Yet more restrictions at Kingsferry Bridge

Yet more festive rail strikes will disrupt Kingsferry Bridge operations on 24-27 December and 3-8 January. Network Rail have a contingency plan to cover some of the disruption:

19:00 Sat 24 December to 07:00 Tues 27 December 2022 No bridge lifts

Tuesday 3 January 2023
00:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Wednesday 4 January
00:00– 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Thursday 5 January
Midnight – 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 23:59 Bridge lifts available

Friday 6 January
00:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Saturday 7 January
00:00 – 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 19:00 Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts

Sunday 8 January
00:00 – 07:00 No bridge lifts
07:00 – 23:59 Bridge lifts available

Priority will be given to commercial shipping but leisure craft will also be able to transit the bridge. Please give as much notice as possible (call VHF channel 10) to avoid delays. If talks are successful and industrial action is avoided a cancellation notice will be issued.

Chatham Marina Lock Maintenance, 2-22 Jan 2023

As with previous years, January brings the planned maintenance required to ensure the lock continues to run smoothly, the annual lock maintenance for 2023 will take place between Monday 2nd and Sunday 22nd January.

The lock will have restricted access between Monday 2nd and Wednesday 4th January and after this the lock will be out of use, so access and egress will not be possible. Thank you for your understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Even more disruption at Kingsferry Bridge

Yet more rail strikes will disrupt Kingsferry Bridge operations on 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th December, plus early the following mornings. Network Rail have a contingency plan to cover most of the disruption:

Tuesday 13th December 2022
Midnight – 06:00 Normal service will be maintained
06:00 – 07:00 No bridge lifts available
07:00 – 19:00 Contingency operator on shift – Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts available

Wednesday 14th December 2022
Midnight – 07:00 No bridge lifts available
07:00 – 19:00 Contingency operator on shift – Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 06:00 (15th December) No bridge lifts available

Friday 16th November 2022
Midnight – 06:00 Normal service will be maintained
06:00 – 07:00 No bridge lifts available
07:00 – 19:00 Contingency operator on shift – Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 23:59 No bridge lifts available

Saturday 17th December 2022
Midnight – 07:00 No bridge lifts available
07:00 – 19:00 Contingency operator on shift – Bridge lifts available
19:00 – 06:00 (18th December) No bridge lifts available

Priority will be given to commercial shipping but leisure craft will also be able to transit the bridge. Please give as much notice as possible (call VHF channel 10) to avoid delays. If talks are successful and industrial action is avoided a cancellation notice will be issued.

MSBA talk: Update on marine electronics, Fri 11 November

For the first in our new series of monthly winter talks, Paul Smith of PSI will give us an update on marine electronics and electrical systems for our boats. Paul is well known locally for his knowledgeable, personal service to boaters and you may well have met him at national boat shows.

Rochester Cruising Club will be hosting the event. The club is easy to find on the Esplanade at the foot of Rochester Castle, postcode ME1 1QN. There is ample parking at the club and on the road outside. The bar will be open and a professionally prepared meal will be available at 7pm if you pre-order.

We will be having an “MSBA Special” of ham, egg and chips or sausage, egg and chips for £6 on the night. Desserts will also be available and the bar will be open. Please email info@msba.org.uk to order your meal.

Paul’s talk will start at 8pm and he will bring some of the latest kit to demonstrate and answer your questions.

Non-RCC members are asked to contribute £3 at the door and sign the visitors’ book.