ships wash

[Sniper]

Anyone on the Orwell at about 1300 last Sunday? Ship came up river to Ipswich and pulled the biggest wash I've ever witnessed in 30 odd years on the river - made the tugs wash look like ripples. No doubt there were all sorts of good reasons why it had to go that fast through moorings, but it certainly threw us around. Just glad I wasn't going ashore in the tender at the time. The barge 'Thistle' was going downstream and she pitched her way through it throwing a cloud of spray right over her decks. Anyway, no harm done but it certainly livened up the day!

 

[mhouse]

This is one good things with AIS, when you are bored. try it with the kids "Guess the speed" Earlier on this year we were watching a coaster past woolverstone at 9.5 knots. but with very little wash thank god.

 

[Marmalade]

I was anchored at Pin Mill in the spring playing with the radar. I heard a ship leaving Ipswich on Ch68 so tracked it at 8knts down the river - but the speed limit is 6knts. Who polices it? If a tender gets swamped or someone making the tea is scalded then it's no joke...

 

[Pye_End]

Without knowing the ship in question did he have steerage at 6kn?

 

[davidfox]

One of the reasons I left Woolverstone, my boat was getting trashed on the outside of F and they wouldnt move me inside

 

[Habebty]

Now I know where you are all coming from on the subject of ship wash on the Orwell, but we all know that ships are difficult to control in a confined waterway especially when running with the tide and trying to maintain steerage etc.etc. and my attitude is, so what, I'm on a boat it will rock because its on water. I honestly don't think we can expect things to be otherwise. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gifIf you are cooking or making a hot drink, take the same precautions you would if you where at sea. If you are up the mast, find somewhere sheltered first, If you want to pee over the side, hold on!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
And another thing.....before we all start moaning at ships pilots on the river, why not have a look round at all the twonks who go for that last minute dash in front of a ship, or hog the main channel rather than leaving a bit of sea room for a vessel restricted in it's ability to manoeuvre. or don't spot one coming up behind them. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Personally I like a bit of movement, reminds me I'm on a boat. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
What is an issue, I agree, are the idiots both sail and mobo who don't slow down for tenders, or the gold jewellery idiots in ribs and ski boats who treat the Orwell as their personal drag strip - very dangerous. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Worst case I saw Saturday was the "Ocean Reward" MFV heading downriver at about 7-8 knots throwing up a huge wash now that was avoidable.

 

[Athene V30]

Lost my rubbing strake at Wolverstone too when dear MDL launched my previous boat (21 foot) and put it one berth in from the outside when there were plenty of MT berths. Been even safer if they had put her out on her mooring, but then they would have had to operate the launch to take me out to the boat! Marina didn't even know it had happened when I told them. Thank goodness I was leaving. Much happier at Brightlingsea.