Queenborough…

[xyachtdave]

I’ve long been a defender of Queenborough on these forums but this afternoon I’ve given up on the place.

From the moment we arrived the harbour was plagued by various eBay special speed boats, then the local charter fishing boat with an enormous wash roars in at speed completely unnecessarily making stand up surfing a possibility, then repeats another full power manoeuvre to move the boat about 15 metres and the icing on the cake…as the tide comes up the jet skis launched.

Obviously going somewhere on a jet ski is no fun, much better to put on display through the moored boats, all afternoon.

We went ashore for a walk, hoping they’d have packed in for the day by the time we get back.

The first thing that greets you at the top of the pontoon is an over flowing bin, then the smell of people smoking weed and nearer the Old House at Home the jet ski mob openly doing balloons of nitrous oxide in front of kids etc and being as loud and as obnoxious as possible.

We did try to speak to one of the jet ski pilots, he knew he was being a prick and refused to come over to the boat to speak. Medway VTS logged it when we called but won’t do anything and the poor kid running the show at the harbour tonight has no powers to enforce any harbour bylaws even if he had some help.

There was a Dutch boat in, you could guess what they were thinking about the place from their expressions.

We got back on our boat and left straight away.

A great days sailing, we caught some of the barge match, now peacefully anchored in Stangate Creek, the visit to the lawless wasteland was both a waste of time and £17 for the mooring.

 

[Cantata]

Sad to read this. I really thought that sort of stuff was all in the past. I go there 2-3 times a year - in fact I came past there today - and clearly have missed any such goings on. Think you ought to send your thoughts to the harbour trust, Dave.

 

[oldgit]

The subject of wayward PWCs did come up at recent Peel Ports leisure group meeting.
There is precious little that the Port authority can do either via the law or having any plant to do anything about them.
Recently miscreants were approached at the Strand by a rib on behalf of Peel Ports. The crew met with verbal abuse and threats of worse.
Police were contacted but failed to show up.
What also came up was the sheer number of yachts going inside the gas terminal exclusion zone and not single one hailed appeared to have radio monitoring Ch 74 or apparently any other channel.
One yacht was tracked down moored in Stangate and issued with warning letter.
At some point somebody is going to be made an example of.
Please report problems with PWCs to Peel Ports, something may get done about it.
Assume everyone knows about this by now.

Rochester Pier collapse

 

[UK-WOOZY]

went to stangate from chatham marina on sat, saw the group of jetskis larking about and also motorboats not sticking to the 6 knot limit

 

[Malish]

What also came up was the sheer number of yachts going inside the gas terminal exclusion zone and not single one hailed appeared to have radio monitoring Ch 74 or apparently any other channel.
One yacht was tracked down moored in Stangate and issued with warning letter.
At some point somebody is going to be made an example of.

Been a while since I have sailed on the Medway, is there any buoyage defining the exclusion zone these days? Appreciate it is probably difficult to locate due to the physical constraints of the location but it would give sailors something to aim (or not) at.

 

[tillergirl]

No. 02 – 2022
RIVER MEDWAY– SALTPAN REACH
Isle of Grain LNG Terminal,
Jetties No. 8 & 10 Exclusion Zones
(General Directions for Navigation)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all mariners are to observe the exclusion zones in relation to the Isle of Grain LNG Terminal Jetties Nos.8 & 10 in Saltpan Reach. Mariners are also to note that any unauthorised infringement of the LNG Exclusion Zones may result in prosecution.
Berth Exclusion Zone Regulations:
1. When there is no LNG vessel berthed at the LNG Terminal no vessel (including pleasure vessels, PWC’s, fishing boats etc.) shall navigate within that part of the River Medway which is within an arc measuring 150 metres in any direction from the cargo transfer arms at the LNG Terminals. The cargo transfer arms are located at the following approximate position:
Terminal No.10 51° 25.9405’N 00° 42.5448’E
Terminal No.8 51° 25.9309’N 00° 42.1760’E
2. When there is an LNG vessel moored at the LNG Terminal no vessel (including pleasure vessels, PWC’s, fishing boats etc.) other than those attending the LNG terminal which are authorised by the Harbour Master or the operator of the LNG Terminal, shall enter any part of the River Medway which is within an arc measuring 250 metres (berth exclusion zone) in any direction from the cargo transfer arms of the LNG Terminal.
3. When there is an LNG vessel moored at the LNG terminal, the speed of all passing vessels navigating outside of the berth exclusion zone should not exceed 7.5 knots through the water whilst transiting.
4. When there is an LNG vessel moored at the LNG terminal a guard tug is employed to ensure compliance with exclusion zone requirements. The tug is normally moored on Saltpan No.8 buoy where it monitors vessel movements in relation to the LNG terminal. LNG terminal requirements state that when a vessel of 130m LOA or above is transiting the guard tug will move out and hold position on the 250m zone perimeter until the ship has passed clear. The guard tug will also take up this position if an incursion looks imminent and it can respond quick enough to prevent a vessel entering the area. All LNG exclusion zone infringements are reported to Peel Ports who will instigate follow-up proceedings with craft owners and operators.

Admiralty, Imray and Navionics (others may as well) (paper or electronic) mark the exclusion zone.

 

[Malish]

Thanks, point 4 it is then, where is Saltpan No8? it is not apparent on your attachment.

 

[xyachtdave]

Thanks, point 4 it is then, where is Saltpan No8? it is not apparent on your attachment.

I think just visible on bottom right hand corner, it’s the east side of entrance to Stangate Creek.

There was a racing mark Blackstakes a little further along the same sure, left to port out and starboard on way home to keep the fleet away.

Happy to be corrected but I believe Peel Ports didn’t believe it was worth the expense maintaining it?

 

[tillergirl]

'My attachment' is in fact the official chart extract used by Peel Port Local Notices to Mariners. Using an Imray chart is perhaps clearer. Navionics doesn't bother to number the ship's buoy but then they would think it is just 'a' mooring buoy

 

[Malish]

Thanks, love to know how they are accurately measuring 250m from the far sider of the river. If there is no AIS in play is Peel Ports radar that good?, a pedant who receives a ticket (and has the funding) might be inclined to test their evidence.

Although personally... the further away from those tankers I am the happier I feel (not that it would make much difference were there a leak)

 

[tillergirl]

Although personally... the further away from those tankers I am the happier I feel (not that it would make much difference were there a leak)

Me too.

 

[oldgit]

Reports the guard tug did attempt to contact the yachts concerned with no success.
Motorboats will usually have their radio on to Ch 74 before leaving the berth.
Perhaps this is simply due to the radio being right by the helm on a Mobo , to hand when under way and not much else to do but point the boat afterwards.
Whereas on a yacht it is mounted out of the way and rather lot else going on most of the time.
When boating in company motorboats can be frequently heard communicating ,( not always strictly for safety purposes ) whereas yachts appear to maintain radio silence for the most part.
Having said that, an aquaintance who had recently purchased his first boat did casually inquire of me as to why Peel Ports had been calling him as he went past the gas terminal.
Did explain gently the situation. He had no idea at all about the exclusion zone.

 

[Malish]

Many yachts prefer the sound of wind and water, I suspect many leave the radio on 16

 

[Juan Twothree]

Many yachts prefer the sound of wind and water, I suspect many leave the radio on 16

So wind, water and endless radio checks

 

[Malish]

difficult to establish the provenance of radio checks, imho

 

[LONG_KEELER]

National Coast Watch are happy to give a radio check on channel 65. Probably only between 1000hrs and 1600hrs. If you do, tell them what a good job they are doing.

Whitstable and Felixstowe for us mainly. Nice webcams too.

Whoops........... There's loads more now :-

Caister, Gorleston, Felixstowe, Canvey, Southend, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Folkestone.