Latest news with #Dutch-flagged
The Courier
2 days ago
- General
- The Courier
REVEALED: Why distinctive 'zebra' ship has been sailing along Firth of Forth
The arrival of a distinctive 'zebra-striped' ship in the Firth of Forth turned heads in Fife on Monday. The vessel in question was the Dutch-flagged Sans Vitesse – an accommodation ship notable for its black and white striped paintwork. It sailed up the Firth of Forth towards the iconic three bridges shortly after 10am before being assisted by two tug boats along the final stretch into Rosyth dockyard. Royal Navy sailors are to be housed on the 100-room barge while repairs to the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier continue. It's understood the temporary accommodation will become the home for many of the ship's company. The Royal Navy confirmed it will be the temporary living quarters for the 'duty watch' – fire crews and emergency personnel required to be stationed within two minutes of the carrier when it is sat in dry dock. However, it was the distinctive geometric-patterned camouflage that caught the public's attention. One onooker described the vessel as 'zebra-striped' and 'very odd'. She added: 'I've lived in Dalgety Bay for over 50 years and seen every type of ship imaginable. 'But it's certainly the first time I've seen anything zebra-striped. 'It was very odd indeed and I could not take my eyes off it.' The markings are referred to as 'dazzle camouflage,' primarily used by ships during the First World War. The ship is unlike other conventional forms of camouflage, which are designed to hide or obscure. The aim of Dazzle, with its distinct black and white stripes, is not to hide but to confuse. The complex geometric patterns make it difficult to estimate a target's range, speed and heading. However, the black and white paintwork on the Sans Vitress is thought to be simply cosmetic rather than functional.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Royal Navy set to house sailors on Bibby Stockholm-style barge in bid to cut costs
THE Royal Navy is set to house sailors on a barge like the Bibby Stockholm in a bid to save cash. Top brass leased a 100-room 'floatel' months after Labour axed a deal with Advertisement 2 The Royal Navy is set to house sailors on the Sans Vitesse barge Credit: Alamy 2 Top brass leased the 100-room 'floatel' months after Labour axed a deal with Bibby Stockholm claiming it was not fit for people Credit: Alamy The crew of flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth are moving to the Sans Vitesse barge when the ship goes in to dock for repairs. Labour had slammed the Bibby as a 'miserable and dangerous prison ship'. MPs warned conditions could breach migrants' human rights and it was decommissioned in November. Critics slammed the move over Dutch-flagged Sans Vitesse in Rosyth, Fife, as 'terrible'. Advertisement READ MORE ON ROYAL NAVY The MoD said: 'Ministers have asked for other options. "We will ensure accommodation is suitable.' A source said: 'This is the most economical option. 'It means the sailors on watch can live right next to HMS Queen Elizabeth, so there is no commuting, and the chefs can still work as chefs in the galley of the Sans Vitesse, so they remain gainfully employed.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun Life inside the Bibby Stockholm- Migrant films conditions as some of the first to board the barge describe it as 'like Alcatraz prison'
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Royal Navy set to house sailors on Bibby Stockholm-style barge in bid to cut costs
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Royal Navy is set to house sailors on a barge like the Bibby Stockholm in a bid to save cash. Top brass leased a 100-room 'floatel' months after Labour axed a deal with Bibby Stockholm claiming it was not fit for people. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The Royal Navy is set to house sailors on the Sans Vitesse barge Credit: Alamy 2 Top brass leased the 100-room 'floatel' months after Labour axed a deal with Bibby Stockholm claiming it was not fit for people Credit: Alamy The crew of flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth are moving to the Sans Vitesse barge when the ship goes in to dock for repairs. Labour had slammed the Bibby as a 'miserable and dangerous prison ship'. MPs warned conditions could breach migrants' human rights and it was decommissioned in November. Critics slammed the move over Dutch-flagged Sans Vitesse in Rosyth, Fife, as 'terrible'. The MoD said: 'Ministers have asked for other options. "We will ensure accommodation is suitable.' A source said: 'This is the most economical option. 'It means the sailors on watch can live right next to HMS Queen Elizabeth, so there is no commuting, and the chefs can still work as chefs in the galley of the Sans Vitesse, so they remain gainfully employed.'
Gulf Today
06-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Iranian president fires deputy over costly Antarctica trip
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday dismissed his deputy for parliamentary affairs over a costly trip to Antarctica, as the country grapples with hyperinflation amid a biting economic crisis. A photo shared on social media in recent days showed the now former vice-president, Shahram Dabiri, alongside a woman identified as his wife, posing near the Plancius cruise ship. The Dutch-flagged vessel has offered luxury expeditions to Antarctica since 2009, with one agency pricing an eight-day trip at 3,885 euros per person. "In a context where economic pressure on the population remains high... expensive leisure trips by officials, even if paid out of their own pocket, are neither defensible nor justifiable," the Iranian president wrote in a letter published on Saturday by the official IRNA news agency, which noted that Dabiri was dismissed. Dabiri, a 64-year-old physician by profession and a close confidant of Pezeshkian, had been appointed to the post in August. The government faced strong criticism after the photo was published, and several of Pezeshkian's supporters urged him to remove the official. IRNA late last month cited a source in Dabiri's office as saying that he had made the trip before he held a governmental position. The controversy is another major blow for Pezeshkian, who was elected last year on a promise to revive the economy and improve the daily lives of his fellow citizens. In early March, his Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati was dismissed by parliament amid a sharp depreciation of the national currency against the dollar and soaring inflation. Agence France-Presse
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Iranian President fires Deputy over costly Antarctica trip
Shahram Dabiri, the Iranian president's deputy for parliamentary affairs, was dismissed after his extravagant Antarctica trip with his wife sparked controversy. Photo Courtesy: X Listen to article Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed his deputy for parliamentary affairs on Saturday after a photo emerged showing the official on an expensive trip to Antarctica, sparking criticism as the country struggles with hyperinflation and a severe economic crisis. The now-former deputy, Shahram Dabiri, was seen posing with a woman identified as his wife near the luxury Plancius cruise ship. The Dutch-flagged vessel, which has offered Antarctic expeditions since 2009, lists an eight-day trip at 3,885 euros per person. "In a context where economic pressure on the population remains high... expensive leisure trips by officials, even if paid for out of their own pocket, are neither defensible nor justifiable," Pezeshkian wrote in a letter published by state news agency IRNA, confirming Dabiri's dismissal. Dabiri, a 64-year-old physician and close ally of Pezeshkian, had been appointed to his role in August. The controversy ignited after the photo was shared on social media, with public outcry urging Pezeshkian to take action. IRNA later reported that Dabiri had made the trip before assuming his official post. However, the incident has compounded the pressure on Pezeshkian's government, which had promised to revive the economy. In March, Pezeshkian's Economy Minister, Abdolnasser Hemmati, was also dismissed by parliament following a sharp depreciation of the rial and surging inflation.
