Notices to Mariners Week 42

[tillergirl]

Sorry to be late. Notices seemed to be a bit involved this week!

And err, ten weeks to 2012!

Permanent Notices

1. Some changes in the Wash. At the Nene Roads ship anchorage the yellow marker buoys have been changed to pillar buoys and AIS added to the most northerly one. The anchorage for Boston has been moved from its position astride the Power Cable route for the Lynn Wind Farm (good idea that) and is marked with two new yellow pillar buoys. Again the northerly one has AIS. And there are a couple of name changes to the buoys marking the Lynn Wind Farm off dear old Skeggie (Skegness for Southerners - oh how I remember the Sunday trips on the steam train to the wind swept beaches with the then girl friend. You buried yourself in the sand dunes to keep warm until the train came back again to take you homw - I digress).

2. Some depth changes in the Thames; one in Gravesend Reach that won't trouble us and a new drying height just off Bow Creek - but its a change from 0.1m to -0.1m so in fact it isn't too dramatic.

Temporary Notices

1. London Array Wind Farm: foundation installation work is away from the Gat this week but there is still some cabling from the Sub Station at the edge of the Gat taking place this week. The main power cable to be laid from the Swale is due anytime this week and preparation work will be taking place in the East Swale.

2. Trinity House has placed an unlit buoy on Shotley Spit that will be transmitting intermittent AIS signals.

3. As from the 16th Janaury, 2012, North Foreland Lighthouse will only shine its light at night. (Probably will get added to permanent notices idc)

4. Ipswich Wet Dock lock will be closed on Sunday 6th November for maintenance.

5. Work is taking place on the Isle of Grain Jetty, Saltpan Reach, Medway.

6. There is an unspecified obstruction in the Great Nore about a third of a mile north east of the Richard Montgomery. Anchoring is dangerous.

That's it folks. As usual goto: http://www.eastcoastsailing.co.uk/ntm.html or http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html where most of these are illustrated.

 

[Sixpence]

Yikes

The Wash mentioned in there too, I'm in shock

 

[tillergirl]

Oh, yes. The 'Service' is Boston to Ramsgit. Never quite worked out how far east it goes though!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Thanks Tillergirl - always helpful.

Just a mention about roadworks. They might hold you up a bit.

These improvements are being paid for by Felixstowe Port.

The roundabout on the A12/A14 junction, Copdock roundabout is being improved by adding more lanes.

The same is true for the Felixstowe spur roundabout in Felixstowe ( where the lorries turn right off the A14 to the port)..

The main action seems to be during the evening/night and you may have to use a detour.

I think these improvements were part of the extension at Felixstowe to take bigger ships.

No doubt Felixstowe will be competing with London Gateway in the future.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Thanks Tillergirl - always helpful.

Just a mention about roadworks. They might hold you up a bit.

These improvements are being paid for by Felixstowe Port.

The roundabout on the A12/A14 junction, Copdock roundabout is being improved by adding more lanes.

The same is true for the Felixstowe spur roundabout in Felixstowe ( where the lorries turn right off the A14 to the port)..

The main action seems to be during the evening/night and you may have to use a detour.

I think these improvements were part of the extension at Felixstowe to take bigger ships.

No doubt Felixstowe will be competing with London Gateway in the future.

Probably the other way round! Felixstowe has such a good start, the roads, as you say, are being improved; the line to London has already been lowered to take the higher containers; that is happening now to the line to Nuneaton with a flyover to the WCML and a new curve is to be put in at Ipswich to avoid trains having to reverse if bound via Ely. With the new terminals already operational I suspect the London Gateway will have to offer very low rates to tempt ships to detoure up the Thames!!

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Probably the other way round! Felixstowe has such a good start, the roads, as you say, are being improved; the line to London has already been lowered to take the higher containers; that is happening now to the line to Nuneaton with a flyover to the WCML and a new curve is to be put in at Ipswich to avoid trains having to reverse if bound via Ely. With the new terminals already operational I suspect the London Gateway will have to offer very low rates to tempt ships to detoure up the Thames!!

Good to hear that upgrades are taking place for rail traffic as well.

I believe that the line to Felixstowe from Ipswich will have a dual track instead of the current single. Might hold up a few of the East Coast membership who use Levington . Probably offset by fewer lorries on their journey down though.

Expect that London Gateway will be fully automated which might give them some edge. Would guess that they will be trying to pull business from Southampton too.