Notices to Mariners this week

[tillergirl]

Nothing from the UKHO this week (yippee) but in the temporary lists news of work at Gravesend Town Pier on the new pontoon - they are also installing some half tide moorings first downriver from the Town Pier so this could be a useful stop over point.

London Array are working close to Foulger's this week and grapenl and survey runs are bing done on cable laying route. Cabble pull off starts in the East Swale.

Crouch buoyage is finished.

See http://www.eastcoastsailing.co.uk/ntm.html for details - you will need to click on the Temporary NtM button.

 

[wingdiver]

I thought it worth finding out more about the Gravesend Pier pontoon in case it was an alternative to Queenborough for tidal stopovers.
Checked the council sites and then emailed for more info.
Got this useful response -

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the new pontoon at Gravesend.

The pontoon has been designed for operational use by the Tilbury Ferry service as well as, hopefully, a high-speed service to Greenwich or London plus chartered cruise vessels. It also has a dedicated platform that will provide passenger access for the Waverley paddle steamer, which will be using this facility several times a year.

There is a section of the pontoon on the shore side that can accommodate several yachts for a temporary period. Water and mains electricity will be available for use by pleasure craft. The council has also created moorings at St Andrew’s Quay, next to the pier, which are suitable for barges.

The council has contracted out the management of the pontoon and St Andrews Quay to London River Moorings Ltd. Mooring enquiries should therefore be made to Chris Bentley on 07866 593 171.

Details of the Town Pier pontoon and St Andrews Quay can be found at http://www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=504

 

[tillergirl]

Useful, thanks.

 

[Colin K]

Hello chaps,
I asked a few questions on here prior to my trip from Ipswich to the Solent last week. I thought it might be helpful to feed back on my experiences on the trip across the Thames estuary. I must confess I was a little nervous.
Well outbound 11 days ago I called Thames coastguard to ask about the passages across and was Foulgers closed. No it is not closed sir came the reply but call Oceon Dragon on chanel 16 to ask about their movements. And you must keep 500m from any new/working structures.
I tried to call Oceon Dragon for about 1/2 hr but got no reply and so cut through Foulgers gat. No problems although to keep my 500m on radar I did more of a wiggle than normal. Never less than 6.5 m though.
About an hour later when I was approaching the coast of Kent I heard Oceon Dragon giving out a securite warning asking for 500m clearance between boats and structures. And could mariners please avoid Foulgers if possible !
Still I was across and so be it.

On the return a couple of days ago I again telephoned Thames who said yes Foulgers is closed. Oh bugger I thought as it was blowing and I was getting a fair beating.
Well getting a bit fed up at about 5nm from my old outer long sand waypoint I called Oceon Dragon on the off chance. He replied and took me to channel 6/8. Hello I said Im just a few miles off the entrance to Foulgers Im getting a bit of a battering from the ratty North wind and swell is there any chance that I could cut through to save myself a few miles.
I honestly thought that he would say sod off its closed come back another day. Well it was far from the point. The guy chatted and chatted and said yes no problem were not doing much today give us a fair bit of clearance from particularly the control tower and you are fine to pass through. It saved me a good hour at the speed that I was travelling. Ok here I was in a 30' sailing boat and he was in a 40 ft square catamaran but to be fair I could not fault his understanding and help.
So what I am feeding back is that it is wise to try the guard boats on vhf whatever the official position is they monitor ch 16. I think that it is worth keeping trying them as I get the impression that they basically have a job to do as well as guarding their work ?? and so might not reply straight away as you might expect.

Hope this is some help, Colin.