Rochester Pier.

[oldgit]

As many will be aware, the brow and the supporting stucture of the public pier above Rochester Bridge , had collapsed into the river basically through lack of maintenance.
The usual argument about who was responsible for its upkeep ensued ie. Peel Ports or the local authoritiies.
Its presumed that this has now been settled as Medway Council has allocated money for the recovery and removal of the wreckage.
A small work boat was recently spotted in amonst the tangled mess of seaweed and steel .
Enquiries indicated that a survey of the area is now being undertaken to gauge whats going to be needed to recover and remove whats left of the pier.
Unless somebody knows different no indication anywhere of any money alocated to actually repair the damaged parts of the pier.
The pier , immediately below the castle, was used by tripboats to promote sight seeing tours along with the odd charter fishingboat and folks waiting for the tide before going on up to Allington lock.
It was also used by the PS Kingswear Castle when she was based down this way.

 

[Concerto]

Glad to hear that the pier is going to stop looking like an eyesore and get repaired. The return of trip boats will benefit visitors and locals being able to see the area from the water and useful for boats awaiting the tide. It has been a few years since I passed under Rochester Bridge, but I have never used the pier.

 

[Bouba]

I’m going to Rochester in a couple of months....I’ll keep a look out....thanks for the info

 

[Concerto]

I’m going to Rochester in a couple of months....I’ll keep a look out....thanks for the info

Bouba, Rochester Pier is alongside Rochester Castle on the up stream side of Rochester Bridge, just in case you cannot find it. The only public pier down stream of Rochester Bridge is Sun Pier, which currently also has some major problems and IIRC is not recommended for mooring to.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Many years ago I oft moored up , tempoarily , to Rochester Pier : If taking Family /Friends for a trip afloat , it was a good Landing Pier to pick up or drop off passengers : plenty of Car parking available nearby ;

Pity to read that its fallen into disrepair : Just do hope that it will be reinstated , the River Medway does not have many Public Piers at all

 

[oldgit]

A little update.
There is now the most enormous floating heavy lift crane moored the "wrong" side of Rochester Bridge.
It may just be coincidence, doubt there is sufficent air draft at bridge to get that monster crane through.
On low springs, barely only around a metre or two of water in that middle arch , as a few incautious motor boaters , including some locals who should have known better, discovered.

 

[Leighb]

A little update.
There is now the most enormous floating heavy lift crane moored the "wrong" side of Rochester Bridge.
It may just be coincidence, doubt there is sufficent air draft at bridge to get that monster crane through.
On low springs, barely only around a metre or two of water in that middle arch , as a few incautious motor boaters , including some locals who should have known better, discovered.

I can remember on our one visit to the very hospitable RCC being surprised by the depth alarm sounding whilst passing through.

 

[Misterbreeze]

From memory (30 odd years) isn't there more depth under the RH arch when going upstream ie Strood side?

 

[oldgit]

Yes .........always use the Strood arch. The deep water is not right in the middle but slightly closer to the eastern side of the arch.
Should be enough to get most boats through, even on really low springs .
Need to then avoid the remains of the old Rochester Bridge.
Section of Chart from PeelPorts Website.



Presume crane is to lift this ?
file:///C:/Users/admin/Downloads/ntom-no-09-of-2023-rochester-bridge-reach-submerged-wreck.pdf

 

[oldgit]

I’m going to Rochester in a couple of months....I’ll keep a look out....thanks for the info

If your coming by boat, MDL Chatham would be my choice.

 

[Bouba]

If your coming by boat, MDL Chatham would be my choice.

Unfortunately I will be travelling by car…I know Rochester quite well…unless it changed in the last twenty years