RNLI finishes the slipway extension... yahoo !!!
This recent, three-week construction work caused the slipway to remain closed until Friday 10th May and vessel restrictions were applied to movements within the harbour due to diver and crane activity. The RNLI work-crew apologise for the inconvenience caused over the three weeks of construction but the safety of those who use Dunbar harbour and the surrounding sea-area has now been improved as a result of this useful work.
Photo above shows Denholm inspecting the ramp.
Click “READ MORE” for a photo of the tidying up.
(photos by Kenny Maule)
Audit of the lifting bridge
As part of the Marine Scotland grant for Harbour Repairs an audit of the lifting bridge was recently carried out by specialist consultants on moving structures. Trust directors Robin Hamilton, Alasdair Swan, Eric Robertson, also Harbourmaster Quentin Dimmer plus others, were closely involved in this project.
The audit is like a car MOT and looked at each component of the bridge. It identified and detailed further investigation into bridge bearings and hydraulics, also it advised on controlling the opening and closing of the bridge. This bridge is vital for fishing boat access to Cromwell Harbour and traffic access to the Battery and North Wall.
The photo above shows a corroded main axle: salt + sand + damp = corrosion!
(photo from the audit team)
Filming at The Battery
The world-famous Danny MacAskill and his video team were filming for three days recently around Dunbar Harbour. As forecast, Sunny Dunny’s weather was benign and bright: Hollywood-style. Filming went well and many people saw his stunts however everyone was discouraged from sharing videos until Danny has officially published this new video on Youtube.
Quoting Santa Cruz Bicycles: “Danny MacAskill's roots stretch all the way back to his beginnings in Scotland on the Isle of Skye. He began his life on two wheels as a bike mechanic but realized that wrenching was quickly getting in the way of challenging time on his trials bike, so he ditched the shop life to hone his riding full-time. Since that decision he's been featured in television ads, published Youtube videos that earned millions of views, and gone on tour to show people around the world new ways to showcase riding a bike.”
Danny’s profile has soared. His current viral success totals over 350 million views on YouTube alone. Danny is also a live show favourite, consistently drawing huge crowds, desperate to see some of his best known tricks in a live environment. http://www.dannymacaskill.co.uk/
Photo shows Danny doing a forward somersault as the bridge opens. Please don’t attempt any of his stunts; the Harbour is not a skate park!
Even stunt cyclists with the best tyres get punctures! Click “READ MORE” for proof.
(photos by Kenny Maule)
Humpback whale washed up on Tyninghame Beach
Recently a humpback whale was washed on Tyninghame Beach, entangling ropes still attached, already dead. Apparently it was the whale seen several weeks ago entangled in creel ropes in the Forth and seems to have drowned when it lost control of its surfacing ability.
The RNLI Inshore (ILB) floated it off the beach, the Offshore (OLB) slowly towed it to Skateraw. Two tractors pulled it above the waterline where the scientists dissected it on the beach and veterinary pathologist Dr Andrew Brownlow performed a necropsy. As a result of the entanglement, the whale lost condition and was therefore more susceptible to the effects of infection and parasitism, which debilitated it further. The lungs evidenced that it had eventually drowned, either through exhaustion, or because it became further entangled. Entanglements are a relatively rare occurrence in Scottish waters but can pose a threat to human safety also.
This humpback is estimated to be 9m long, weighing around 8 tonnes (adults range in length from 12–16 m and weigh around 25–30 tonnes).
Dunbar’s harbourmaster and the fishermen are working with the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) dedicated to promoting and protecting Scotland’s wildlife, heritage, and sustainable marine industries. SEA will work closely with the Scottish inshore fishing industry to provide an engagement programme to understand the scale and impact of marine animal entanglements in our waters, and work towards developing strategies to reduce this threat. https://www.scottishentanglement.org/
Very sad.
photos by Kenny Maule
