Ship Runs Aground on Spit

Alarms were raised about 5pm on Saturday evening when a cruise liner ran aground on Hurst Spit.

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P&O Oceana?

As the coastguard was called, Jason and the team from Hurst Castle were first on the scene.

First reports indicated that the ship had become entangled in a fisherman’s line and dragged to shore. The shocked fisherman said; “I thought I had hooked a big one, but I didn’t realise how big!”

As the crowds gathered, Jason tethered the ship to his Land Rover, and after three attempts, managed to pull the ship free. After which, the happy passengers were able to continue their cruise to Fantasy Island.

None of this is of course true. However, thanks to Frances, a regular reader, we have these two pictures of medium sized cruise liners passing through the West Solent exit, along the Needles Passage, past The Needles and out across Christchurch Bay.

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Cunard Queen Victoria?

In the past, it was a regular sight to see cruise liners coming & going, but this has declined significantly in recent years. The only cruise line that appeared to regularly use this way in to & out from Southampton was Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, who’s ships were generally smaller than most of today’s international cruise fleet.

In the past few days, our eagled eyed photographer captured these two ships passing. We suspect the first one may be the P&O Oceana? and just above, probably Cunard's Queen Victoria?

There is little doubt that seeing magnificent ships against the backdrop of the Isle of Wight is a great sight. From some it may just be a nice thing to watch, for others it may get them wondering what it may be like to on-board and cruising to a foreign shore, and for previous cruisers it is most lightly to rekindle great memories of time at sea and the thought of sitting in a floating bar, cocktail in hand, literally watching the world go by.

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We always assumed that the declined in cruise ships passing this way was due to the potential shallow water and significant & moving sand banks. The cruise liners being spotted are certainly not the largest afloat, but they are still massive floating hotels with up to something like 2000 passengers on-board, plus around 900 crew. (The current largest cruise liner is the Royal Caribbean International Oasis The Seas and the Allure of The Seas both carry up to 6,296 passengers & 2,384 crew!)

It would be interesting to know why more cruise liners are now passing near Milford on Sea?

If you have any answers or ideas, please click link below to Post a Comment.