Thanet windfarm

[Woodlouse]

Does anyone know if there are any special rules and regulations that govern yachts and other vessels on passage through the area? My understanding of windfarms and the advice given by the almanac as recommended by the MCA is that whilst it's not recommended to sail through them there is no law forbidding you to do so provided you have weighed up the situation and considered the risks.

However, a brief chat with one of the Guard boats the other day would suggest that you're not allowed within a mile. A brief search for notices to mariners on the subject as turned up nothing.

 

[Adonnante]

Try....http://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/RYAtalkswindfarmswithYachtingMonthly.aspx

 

[Yeoman of England]

Thanet Wind Farm

Good Afternoon

I work at Thames CG.
The advice given is to call up the relevant guard vessel. This is because there is still ongoing construction work. Normally this entails a 500m exclusion zone due to anchorage etc. around the concerned vessel.

Also we have found that since the construction of these farms that depths are changing dramatically.

Advice: update your charts, listen to broadcasts and surf the various websites for updated windfarm information.

I hope this helps

Regards

 

[halcyon]

Also we have found that since the construction of these farms that depths are changing dramatically.

Which way, deeper or shallower ?

Brian

 

[Woodlouse]

Good Afternoon

I work at Thames CG.
The advice given is to call up the relevant guard vessel. This is because there is still ongoing construction work. Normally this entails a 500m exclusion zone due to anchorage etc. around the concerned vessel.

Also we have found that since the construction of these farms that depths are changing dramatically.

Advice: update your charts, listen to broadcasts and surf the various websites for updated windfarm information.

I hope this helps

Regards

It does. It means the prat on the guard boat was wrong to be telling me that I wasn't allowed within a mile of the wind farm. Wish I'd got his name really.

 

[Yeoman of England]

Thanet

Hello

Due to the pilings and the force of the tides etc I think that you will find
that depths will decrease.

This is certainly the case with the Gunfleet. However I am not an expert.
But from reports from local fishermen it would seem to be the case.

Hope this helps

 

[Yeoman of England]

Thanet

Woodlouse

The guard vessel for Thanet is Bianca.
The guard vessel for London Array is Marianne One.

Call either vsl on Ch16. They are very helpful.

All other windfarm guard vessels regularly bx on Ch16 regarding cable laying etc with the option to call them on the VHF ch they bx.

Hope this helps

 

[ParaHandy]

Due to the pilings and the force of the tides etc I think that you will find that depths will decrease.

Do you not mean that depths will increase ie the scouring effect? Otherwise, the anti-scouring rocks placed around the piles are helping to accumulate the shifting sea bed into a bank. The sea bed shifts southwards down that coast which is why France is "higher".

Whichever is right (or any other reason), this wasn't meant to happen.

 

[Vara]

Do you not mean that depths will increase ie the scouring effect? Otherwise, the anti-scouring rocks placed around the piles are helping to accumulate the shifting sea bed into a bank. The sea bed shifts southwards down that coast which is why France is "higher".

Whichever is right (or any other reason), this wasn't meant to happen.

Littoral history is littered with the unexpected consequences of fiddling with our sea beds, science is not quite up to resolving all the variables involved.

Hallsands being one example.