Mind the Berm (UPDATED 21st Feb 2012)

Where the London Array cables cross the Kentish Flats cables north of Herne Bay, they are being laid on the sea bed instead of being ploughed in. The section of cable on the surface is then protected by a rock berm, or bank, which in the case of the first one that has been completed, has least depth of only 0.9m over it. We find this very alarming and have alerted the RYA to our concerns. They have taken up the matter with Trinity House and London Array.

The first berm is between 51˚ 25’.20N 001˚ 05’.90E and 51˚ 25’.25N 001˚ 06’.17E.

 

East Last and Hook Spit have gone (18th Feb 2012)

As you may have read here last November, the notorious swatchway off Reculver, guarded by the East Last and Hook Spit buoys, will no longer be marked. Instead, the buoys have now been renamed (‘Reculver’ and ‘Copperas’) and re-deployed to mark a route further south, through the Copperas Channel.

The change was made last week following a Trinity House consultation, which we supported and are pleased that many others evidently did too.

A new Imray chartlet showing the new buoyage is on our Downloads page, together with a revised rolling road diagram. Revised text for ECP’s North Kent Coast chapter, where the rolling road is used, is available from the Updates page.

As leisure sailors we are fortunate that some small commercial shipping does still pass this way, meriting continued Trinity House buoyage.  

 

East Swale Cable Laying (updated 18th Feb 2012)

Also see details below dated 29th Nov 2011.

The cable ship ‘Stemat Spirit’ is still in the East Swale. Work to bring the second London Array export cable ashore is complete, and the ship will begin to lay the remaining 50-odd km of cable towards the windfarm site. Skippers should take due care if passing through the area. The Ham Gat and Pollard Spit buoys may be absent for a short while.

 

Bradwell Baffle Wall (updated 10th February 2012)

Work is underway to remove the ‘baffle wall’ that has long been a feature in the Blackwater Estuary off Bradwell Power Station.  The work was scheduled to be finished in February but will overrun into March. The working area is marked with buoys, and vessels engaged in the operation are lit at night.

 

Dangerous Obstruction by the Nass Beacon (Updated 20th Dec 2011)

An ex-naval pinnace has sunk close N of the Nass Beacon, close to the middle of the deep-water channel, position 51deg 45’.876N 000deg 54’.855E.

WMYC advises that the wreck may reduce the depth by as much as 5m.

Diagram shows approximate position based on information given. Wreck now marked by temporary lit Wreck buoy.

 

 

Thames Marina Berths for the Olympics (9th Dec 2011)

We have mentioned before that it will be essential to berth marina berths in London early if you plan to be there during the Olympics. The PLA have now reinforced this, saying they will be requesting details of boats booking berths at marinas and moorings within the Port area, and issuing the skippers with an identification which will need to be displayed. Security in the Thames will be tight during this period, and boats not displaying the identification will certainly be subject to scrutiny by the PLA and/or the police, and if found not to hold a booking, they will be turned away. You have been warned!

 

Lawling Creek to be buoyed (29th Nov 2011)

Nigel Harmer, River Bailiff for the Blackwater and our local Honorary Port Pilot, has announced that Lawling Creek is to be marked by a series of lit buoys. The work is scheduled for completion by the end of January, and as with the Copperas Channel changes, we will provide updated text and a new Imray chartlet at that time.

 

East Swale Cable-Laying   (updated 29th Nov 2011)

We previously reported that we were involved in local talks with the developers of the London Array windfarm regarding proposed cable-laying in the East Swale. The developers will be installing four heavy cables N’wards from the shore, across the mudflats to the deep water near the Sand End buoy, from there NE’wards along the channel towards the open sea, then onwards to the windfarm site, a total distance of 55km. The navigation will be impeded during each operation, but guard-boats should be able to see you through safely avoiding the numerous heavy anchor chains that will be deployed. The first of the four cables is now laid, we will keep you informed about the dates for the other three. (See above dated 29 Jan 2012)

 

Latest Edition of East Coast Pilot

The latest ‘East Coast Pilot’, the 3rd Edition, was published in April 2011, three years after its predecessor. It is a fully revised and expanded edition with 20 more pages - 13% more detail, photos and chartlets.

It was researched in a hectic summer’s cruising in 2010 when the three of us ‘went everywhere and checked everything’, and with the help and flexibility of the wonderful crew at our publishers, Imray, it even had changes added after it had gone to the printers in March.

With our own ongoing efforts and the invaluable help of our band of Honorary Port Pilots, we are totally confident that ECP retains its position as the most accurate, up-to-date and detailed pilot guide for the East Coast.