Thames estuary - Daft questions.

[snowbird30ds]

I'm hoping to cross the thames estuary next week for the first time, can anyone enlighten me as to the channels to monitor for VTS (and which areas is best to listen to sunk or london), we are aiming to cross from shotley to ramsgate via foulgers gat and back to bradwell via fishermans gat as long as weather is ok.
I assume this is all covered by Dover CG.
Planning to run at around 16kt.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

I'm sure there must be more complicated answers, but we just listen to 16

 

[ex-Gladys]

We don't listen to VTS until we get into the Medway, or up to around about Mucking Reach if bound up the Thames... an AIS receiver makes life a lot easier

 

[tillergirl]

Ch 69 for London VTS in the Estuary. Ships will call in at their reporting points whether coming in or out. London VTS broadcasts tidal heights fifteen minutes before the hour and 15 after giving the tidal heights at Walton, Margate, Shivering Sands and Southend. The tidal height at SW Sunk can be considered the tide height as the same as Margate.

 

[Tomahawk]

It matters not what you listen to. There eill be no shipping anywhere until yoi come to ctoss one of the deep water channels. Whence upon...... A ship will appear at exactly the same place as you are. As they are constrained by draft. You have no choice but to give way.

 

[nigelm]

Normally start off with good intentions and listening on 16 , then all the radio checks start - yawn - then it turned off .......

 

[snowbird30ds]

Thanks guys, I'll probably dual watch 16 & 69 till I get bored then, I usually like to monitor a port channel when in close proximity just to have an idea of whats likely to move, I have AIS on the chart plotter so no problems there.