Navigation – Page 19 – Medway and Swale Boating Association

Large pontoon for Queenborough

Queenborough Harbour Trust is purchasing a massive 60 metre long by 9 metre wide concrete pontoon, formerly used by the Gosport ferry in Portsmouth harbour. This will not only provide space for alongside moorings but will enable the trust to reposition the harbour lookout office and storage unit on the water. A fuel dock is also proposed. The pontoon will be anchored a few metres north of the existing All Tide Landing and linked to it by a bridge. The yacht club has promised that the ATL will be repaired and back in service by Easter. Discussions between the trust and the club over the long term future of the ATL are ongoing…

Please indicate your support or otherwise for the planning application by using the Reply button below or by emailing secretary@msba.org.uk by 28 March 2014. Your feedback will be sent to the Marine Licensing Authority via the RYA.

Click here to see the consent plan

Bad news from Hollowshore

Martin Ashton, Commodore of Hollowshore Cruising Club writes, “The Oare Creek entrance was not dredged as planned due to a late objection from Faversham Oyster Company (that have the fishing rights in the Swale). [Because of the tidal surge] we lost the pub (the Shipwrights) and it won’t manage to re-open in time for the holiday period. The clubhouse at the top of the creek had a couple of inches to spare!”

Proposed Medway buoyage changes: what do you think?

Deputy Harbourmaster John Gurton would like to know what we think about changing buoys 15 and 16 (green and red channel buoys between Oakham Ness and Bishop Spit) to quick flashing. It is suggested that this would reduce confusion with the other lateral buoyage. Use the Reply button to let us know what you think and we’ll pass your views on.

Criminal powers for harbour authorities: have your say, quick!

The RYA is opposing the Marine Navigation (No.2) Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. Through the Bill the Government is proposing to extend harbour authorities’ power to create criminal offences without making that power subject to the safeguards, checks or balances which are normally applied to law-making bodies.

Without any form of appropriate safeguard, a harbour authority would have the power to introduce a regulation that users of that harbour (including recreational boaters) would have no right to challenge.

Click here to submit your selected statement.

Closing date for submission is 31 December 2012.

More info about the Marine Navigation Bill on the RYA website: http://www.rya.org.uk/…

Look out, it’s a berm!

Kentish Flats wind farm south cardinal buoy

Following pressure from the MYA, RYA and East Coast Pilot, London Array has had special buoyage installed by Trinity House to mark the rock “berms” which were dumped over the electricity cables on Kentish Flats leaving less than a metre depth at low tide. Following a further request from the MYA, the southernmost buoy was replaced with a large south cardinal (see photo) and a north cardinal buoy was also installed.

See lal-n-to-m-amendment-to-buoyage-at-kentish-flats-britned-and-gunfleet-sands-1