Deben entrance buoyage changes

[Cantata]

We have heard that changes were made yesterday to the buoyage at the Deben entrance.
More details later, but the essentials are:
The West Knoll PHB has been moved.
The Deben PHB has been removed, and a new SHB has been laid in that vicinity to guard the shingle spit by the ‘new entrance’ that is opening up there.
We will post buoy positions on here as soon as we get them from Trinity House, and a revised chartlet will be posted on our website as soon as Imrays have produced it and have Trinity House approval. Realistically this may take up to 10-12 days.

 

[johnalison]

Hmm. I was intending to go in there this week, maybe today. I think I'll wait 'til near HW then.

 

[Cantata]

I went in last Thursday at HW-2, saw 3m minimum over the bar, really no issues at all just following the chartlet.
People were getting into trouble leaving on the ebb and not keeping close to the shore passing the rock armour.

 

[Johnah]

Have just taken some aerial photos, will upload them later today.

 

[Johnah]

Taken with the Harwich tide gauge showing about 1.2m above Chart Datum.

 

[PeterBoater]

New lat/long positions: 23/2022 Deben, Middle Knolls & West Knolls Buoys | Trinity House

 

[Johnah]

Thanks Peter, I know that Ferry Harbourmaster John White and assistant HM John Barber had asked for the two other buoys to be moved. Much better positions now.

Here is the latest photo from this morning, but as it was not taken at LWS I can't see where the slightly submerged knolls are.

 

[Johnah]

Here's a better photo taken yesterday afternoon at low water (11th July), showing the broken water over the bar plus a knoll appearing to seaward between the port hand buoys.

The Harwich tide gauge was reading 0.8m above CD.

Little video coming soon.

John

 

[Johnah]

Here is the short drone video taken at the same time as the above photo. It was a bit breezy hence the props appear at times.

Deben entrance at Low Water 11th July 2022 new buoy positions.

 

[Poecheng]

Johnah,
Thanks for the photo and video - most interesting.
Does anyone have the way points for the northern entrance and expected depths? The new green Deben bouy looks like it might be at one end.
Going from the Deben to Southwold through here might save a bit of time and be fun if it is calm weather?

 

[Johnah]

Hi Poecheng, Am not sure John White would advise trying it with no markers in that northern entrance.

He has said that the present buoy positions along the shore line are just right now and it doesn't take much longer.

I haven't seen any yachties use the northern entrance.

 

[Poecheng]

Thanks Johnah, I will be patient

 

[Slowboat35]

It would be interesting to see a survey of that N entrance though. The fishing boats use it OK

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It would be interesting to see a survey of that N entrance though. The fishing boats use it OK

The East Coast Pilot chartlet (https://eastcoastpilot.com/Deben 2022 chartlet and note v2.pdf) shows about a metre of water most of the way through, but the northern entrance has a shallow patch right in the middle and not much water either side of it - less than a metre. On the exit side there's a feature called "The Knolls" that looks like it is a) close to the deepest water and b) something to avoid. The tricky bit is going to be navigating the northern end of the passage; the depths are no worse than the main entrance, but the passage is more tortuous, and of course, currently unmarked.

 

[Malish]

Hi
I've not seen it mentioned.... the revised (July 2022) Deben chartlet is now available on the ECP website

East Coast Pilot - Downloads

Many thanks to Cantata

 

[Cantata]

Hi
I've not seen it mentioned.... the revised (July 2022) Deben chartlet is now available on the ECP website
East Coast Pilot - Downloads
Many thanks to Cantata

Ooops sorry, did it last Thursday, posted all over the place about it but evidently forgot this thread!

 

[Johnah]

A Deben entrance summer update evening photo, from August 13th at LW.

The sea level was at 0.3m above CD from the Harwich tide gauge.