Peel Ports have issued a notice to mariners warning of an obstruction with only a foot of water over it, right in the middle of the river by the Russian submarine. The survey team and divers say it seems to be a sunken boat.
“During a recent hydrographic survey of the Port of Rochester an unknown obstruction, possibly a wreck, has been identified in Bridge Reach. The obstruction is marked with an unlit, yellow ‘can’ buoy denoted “Wreck”. The depth above the obstruction at chart datum is approx. 0.3m. Mariners transiting Bridge Reach should navigate with extreme caution. When available, divers will be deployed to ascertain the nature of the object which will assist with the Port Authority’s subsequent actions.”
UPDATE: 7.5.2020 (Notice to Mariners 23/2020)
“Diving operations are due to take place in Bridge Reach, Port of Rochester to ascertain the nature of an unknown submerged obstruction. Dive works are planned for Wednesday 13th May 2020 will be carried out over the morning low water period. The dive team will be working from the Briggs Marine vessel “Forth Linesman”, who will be monitoring VHF Channel 74 at all times. All passing vessels are required to navigate with extreme caution and minimise their wash. Diving is expected to be concentrated around the following approximate position: 51 23’.72 N – 000 30’.34 E”
UPDATE 22.5.2020 (Notice to Mariners 23/2020)
Diving operations are due to take place in Bridge Reach, Port of Rochester to remove a submerged obstruction confirmed during previous dive ops. Dive works are planned for Thursday and Friday 28th / 29th May 2020 and will be carried out over the late morning low water periods. The dive team will be working from the Briggs Marine vessel “Forth Linesman”, who will be monitoring VHF Channel 74 at all times. All passing vessels are required to navigate with extreme caution and minimise their wash.
UPDATED 28.5.2020
Due to technical issues with salvage craft the planned diving operation detailed above is postponed until further notice. An update to this notice will be issued as soon as new dates are confirmed.
UPDATED 01.6.2020
The 7 metre powerboat with outboard still attached has now been lifted and the warning buoys removed.
Wow! It is clearly something of some size if sitting in approx 3 m at low water…
Hopefully, port authority will remove by time river is reopened to pleasure craft.
The chap who did the survey says the shape looks like a small sailing boat. Lots of us think it is one of the derelict vessels from the Strood waterfront and may have been dumped deliberately. If so perhaps the port authority will start to take this issue seriously.
It was a 7 metre powerboat with outboard attached. The yellow warning buoy was tied to the steering wheel.