THE Sound is one of the UK’s most beautiful inlets, and with Plymouth’s maritime role now looking to grow over the next decade with its new FREEPORT status – three city entrepreneurs have launched a new media and blog enterprise entitled ‘Westward Shipping News’ born out of covid lockdown.
The niche shipping website is streaming a live 24 hour webcam looking out across Plymouth Sound, and will be covering the city’s shipping and maritime activities including other coastal areas across the South West.
Westward Shipping News will feature blogs, videos and features from leisure to cruise, fishing to container vessels, naval to offshore shipping, with live pieces to camera, opinion articles, and especially the region’s water activities that is the lifeblood of the Westward region.
Kevin Kelway, News Editor, at Westward Shipping News, said: “I needed something to keep me going during Covid lockdown when I lost several PR accounts from my business Dorcas Media beside helping other SMEs with free media support at the time. I enjoyed taking pictures of all shipping movements outside of my window from container vessels to fishing boats, yachts, and especially naval warship movements that have featured in the local and national press.”
“The daily images and audience started to grow online and I soon realised people really do like ship watching, and decided to set up with fellow shipping anoraks our exciting new venture Westward Shipping News,” he said.
Matthew Clarke, Westward Shipping News Journalist, and Film Production Manager, said: “Plymouth Hoe is an international attraction and one of Britain’s greatest outdoor amphitheatres, and a must see place to visit, and why our Plymouth Hoe Webcam will take you out in the Sound wherever you are in the world!”
Ian Fleming, Sales Manager, at Westward Shipping News, added: “We are extremely excited by our LIVE streaming webcam and already generating a lot of interest from across the UK and overseas.”
“We are looking to develop commercial opportunities for local and international companies looking to advertise and sponsor on our live webcam and website, and already creating a global audience with opportunities in sharing our webcam on other websites,” said Mr Fleming.
Westward Shipping News was created from the UK’s two Covid lockdowns by local business trio Kevin Kelway, Ian Fleming, and Matthew Clarke after recording all commercial and naval shipping movements in the Sound and soon identified a real interest in all things maritime by the business community, and general public, added Mr Fleming.
Anyone with a maritime news story, or advertising and sponsorship inquiries please get in touch: contact@westwardshippingnews.com www.westwardshippingnews.com
