Take care around the Swale

Buoyage changes

I must admit this caused me a little confusion but they were listed in a NTM in February,if only just carried out.
 
I think they did move them in February and then put them back, so this is a repeat to give the Stemat Spirit, the cable laying ship room to lay the cable using the anchors at each corner to haul herself along. Trouble is there is never a NtM precisely cancelling the temp moves. So the TH notice says for a period of 14 approx.
 
The Swale was as good as blocked over the weekend. I had planned to sail round there, but was put off by the blustery conditions on Saturday, so went to our holiday home at the eastern end of Sheppey instead. The cable ship was at Shellness on Saturday morning and ended up at about Ham Gat by yesterday afternoon. The anchor buoys appeared to be spread across the complete width of the Swale. Fortunately being another windy weekend there weren't many boats passing, any that did come were escorted down the Eastern side. They seemed so far over there couldn't have been a lot of water and there is some nasty unmarked drying wreckage over there. Sailing in wouldn't have been an option this weekend. Hope fully in another few days it should be clear of the narrow channel and extending the size of the rock berm off Herne bay!
 
The cable laying ship seems to be clear of the Swale this lunch time.

I shall be having a bleat to the London Array later tonight if their notice service does not start again. Seems to have gone to rachet in the last two weeks.
 
East Swale buoyage and cable-laying

This is all very confusing but thanks to Roger for alerting us.

My club's longest race of the year ends on the East Swale on 14 July, with a night at Harty. Who do we phone to check the status of buoyage and accessibility of the East Swale: a) PLA b) TH c) LA?

Tony
 
I'd be pretty sure they will be still burying cable in the E.Swale then even though the cable ship is well clear. As such they may well insist on 'escorting' boats past the work, not good in a race! If you want to ask anyone about the buoys and the activity, probably LA at their Ramsgate base would be best.
Could suggest you end your race further out e.g. between the Whitstable Street and the Columbine?
 
Swale approaches

Evening All
Following NtM was received here at Thames on 5 July from LA to enabvle us to update our nav warnings:


APPROACHES TO THE SWALE - THE FOLLOWING BUOYS HAVE BEEN RELAID IN THE ASSIGNED POSITIONS

1. WHITSTABLE STREET LIGHTED BUOY 51° 24' N 001° 01.540'E

2. COLUMBINE LIGHTED BUOY 51° 24.263'N 001° 01.348'E

3. COLUMBINE SPIT LIGHTED BUOY 51° 23.863'N 001° 00.028'E

4. HAM GAT LIGHTED BUOY 51° 23.083N 000° 58.318'E

5. POLLARD SPIT LIGHTED BUOY 51° 22.983'N 000° 58.568'E

Hope this helps

Regards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

T
Notices to Mariners - Week 52
Replies
0
Views
314
tillergirl
T
T
Notices to Mariners - Week 50
Replies
2
Views
722
tillergirl
T

Share this page

Top