TS "Resolute" has been in her new home for about four weeks now, with the last two weeks properly moored. After the excitement of moving two ships and overcoming many problems in weather and tugs, the fitting out process seems almost mundane with not a lot to report.

However, it is proceeding apace and the doors are bing fitted to the cabins and possibly carpeting will go down this coming weekend. The cabins will then look really good and ready to fit the beds. I will try and send photos in a future blog.

Nearly all the ceilings are now finished. A lot of light fittings are in place. A big step forward today was a very successful meeting with the suppliers of the heat pump and solar panels where a big problem of location of solar panels seems to have been resolved. They will go on the wheelhouse roof where no-one will see them except the birds. Let's hope they do not decide to ... you know what. In addition to the activity on the ship, the jetty is undergoing repair which will take about three weeks and we cannot make all the connections until that is finished.

The ship looks like it is in the later stages of completion which, according to folk law of normal shipyards, looks in a terrible mess. In a very short time now, all will be cleaned up and ready to hand over to CYE except that nothing will work until the New Year because of the jetty work. Oh well, can't have everything.

In parallel with the fitting out of the new ship I am being fitted out with a new hip, but not by Trimline. So it is new Ship -new Hip. I will be not visiting the ship for a bit and Norman will be Project Managing until I can pick up some duties again.

Oh, forgot to mention the photograph. It may have been included in a previous blog but it is such a good one of her in her now home that I have reproduced it in slightly larger format on it's own.

If perchance you have photos of the ship, please send a disk to the Sailing Centre for the attention of Ben Ritchie.

David Edwards

Starboard gangway and electrical connection.

Today, electric power has been connected to the ship. It is a three phase cable and tracked accross the aft mooring strut. This will enable Trimline to re-commence fitting out with plenty of power for machines and lighting where necessary.

The last picture shows Kevin, our Maintenance Manager, putting the finishing touches to the ropes which hold the cable to the strut. It is low tide and the ship is on the mud. with a slight list to port but level fore and aft. The reed grass is covered every high tide and will be well over a metre of water at Spring tides. Once the jetty is repaired, the cable will be tracked back along the jetty and suspended under the new aft gangway (which can be seen on the jetty awaiting installation).

The top picture shows the new gangway jacked up from the temporary one which, in turn, rests on the temporary pontoon. This is to enable the bracket to be designed, fitted and welded to the deck to take the permanent starboard gangway.

Next week, we should have a full crew plus subcontractors on board.

David Edwards Project Manager.

After getting the mooring struts and cables in place yesterday, the starboard gangway was placed in position. It is 11 metres long and weighs in at 2.7 tonnes even though it is aluminium construction.

The digger did not have enough reach to get it to the ship so it was slid up the temporary gangway by Robin, James and Kevin. This was a difficult operation but skillfully carried out. It is resting on the ship and tied with ropes and needs permanent fixing. However, even with the temporary attachment, it is safe for use and is the only means of access to the ship.

The aft gangway (only 5 metres long) will not be fitted until the jetty is repaired but the gangway is already on the further part of the jetty in readiness. Both gangways will be wheelchair accessible.

David Edwards, Project Manager

TS Resolute, a work in progress

The pictures posted on 7th November were identified correctly by Steve Band and you should be able to see the results on the comment box for that day. Well done Steve! Steve has had a long association with CYE Sailing Centre and his knowledge of the Chichester Harbour enabled him to come up with the right locations. The picture of the ship being towed in the harbour with Hayling Island in the background may have been the most difficult to identify.

The ship is now moored permanently. The pictures above (all at low tide) show;

View from lower end of jetty.

Pontoon used to increase safety of temporary mooring during strong winds.

Jetty repair work just commencing

Final mooring system of struts are now in place. Most of the ropes will be removed later, leaving just a few onto the sea wall as additional safety measure.

As you will see, the ship is very much a work in progress on the outside. Interior fitting out was interrupted for the tow and mooring system, but will re-commence next week.

David Edwards Project Manager.

Work at the CYE site at Chidham

This week is a hive of activity.

The site at CYE is turned into a construction project with lots of mud, diggers, dump truck etc.

The mooring struts arrive by truck from Walcon Marine.

The two gangways arrive all the way from the Tyne on the North East coast.

The mooring wires are being fixed to the ship ready to be attached to mooring frames on shore.

The fitting out of the ship is on hold for several days until it is properly moored, but should re-commence by Trimline sometime next week.

David Edwards. Project Manager

WORK CARRIES ON

Yes after all the excitement of the safe arrival of RESOLUTE on Saturday, work started today on preparations for final commissioning and asociated site works.

Lots of machinery and deliveries of stones arrived too.

David Edwards supervised the placing of the mooring frames and wires which will have struts attached to secure the ship in place. Later this week 450mm diametre holes will be drilled down through the sea wall and filled with steel and concrete to hold the frames in place. Further mud levelling work will continue this week too. Meanwhile while Kevin Nash and Nick (the Kog) Pyke organised a work party preparing a drained Rib storage area which is currently boggy whenever it rains.

Norman Doney

Resolute is home

The good ship "TS Resolute" left Portchester on November 5th at 11 am and was towed by a tug and guided by a second tug to Camber Dock, just inside Portsmouth Harbour. We were tied up right opposite the IOW car ferry for the night and Norman, David and Charlie slept on board with two dogs as guard against intruders.

Next day, November 6th, the tugs arrived at 7 am for the tow to Chichester. and in the morning there was almost no wind. The tow to Chichester took 2 hours. Once inside the harbour a crew was transferred from the centre RIB to Resolute, and then another smaller tug and a very large RIB took over for the final leg up the Bosham channel to destination. Then the sun came out for some wonderful photos! The weather was a miracle, because there were gales the week before and gales are forecast for Monday. Does God arrange the weather? He has in the past and so He did this time too.

Resolute was nudged into its berth (after several minutes resolutely stuck in the mud bank) and then she was pulled and pushed into place by several boats and shore ropes manned by a shore crew.

She does look good in her new home. Lots more pictures are to come so keep watching.

There is lots of work to do this coming week and right up to Christmas and beyond, but Resolute is HOME.

Guess where each picture is taken and post the results with a comment. The first person to come up with five correct answers will get a mention in despatches, plus a VIP tour of the ship.

(Those closely involved in the exercise are excluded)

David Edwards and Norman Doney

GD Pictures and update on new ship

The Gerald Daniel at her new home

off Chelsea Embankment.

The Gerald Daniel under Chelsea Bridge (so we think) on her way on the night of arrival, 22nd October 2010.

A dramatic photo of the Gerald Daniel about to pass under the famous Tower Bridge in the heart of London.

She is on her way to Chelsea.

Another historic photo of the Gerald Daniel in front of Big Ben, the most famous clock in the world.

The houses of parliament are in the background.

Published by David Edwards, Project Manager.

Post Script. The new ship is now empty of all Trimline workers and is prepared for the tow to Chichester harbour. This is planned for Friday or Saturday 5th or 6th October depending on weather and could be postponed to Monday or Tuesday 8th or 9th October. However we think it most likely to be towed this Saturday 6th October.

Watch this space for some (hopefully) very dramatic photos of the new ship under tow and arrival at Chidham. Once at Chidham, we have planned an extensive work program of mooring, finishing the fitting out, attachment of gangways and connecting up all the services. More on this in future Blogs.

David.