tillergirl
Well-Known Member
UKHO Permanent/Temporary/Preliminary
1. FRANCE - North Coast - Current meters - Two new current meters mounted on tripod cages, one close inshore of Wissant (between Gris-Nez and Calais), the second, due north of the east Graveslines harbour pier. I have marked them as unlit yellow buoys but precisely how they appear are unknown to me! The meter off Wissant is perhaps so close to the shor that it is unlikely to be encountered by us BUT off Gravelines is likely to be encountered if approaching to entered from the direction of the east. Two images.
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - Depths. - Five adjustments of depths on the Black Deep DW channel between the Sunk Inner and the Black Deep No 2. The PLA constantly monitor depths there for the biggest container ships so the depth is never going to hinder us. Note that we need permission from the PLA to be in the Black Deep.
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - Drying heights. Depths. - A bit unusual: three reductions of depth/new drying heights. Two on the edge of Blacktail Spit (off Shoeburyness) between the South Shoebury SHB and the Blacktail Spit SHB and one drying height at the Deben Entrance. I notice the source is from the Environment Agency NOT from Trinity House. I suspect this might not be immediately recent and we should wait for the details from Trinity House which will be announced by East Coast Pilot as soon as they have the new chartlet. Note the image at the Deben will be out of date, it is merely used to show where the drying height is recorded.
4. ENGLAND - East Coast - Depths. - One very small reduction in the centre of the Gravesend Reach of the River Thames. Unlikely to hinder leisure craft.
Local
1. Woolwich Reach - Woolwich Ferry Grid - Maintenance - Commencing on or about Tuesday 11th February 2025, contractors on behalf of Transport for London, will commence works for the maintenance and repair of Woolwich Ferry Grid, inshore of the south terminal.
Works will last for approximately 8 weeks. The general location of the works is indicated by the red box on the chartlet ( see the Local List at Notices to Mariners Throughout the works, persons will be working on the foreshore over the low water period, with a safety boat in attendance. At times, lifting operations will be carried out by multicat Chilli Dog or similar, and requests for vessels to proceed with caution or pass at slow speed may be made by London VTS on VHF ch.14, in accordance with the Port of London Authority’s Port Information Guide, under ‘London VTS’, section 4. International Code Flags ‘Romeo Yankee (RY)’ will be displayed accordingly. All vessels involved in the works will be maintaining a listening watch on VHF channel 14. Further details may be broadcast by London VTS on VHF Channel 14.
2. Harwich Harbour - Additional Dredging and Survey Operations – Update 3 - Due to a slope failure (see local notice to mariners 14-2025: Surveyed Depths – Harwich Harbour – Update 2), additional dredging and survey work has been scheduled in the area between Felixstowe
Berth 9 and the Fort Buoy as follows:
➢ Smit Neyland (Callsign: VQGN5) – is carrying out survey operations until approx. 12 February 2025.
➢ Strandway (IMO: 9664457) – is undertaking trailing suction hopper dredging operations until around 12 February 2025.
➢ MTS Valour (IMO: 9407299) – is undertaking plough dredging until around 12 February 2025.
See also the following local notice to mariners regarding dredging activities: 03-2025: Dredging Operations – Cathy Anne. This notice replaces local notice to mariners No. 10-2025, which is now withdrawn. For more information contact Harwich VTS on VHF Channel 71.
3. Surveyed Depths – Harwich Harbour – Update 2 - the latest hydrographic surveys showing depths in Harwich Harbour. Noting that dredging operations are ongoing in the harbour at the time of publication. The controlling depth for deep draught vessels navigating within the harbour area should currently be taken as 15.0m below chart datum, plus height of tide. The minimum depths below chart datum (not including inside berth boxes) are:
• 15.0m - spot soundings between the Shotley Spit Buoy and Babergh Buoy
• 15.1m - spot soundings between the Grisle Buoy and Shotley Spit Buoy
• 14.6m - spot soundings between the Fort Buoy and Grisle Buoy
See survey chart extracts by going to the above quoted web page and download the PDF (Note this is the deep water areas. Contact Harwich VTS or Haven Pilots for further information regarding tidal windows. This notice replaces local notice to mariners No. 09 of 2024, which is now withdrawn.
4. Port of Sheerness Limited - Medway Tide Tables 2025 – Printing Error - within the published “Tide Tables for the River Medway and Thames Estuary” booklets has come to light. The sequence of day references for the month of May is incorrect, tide data relating to the corresponding date for May is, however, correct. A revised Pdf copy of the tide booklets has been published on the Peel Ports London Medway website and can be accessed via the following link.
https://www.peelports.com/media/ohlambtz/medway-tide-tables-2025.pdf
5. PORT OF GREAT YARMOUTH - O & M Construction works Spending Beach - as part of the construction works at the O&M base Berth 1, an excavator will be working on the Spending Beach from Friday 7th February. The work is expected not to take no more than 24 hours.
Due caution should be exercised when in transit past this location including observance to maintaining a safe distance and reducing speed. Mariners are reminded to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 12 whilst operating within the Port of Great Yarmouth and to advise ‘Yarmouth Radio’ of their intention to conduct any manoeuvre within the Port prior to doing so. For further information please contact Great Yarmouth LPS on VHF Channel 12 (callsign ‘Yarmouth Radio’) or 01493 335511.
6. Lowestoft Approaches – Stanford Channel Shoaling - following a Trinity House survey, an area of shoaling has been identified at the Southern end of the Stanford Channel.
The shoaling is associated with sand wave activity, and introduces a minimum depth of 3.6m below ACD in position 52 26’.565N 001 47’.310’E. This 3.6m depth should be considered as the controlling depth in the Stanford Channel, as it is orientated close to centre channel. The below chart extracts show the location of the 3.6m soundings. Mariners are requested to consider this information when passage planning and navigating in the Stanford Channel, to ensure that minimum Under Keel Clearance requirements are met.
Trinity House are scheduling another survey for this area in May 2025. Further information will be promulgated once data has been received. Please contact Lowestoft Port Control, VHF Ch14, Tel. 01502 572286 (Option 3) if further information is required.
That is it.
1. FRANCE - North Coast - Current meters - Two new current meters mounted on tripod cages, one close inshore of Wissant (between Gris-Nez and Calais), the second, due north of the east Graveslines harbour pier. I have marked them as unlit yellow buoys but precisely how they appear are unknown to me! The meter off Wissant is perhaps so close to the shor that it is unlikely to be encountered by us BUT off Gravelines is likely to be encountered if approaching to entered from the direction of the east. Two images.
2. ENGLAND - East Coast - Depths. - Five adjustments of depths on the Black Deep DW channel between the Sunk Inner and the Black Deep No 2. The PLA constantly monitor depths there for the biggest container ships so the depth is never going to hinder us. Note that we need permission from the PLA to be in the Black Deep.
3. ENGLAND - East Coast - Drying heights. Depths. - A bit unusual: three reductions of depth/new drying heights. Two on the edge of Blacktail Spit (off Shoeburyness) between the South Shoebury SHB and the Blacktail Spit SHB and one drying height at the Deben Entrance. I notice the source is from the Environment Agency NOT from Trinity House. I suspect this might not be immediately recent and we should wait for the details from Trinity House which will be announced by East Coast Pilot as soon as they have the new chartlet. Note the image at the Deben will be out of date, it is merely used to show where the drying height is recorded.
4. ENGLAND - East Coast - Depths. - One very small reduction in the centre of the Gravesend Reach of the River Thames. Unlikely to hinder leisure craft.
Local
1. Woolwich Reach - Woolwich Ferry Grid - Maintenance - Commencing on or about Tuesday 11th February 2025, contractors on behalf of Transport for London, will commence works for the maintenance and repair of Woolwich Ferry Grid, inshore of the south terminal.
Works will last for approximately 8 weeks. The general location of the works is indicated by the red box on the chartlet ( see the Local List at Notices to Mariners Throughout the works, persons will be working on the foreshore over the low water period, with a safety boat in attendance. At times, lifting operations will be carried out by multicat Chilli Dog or similar, and requests for vessels to proceed with caution or pass at slow speed may be made by London VTS on VHF ch.14, in accordance with the Port of London Authority’s Port Information Guide, under ‘London VTS’, section 4. International Code Flags ‘Romeo Yankee (RY)’ will be displayed accordingly. All vessels involved in the works will be maintaining a listening watch on VHF channel 14. Further details may be broadcast by London VTS on VHF Channel 14.
2. Harwich Harbour - Additional Dredging and Survey Operations – Update 3 - Due to a slope failure (see local notice to mariners 14-2025: Surveyed Depths – Harwich Harbour – Update 2), additional dredging and survey work has been scheduled in the area between Felixstowe
Berth 9 and the Fort Buoy as follows:
➢ Smit Neyland (Callsign: VQGN5) – is carrying out survey operations until approx. 12 February 2025.
➢ Strandway (IMO: 9664457) – is undertaking trailing suction hopper dredging operations until around 12 February 2025.
➢ MTS Valour (IMO: 9407299) – is undertaking plough dredging until around 12 February 2025.
See also the following local notice to mariners regarding dredging activities: 03-2025: Dredging Operations – Cathy Anne. This notice replaces local notice to mariners No. 10-2025, which is now withdrawn. For more information contact Harwich VTS on VHF Channel 71.
3. Surveyed Depths – Harwich Harbour – Update 2 - the latest hydrographic surveys showing depths in Harwich Harbour. Noting that dredging operations are ongoing in the harbour at the time of publication. The controlling depth for deep draught vessels navigating within the harbour area should currently be taken as 15.0m below chart datum, plus height of tide. The minimum depths below chart datum (not including inside berth boxes) are:
• 15.0m - spot soundings between the Shotley Spit Buoy and Babergh Buoy
• 15.1m - spot soundings between the Grisle Buoy and Shotley Spit Buoy
• 14.6m - spot soundings between the Fort Buoy and Grisle Buoy
See survey chart extracts by going to the above quoted web page and download the PDF (Note this is the deep water areas. Contact Harwich VTS or Haven Pilots for further information regarding tidal windows. This notice replaces local notice to mariners No. 09 of 2024, which is now withdrawn.
4. Port of Sheerness Limited - Medway Tide Tables 2025 – Printing Error - within the published “Tide Tables for the River Medway and Thames Estuary” booklets has come to light. The sequence of day references for the month of May is incorrect, tide data relating to the corresponding date for May is, however, correct. A revised Pdf copy of the tide booklets has been published on the Peel Ports London Medway website and can be accessed via the following link.
https://www.peelports.com/media/ohlambtz/medway-tide-tables-2025.pdf
5. PORT OF GREAT YARMOUTH - O & M Construction works Spending Beach - as part of the construction works at the O&M base Berth 1, an excavator will be working on the Spending Beach from Friday 7th February. The work is expected not to take no more than 24 hours.
Due caution should be exercised when in transit past this location including observance to maintaining a safe distance and reducing speed. Mariners are reminded to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 12 whilst operating within the Port of Great Yarmouth and to advise ‘Yarmouth Radio’ of their intention to conduct any manoeuvre within the Port prior to doing so. For further information please contact Great Yarmouth LPS on VHF Channel 12 (callsign ‘Yarmouth Radio’) or 01493 335511.
6. Lowestoft Approaches – Stanford Channel Shoaling - following a Trinity House survey, an area of shoaling has been identified at the Southern end of the Stanford Channel.
The shoaling is associated with sand wave activity, and introduces a minimum depth of 3.6m below ACD in position 52 26’.565N 001 47’.310’E. This 3.6m depth should be considered as the controlling depth in the Stanford Channel, as it is orientated close to centre channel. The below chart extracts show the location of the 3.6m soundings. Mariners are requested to consider this information when passage planning and navigating in the Stanford Channel, to ensure that minimum Under Keel Clearance requirements are met.
Trinity House are scheduling another survey for this area in May 2025. Further information will be promulgated once data has been received. Please contact Lowestoft Port Control, VHF Ch14, Tel. 01502 572286 (Option 3) if further information is required.
That is it.