tillergirl
Well-Known Member
A quiet week - which is good!
UKHO Permanent/Temporary/Preliminary Notices:
1. New Editions of ADMIRALTY Charts to be published on 19th February, 2026 - SN Chart 1186 - International Chart Series, England - East Coast, River Thames, Canvey Island to Tilbury. A. Canvey Island to Coalhouse Point. 1:12,500; B. Coalhouse Point to Tilbury.1:12,500
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - Platform. Foul. Restricted area. - A gas platform has been removed commensurate with the exclusion circle at the Hewett Gas Field NW of the N. Haisbro north cardinal buoy. A FOUL is left in place. - I guess the Hewitt Gas Field is now empty!
3. NETHERLANDS - Buoy. Measuring instrument. - A temporary notice announcing the placing of a new lit yellow special buoy close by the SHB No W7, marking the in-shore channel along the Dutch coast to Vlissingen.
Local
1. River Medway – Chatham Reach - Euro Wharf Dredging Operations - dredging work is due to commence at Euro Wharf on the River Medway as part of the ongoing quay wall replacement project. Dredging will commence on or around 19th January 2026 with completion expected by 29th January 2026. Work will be carried out by the water injection dredger (WID) “Melwey” who will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 74 at all times. Dredging activity will take place daily from high water down to high water + 4 hours. All vessels are requested to keep clear and reduce speed and wash when passing Euro Wharf
2. River Medway – Upnor Reach – Royal Engineers Training Manoeuvres. - formal agreement has been reached between Port of Sheerness Ltd. (Peel Ports) and 1 Royal School of Military Engineers (1 RSME Regt) Boat School at Upnor which will establish a set of procedures in relation to their manoeuvres on the River Medway. 1 RSME Regt. has operated it’s boat school from Upnor Hard for many years, however, this agreement now aims to improve communications with other river users and formalise a working agreement to cover their activities. The points below form the basis of the agreement:
- 1RSME will endeavour to abide by the speed limits as far as practicable and at all times be respectful to all other river users.
- PoSL will permit 1RSME to exceed the speed restriction of 6 knots within a defined area of Upnor Reach. In the bounds of the below:
o A line from Upnor Castle due East until the eastern bank of the river.
o A line from the most northerly point of Thunderbolt pier due west to the western bank of the river.
- 1RSME will fly a red flag on a mast visible to river users when conducting training operations within Upnor Reach. Once the new jetty at Upnor has been commissioned, this flag will be positioned at the jetty head.
- 1 RSME Regt is to inform PoSL as soon as possible prior to delivering a training course so that PoSL is aware of upcoming training.
- PoSL will issue a Notice to Mariners and keep it updated when it receives the above exercises' dates. The notice will explain the agreement and publish the dates to all river users.
- 1RSME will contact Medway VTS (via VHF or Telephone) at the beginning and end of the training day. This will detail the area of operations that day, the number of vessels to be used and if speed restrictions will be exceeded.
- Medway VTS will notify any commercial traffic transiting the area of operation.
- Open dialogue will be maintained from both parties to investigate and report incidents.
- PoSL will work with UK Hydrographic office to have a designated area marked on the chart for military training area.
All craft transiting Upnor Reach when a red flag is flying from the Royal Engineers jetty head should do so with caution and be aware of the military training manoeuvres. Image in the Local List at: Notices to Mariners
3. River Medway – Upnor Reach - Royal Engineers Training Manoeuvres - Following item Local 2 above whereby a formal agreement between the Royal School of Military Engineers Boat School and the Port of Sheerness was reached. As part of the agreement, 1RSME have provided us with their latest training dates. If you go to the Local List as above you can download the table of dates which are for January and February. Click on the table to download it.
4. Port of Rochester-Tower Reach-Esplanade Pier. - Diving Operations - Recovery of sunken vessel. - diving operations are due to take place at Esplanade Pier in Rochester to remove a sunken vessel which lies alongside the pier. Diving is due to take place on the 26th and 27th January 2026. Diving operations using airbags will be carried out over the slack water periods and will be conducted from the vessel “Thames Explorer” who will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 74 at all times. All vessels passing Esplanade Pier are requested to navigate with extreme caution reducing speed and wash accordingly and, if necessary, check the status of dive operations with Medway VTS. Further information may be obtained from Medway VTS on VHF Channel 74, call sign “Medway VTS” or telephone 0151 949 6148 or 0151 949 6650 (Recorded Lines). With luck it will be gone by Wednesday.
5. PORT OF EAST ANGLIA - BATHYMETRIC SURVEY – RIVER PORT & OUTER HARBOUR - Bathymetric survey activity will be undertaken commencing 26TH January 2026 ongoing through until 27nd January 2026. Peel Ports has commissioned Randall Surveys LLP to carry out an IHO Special Order multibeam echo sounder bathymetric survey of the River Port and Outer Harbour at Great Yarmouth. Survey Vessel RS 11 will be conducting the survey, due caution and attention must be exercised when navigating through all port areas during this period including observance to maintaining safe distance. RS 11 will be monitoring VHF Ch12 Further information may be obtained from Great Yarmouth LPS on VHF Channel 12, call sign “Yarmouth Radio” or telephone 0151 949 6121.
6. Ipswich - Temporary Lock Closure - on Wednesday 28th February 2026 1800 – 1930 the Ipswich lock will be temporarily closed to river traffic. This is to facilitate High voltage electrical upgrade works on the port estate. Mariners requiring any further information should contact ONS on VHF CH68.
That's it
.
UKHO Permanent/Temporary/Preliminary Notices:
1. New Editions of ADMIRALTY Charts to be published on 19th February, 2026 - SN Chart 1186 - International Chart Series, England - East Coast, River Thames, Canvey Island to Tilbury. A. Canvey Island to Coalhouse Point. 1:12,500; B. Coalhouse Point to Tilbury.1:12,500
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - Platform. Foul. Restricted area. - A gas platform has been removed commensurate with the exclusion circle at the Hewett Gas Field NW of the N. Haisbro north cardinal buoy. A FOUL is left in place. - I guess the Hewitt Gas Field is now empty!
3. NETHERLANDS - Buoy. Measuring instrument. - A temporary notice announcing the placing of a new lit yellow special buoy close by the SHB No W7, marking the in-shore channel along the Dutch coast to Vlissingen.
Local
1. River Medway – Chatham Reach - Euro Wharf Dredging Operations - dredging work is due to commence at Euro Wharf on the River Medway as part of the ongoing quay wall replacement project. Dredging will commence on or around 19th January 2026 with completion expected by 29th January 2026. Work will be carried out by the water injection dredger (WID) “Melwey” who will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 74 at all times. Dredging activity will take place daily from high water down to high water + 4 hours. All vessels are requested to keep clear and reduce speed and wash when passing Euro Wharf
2. River Medway – Upnor Reach – Royal Engineers Training Manoeuvres. - formal agreement has been reached between Port of Sheerness Ltd. (Peel Ports) and 1 Royal School of Military Engineers (1 RSME Regt) Boat School at Upnor which will establish a set of procedures in relation to their manoeuvres on the River Medway. 1 RSME Regt. has operated it’s boat school from Upnor Hard for many years, however, this agreement now aims to improve communications with other river users and formalise a working agreement to cover their activities. The points below form the basis of the agreement:
- 1RSME will endeavour to abide by the speed limits as far as practicable and at all times be respectful to all other river users.
- PoSL will permit 1RSME to exceed the speed restriction of 6 knots within a defined area of Upnor Reach. In the bounds of the below:
o A line from Upnor Castle due East until the eastern bank of the river.
o A line from the most northerly point of Thunderbolt pier due west to the western bank of the river.
- 1RSME will fly a red flag on a mast visible to river users when conducting training operations within Upnor Reach. Once the new jetty at Upnor has been commissioned, this flag will be positioned at the jetty head.
- 1 RSME Regt is to inform PoSL as soon as possible prior to delivering a training course so that PoSL is aware of upcoming training.
- PoSL will issue a Notice to Mariners and keep it updated when it receives the above exercises' dates. The notice will explain the agreement and publish the dates to all river users.
- 1RSME will contact Medway VTS (via VHF or Telephone) at the beginning and end of the training day. This will detail the area of operations that day, the number of vessels to be used and if speed restrictions will be exceeded.
- Medway VTS will notify any commercial traffic transiting the area of operation.
- Open dialogue will be maintained from both parties to investigate and report incidents.
- PoSL will work with UK Hydrographic office to have a designated area marked on the chart for military training area.
All craft transiting Upnor Reach when a red flag is flying from the Royal Engineers jetty head should do so with caution and be aware of the military training manoeuvres. Image in the Local List at: Notices to Mariners
3. River Medway – Upnor Reach - Royal Engineers Training Manoeuvres - Following item Local 2 above whereby a formal agreement between the Royal School of Military Engineers Boat School and the Port of Sheerness was reached. As part of the agreement, 1RSME have provided us with their latest training dates. If you go to the Local List as above you can download the table of dates which are for January and February. Click on the table to download it.
4. Port of Rochester-Tower Reach-Esplanade Pier. - Diving Operations - Recovery of sunken vessel. - diving operations are due to take place at Esplanade Pier in Rochester to remove a sunken vessel which lies alongside the pier. Diving is due to take place on the 26th and 27th January 2026. Diving operations using airbags will be carried out over the slack water periods and will be conducted from the vessel “Thames Explorer” who will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 74 at all times. All vessels passing Esplanade Pier are requested to navigate with extreme caution reducing speed and wash accordingly and, if necessary, check the status of dive operations with Medway VTS. Further information may be obtained from Medway VTS on VHF Channel 74, call sign “Medway VTS” or telephone 0151 949 6148 or 0151 949 6650 (Recorded Lines). With luck it will be gone by Wednesday.
5. PORT OF EAST ANGLIA - BATHYMETRIC SURVEY – RIVER PORT & OUTER HARBOUR - Bathymetric survey activity will be undertaken commencing 26TH January 2026 ongoing through until 27nd January 2026. Peel Ports has commissioned Randall Surveys LLP to carry out an IHO Special Order multibeam echo sounder bathymetric survey of the River Port and Outer Harbour at Great Yarmouth. Survey Vessel RS 11 will be conducting the survey, due caution and attention must be exercised when navigating through all port areas during this period including observance to maintaining safe distance. RS 11 will be monitoring VHF Ch12 Further information may be obtained from Great Yarmouth LPS on VHF Channel 12, call sign “Yarmouth Radio” or telephone 0151 949 6121.
6. Ipswich - Temporary Lock Closure - on Wednesday 28th February 2026 1800 – 1930 the Ipswich lock will be temporarily closed to river traffic. This is to facilitate High voltage electrical upgrade works on the port estate. Mariners requiring any further information should contact ONS on VHF CH68.
That's it
.
