There don't seem to be many ships going to Thames Gateway each day (BBC said 2 extra from Felixstowe per week) and they seem to work to a timetable so shoudn't be too difficult to plan to cross Black deep in a gap and confirm by radio. Have Thames VTS indicated how big a no-go zone they would like around a ship - presumably need to allow a fair distance ahead but can wait if it is near then pass behind once it has gone
No I don't think they a defined no-go zone but I don't know. There can be different situations. A Panamax at full bore could be easy; heave to and await for permission to cross behind. At full bore, it wouldn't be long to wait. But on one occasion we saw a large ship (not a container) that crept along towards the Knock John waiting for an outbound to clear from the Knock John. Defining a 'fair distance ahead' is not easy. Remember last year a yacht was dismasted in the Black Deep.
