Ship in mist a big surprise off Brighton

2:00pm Friday 10th August 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

MIST: Ship off Brighton was a big surprise MIST: Ship off Brighton was a big surprise

Tourists dropped their ice creams and locals cleared their eyes after a ship appeared just yards off Brighton beach.

This picture of the vessel near Brighton’s West Pier was sent in to The Argus by reader Danny O’Leary yesterday at about 3pm.

Witnesses said they heard a fog horn before it appeared.

For some it brought back memories of Athina B, the cargo ship that beached near Brighton’s Palace Pier in January 1980 on its way to Shoreham.

Mr O’Leary, 43, of Norway Street, Portslade, said: “It looked like it was heading straight for the West Pier and must have come within yards of it before it started veering away.

“I really do not know what it was doing.

“I spoke to one restaurant owner down there and he thought the ship had got lost in the mist.”

However, fellow Argus reader Finn Hopson said the boat was TVH Patricia and it was carrying out maintenance to the buoys near the iconic structure.

Comments(39)

John Fallon says...
2:01pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Ship makes maintenance visit on water shock.

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baron Von Skidmark says...
2:14pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Well I'd heard that it was Captain Francesco Schettino showing off to 'Katie Price'....you heard it here 1st.

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tooned_in says...
2:17pm Fri 10 Aug 12

According to some daily mail readers I know it was fully of Aids raddled illegal immegrants who were coming to steal all the jobs on the palace pier & claim benefits???

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Helena Handcart says...
2:20pm Fri 10 Aug 12

.....However, fellow Argus reader Finn Hopson said the boat was TVH Patricia and it was carrying out maintenance to the buoys near the iconic structure.

I suppose, that would not have been much of a story. Tim is fast becoming the new Anna!

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Poccypoc says...
2:27pm Fri 10 Aug 12

What a ridiculous story. Boat in water doing maintenance work. I would hope the firm had issued a news release to a) get some PR from their work and b) make media aware first-hand what was happening. Ridgway even said on Twitter yesterday he "preferred the ram-raid theory."

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Crystal Ball says...
2:39pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.

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jamus77 says...
2:50pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Ship sails in water.

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finnnn says...
2:56pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Quiet day at the Argus yesterday then.

Wouldn't really class myself as a fellow Argus reader, I just saw a picture of it on Twitter and pointed out the non-newsworthy nature of it all. Which was clearly news in itself. I should point out dull stuff more often.

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finnnn says...
2:59pm Fri 10 Aug 12

The tide will be going out later. Then it will come back in.

This is normal.

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finnnn says...
3:01pm Fri 10 Aug 12

If anyone is worried about the missing sea whilst the tide is out, take a picture of where it should be and post it on Twitter. Then later we can see if it came back or if it got stolen or something like that.

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dhamallamafarmer says...
3:37pm Fri 10 Aug 12

I heard The Argus was thinking of running with one of these headlines:
Ship In Near Mist Shock
Buoy Oh Buoy, They Just Mist The Peer
I See Ships Peering Into The Mist
Fog-got To Steer Clear Of The Peer
Buoy, That Was Close!
Buoys Fog-gotten In Peer Pressure
But they decided to go with Ship in mist a big surprise off Brighton because a non-story needs a non-headline.

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Poccypoc says...
3:39pm Fri 10 Aug 12

If you are pictured in the above photo, call The Argus on 01273 544538 and claim your prize: a week's work in the newsroom.

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Conelli98 says...
3:51pm Fri 10 Aug 12

I thought it was a Spanish trawler bringing in Gus Poyets new centre forward!!!

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ButtNuggets says...
4:08pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Crystal Ball wrote:
Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.
These comments aggravate me. Please learn what local news is.

I saw this and like many others around me, we wondered what the hell the ship was doing so close to the pier and shore. I appreciate LOCAL NEWS, so thank you to The Argus for providing us with an answer!

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pistachionut says...
4:16pm Fri 10 Aug 12

ButtNuggets wrote:
Crystal Ball wrote:
Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.
These comments aggravate me. Please learn what local news is.

I saw this and like many others around me, we wondered what the hell the ship was doing so close to the pier and shore. I appreciate LOCAL NEWS, so thank you to The Argus for providing us with an answer!
ButtNeggets, totally agree. I saw this and was thinking why is it there, thank you Argus for letting us know

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
4:19pm Fri 10 Aug 12

What a ridiculous and unsophisitcated style of writing. One can only assume the editor has popped off on holiday and left some school children from the 1950s in charge,
Locals dropped their ice creams....is Enid Blyton back from the dead.
For goodness sake Argus, your readers are not eight years old.

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Crystal Ball says...
4:49pm Fri 10 Aug 12

pistachionut wrote:
ButtNuggets wrote:
Crystal Ball wrote:
Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.
These comments aggravate me. Please learn what local news is.

I saw this and like many others around me, we wondered what the hell the ship was doing so close to the pier and shore. I appreciate LOCAL NEWS, so thank you to The Argus for providing us with an answer!
ButtNeggets, totally agree. I saw this and was thinking why is it there, thank you Argus for letting us know
No doubt the both of you were, if the reporting was accurate, some of the people who dropped their ice creams and cleared their eyes.

New should be about items people will find interesting and inspiring, not everyday mundane occurrences.

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bluemonday says...
6:09pm Fri 10 Aug 12

did people really drop there ice creams and rub there eyes,really

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pistachionut says...
6:19pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Crystal Ball wrote:
pistachionut wrote:
ButtNuggets wrote:
Crystal Ball wrote:
Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.
These comments aggravate me. Please learn what local news is.

I saw this and like many others around me, we wondered what the hell the ship was doing so close to the pier and shore. I appreciate LOCAL NEWS, so thank you to The Argus for providing us with an answer!
ButtNeggets, totally agree. I saw this and was thinking why is it there, thank you Argus for letting us know
No doubt the both of you were, if the reporting was accurate, some of the people who dropped their ice creams and cleared their eyes.

New should be about items people will find interesting and inspiring, not everyday mundane occurrences.
Sorry to disappoint you but NO. I had to drive from my office for a meeting, the shortest route being along the seafront and saw the boat. If it was a "everyday mundane" situation why have I not seen this before.
Thank you again Argus for the information, maybe Crystal ball really does know what the future is and can start writing articles prior to the happening.

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PorkBoat says...
6:25pm Fri 10 Aug 12

I've seen this ship in the same place before, and now I know what it is all about. I thought it was a trawler or something. BUT, The Argus could do with reporting something more serious that's happening near the wreck of the West Pier. Namely the multi-million £££ fraud that is the i-360. How about it Argus? Here's a huge scandal just waiting to be exposed, I thought that's what papers supposed to do?

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ICantThinkOfAName says...
7:05pm Fri 10 Aug 12

I hope the people who dropped their ice creams picked them up and put them in a litter bin.

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leobrighton says...
10:13pm Fri 10 Aug 12

I've seen this ship before. It visits occasionally to replace the buoy off the end of the pier and is operated by Trinity House. My Dad used to work on an identical looking ship in the 1970s based in Gt. Yarmouth called the Mermaid. It went round the whole country replacing buoys and bringing them in for repaint etc. I suppose it looked strange yesterday appearing in the mist.

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notaconspiracy says...
10:41pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Surely, by now, the story should be updated, following some research (a 'phone call) explaining why the vessel was there.

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Dave in Hastings says...
1:24am Sat 11 Aug 12

PorkBoat wrote:
I've seen this ship in the same place before, and now I know what it is all about. I thought it was a trawler or something. BUT, The Argus could do with reporting something more serious that's happening near the wreck of the West Pier. Namely the multi-million £££ fraud that is the i-360. How about it Argus? Here's a huge scandal just waiting to be exposed, I thought that's what papers supposed to do?
As you seem to know so much, perhaps you could enlighten us about this alleged 'fraud' as you call it. Others might call it a brilliant idea to bring in more tourists and hopefully make some cash that can be invested to build a new West Pier.

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PorkBoat says...
3:00am Sat 11 Aug 12

Dave in Hastings wrote:
PorkBoat wrote:
I've seen this ship in the same place before, and now I know what it is all about. I thought it was a trawler or something. BUT, The Argus could do with reporting something more serious that's happening near the wreck of the West Pier. Namely the multi-million £££ fraud that is the i-360. How about it Argus? Here's a huge scandal just waiting to be exposed, I thought that's what papers supposed to do?
As you seem to know so much, perhaps you could enlighten us about this alleged 'fraud' as you call it. Others might call it a brilliant idea to bring in more tourists and hopefully make some cash that can be invested to build a new West Pier.
Priceless! Are you KitKat in disguise? The whole scam stinks like a rotten kipper. The figures have been plucked out of thin air, and the supposedly cash-strapped council have "lent" £17 million to a private firm on the strength of those made up figures. Do you think this is acceptable? Do you not think this is worthy of investigation?

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Old Ladys Gin says...
4:06am Sat 11 Aug 12

That'll be THV not TVH - Trinity House Vessel.

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Old Ladys Gin says...
4:08am Sat 11 Aug 12

http://www.trinityho
use.co.uk/commercial
/trinity-vessels/pat
ricia.html

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alyn, southwick says...
10:05am Sat 11 Aug 12

Crystal Ball wrote:
pistachionut wrote:
ButtNuggets wrote:
Crystal Ball wrote:
Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.
These comments aggravate me. Please learn what local news is.

I saw this and like many others around me, we wondered what the hell the ship was doing so close to the pier and shore. I appreciate LOCAL NEWS, so thank you to The Argus for providing us with an answer!
ButtNeggets, totally agree. I saw this and was thinking why is it there, thank you Argus for letting us know
No doubt the both of you were, if the reporting was accurate, some of the people who dropped their ice creams and cleared their eyes.

New should be about items people will find interesting and inspiring, not everyday mundane occurrences.
Sorry I'm with Crystal Ball,
pistachionut, ButtNuggets on this. My first thoughts were that I did find it interesting and intriguing (which is a bit like inspiring), then I saw your concluding comments which says that what news should be.
It may be petty in the worldwide scheme of events, but its nice to have some innocent light distraction from the appalling world, national and local events (war, murder, violence, "corruption"). If we didn't lighten up occasionally we'd probably all commit suicide!

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HeadHammer says...
2:17pm Sat 11 Aug 12

I saw it! Then dropped my eyes and rubbed my ice cream. All very messy but luckily for me I couldn't see the mess, just my shoes

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Helena Handcart says...
5:14pm Sat 11 Aug 12

Where is HIV trinity based?

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Wivvy Dave says...
5:16pm Sat 11 Aug 12

I can't believe that I'm the 30 post here and that the bulk of the 29 that have gone before me are arguing as to whether this is local news or not.

Yes it news and factually correct a ship did appear out of the mist - but the fact that a ship appeared isn’t really that newsworthy is it? not at sea. Had the town woken up to a life size replica of HMS Victory in the middle of Western Road then that would be another matter, but get real a ship was seen in the sea off the coast of Brighton........

I'm off for a walk in the country - should I be prepsred to drop my ice cream and rub my eyes if I see a flock of sheep in a field or a crow sitting in a tree?

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ButtNuggets says...
1:12am Sun 12 Aug 12

Sorry but you will struggle to find much considered truly "newsworthy" when restricted to a local area.

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ButtNuggets says...
1:13am Sun 12 Aug 12

And the fact this article is most read and most shared speaks for itself.

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alyn, southwick says...
8:17am Sun 12 Aug 12

Wivvy Dave wrote:
I can't believe that I'm the 30 post here and that the bulk of the 29 that have gone before me are arguing as to whether this is local news or not.

Yes it news and factually correct a ship did appear out of the mist - but the fact that a ship appeared isn’t really that newsworthy is it? not at sea. Had the town woken up to a life size replica of HMS Victory in the middle of Western Road then that would be another matter, but get real a ship was seen in the sea off the coast of Brighton........

I'm off for a walk in the country - should I be prepsred to drop my ice cream and rub my eyes if I see a flock of sheep in a field or a crow sitting in a tree?
This reminds me of the ending to that immortal song (remember to concentrate on the "stars"**)


And always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the right side of life...
(Come on guys, cheer up!)
Always look on the bright side of life...
Always look on the bright side of life...
(**Worse things happen at sea, you know.**)
Always look on the bright side of life...
(I mean - what have you got to lose?)
(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Nothing will come from nothing, you know what they say?)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Cheer up you old bugger! C'mon, give us a grin, there you are)
Always look on the right side of life...
(See? It's nearly the end of the record, he'll be nursing another tune in a minute)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Alright so your girlfriend has just run off with an Argentinean polo player)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Ok so your husband has decamped with the babysitter and he's from Norway)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Alright! so your teams losing 15-nil at home to Barnett! It's not the end of the world is it? Now cheer up!)
Always look on the right side of life...
**(MOAN MOAN MOAN that's what people do these days, especially you old people) **
Always look on the right side of life...
(**If all you're going to do is sit around and moan they should take your teeth away! **
Now c'mon girls put the kettle on, get a nice cup of tea, that's it)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Alright you groovy disc jockey, better get this rubbish off now)
Always look on the right side of life...
(Suppose you'll want to watch something depressing like the news)

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timm says...
8:26am Sun 12 Aug 12

"iconic". Idiot. Not that word again, please.

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alyn, southwick says...
8:30am Sun 12 Aug 12

timm wrote:
"iconic". Idiot. Not that word again, please.
Who you calling an "idiot"? I resemble that remark.
And I actually said "immortal", even though "iconic" would have been better!

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Tedious Pedant says...
6:25pm Sun 12 Aug 12

You guys!

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pistachionut says...
8:35pm Sun 12 Aug 12

pistachionut wrote:
Crystal Ball wrote:
pistachionut wrote:
ButtNuggets wrote:
Crystal Ball wrote:
Ship spotted offshore on the sea. Well whoop-de-diddly-do for up-to-the-minute reporting by the schmargus.
These comments aggravate me. Please learn what local news is.

I saw this and like many others around me, we wondered what the hell the ship was doing so close to the pier and shore. I appreciate LOCAL NEWS, so thank you to The Argus for providing us with an answer!
ButtNeggets, totally agree. I saw this and was thinking why is it there, thank you Argus for letting us know
No doubt the both of you were, if the reporting was accurate, some of the people who dropped their ice creams and cleared their eyes.

New should be about items people will find interesting and inspiring, not everyday mundane occurrences.
Sorry to disappoint you but NO. I had to drive from my office for a meeting, the shortest route being along the seafront and saw the boat. If it was a "everyday mundane" situation why have I not seen this before.
Thank you again Argus for the information, maybe Crystal ball really does know what the future is and can start writing articles prior to the happening.
So the story is top of most read and most shared and you criticise.
Maybe you are more iconic than you think.

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BornInBrighton1968 says...
1:03pm Mon 13 Aug 12

tooned_in wrote:
According to some daily mail readers I know it was fully of Aids raddled illegal immegrants who were coming to steal all the jobs on the palace pier & claim benefits???
You just couldn't help yourself, could you?

Must be a quiet day at Green party HQ in Brighton....

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