Staande Mast Route - planned closure in May

[Tradewinds]

A heads up.

Received via the CA just now.

. . . 'staande mast route' (mast up route) will be obstructed between 3 and 14 May because of maintenance at the railway bridge near Gouda. The bridge will during this time not be operated and the impact on the entire southern part of the 'route' (between Rotterdam and Alphen) is severe as there is no alternative. The maximum head clearance of the route via the Amsterdam - Rhine canal is 9m (according to the article I have read) so this is hardly an option. Of course there is major discontent in the Dutch sailing community about the timing of this maintenance as it is in a particularly busy time for north- and south bound yacht traffic (the May holidays fall in this period). So there are efforts in place to have the dates changed and I will post here when I read if/when these are successful.

For those of you who are able to read Dutch, here is the link to the article concerned: http://www.watersporters.nl/nieuws/2018/maart/stremming-staande-mastroute-bij-gouda...

 

[MoodySabre]

Thank you. I'm not planning to go that far north this year but you never know. I shall watch for updates.

 

[westhinder]

The article says there will be a hearing about this on the 29th of March.
The rail infrastructure company did not include this work in the regular consultation meetings with waterway users. That is a major omission in a country where overleg/consultation has been refined to an exquisite art form. I would be surprised if it remained as planned

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Is it not possible to deviate via the Ouder Maas and the Neuiue Maas. I did that route from the Haringfleet about 15 years ago to reach Rotterdam Boat Club moorings, but there may now be fixed bridges blocking the route.

 

[CCJ]

Is it not possible to deviate via the Ouder Maas and the Neuiue Maas. I did that route from the Haringfleet about 15 years ago to reach Rotterdam Boat Club moorings, but there may now be fixed bridges blocking the route.

Still well south of the Gouda rail bridge

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Still well south of the Gouda rail bridge

Then up the Nieue Maas via the Erasmus Bridge , Konnigshaven and turn North up the Hollandische. A long way round and a lot of traffic.

 

[CCJ]

Then up the Nieue Maas via the Erasmus Bridge , Konnigshaven and turn North up the Hollandische. A long way round and a lot of traffic.

To Krimpen ????

 

[johnalison]

I don't have my charts with me but there is a route from the North via Haarlem and Leyden, but I can't remember how it rejoins the main route and whether it avoids the proposed closure.

 

[CCJ]

I don't have my charts with me but there is a route from the North via Haarlem and Leyden, but I can't remember how it rejoins the main route and whether it avoids the proposed closure.

Via The Kaarg but to go south its Alpen & Gouda

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

To Krimpen ????

My mistake! Have got the Dordrecht and Gouda bridges mixed up! You’re correct; route is blocked unless you go to sea.

 

[Dan Tribe]

My mistake! Have got the Dordrecht and Gouda bridges mixed up! You’re correct; route is blocked unless you go to sea.

There was a similiar but unplanned event a couple of years ago when the Alphen bridge collapsed. I believe that convoys were arranged for yachts who wanted to go to sea via Ijmuiden to bypass the blockage.
Others had to wait.