Peel Ports are replacing and refurbishing the navigational marks in the Medway. Wil Pretty snapped this today and wondered if it could be one of the replacement port hand marks…
Category: Navigation
New bridge over the Medway
Work is to start soon on a new bridge at Holborough giving access from the A228 to a thousand new homes on the east side of the river. We understand that there will be at least 8 metres clearance under the bridge.
Kentish Stour chartlet
If you cruise to Sandwich, as the Cruising Association recently did, you may find this chartlet by Robert Holden useful as the entrance from Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate, can be tricky without such local information. Click here for printable version of Pegwell Bay Charlet and photos of approach marks, scanned from paper copy.
Obstruction in the entrance to the River Medway
Look closely on your chart and you may see “obstns” but the true horror is revealed by this photo from Benfleet Yacht Club’s website. Have you ever cut in between the Grain Hard Buoy and the Grain Fort, in order to cheat the outgoing tide, or to keep out of the shipping channel? Please let us know what you think or if you have had a close encounter. Afterthought: Is it just me or does it look like a fossilised grand piano?
Changes to buoyage
Max Taylor, Deputy Harbour Master, informs us that during September Peel Ports will be commencing their first campaign of buoy changes. In the region of 15 navigation buoys will be changed and river users will note a “new shade” of green for starboard lateral marks and a larger top mark for both of the lateral marks. More importantly the cardinal marks will be slightly different, the “body” of the buoy is painted grey, then there is equidistant black/yellow banding to denote the type of cardinal followed by the traditional “shaped” topmark. Light characeristics will remain the same and Notices to Mariners will be issued prior to the work being done.
Kingsferry Bridge closures
The KFB is scheduled for closures for various periods on 18-21 August. For details see www.eastcoastpilot.com. Also the Havengore Bridge is currently closed until further notice.
Queenborough All Tide Landing open again
Some intrepid yachtspersons (including your webmaster) have once again been able to walk ashore with dry feet at Queenborough thanks to repairs being made by Queenborough Yacht Club. Once these repairs are complete, the ATL will be handed over to Queenborough Harbour Trust. Meanwhile please take great care on the walkway.
Phil Shaw says that short stays (up to 4 hours) on the visitor moorings are free but the trot boat is £1 for a return trip to shore. If you pay for a mooring the trot boat service is included.
Kingsferry Bridge problems resurface
After a few years of much improved operation, we are once more receiving reports of excessive delays at Kingsferry Bridge, which is supposed to open once an hour on request. The bridge is operated by Network Rail. If you cannot get a response from the bridge operator on VHF channel 10, or you are held up for an excessive time, please contact Medway VTS on VHF channel 74 and ask for the incident to be recorded.
Delays at the bridge can seriously affect the viability of Queenborough Harbour as a destination for visiting yachts. It can also jeopardise the safety of boats heading for moorings in the Swale creeks due to their limited tidal access.
See also
Boat hits Kingsferry Bridge
Sailing barge Repertor hits Kingsferry Bridge
Going to Dover?
The Cruising Association Kent Section inform us that the Port of Dover is hosting a seminar this Friday 28 March at the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club. If you a user, visitor, berth holder or just sailing by you are very welcome to attend this seminar by the VTS team updating us on the changes that are being introduced by VTS and Port Traffic Control/
The Port of Dover is the only port in the UK where it is mandatory to request permission to enter or leave the port
Venue: RCPYC, 4-5 Waterloo Crescent, Dover, CT16 1LA
Medway to lose harbour master
We have been advised that Peel Ports do not intend to replace the current harbour master, Cathryn Spain, when she steps down at the end of March. It is unclear how a “group harbour master” based in Liverpool will be able to fulfil the port’s statutory responsibilities.
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