Notices to Mariners Week 49 - Notices to Mariners for the Southern East Coast of the UK and across to France, Belgium and part of Holland

Permanent

1. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Stour - NM Block. Depths. - A new UKHO block for the Stour just west of Erwarton and 4 reduced soundings between the block and Holbrook;
2. FRANCE - North Coast - Calais - Depth. Dredged areas. - New depths but affecting the ships in the harbour rather than 'us';
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - Approaches to River Colne, Clacton-on-Sea S and Walton-on-the-Naze E - Depths. - 3 drying areas off the Mersea Flats, a reduction of depth on the east side of the River Colne, one off Jaywick and one off Walton-on-the-Naze. Caution necessary cutting round the south of Mersea between the Blackwater and the Colne;
4. ENGLAND - East Coast - Holm Sand - Depths. - One slight reduced of depth just south of the NE Holm PHB. Not likely to hinder leisure craft.

Temporary

1. LOWER POOL - *INSTALLATION OF COLLAR BARGE MOORING - River Thames - on the south side of the Thames opposite Wapping;
2. Port of Wells - Dredging....

Link to details - http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html

Local NtMs compiled by and reproduced by kind permission of Roger Gaspar, author of Crossing the Thames Estuary

Notices to Mariners Week 48 - Notices to Mariners for the Southern East Coast of the UK and across to France, Belgium and part of Holland

Permanent UKHO

1. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Thames - Ware Point - Wreck. Buoy. - Dangerous wreck on the edge of the 5m contour of the River Thames, east side opposite Ware Point (below Margaret Ness) - with commensurate west cardinal buoy - see image on the usual web page: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - Winterton-on-Sea to Great Yarmouth - Depths. Obstructions. - ugh - twelve reduced depths between Winterton and Great Yarmouth in and around the in-shore channels. Three images!
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Thames - Ovens Flat - Depths. - one reduced depth close to the Ovens SHB but at 8.9m, hardly likely to trouble us;

Temporary

1. Harwich Seasonal buoyage - Harwich Shelf removed for the winter;
2. Port of Wells - Dredging;
3. Blakeney Harbour - the Hjordis East buoy is off station - recommended to leave the Hjordis isolated danger beacon at least 200 metres to starboard and pass the No 1 Harbour entrance buoy close to starboard;
4. And then with an ironic smile - Ramsgate Harbour reporting that several small craft have struck the green entrance buoy at low water - could please not hit the buoy anymore - the use of the recommended route is... recommended.

Link to details - http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html

Local NtMs compiled by and reproduced by kind permission of Roger Gaspar, author of Crossing the Thames Estuary

 

 

Cruising Association Lobster Pots Campaign

In the spring of this year the Cruising Association launched a petition to make lobster pot markers safer for small craft.   In two weeks we had 6,000 signatures and numerous reports of boats coming to grief by being caught up in lobster pot chains and ropes.  The petition had then to be abandoned when the General Election was announced but was relaunched at the Southampton Boat Show in September.
We have had just over 5,300 signatures this time as those who signed the petition earlier thought their 'vote' would be carried through. This was not the case. The Government's petitions office shut down the earlier petition, losing all 6,000 signatures.

Notices to Mariners Week 47 - Notices to Mariners for the Southern East Coast of the UK and across to France, Belgium and part of Holland

Permanent UKHO

1. New editions of charts: Admiralty Charts to be published 23 November 2017 - Chart 323 - International Chart Series, Dover Strait, Eastern Part. 1:75,000, Chart 1610 - International Chart Series, England - East Coast, Approaches to the Thames Estuary. 1:150,000: Admiralty Charts to be published 7 December 2017 - Chart 1491 - International Chart Series, England – East Coast, Harwich and Felixstowe. 1:10,000, Chart 2693 - International Chart Series, England – East Coast, Approaches to Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich with the Rivers Stour, Orwell and Deben.
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - Yantlet Channel - Buoy. - was a PLA NtM couple of weeks back, now a UKHO 'permanent' notice - the new south cardinal called Oikos off the Oikos Jetty for major works - just east of the Hole Haven Creek.
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Medway - Obstructions. Legend. - this was a recent Peel Ports (Medway) correction about the wrong 1.6 obstruction in Saltpan Reach which isn't/wasn't there.
4. BELGIUM - Wenduinebank S - Fouls. - just east of Oostende, now an area of Foul. See the image on the usual page for all these: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html
5. ENGLAND - East Coast - Woolwich Reach W - Depths. - a small reduction of depth (from 4.9 to 4.2m) just on the south edge of the Thames channel off Greenwich.

Temporary

1. GREENWICH REACH *- GREENWICH PIER - TEMPORARY PIER CLOSURE AND MAINTENANCE WORKS - closed from 20th November to 25th November and then some new mooring arrangements. Two images on the Temporary list on the page above;
2. Temporary Lock Closure - Ipswich - due to essential maintenance on the Flood Gates by the Environment Agency, Ipswich Lock will be closed for all vessels during the following periods :-
Tuesday 28th November 2017 - 0730hrs ~ 1730hrs and Wednesday 29th November 2017 - 0800hrs ~ 1730hrs;
3. LOWESTOFT HARBOUR AND HARBOUR APPROACHES – DREDGING ACTIVITIES - started yesterday until about the 24th November;
4. Port of Wells dredging.

Link to details - http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html

Local NtMs compiled by and reproduced by kind permission of Roger Gaspar, author of Crossing the Thames Estuary

Project Kraken

Notices to Mariners Week 43,44,45 & 46 - Notices to Mariners for the Southern East Coast of the UK and across to France, Belgium and part of Holland

Catching up. Sorry, some of these are a bit late.

 

Week 43

 

Permanent

1. New Editions of ADMIRALTY Charts on 9th November, 2017 : Chart 1534 - England - East Coast, Great Yarmouth and Approaches. Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour and Great Yarmouth Haven.
Chart 1535 - England - East Coast, Lowestoft and Approaches. Lowestoft Harbour.
2. ENGLAND - Thames Estuary - Long Sand NE - Depths. Two new reduced depths on the Long Sand. Although reduced depths at 8.8 and 9.9m, this evidence of continual extension of the north-eastwards of the Long Sand Head and worth prudence. Image of course at the usual page: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Thames - Gravesend Reach - Landmarks. - the two Power Station chimneys at the Tilbury Power Station have gone;
4. North Coast - Approaches to Dunkerque - Buoy. Measuring instrument. Automatic Identification System. A temporary NtM but a new yellow buoy in the Binnen Ratel channel north of Dunkerque.

Temporary

1. Trinity House NtM advising in the Approaches to Lowestoft the wreck buoys for the wreck of the Tug 'Ella' have been widened to 500 metres - Image on the same page but under the Temporary list;
2. Trinity House advise that the S. Bawdsey buoy has had its wave actuated whistle changed to a wave actuated bell;
3. River Thames - Oikos Jetty No 2 Jetty extension now has a temporary new South Cardinal buoy from tomorrow - image in the usual page.
4. Port of Wells - Dah, dah - dredging!

Week 44

 

6 UKHO notices this week:

UKHO

1. BELGIUM - Oostende - Legend. - Deletion of the legend regarding the Radar Surveillance Station at the entrance of the inner jetties of Oostende.
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Thames - Long Reach - Depth. - one reduction of depth off Purfleet but at over 7m, not to worry;
3. NETHERLANDS - Schouwenbank Junction - Pilot boarding place. - changed the Pilot changing place to match Schouwenbank safe water buoy;
4. BELGIUM - Zeebrugge to Thorntonbank NW - Submarine power cable. - new power cable to be installed from west of Zeebruggee harbour entrance out to the Wind Farm;
5. BELGIUM - Blankenberge - Depths. Buoyage. - revised buoyage to remark the shallow harbour and marina entrance - see images (like the others on: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html
6. ENGLAND - East Coast - Orford Ness - Depths. Wrecks. - 11 new reduced depths and wrecks on this notice. However the area has been 'peppered' by NtMs this year so I have added all this year's previous changes in the two images including this one;

Temporary

A quiet week hence at the first of the list is.......

1. Dredging' at Wells;
2. London Array Windfarm - they have temporarily withdrawn the yellow North Guard Buoy for the Long Sand Middle Wave Buoy;
3. Galloper Windfarm - Start from today for a prolonged survey from the cable route to the site - see image on the usual Temporary List;
4. Havengore Bridge reported today back in operation!

Week 45

 

Permanent UKHO

1. New Editions of ADMIRALTY Charts on 23rd November, 2017 - Chart 323 - International Chart Series, Dover Strait, Eastern Part;
2. BELGIUM - Broers Bank SW - Buoyage. Restricted area. - Small restriction and marked prohibited area off the De Panne Beaches (the Dunkirk beaches). See image on the usual page: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - Middle Cross Sand - Depth. - one reduced depth on the eastern side of the Middle Cross Sand at 8.5m (close to a much deeper wreck so presumably building up.

Temporary

1. Trinity House announcing it has taken over the rights of the wreck 'Ella' (off Lowestoft);
2. An apparent typo announced by Medway (Peel Ports) of a mistaken inclusion of a 1.6 obstruction off the Jetties on Saltpan Reach. The obstruction had been added earlier this year via NtM 4488/2017 so obvious a typo.
3. Port of Wells - dredging.

 

Week 46

 

UKHO

1. ENGLAND - East Coast - Approaches to Harwich - Fog signal. - Change of the Whistle to a bell on the S. Bawdsey on the SCB - was foretold on Temps a couple of weeks back;
2. NETHERLANDS - Schouwen W - NM Block. Depths. - a UKHO chart block and two reductions of depth on the coast of the Delta;
3. FRANCE - North Coast - Haut Fond de Gravelines W - Buoyage. Automatic Identification System. - another addition of AIS, now on the WCB off Gravelines;
4. ENGLAND - East Coast - River Thames - Limehouse Reach - Buoyage. - two new large moorings just down from the South Dock Marina entrance and an ECB off Convoy's Wharf, all in Limehouse Reach;
5. ENGLAND - South East Coast - Port of Ramsgate - Depths. - two reduced depths in the Outer Harbour of Ramsgate on the way to the entrance to the Royal Harbour - at4m+, not yet a threat to us.

Temporary

1. Ha’penny pier refurbishment works - as has been said before;
2. BRIDGE REACH – ROCHESTER BRIDGE - Rochester rail bridge rope access inspection of the metallic superstructure and span closures - rope access inspection works and span closures will commence on the 5th of November 2017, only one span will be closed to navigation at any one time.
3. Re-Fueling or Bunkering fuel within the Brightlingsea Harbour. Forbidden except when using the designated fuel pontoon;
4. LOWESTOFT HARBOUR APPROACHES – REDUCED DEPTHS – UPDATED INFORMATION - recent survey data has indicated further shoaling and depth reduction in the NE approaches to Lowestoft Harbour. The area of least depth is from the seaward end of Jackamans Groyne, Least Depth: 3.7m below ACD;
5. Port of Wells Dredging;
6. PORT OF GREAT YARMOUTH - Navigation Byelaws - threat of the byelaws because of excessive speed, poor lighting and the need for care. The Byelaws can be download in the Temporary list on the usual page (and all the other detail): http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html
7. Havengore - as reported earlier, the bridge is unoperational at the moment.

Link to details - http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html

Local NtMs compiled by and reproduced by kind permission of Roger Gaspar, author of Crossing the Thames Estuary