Portsmouth Approaches

[richardbrennan]

Having had my first sail out of Portsmouth Harbour yesterday since the new buoyage has been put in place, I am eager to get a copy of Admiralty Chart 2625. According to QHM Notices to Mariners, a new version has just been published by UKHO detailing the changes to depths and navigation marks: has anybody sourced one yet in the Portsmouth/Gosport area, and if so, from where?

 

[Momac]

Google found this in seconds
http://www.bookharbour.com/admiralty-paper-charts/admiralty-chart-2625-approaches-to-portsmouth/

 

[richardbrennan]

Dear Martyn

Thanks for the link, I found that myself, but I am hoping to find a chandlery that has the chart in stock so that I can physically pick one up on my way down to the boat tomorrow.

 

[Giblets]

You could try giving YouBoat in Gosport a ring to see if they have one on stock.http://www.youboatmarine.com/

 

[Paddy Layback]

I would keep the 24 quid, if you are only concerned about the new aircraft carrier leading lights. They are very visible!

 

[Channel Sailor]

I have sailed through the area outside the harbour entrance a couple of times this year. In daylight there is no problem with the new yellow posts. But I was wondering what the lights would be be on them at night. I suppose those tall new posts are good if navigating from the bridge of an aircraft carrier, but I wondered what they would be like at night on a small boat. Either up close where the light would be high up above most of the other navigation lights (above mast head height) or from a distance where shore lights clutter the view.

Until some of us update our collection of electronic and paper charts, please can anyone tell us what the lights are on those 2 or 3 groups of three yellow posts around the entrance approaches?

 

[Topcat47]

Personally I'd hoped they would remove that lump on Hamilton Bank by the harbour entrance.

 

[Giblets]

Until some of us update our collection of electronic and paper charts, please can anyone tell us what the lights are on those 2 or 3 groups of three yellow posts around the entrance approaches?

The two groups of 3 piles to the east of Spit Sand Fort are Fl Y 5secs on each pile. These lights are sited half way up the piles not at the top. The new green pile off Southsea is Fl G 5secs. The new piles within the harbour are also Fl Y 5 secs. All 13 piles have the flashing sequence synchronized.

(Says he reading off a new updated copy of Chart 2625! )

 

[richardbrennan]

Hi Giblets

Did you order the chart on line or buy it locally, and if the latter, could you tell me where?

Richard

 

[Giblets]

Hi Giblets

Did you order the chart on line or buy it locally, and if the latter, could you tell me where?

Richard

It was supplied by the Admiralty for use in the Gosport NCI look-out tower.

 

[LadyInBed]

Any help?

From: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/portsmouth/leisure
and
From: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/portsmouth/local-notices/navigational-warnings/2017/1726

Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth

NAVWARN NO 26/17

NEW PORTSMOUTH APPROACH CHANNEL CHANGES – FINAL UPDATE

1.Following UKHO’s publication of updated Chart 2625, Approaches to Portsmouth, which reflects the widened and re-orientated channel, work to adjust the navigation buoys and port entry lights to reflect the changes is now complete. The channel lateral marks, including the newly introduced Spit Elbow Buoy (Port Lateral Mark) are all on the edge of the new 9.5 metre maintained channel, with positions and characteristics as follows.

Ridge BuoyRemoved
Spit Refuge 50 46.206N001 05.677W Fl 3 R 7.5s
2 Bar 50 46.661N001 06.154W Fl 2 R 5s
4 Bar 50 46.977N001 06.486W Q R
Spit Elbow 50 45.817N001 05.555W Fl 4 R 10.s
Outer Spit Buoy50 45.442N001 05.455W Q 6 + L Fl 15s
Saddle 50 45.103N001 04.953W VQ G
Horse Sand 50 45.623N001 05.123W Fl G 2.5s
Boyne 50 46.041N001 05.259W Fl 4 G 10s
Castle 50 46.460N001 05.396W Fl 3 G 7.5s
1 Bar 50 46.772N001 05.809W Fl 2 G 5s
3 Bar 50 47.082N001 06.232WQ G

2.The following port entry lights are now in operation.

Castle Pile Directional Light - Orientated around 348.5 degree transit with the Naval War Memorial – Characteristics in accordance with new Chart 2625

Fort Blockhouse Directional Light – Adjusted to orientate around 323 degrees – Characteristics in accordance with new Chart 2625

3.Southsea Castle Directional and Isophase lights have now been permanently extinguished in accordance with QHM Portsmouth NAVWARN 25/17.

4.This final update replaces the daily updates and will remain in force for 3 months.

5.The following Portsmouth NAVWARNs remain in force: 25/17, 21/17, 65/16, 55/16, 29/16, 17/16, 83/15, 27/14, 57/12, 52/11, 40/11, 45/10, 78/05 & 10/04.

6.Cancel NAVWARN’s 23/17 & 24/17.

7.Cancel this NAVWARN 8 Jun 17.

 

[Daedelus]

I read somewhere that they had dredged the Hamilton bank, anyone confirm this?

 

[npf1]

Might be worth looking here: https://webapp.navionics.com

 

[Hadenough]

Not a problem for me. Went there once, never going back.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I read somewhere that they had dredged the Hamilton bank, anyone confirm this?

The channel has been extended West so its gone.

 

[richardbrennan]

Thanks to all for your input.

I also downloaded the latest Navionics update and it does not tie up with the QHM Notice to Mariners. As you will note, the Notice to Mariners starts with the Ridge buoy being removed, but quite clearly it is still shown on the Navionics Chart opposite the Castle Buoy; I am assuming that this kink in the channel was one of the problems for the new carriers. I'll try You Boat and Arthur's Chandlery tomorrow to see if they have the new chart. I can confirm that at the very least the eastern edge of the Hamilton Bank has been removed, the main channel along the Southsea shore is now much wider and encompasses what used to be the old small boat channel.

 

[prv]

I suppose those tall new posts are good if navigating from the bridge of an aircraft carrier, but I wondered what they would be like at night on a small boat. Either up close where the light would be high up above most of the other navigation lights (above mast head height) or from a distance where shore lights clutter the view.

The main lights on top are only going to be lit when a carrier is actually coming or going - when you in a small boat are probably best not there.

The lights to prevent you crashing into the things are the yellow ones that Giblets describes, at a more appropriate height.

Pete

 

[richardbrennan]

I now have a copy of the new 2625 Admiralty Chart. It's a bit difficult to go into great detail, but I can report that the Hamilton Bank is still there including the small drying patch just south of the harbour entrance. However the Eastern side of the bank has been cut back considerably enabling a much wider main channel. The small boat channel still runs from from 4 Bar to the Ballast Pile and it looks rather narrower than previous. The sets of three yellow piles are shown with a note saying they are they are for military use and not intended for general port users. Obviously the various buoys have been repositioned to reflect the wider channel, and in one case removed. The minimum depth in the Outer Swashway would appear to be about 2.5 above chart datum.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[prv]

I now have a copy of the new 2625 Admiralty Chart. It's a bit difficult to go into great detail, but I can report that the Hamilton Bank is still there including the small drying patch just south of the harbour entrance. However the Eastern side of the bank has been cut back considerably enabling a much wider main channel.

Does it match the Imray block correction here: https://www.imray.com/files/chart_corrections/IC2200.5-5N.pdf ?

Pete

 

[Giblets]

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/QHM/Portsmouth/Local-Notices/LNTM/2017/1722-PORTSMOUTH-SMALL-BOAT-CHANNEL-RE-ORIENTATED