Wreck lifted from Segas SC moorings

The sunken vessel that was abandoned on Segas SC moorings (opposite Gillingham Marina) has been recovered by Whitstable Marine Services, working for Peel Ports, and taken to Sheerness for disposal. The pellet buoy marking the wreck has also been removed. The craft was lifted and removed fully intact leaving no debris in the wreck’s location.

The MSBA is concerned about the increasing number of derelict boats that are abandoned on moorings and ultimately incur huge and unnecessary costs to the port authority, the council, emergency services and clubs.

LNG Terminal exclusion zone reminder

Peel Ports says: The relaxation of COVID restrictions has seen boating activities resume which is good to see. However, within the last week numerous incursions into the LNG exclusion zone whilst ships are alongside have been reported by the guard tug. LNG berth exclusion zone infringements will not be tolerated and Peel Ports will act on all reports, can clubs and marinas please remind all members of the regulations when passing the LNG Terminal.

Notice to Mariners No 2 of 2021 – Isle Of Grain LNG Jetties 8 & 10 Exclusion Zone + Chart (236Kb)

Notice to Mariners No 3 of 2021 – LNG Vessel Transit And Manoeuvres (305Kb)

Wreck to be lifted from Segas SC moorings on 22 April

Peel Ports have notified us that on 22 April 2021 a recovery operation is scheduled to lift and remove the sunken vessel as detailed in Medway NtoM 18 of 2021 [Beware of Wreck on Segas SC moorings]. The craft ‘Liftmoor’ will be performing the salvage work between 1200 hrs and 1830 hrs (approx) and will maintain a listening watch on VHF channel 74 at all times. Due to the nature of the work all passing craft are requested to pass with caution and reduce wash to a minimum. If required ‘Liftmoor’ may return on 23 April to complete the recovery, once removal is confirmed a cancellation notice will be promulgated.

Sun Pier closed for Festival 21-23 May 2021

Adam Taylor of Medway Council has asked us to notify local boaters that Sun Pier will be closed to visiting vessels while the Thames Sailing Barge Edith May is moored there for three days as part of the Ebb & Flow Festival

At the same time (22 May – 13 June) boaters with artistic leanings may also be interested in the Estuary Festival involving numerous events in North Kent and Essex.

Peel Ports Completes Trial of Autonomous Unmanned Survey Vessel

Peel Ports is the first Port group in the UK to take delivery of an autonomous unmanned survey vessel, which completed its first successful trial at Crosby Marine Lake, north of Liverpool. Developed by L3 Harris and featuring pioneering technology, the 4.5m vessel, named Fitzroy, weighs 1 ton and carries multibeam sonar equipment capable of high resolution seafloor mapping down to 100m. Fitzroy will soon be deployed on the Medway.

More information…

Why use a helicopter rather than a hovercraft?

Gavin Parson writes: Last night a rescue helicopter plucked a person from a dinghy stuck on the mud outside Gillingham Marina. Mark Colyer who keeps his hovercraft at the marina witnessed this complete waste of money and resources and subsequently went out in his hovercraft to recover the dinghy.  The whole rescue could have been done in minutes and for £2 in fuel with the hovercraft rather than the thousands it no doubt cost for the helicopter. Perhaps there is now a validation for a volunteer rescue hovercraft service on the Medway.

From Boats to Baby Bumps, 21 April

Find out how rowing the Atlantic with your mother has led to inspiring mothers-to-be to stay active! Join Sally Kettle as she shares the ups and downs of rowing the Atlantic Ocean twice from East to West, once with her mother! Sally tells of rough seas, wild storms, harsh living and encounters with marine wildlife, including sharks. Find out how six months at sea in a boat the size of the average bathroom affects the body and, perhaps more importantly, the mind. Sally has raised £500,000 for charitable causes. She is an Ambassador for Girlguiding, and Trustee at the London Sports Trust. She has also served on humanitarian aid missions. During lockdown in 2020 Sally set up The Active Pregnancy Foundation with aims to support women to stay active throughout pregnancy and beyond, by providing expertise & advice, changing culture & challenging policy. She has delivered hundreds of talks around the world, to corporates, community groups and schools. Her ideas have been developed into workshop and training options, commentary, and thought leadership. Recently her ideas found a global audience via the missions of listeners to Radio 4. Sally’s FourThought talk, “Does Hope Help?” expounded her hard won personal philosophy of action overcoming procrastination. She continues to write and present pieces for Radio 4’s ‘From Our Own Correspondent’. 

Bromsgrove Boaters is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Sally Kettle – Transatlantic Rower
Time: Apr 21, 2021 07:30 PM London Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/4105524520?pwd=OEoxQXNKTW0xS1ZYU3h1Z20xd2dPUT09
Meeting ID: 410 552 4520
Passcode: 251974

A new name for River Medway

Chart Courtesy of Navionics.

In a surprise move to end confusion with other rivers of the same name, Peel Ports have announced that from 1 April the River Medway will be called River London Medway. A spokesman for the company, now named Peel Ports London Medway, explained that as they legally own the river from Allington to Sheerness this is within their powers and follows an extensive consultation with stakeholders in Liverpool. Another well-placed insider revealed that the “aspirational” change of name is expected to bring new business to the port and increase the value of local property.