Portsmouth Harbour station bomb

[whole diary]

[CyclingSid]

Notice that all services to Portsmouth Harbour station are currently stopped. Caused by an unexploded wartime bomb. Story covered by BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-39049048 and some further details on Royal Navy news http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2017/february/22/170222-rn-bomb-disposal-called-to-portsmouth-harbour (which says harbour closed until 07:30). Nothing on Queens Harbour master's web site.

[LiskeardRich]

They've been dredging the harbour for a while now. A lot of uk unused ammunition I understand was buried in the harbour, as well as any enemy bombs that missed targets

[ChrisB]

The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report, includes this photo

[Thatcham Crossing]

Harbour dredging is so that the big new carriers can get in and out apparently.

[eightf48544]

Carrying what?

[Thatcham Crossing]

F-35 V/STOL^▸ (Short Take Off and Landing) jets, if they're ready for service entry in time ;-)

Apparently within MoD circles, the F-35 is known as "Dave" (= Delayed And Very Expensive!)

Sorry, I digress!

[bobm]

Gave Royal Mail posties an easy day - the mail was stuck on the mainland.

Deliveries on the Isle of Wight - postcodes PO30 to PO41
Due to cancellation of ferry services, caused by the discovery of a World War 2 bomb in Portsmouth Harbour in the early hours of today, it has not been possible to transport mail to the island this morning. Therefore, most mail due for delivery today throughout the island will be subject to delay.

Delivery offices at Newport, Ryde, Sandown and Ventnor delivering to postcodes PO30 to PO41 are affected.
We apologise for the obvious inconvenience caused by these circumstances beyond our control. We will update this page as soon as we have further information.

[JayMac]

Hovercrafts from Southsea remained in service. I've seen Royal Mail use them. Why not in this instance?

[ChrisB]

No contract with them anymore?

[JayMac]

No contract with them anymore?

Well, Royal Mail were using Hovertravel last April. I watched them loading mail at Ryde prior to my flight to the mainland.

[bobm]

I think Hovertravel is used at the end of the day to take the last off the mail from the island and into the national network as soon as possible.

There is, usually, more time overnight to get incoming mail onto the island when the volume, and size of the vehicles, is greater.

[chrisr_75]

I'd have to say, your username is a very apt anagram for this thread 

[bobm]

Can't argue with that.  It has been mistyped on at least one occasion in the past. 

[TaplowGreen]

Apparently within MoD circles, the F-35 is known as "Dave" (= Delayed And Very Expensive!)

I do like that one! "So, how's the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) electrification going?" ....."Not sure, try Dave" 😃

[chrisr_75]

Apparently within MoD circles, the F-35 is known as "Dave" (= Delayed And Very Expensive!)

I do like that one! "So, how's the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) electrification going?" ....."Not sure, try Dave" 😃

And I'm sure it can't be a coincidence that it is very similar to the name borne by a certain former MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) for Witney...