River Crouch Buoyage

[windinoursails]

If anyone is using Navionics charts which have recently been updated, please be aware that they (Navionics) have removed the Buxey No 1, Buxey No 2 and Sunken Buxey buoys. However, these buoys are still very much in existence. Navionics have informed me that they have removed them due to recent Notices to Mariners!

 

[tillergirl]

I monitor Notices to Mariners for the East Coast (see here if you are interested: http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html and can tell you categorically that in one sense they are right! and another completely wrong!

The tale is this - forgive me if this gets a bit anoraky - In July, 2011, the Couch Buoyage was completely revised and improved so that ships bringing spoil for the Wallesea project did not need expensive pilotage. That did involve the change of the Buxey Nos 1 and 2 and Sunken Buxey. It is only in Week 2 of this year that the UKHO got round to correcting their full size chart 1183 and as you can see if you read the actual notice on my page 9, they decided because of the scale of the chart to replace the former detail of the old buoyage with a caption saying Whitaker Channel (Buoyed - see Note). So Navionics are correct in saying it was removed but there should at the least be a caption saying that there is buoyage. If you go into more detailed scaled UKHO charts, the full revised buoyage is there - for example chart 3750 which was revised on 14th July, 2011.

I don't have a chart plotter (I know, bizarre init) but I assume you can zoom in on your Navionic chart? And when you do that you should see the revised buoyage. If you are not, Navionics are clearly only taking their data from the UKHO chart 1183 which is insufficient for leisure users - and in my view you should tell them so!

In the meantime, you can all get an image of the current Crouch Buoyage at http://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page6.html entirely free!!! You can either download my image (called the CTTE download) or the Crouch Harbour Authority one. Or even go mad and do both. There are also some useful charts for those intending Estuary crossings.

I regret that my NtM service only goes up the Thames to Tower Bridge.

 

[baldyash]

Just completed update on the l/top & I can concur with wininoursails. Don't think I'll transfer this to my plotter ! Naughty Navionics!

 

[windinoursails]

Thanks Tillergirl. I have since been in touch with UKHO who have stated the same thing. My plotter does zoom down to greater levels of detail but still no buoys. I am awaiting further response from Navionics having informed them of the UKHO response.

 

[tillergirl]

Thanks Tillergirl. I have since been in touch with UKHO who have stated the same thing. My plotter does zoom down to greater levels of detail but still no buoys. I am awaiting further response from Navionics having informed them of the UKHO response.

In fairness to Navionics, UKHO have rather pulled the rug so to speak. Navionics are clearly basing their chart of the area on UKHO 1183 and that would have been fine in the past as it did show the crouch buoyage. However, they obviously made a policy decision that the scale was wrong for that detail and so went for the 'note about the buoyage' approach. Someone would have to be sharp in Navionics to realise the need to base their chart of this part of the Estuary on a different chart.

Can we do a test? If you go to 51.37.42N 001.15.80E (by the SW Sunk) do you see a charted depth of 3.7m or a warning of 'Less water reported'.

 

[windinoursails]

I see the warning 'Less water reported'.

 

[tillergirl]

That's good then. Navionics have picked up that amendment. It dries there about a foot now!

 

[windinoursails]

Thanks for your help. If I get any further feedback from Navionics, I'll post it.

 

[FullCircle]

By the way, welcome to the forum windinoursails.
Whilst this forum says Thames, it is generally the non tidal bit, and the inland waterways. And very nice people they all are too, but....
If you scroll down the YBW menu page, you will find the East Coast Meeting Forum, which generally is the font of all east cost info.

We are a very social lot, we have our next meeting in Bradwell on27th April, the Fitting Up Supper. But there are load of things going on all the time.

 

[tillergirl]

Yes, should have said that, shouldn't I. Forgive me 'windinyoursails'

 

[windinoursails]

Sorry about that. I assumed Thames included the estuary. Will know in future.

 

[byron]

Sorry about that. I assumed Thames included the estuary. Will know in future.

As far as I am concerned it does.