Tabnabs wrote: » : Aldi. Lidl, Tesco Supervalu, all have convenient and, generally, free car parking to allow paying customers the ability to buy items (including cured meat) and bring those items directly to their cars. If the skewered version of "pedestrianisation" was so great for DL, why did the local businesses object to it?
coylemj wrote: » +1 and in Ballymoss Road in Sandyford Ind Estate outside the China Sichuan restaurant where parking is pretty difficult at lunchtime most days, the council has just 'converted' one of the parking spots to a cycle parking bay with three of those metal chrome brackets and surprise, surprise, today at lunchtime there wasn't a single bicycle bolted to any of them. The proprietor of the restaurant (who pays a bucket load of commercial rates) told me that short of embedding metal spikes in the road, the council couldn't do more to fcuk up his lunchtime trade.
Chinasea wrote: » Lidl etc, often set up shop in out of town locations and can provide ample free parking.
MSC Splendida of 137,000 tonnes was scheduled tomorrow to anchor off Dun Laoghaire, instead her owners MSC Cruises have decided to abandon the harbour as prevously reported on Afloat.ie and instead dock in Dublin Port on the same day. This is the second time this has happened as MSC Splendida was to open the season on 11 May but instead called to Dublin Port. In response to this latest cancellation, Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company have expressed dismay over the change of plans having carried out preparations for the anticipated visit with a passenger capacity of 3,200 passengers. This season's record cruise season had started with 22 callers, however this is set to further reduce as yet another even larger cruiseship in the form of Royal Princess, 142,000 tonnes is also understood to have cancelled calling off Dun Laoghaire Harbour this Sunday. According to the Dublin Port cruise-schedule, Royal Princess of 3,600 capacity is to berth in Alexandra Basin on that same day over the weekend.
josip wrote: » Has any reason been given for the change of berth?
Larbre34 wrote: » There is some guff about the Splendida crew being "blown away" by the welcome in Dublin and the ranks of people along the river waving them off, like an old fashioned ocean liner scene. Personally I think it might be down to the added hassle and time delay of having to tender in passengers in Dun Laoghaire. The day the Royal Princess anchored last week was very choppy and the tender boats looked very uncomfortable in the rough sea. In Dublin they just walk down the gangplank onto the dock and straight on to the bus, and cruises are all about efficient use of time and facilities.
ted1 wrote: » In Dublin they are restricted to high tides. I reckon it's purely down to cost and convinence. Also the crew probably don't get a chance to get off in dun laoighre. Where as in Dublin they can easily pop off
Tabnabs wrote: » They're not, otherwise you'd see them leave early this afternoon. HW LW HW LW 02:10 08:05 14:42 20:18 4.0 m 0.5 m 3.9 m 0.8 m The Liffey is dredged deep enough to take these ships on all states of tide. The problem is they have to reverse up the Liffey and this is not the optimum way to bring a huge ship like that so far up a river.
Qualitymark wrote: » Is that why Grand Canal Dock or the big pool at the IFSC (name?) was built? Would it be possible to return them to use if so?
Larbre34 wrote: » Apparently the tugboat with the Splendida wasnt towing her, just escorting, the most modern Cruise Ships use azipod propulsion which makes them just as maneuverable in reverse at slow speeds, so there should be no need for large passengers ships to come about within Dublin Port
Tabnabs wrote: » Quantum class cruise ships are using azipods, as does the QM2 that visited DL earlier in the week. More and more cruise ships are opting for this systemhttp://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/fd52d897221dadf7c1257c39002f4dfa.aspx
Seaswimmer wrote: » Impressive. I suppose all ships may end up with it eventually. If a ship is in and out of port regularly it makes sense.
coylemj wrote: » I doubt it because it has to be a much more expensive option that an old-fashioned shaft and propeller. By the looks of it the pods have electric motors driving the props which means the motive power of the engine is converted to electricity, then fed to those pods which even at a high level of efficiency will involve some waste of energy.
coylemj wrote: » Smaller cruise ships all have bow thrusters (props on the side) which allow them to swivel around in tight spaces and in most cases they berth by getting a gentle shove into the quay wall by a couple of tugs. The really big boats are just too big for the tugs or would need a dozen or so to push them about.
Tabnabs wrote: » Haigh Terrace is getting a makeover, to make it more presentable. The problem is the narrow street is being made narrower, the footpath removed and car parking retained. Seems about right for DLCOCO standards...https://dlrcoco.citizenspace.com/infrastructure-climate-change/proposed-upgrade-works-at-haigh-terrace-d-n-laogha
Cookie_Monster wrote: » that's pretty disgraceful. How can they possibly think it's appropriate to remove a footpath in favour of cars?
Larbre34 wrote: » Personally though, i dont see the point of doing it on upper Haigh Terrace, too much money on a low demand side street for me.
here2surf wrote: » Not sure I am in the right forum but am wondering if DL could sustain a burrito bar? Logic says that if Mc ds Burger King nandos etc are busy then why not? Concern would be the failing of a Subway in Pavilions. Is there a big lunchtime trade in the area?
