Category: Navigation

Queenborough Harbour Notice

New Pontoon and ATL – RESTRICTED ACCESS

Now that we have the new pontoon in place we need to carry out a number of important safety actions before we can officially welcome boats alongside. These jobs will take 4-8 weeks to complete, though it obviously depends on the weather. Jobs include:

  • Paint markings showing the edge of the pontoon
  • Removal of a number of trip hazards
  • Installation of firefighting and lifesaving equipment
  • Pressure washing slippery surfaces & application of non-slip coatings

During this time access is restricted to Queenborough Harbour staff & Contractors ONLY.

If you plan to visit Queenborough you may continue to use the visitors buoys and concrete lighter, but we would rather you did not use the ATL and walkway when going ashore without a member of staff present to ensure your safety, but if you do it is at your own risk. Please contact us in advance and we will try our best to accommodate you. Our staff are present a few hours each day during winter and have essential maintenance work to complete, so if we miss your call please leave a message.

Harbour office 01795 662051
Staff mobile 07456 459754

Demolition started at Kingsnorth Power Station

Kingsnorth Power Station
Photo Wikipedia

Not the chimney, at least not yet! E.ON have not published dates for demolition of the two power station chimneys but Peel Ports Notice to Mariners No 31 defines an exclusion zone 250 metres from the foreshore on Thursday evening from 18:00 to 19:40, when the demolition event will occur, followed by an all clear siren. The river will remain open to navigation.

Sunken vessel in East Swale

Max Taylor, Peel Ports Deputy Harbour Master, says this was reported yesterday by a passing yachtsman. The vessel has sunk close to No 1 buoy near the scrubbing dock. He thinks it is the rather fine looking traditional blue painted “Scottish” trawler with whale back covering the fo’c’sle, which has been there over a year. She is not in the channel, but boaters should be aware. Masts are visible at half tide.

NtoM 28 of 2014 – Sunken Vessel East Swale

New chartlet soon for Faversham Creek

News from Bob Telford of the Faversham Creek Trust: The Faversham Creek leaflet that contains the Creek chartlet is very out of date and is being replaced by a new simpler one.The new chartlet will be ready well in time for 2015 season.

This is being worked on now, but the chartlet needs further updating with new buoys. There will be additional info about the position of the buoys in relation to the channel, shown at low water. Next year we will have some repositioned, but the trick is to watch your depth sounder. Contact details are also very out of date, especially telephone numbers.

However, the top end of the Creek in the town has been dredged and visitors are welcome. We have had visitors from Leigh, Benfleet and Walton this year, as well as from the Medway and the south coast. The bottom is very flat and clean at Town Quay.

Medway yachts damaged by dredger in fog

Fourteen yachts moored outside Medway Yacht Club were struck and some were badly damaged on Sunday morning by a dredger in thick fog. Fortunately no-one was on board but on the south side of the river two MYC members, who had been sleeping on board their boat, were woken by the incident and reported what happened.

See eye-witness account and photos on YBW East Coast forum

Arco Arun track

The AIS track shows that the 98 metre dredger Arco Arun went to the north side of the river on its passage downstream just after 06.30 BST doing 6.6 knots.

Max Taylor, Deputy Harbour Master, informs us that MV Arco Arun has submitted a report to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and Peel Ports will conduct an internal investigation in addition to reporting to the MAIB. Peel Ports has offered support to MYC and a representative from the vessel operator has been on site.

Queenborough: good news at last!

After some setbacks, there is good news at last! All three sections of the enormous 60m x 9m pontoon have arrived and are joined up, ready to install within days. Also the trot boat, Sheppey One, is now operational again after having its engine repaired. A second trot boat has now been purchased to avoid a repeat of the recent disruption to service.

Boats that go bump

Several boats have been damaged this year on their moorings in Gillingham Reach and Short Reach. Max Taylor, Deputy Harbourmaster, suggests that owners report any damage to their vessels direct to Medway VTS (email navigation@medwayports.com or phone 01795 663025) and Kent Police, including the state and extent of damage (photographic evidence welcome), approximate time and any additional evidence such as unusual paint/scuff marks. One recent incident in Gillingham Reach left red paint on the damaged yacht. With luck Medway VTS may have a CCTV recording of the incident which will assist an investigation.