Yarmouth Coastguard MRCC has closed (1st May 2013)

The coastguard station at Great Yarmouth has closed today, for ever. In future all the station’s work will be handled by Humber Coastguard as the primary station and Thames Coastguard at Walton-on-the Naze as the secondary station. The number of Coastguard rescue teams, lifeboats and helicopters will remain the same.
Emergency calls should still be made on 999 “Coastguard” and the call will be handled by whichever of the two stations is available. People who normally contact Great Yarmouth MRCC by phone and live south of Waxham, near Sea Palling, Norfolk, can continue to call on 01493 851338. People living north of Waxham should call 01262 672317, both lines connect with Humber Coastguard.
VHF calls will be dealt with by either Humber or Thames depending on the caller’s location. There is no change to the maritime safety broadcasts or frequencies or schedules.

Queenborough - Trot Boat Service for 2013 (1st May 2013)

The Queenborough Harbour Trust tells us that they have secured a regular trot boat service across weekends for the time being. The harbour will be manned Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Mondays from 08.00 to 10.00 and 16.00 to 22.00, with someone available to assist with enquires and provide a free trot boat service.

New Chartlets for the Deben and Ore Entrances (24th April 2013)

Today we are pleased to make available, for free download, new chartlets of the Deben and Ore river entrances. They are available from our Downloads page, via the top button in the right-hand column on most pages on this site.

These chartlets have been enabled by an agreement between Trinity House and Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, following the discontinuation of the East Coast Rivers website. The chartlets are based on the most recent Trinity House surveys, carried out in March 2013.

Lowestoft Honorary Port Pilot - situation vacant! (20th April 2013)

Sarah Hanna was one of ECP’s original HPP’s but has had to stand down. If you feel you are closely in touch with activities on the water at Lowestoft and close by, and are interested in picking up this unpaid and very undemanding job, do get in touch.

Lowestoft entrance - faulty lights (30th March 2013)

Mariners and Port Users are advised that the South Pier Lighthouse Oc.R.5s navigation light, in position: 52º 28.29’N, 001º 45.37’E, is  temporarily unlit.

Additionally, the Traffic Signal lights, adjacent to the South Pier Lighthouse above, are unreliable and some of the signal lights may be extinguished at times. Contact Lowestoft Port Control, (VHF Ch.14, Tel. 01502 572286), if further information is required.

Potton Bridge has reopened (7th March 2013)

Potton Bridge (between the River Roach and Havengore Bridge) has finally reopened today and is operating normally, following its prolonged closure for maintenance.

Reduced depths on Harwich Approach (Revised 18th February 2013)

Mariners are advised that a least depth of 3.2m exists on the Yacht Track between the Inner Ridge and Deane buoys in position 51°55’.23N 001°19’.58E. There was less than this as first reported but it has now been dredged, and will now trouble few leisure craft.

East Jetty at Lowestoft (15th January 2013)

The East Jetty light 2FG(vert) on the East Jetty in Lowestoft Harbour recently failed. It has now been replaced by a new light Fl.G.2.5s, installed for evaluation and possibly to become permanent.

Ada Point light changed (updated 24th Dec 2012)

The light on Ada Point, at the entrance to Bridgemarsh Marine on the Crouch, has changed - see our updates page for the Crouch. NtM changed on 24th Dec.

Hoo Marina ‘will close to visitors’ (28th November 2012)

The Medway’s Hoo Marina has been sold to the owner of Port Werburgh, the residential marina immediately next to it. We understand that Hoo Marina will no longer accept visitors, and that its name will disappear. We will bring you more details on this as and when they become clear.

‘Crebe’ Wreck off Mersea now raised (16th September 2012)

The wreck of the ex-naval pinnace ‘Crebe’ close to the Nass Beacon was raised yesterday by Trinity House who assumed ownership of it just a few days ago. The craft sank last Spring, the owner reportedly refusing to take responsibility for it.

Spaniard buoy to be discontinued (8th August 2012)

In a surprise move (well, a surprise to us anyway) the Spaniard light buoy off Whitstable is to be removed permanently on about 7th September. This is presumably in anticipation of the proposed extension S and W of the Kentish Flats windfarm.

Queenborough Moorings Available (8th August 2012)

If you have been thinking of a permanent mooring at Queenborough, the recently-formed Queenborough Harbour Trust has made available a small number of all-tide moorings at ‘generously discounted’ rates.
For further details contact the Harbour Master: 01795 662051 or 07778 804906.

Mind the Berm (Updated with a buoy change, 8th July 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 completed, has least depth of only 0.9m over it. At our instigation, the RYA took up the matter with Trinity House and London Array, and we understand that Trinity House told the developers that the area must be buoyed. This has now been implemented, using three yellow special marks, all Fl.Y(4)10s, at positions

51˚25’.53N 001º06’.32E, 51˚25’.00N 001˚06.40E, and 51˚25’.41N 001˚05.69E, plus an SCB, Q(6)+Lfl(15s) at 51˚24’.86N 001˚05’.77E. The new SCB will aid position-fixing in poor visibility and was suggested by an ECP reader, Tony Lavelle.

The first berm is between 51˚25’.20N 001˚05’.90E and 51˚25’.25N 001˚06’.17E, the second very close by. Two more berms will be built shortly, presumably within the buoyed area. The direct route between the Spile and Copperas buoys passes very close to the S of this area.

See the May issue of East Coast Sailing for a feature about this.

Deben Entrance reminder - from the Harbour Master (24th June 2012)

Ensure you maintain a direct line between the W.Knoll and Mid Knoll buoys. John White, Deben HM and ECP’s local Honorary Port Pilot, tells us that he’s had to tow several boats off the shallows to the west of the direct line recently, even losing his hat in the process on one occasion! Especially when entering on the flood, as you pass the West Knoll he advises choosing a transit on the shore behind the Mid Knoll, and keep them in line - a simple but effective and seamanlike precaution.

Faversham Town Quay - sluice advice (24th June 2012)

The sluice gates beneath the road bridge at the head of Faversham Creek are being opened near LW, to use the waters in the pool beyond to flush the gutway along the creek. These gates are very close to the old Town Quay, so be aware of this if you tie up there.

Hazard in the Colne (17th June 2012)

The unlit starboard hand beacon situated at Whitehouse Beach, in position

51° 50’.62N 000° 58’.90E has collapsed. The concrete base that remains in this position, covers towards high water and could be a hazard to small vessels navigating inside buoy 23.