Topic: Tight fit! Olympic cruise ship squeezes into London Docks

With just inches to spare, MS Deutschland made a dramatic entrance into South Quay, London Docklands this week. It's a test-run ahead of next summers Olympic Games.



Guests of the German Olympic Sports Confederation will be entertained there.

The luxury ship is 175.3m length and 23m beam, whilst the lock is 178m in length and 24.4m wide - so you can see why it was such a squeeze!

East Londoner Billy Smith, British Waterways' veteran dockmaster & tidal locks supervisor, described the manoeuvre as "an impressive sight to behold as there are literally just inches to spare".

Isle of Dogs-based Mr Smith, who has worked on the River Thames and in the docks since 1962, said: "This is the largest ship that I have ever seen navigate through the lock.

"To fit her in we use the high tides and insist she's brought in stern first, an unusual and interesting operation for the river pilots and the captain.

"Bringing MS Deutschland into the docks is a real achievement. The manoeuvre into the confined space of the lock shows how good planning, combined with the skill of the teams involved, worked to ensure the berthing operation was successful."

The German Olympic Sports Confederation will based at the Museum of London Docklands as Deutsches Haus (Germany House) during the Games.

Director general of the Confederation, Michael Vesper, said: "The Canary Wharf skyline will provide an iconic backdrop to the German House and German Ship, and London Docklands is a great location; close to the Olympic Park and Olympic venues such as the O2 and Greenwich Park, great transport connections and an interesting heritage."

You beat me to it Mrs RC! I was just about to post this story. A foot or two to spare going through the lock.........no room for error there and quite an achievement.

I have also been reading about the idea of using a cruise ship at Portland to accommodate the extra security as they cannot find enough bed space ashore.
It appears that when they tried this alternative for the Canadian Olympics - those off duty decided to use it as a nightclub with much drinking, revelry and cavorting about the decks
Perhaps they should have kept the 'prison' ship and just given it a lick of paint - ample space and the security officers would have felt right at home

Nice photos. Very impressive!

Typical German efficiency with able assistance from the locals. Bratwurst and Becks all round.

We live close to the cliffs on Portland Dorset. MS Deutschland has just passed us 20.00 on 16th July. Oddly enough, there was no ships tracker on the ship.

QUOTE:

We live close to the cliffs on Portland Dorset. MS Deutschland has just passed us 20.00 on 16th July. Oddly enough, there was no ships tracker on the ship.

She is trying to slip into the Atlantic unnoticed

QUOTE:

She is trying to slip into the Atlantic unnoticed

She will never get through the ring of ships that the Rn have positioned from the denmark straits down to Gib.

QUOTE:

She will never get through the ring of ships that the Rn have positioned from the denmark straits down to Gib.

She is German built so may have the ability to go under them

QUOTE:

We live close to the cliffs on Portland Dorset. MS Deutschland has just passed us 20.00 on 16th July. Oddly enough, there was no ships tracker on the ship.

She is just passing Brixham - Destination Falmouth - she has AIS try Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - many a happy hour spent watching the ships go by.................virtually!

QUOTE:

She is just passing Brixham - Destination Falmouth - she has AIS try Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - many a happy hour spent watching the ships go by.................virtually!

Jim will use the information and there will be an international incident with bratwurst fights in the streets of Falmouth