Mercator Lock?

[John_Silver]

Anyone know what the arrangements are in the Oostende Mercator lock? Does one secure to floating pontoons, vertical lines, floating bollards (like Honfleur) or fixed bollards on the top? Or some other arrangement, I’ve not thought of!

Going into a lock single handed, I like to have a good idea of what I’m getting Stargazer into.....

We’ll be starting to work our way back to the Medway, after a summer in Brittany, at the end of the month. With the latest quarantine rules in mind, I’m thinking that it will simplify matters if we cross direct to our home port. And to carry a fair tide up the Medway, without facing a foul one first, makes a cross tide approach, from Oostende, look like a good option. ....

 

[sailorman]

I believe vert wires , you loop a warp around. Far better to let others go first then raft-up. to them

 

[John_Silver]

Thank you!

 

[johnalison]

It is a very long time since we did it but I remember hanging around outside the lock with a local boat until just after midnight so that we would be charged for one day less, since they charged from midnight to midnight. It may well have changed since then for all I know,

 

[sailorman]

It is a very long time since we did it but I remember hanging around outside the lock with a local boat until just after midnight so that we would be charged for one day less, since they charged from midnight to midnight. It may well have changed since then for all I know,

I was crew on the official opening w/e, skipper got free berthing, due to tv coverage

 

[Koeketiene]

Things may have changed, but if I remember correctly, you are not allowed into the lock singlehanded.

And you secure on wires.

If you are singlehanded and not intending to stay long-term I would suggest getting a berth at the RYCO (sheltered except in strong winds from the NW) or RNSYC (city centre).

 

[Marmalade]

Call them on 14 as you come into the harbour
1st set of lines are vertical (part of the lock where you change heights)
go through bridge (30 metres) and secure to...
second part of lock - horizontal lines (never have really understood this as although there's no height change you're still trying to arrest horizontal movement)
during this process the lock / marina guys will drop you a piece of paper showing your berth
when second bridge opens proceed into marina

Haven't ever tried going in singlehanded so I'll defer to Koeketiene on that one

Just re-read your original post - check the earliest lock out time - if you're making a N sea crossing you may want to leave early - frustrating to find that you can't get out on demand (learned that the hard way). RNSYC better for an early o'clock departure.

 

[John_Silver]

What a wealth of experience! Advice much appreciated.

Starting to think that ,in practice, Nieuwpoort May be more flexible as a jumping off point. Either letting the tide set us north and coming out through the Oostende deep water channel, or with enough rise of tide (and depending on sea state) weaving our way more or less straight out.

 

[Koeketiene]

What a wealth of experience! Advice much appreciated.

Starting to think that ,in practice, Nieuwpoort May be more flexible as a jumping off point. Either letting the tide set us north and coming out through the Oostende deep water channel, or with enough rise of tide (and depending on sea state) weaving our way more or less straight out.

If considering Nieuwpoort, forumite @westhinder might be able to offer detailed local advice.
He keeps his boat there.

 

[sailorman]

RNSYC is better for actually seeing sea state from the Hbr over Niewpoort that is well inland
I generally go straight over the banks, Harwich > Oostende

 

[westhinder]

What a wealth of experience! Advice much appreciated.

Starting to think that ,in practice, Nieuwpoort May be more flexible as a jumping off point. Either letting the tide set us north and coming out through the Oostende deep water channel, or with enough rise of tide (and depending on sea state) weaving our way more or less straight out.

If you’re coming from France I wonder why you should choose to make a long detour to a Belgian port and not opt for the short, straightforward crossing between Cap Griz Nez and Dover. Traffic in two neat narrow and parallel lanes and ferries that run parallel to your course, so you do not have to worry about them.
If you do stick to your plan, there is no need to continue to Oostende, it only makes the detour longer. From Nieuwpoort you aim at the Oostdyck 1 NCM at the edge of the traffic lanes to the Belgian ports. You can safely cross the banks between Nieuwpoort and Oostdyck at all states of the tide given reasonable weather. Ossian draws 2.1 m and we have no problems. From OD1 you cross the TSS to the Westhinder and can then aim to cross the main N-going TSS at right angles. The trouble is that you are then just a couple of miles away from the Sandettie junction which is a sort of roundabout that joins two TSS’s and you will see ships going in all directions, very difficult to judge, although AIS has made that easier now.. I would not recommend crossing there but that means another detour to the north. The alternative would be from Nieuwpoort to weave a path between the banks off Dunkirk, aiming to cross the TSS well to the SW of the Sandettie junction, which is perfectly possible in good weather.
Re your original question about the Mercator lock I’m afraid I can’t help you, I haven’t gone through the lock in ages. If you were only going to stay for a night there is no point in going into the Mercator dock, the RNSYC pontoons in the Montgomery dock are far more convenient.

 

[John_Silver]

Excellent insights there. Really helps the thought process.

Completely agree with your observation on the routing being strange. The only reason for making the detour is the quarantine regs. If we cross to Dover or Ramsgate (short, simple and good for TSS angle - as you say) I will be asked to leave Stargazer there, make my way home on public transport, quarantine for 14 days, return, sail back to the Medway.

Hence some lateral thinking about the most tide friendly one hop route from a mainland European port to our home port on the Medway.

There’s a solution in there somewhere. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Lucky Duck]

From memory - if you leave Calais when the tide turns in your favour then you arrive at North Foreland around low water so would then pick up a fair tide up the Thames and into the Medway.

Plenty of people I know have done Burnham to Calais and the reverse trip in one hit.

 

[westhinder]

From memory - if you leave Calais when the tide turns in your favour then you arrive at North Foreland around low water so would then pick up a fair tide up the Thames and into the Medway.

Plenty of people I know have done Burnham to Calais and the reverse trip in one hit.

I agree. I would be surprised if the quarantine rules meant that you have to enter the first port you reach.
It will also be shorter than crossing from Nieuwpoort or Oostende

 

[Marmalade]

RNSYC is better for actually seeing sea state from the Hbr over Niewpoort that is well inland
I generally go straight over the banks, Harwich > Oostende

+1