Sunday 12 September 2021

Cornishman come home.




After a 24 hour lon steam the Cornishman heads in through the gaps after a major refit in Den Oever in the Nederlands...


to be met by fleet manager...


Pete Buckland who quickly gets to grips with a heaving line...


along with the welcoming committee...


while some familiar faces make good the stern ropes...



under the watchful eye of skipper George Stevens...

young Shane draws on his last roll-up of the trip...

the Cornishman now sports her new Ocean Fish colours...


along with the company logo on her bow...


while the boat's name board below the wheelhouse windows looks like it has had some serious coats of varnish applied...


all-in-all a significant change from the longstanding olive green colour associated with the Stevenson fishing fleet of steel beam trawlers... 


she joins the Enterprise in similar livery.


After 70 years of sleep, the Le Gall cannery reopens in Loctudy

 



Closed in 1955, the former Le Gall fish cannery in Loctudy (29), which has become an eco-museum, opens its doors on Friday. This site, unique in France, is a rare witness to the history of Breton preserves.

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Loctudy (29). The Le Gall cannery opens its doors on Friday Posted on September 07, 2021 at 5:40 p.m. Modified on September 08, 2021 at 10:36 a.m. Enlarge To print Web version Journal version

Five years were needed to complete the project to restore and enhance the former Le Gall cannery in Loctudy (29). It has kept all its charm with its exposed stone walls, beams and strange tools from another age that are just waiting to come to life.

The workshop has been remarkably restored. The manufacturing workshop has been remarkably restored (Le Télégramme / Patrick Théallet) A hold nearby to facilitate the unloading of fish An emblematic place in the history of the Bigoudene commune, the cannery was built in 1900-1901 by Jean-Marie Vallière des Filières, a trader-trader from Ille-et-Vilaine. The land is located near the shore where a hold is built to facilitate the unloading of fish. However, the cannery never really took off: strikes followed the long sardine crisis and, despite initial investments, it remained on the fringes of the technical changes of the time and remained semi-artisanal.

Historical testimony The factory was then bought, in 1919, by Alexis Le Gall, a native of Douarnenez (29). This modernized the cannery and increased its productivity by investing in mechanical seamers and a steam boiler. He also installs the electricity and the telephone. About forty women then made high-end products.

Boiler, autoclaves, topping and conditioning tables have been restored by local companies. Boiler, autoclaves, topping and packaging tables have been restored by local companies (Le Télégramme / Patrick Théallet) The factory slows down during the war and, after a bad fishing season, the cannery ceases its activity in 1955 for lack of buyer. Despite inactivity, most of its premises are kept and its machines are maintained thanks to the perseverance and the purchase of the site by Jean-Baptiste Chapalain, husband of Alexis Le Gall's granddaughter.

Everything threatened to fall apart This working production tool is the last historical witness of its kind in France. Its owner approached the municipality at the time, but the latter did not have the necessary means to carry out such a project on its own. In 2014, given the deterioration of buildings, there is an emergency. “Everything threatened to collapse,” remembers Pierre Quillivic, works assistant. In 2015, precautionary measures were then taken by the Drac (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs). The machines and equipment were classified as a Historic Monument in 2016 and, that same year, the town hall of Loctudy acquired the entire site.

The entire site has been restored: the tide store, the mansion and the manufacturing workshop and its 19th century industrial architecture, with its jagged roof and chimneys. The entire site has been restored: the tide store, the mansion and the manufacturing workshop, with its 19th century industrial architecture, with its jagged roof and brick chimneys (from right to left ) (Pierre Quillivic) Cost of the work: 2.1 M € In 2018, the site was included in the list of 270 monuments of the Heritage Loto . The town is no longer alone. The project benefits from substantial financial support from numerous public authorities (State, Region, Department, Europe, community of municipalities) and from private partnerships, through corporate sponsorship. The overall cost of the operation amounts to € 2.1 million, subsidized up to 80%.

To read on the subject Conserverie Le Gall: catering on the move After two years of work and nearly 70 years of sleep, this exceptional heritage has been saved. The former Le Gall cannery will open its doors to the public on Friday. Access is via the old tide store, transformed into a reception area coupled with a shop. The visit continues with the dining room and Alexis Le Gall's office, reconstructed identically.

Alexis le Gall's office has been restored identically. Alexis le Gall's office has been restored identically (Le Télégramme / Patrick Théallet) A human adventure

After crossing the small garden, visitors approach the factory through the sauce preparation workshop to finally enter the manufacturing workshop. The factory is equipped with numerous explanatory panels, screens and audiovisual and interactive tools which retrace the different phases of the production of the product: topping, drying, cooking, oiling, crimping, sterilization. The careful scenography highlights the condition of women, the difficulty of their daily lives and their struggles. More than an industrial epic, the Le Gall cannery tells the story of a human adventure.

Le Gall cannery museum , 8, impasse du Nord in Loctudy (29). Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturday 11 September 2021

Musical navigator extraordinary, Michael Chapman sails the music circuit seas no more.




Music has a great way of bringing together the elements - and none is stronger than its affinity with the sea. 

Way back in the 1960s when British Folk music was perceived to be so subversive that MI5 closely monitored the affairs of its leading proponents a young man, having first picked up a guitar to "impress the girls", stumbled skint and soaked into a remote folk club with an open door policy near the cliffs of Botallack. That tiny embryonic club in the Count House at Botallack became the home to Pipers run by Mike the Fish and the formidable, Brenda Wootton. Of all the troubadours who filled the old tin mine counting house's thick granite walls the best know to a wider audience would be Ralph McTell whose song Streets of London resonates perhaps even more today than it did back then.

Back to our rain-soaked singer guitarist and how a very different career with humble beginnings panned out. In the early days the clubs owner was more interested, rightly so in running a viable club than the inherent musical value of its players. John the Fish along with Brenda Wotton were the resident artists and the musical backbone of the club. Local and visiting guest players were always welcomed but in those days there was a house rule that they could play any song they liked other than Dylan's 'Blowin in the Wind' - because at that time everyone did and the owner was sick of hearing it.

When the broke, wet and weary Michael Chapman happened upon the club desperate to earn at least a hot meal (they served food in those days) he was made aware of the rule and, as a result, launched into a set of his own songs. Such was the audience reaction Michael Chapman was immediately offered a residency for the rest of the summer season. Legend has it that Brenda Wootton was so put out by the young upstart taking all the limelight that she largely ignored him and his presence at first. So began a long career and even longer association with touring in Cornwall, especially in West Penwith where he has returned on a regular basis until very recently. 

Unlike Ralph McTell, Chapman never enjoyed a song with the widespread success of Streets of London and consequently nor a wider audience. His early albums featured Mick Ronson of Bowie fame and Steeleye Span's Steve Kemp - other collaborations are too numerous to mention. Undoubtedly, his affinity with Cornwall led to imagery of the sea becoming a common feature if his lyrics. Local writer, poet, rock climber and fisherman Des Hannigan was there in those early days - in his case fishing proved a more powerful driving force as a means of earning a living than his attempts at guitaring. Des provides a more intimate look at life back then here.

Two of Michael Chapman's most iconic songs with saltwater connections are Fully Qualified Survivor and Rabbit Hills - not that any self-respecting fisherman use such a word so endowed with bad luck as rabbit at sea - Bush-Conger Hills or Underground Mutton Hills would not quite have the same ring tough.

Here, in tribute are both songs form his second album;



Full Qualified Surviver



Rabbit Hills

There's much more to hear and read about those heady days of live acoustic gigs and venues - with a few key words Google will provide enough to keep you reading and listening to hours of words and songs with much of their roots in the far west of Cornwall.

RIP Michael Chapman - 1941-2021

Friday 10 September 2021

Spanish longline fleet currently enjoying the support of the world's largest hospital ship dedicated fishing.


Guide tour of the Esperanza del Mar

The Esperanza del Mar can be located in areas where there are high-concentrations of Spanish fleets, she offers on-site health care to any ship that requests it within their area of coverage, as well as providing radio consultation, outpatient care and even on-board hospitalization, when this is prescribed to patients. She can also evacuate the patient to dry land using the fastest and most suitable method possible, if the case is serious enough to require this.


When carrying out her activity, she works together closely with the Radio Medical Centre of the Social Marine Institute and with the National Sea Rescue Coordination Centre of the State Sea Rescue Association, responsible for organising the evacuation of crew members from high seas using the most suitable method available, in the cases when evacuation to a port is urgently required.

In addition to their health care work, she also provide emergency logistical support such as the unhooking of nets, diving services, electrical repairs, etc., to the Spanish boats that require it, as well as the rescue of shipwrecked persons.

She has been specially designed as support vessels to provide health care and logistical support to Spanish fishing boats in any fishing ground, in every sea and ocean in the world, and under extreme weather conditions.

She boast the best state-of-the-art medical and technical equipment, the only ship in the world along with her sister ship Juan de la Cosa that has these features and what's more, they are owned by the Social Security Administration.

The design of both boats was based on having a hospital occupying an entire deck from the bow, with direct access to the heliport and the deck to facilitate the transportation of patients and shipwrecked persons to the hospital area.

The hospital area contains the following services:

  • Operating theatre.
  • Laboratory.
  • Intensive Care Unit.
  • Dressing room.
  • Radiology room.
  • Isolation ward (for the treatment of burns, infectious diseases and psychiatric conditions).
  • The ship also has a special area for shipwrecked persons, cabins, communal areas and service areas.


Operating theatre

The initial capacity of the “Esperanza del MAR” is 17 patients in the hospital area and 30 in the area for shipwrecked persons. Both of these areas are separate from the rest of the ship's rooms. The “Juan de la Cosa” has capacity for 10 patients on the hospital deck, as well as 12 beds to increase the hospital capacity or for other uses.

Safety is the key concern at all times, as demonstrated by the spaciousness of the cabins, the arrangement of beds and cabin compartment systems, as well as the various floating and lifeboat recovery devices. This is crucial for providing urgent medical attention to other ships and for bringing patients on board the hospital ship.

The medical and logistical services provided from these ships are as follows:

  • Health care services:
  • Radio-assisted medical consultations.
  • Videoconference medical consultations
  • Outpatient consultations on board the hospital ship.
  • Transfer of the mobile medical team to ships that request assistance. Hospitalisations in the on-board clinic.
  • Minor surgery.
  • Evacuations using helicopters, other vessels, or the hospital ship itself.

Urgent Logistical Support Services:
  • Scuba-diving tasks.
  • Mechanical assistance.
  • Electrical assistance.
  • Electronic assistance.
  • Tugging.
  • Water supply.
  • Emergency fuel supply.
  • Collaboration with Navy ships in the area.

Propulsion and Maneuvering

Izar Manises participated actively in the construction of the hospital ship Esperanza del Mar. The company also supplied a deck crane, and the complete propulsion pack. The ship is arranged with two separate shaftlines for total engine redundancy, to ensure rescue operations at all times.

Each propulsion line consists of a Mak Model 9M25 four-stroke propulsion engine with a power output of 2,700 kW at 750 rpm in compliance with IMO NOx emission requirements. Each engine is coupled through a Vulkan resilient coupling to a Reintjes WAF 4545 reduction gear of a reduction ratio of 3.42. Shafting 18.5 m in length and four fixed pitch propellers by Baliño of a nominal speed of 219 rpm. The system is fitted with braking elements and the shafting has a clutch that confers the system broad operating flexibility. The electric power plant installed aboard the Esperanza del Mar, supplied by Pasch, is composed of three gensets and one emergency set, all designed and manufactured by Demp. Three MAN D 2842 LE301, 12 cylinder in V auxiliary engines and one 500 kWe Stamford electric power alternator. These sets are cooled by means of a water/water heat exchanger with a centralised on-board water circuit. An emergency genset with a MAN D 2842 LE201, 12 cylinders in V and a 500 kWe Stamford electric power alternator, cooled by means of an air/water radiator. Special care has been given to control noise emissions and vibrations, given the mission of this ship.









 







Misty #FishyFriday



Breaks in the cloud herald in a very still #FishyFriday morning in Newlyn...


on a market  packed with quality flat fish like these meaty turbot from the port's largest beam trawler Enterprise...


the spots on blonde ray appear right to the edge of the body...


while they diminish in size and number near the extremities of spotted ray...


these guys look so good and taste even better....


lost of lemons from the Spirited Lady III...


bit still not much squid passing over her footrope...


while the Enterprise bagged plenty of Dovers...


Cornish sole...


meaty monk...


superb plaice...


and scores of haddock...


while the inshore handliners continue to pick away pollack...


and a few bass...


now that's a name from the past...


heading out through the gaps is the old Huers with Dennis and Tom Pascoe at the helm - the boat that the current generation of Pascoe's learned there craft sometimes when they were supposed to be at school - I know as I marked them with a big fat 'O' in the register knowing full well why they were absent!..



in those days the boys were handlining for mackerel like these beauties...


more lemons form young Mr Worth...


with the cloud lowering...


the Algrie rests at high water...


and the netters prepare for the next neap tide...


as the sardine boat Pelagic Marksman ties up to dry out for the day...


signs of the pot of gold the boat has been for its previous owner/skipper Stefan...


the big turquoise boat readies herself sailing later today...


all he needs is a pipe and a can of spinach, the ever-cheerful Dan makes good the bow ropes...



on the Twlight IV...


 as she heads out trough the gaps...


along with a visiting yacht...


also in turquoise, Le Men Dhu is about to sail...


big boulders, what he beam trawl fleet has to contend with on a weekly basis at sea in addition to negotiating their way around a seabed littered with wrecks from two world wars and countless storms...


the middle section of a bottom trawl - the heavy mesh on the left of the trawl belly then have a different colour in the square section as the smaller twine then leads into the wing...


fuel up time...


while the Unity...


has her twin-rig gear ashore for repairs...


it's time for a scrub down on the Enterprise...


in the new colours adopted by Ocean Fish for its trawl fleet.