Notices to Mariners Week 33

[tillergirl]

Permanent: Nothing in UK waters this week and enormous tedium at the West Hinder.

1. Deletion of the West Hinder Pilot Station and insertion of a note regarding Helicopter Ops (for the Pilots)
2 and 3. An enormously long couple of notices (one a P notice) to announce a revision to the West Hinder TSS from 1st December - Rather vague Diagram for now with new charts promised.
4. A new Precautionary Area to be implemented for 1st December around the Thornton and Bligh Banks (along from the West Hinder)

Temporary

1. Now did you keep your Loran kit? Trinity House and the GLA (General Lighthouse Authority) give notice of the intention to install differential Loran transmitters at Dover, Harwich/Felixstowe, Medway/Tilbury to give up to 20 metres accuracy.
2. Rochester Pier is temporarily closed for repairs
3. Jane's Creek, Tower Reach, River Medway closed for bridge works.

C'est toutes mes amis

Oh, PS, nothing from the London Array as at 10pm.

 

[sailorman]

Permanent: Nothing in UK waters this week and enormous tedium at the West Hinder.

1. Deletion of the West Hinder Pilot Station and insertion of a note regarding Helicopter Ops (for the Pilots)
2 and 3. An enormously long couple of notices (one a P notice) to announce a revision to the West Hinder TSS from 1st December - Rather vague Diagram for now with new charts promised.
4. A new Precautionary Area to be implemented for 1st December around the Thornton and Bligh Banks (along from the West Hinder)

Temporary

1. Now did you keep your Loran kit? Trinity House and the GLA (General Lighthouse Authority) give notice of the intention to install differential Loran transmitters at Dover, Harwich/Felixstowe, Medway/Tilbury to give up to 20 metres accuracy.
2. Rochester Pier is temporarily closed for repairs
3. Jane's Creek, Tower Reach, River Medway closed for bridge works.

C'est toutes mes amis

Oh, PS, nothing from the London Array as at 10pm.

Is this because of windmills

 

[tillergirl]

I think so although there is nothing in the notice to say why. But there is one farm on the Bligh and one on Thornton and no obvious big ship issues.

 

[sailorman]

I think so although there is nothing in the notice to say why. But there is one farm on the Bligh and one on Thornton and no obvious big ship issues.

we will soon be regulated into "Sailing lanes" in the North Sea

 

[tillergirl]

I fear you will be right. The ability to build bigger turbines is being tested via the Gunfleet Demo plus we know they can stick them in 20m of water already.

 

[NUTMEG]

Stupid question

I have noticed in several threads people talking about wind turbines as if we must avoid them. Am I wrong in thinking that I am at liberty to sail amongst them? They are huge and the turbines are much higher than my mast so I can not see any reason, apart from poss turbulence, why I should not.

I hope I have not just shown myself to be a numpty

 

[tillergirl]

There are rules during construction but those cease once construction is finished. So for example the London Array is permitted a 500m safety zone around diving locations, foundation erection, turbine erection and other work, AND completed turbines, foundations even if complete until the site is commissioned. Once the construction is done those rules cease but I think some wind farms have safety zones which are created during maintenance visits. I've gone fuzzy on that situation - and for example what does this Precaution Area mean. I wasn't planning to hit a turbine; what other precautions must I take. You've probably hit upon something worth researching and doing an article. One other point, in discussions with people at the London Array, the experience is that that tide scours round the bases of the Foundations and dumps the material nearby. That means you might not have the expected depths between turbines. I notice that the Gunfleet service vessels all appear to be cats.

Ph, by the way, the London Array notice for this week is up so I am just about to add that to this weeks details. Should be done in 30 minutes or earlier.