltered mooring. Note the Dalek on the bridge wing!
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