Sunken tug near Cuxton: now removed

Sunken tug

Peel Ports have issued Notice to Mariners No 21 of 2015 concerning a sunken 20 metre tug boat lying awash adjacent to “Trenchmans Wharf ” Cuxton. Only the mast of the sunken vessel is visible at high tide. All vessels should navigate with care and caution in the vicinity.

UPDATE 14.10.2015: The sunken tug Pelikaan has now been removed.

Pump House to become Distillery

pumphousePlanning permission has been granted for Russell Distillers to turn Pump House No.5 at Chatham Maritime into a distillery producing a range of spirits: premium vodka, gin and whisky. The Grade II listed Victorian building was used to pump water out of the docks. It will become one of the last of Chatham’s naval dockyard buildings to be brought back to use. Read more…

Gathering of Boats at Maidstone, 25 July

Maidstone River FestivalThe Gathering of Boats, which has replaced the Maidstone River Festival, will take place on Saturday, 25 July. Some 150 boats are expected to arrive in Maidstone town centre. Read more…

The Medway River Users Association, which represents boaters on the non-tidal Medway, is a partner of the MSBA.

Holborough Bridge under construction

Holborough bridgeThe new bridge, which is to provide access from the A228 to a thousand new homes on the east bank of the Medway at Peters Wharf, halfway between Rochester and Allington, will have a clearance of 8 metres at MHWS. Compare this to Rochester Bridge which has just under 6 metres. During construction however the clearance will be only about 5 metres. See Peel Ports notice to mariners no 5 of 2015 for further details.

Queenborough Blessing of the Waters, 19 July

This strangely touching annual ceremony will take place at 3.15 pm on Sunday at Crundell’s Wharf (near the walkway to the All Tide Landing). According to Marco Devereux, “about 400 years ago some mariners were in distress and their lives were saved by the community of Queenborough. As a thank you to the community they left a small fund with the church for a service to be held in perpetuity in recognition of the sea, to be thankful for the bounties it brings and the travel, beauty, friendships it holds, and the grace that as mere mortals we have been granted a safe passage.”