On this page you will find details of current Notices to Mariners and of Operations off of the East Coast that affect the navigation of small craft in East Coast waters.

Please Note: This list of notices may not be exhaustive, we publish all that we are made aware of by the relevant authorities.

Current Notices to Mariners (NM) and the latest pilotage updates can be found under this link by courtesy of www.eastcoastpilot.com >>>more

Thames barrier warning boards

New fixed warning notice boards have been established at the extremities of the Thames Barrier Control Zone at Barking Point, Blackwall Point and Blackwall Stairs.
The interactive notice boards and flashing red and amber warning lights have been discontinued and removed. The new boards follow the CEVNI symbols for inland waterways. On passing the fixed notice boards vessels must make verbal reports to London VTS. Full details can be found under this link NM26 of 2011

Blackwater

An underwater obstruction has been located (visable at low water ) at the up river entrance to Bradwell creek. More details and pictures can be found on www.eastcoastsailing.co.uk.  

Bradwell Power Station - baffle wall removal - a NM has been issued indicating an exclusion zone whilst work is in progress, commencing 4th October until February 2012 >>>more  chartlet  poster

Beware shallows in the Orwell and Stour

Following a spate of dredging both in Harwich Harbour and the River Orwell yachtsmen are warned that depths on the sides in the lower reaches of the rivers Orwell and Stour will be reduced. Spoil from the dredgings is being pumped in long heaps between the dredged channel and the river bank, greatly reducing depths in areas were yachts transit out of the main shipping channel. Spoil from the upper reaches of the Orwell will be dropped in Long Reach, while spoil from Harwich will be dropped in Lower Reach — and also in the Stour in Copperas Bay and Erwarton Bay (both popular leisure anchorages).

Offshore Wind Farms 

The details of the various sites around the whole of the UK coast including East Anglia  and the Wash  can be found under  these two  links location details and >>>more

London Array - Thames Estuary

Information issued 29th January 2012  NM59   >>>more

The main site can be found under this link >>>more

Guidance note for recreational users of Fishermans/Foulger Gat >>more   Whilst the cable is being laid across the entrance of Fishermans Gat it will be CLOSED to NAVIGATION for this part of the operation. London VTS will broadcast when the Gat is closed. Latest information can be obtained from London VTS either by telephone 01474 560311 or by VHF channel 69. Additional project information can be obtained from London array’s website

Greater Gabbard wind farm - Felixstowe area  

 SSE -main site

To date 51 towers have been completed in the Greater Gabbard wind  farm. Although there is no general 500m exclusion zone around the whole site and only around the two erection barges, RYA Eastern Region  advice is to treat the whole charted site as having a 500m exclusion zone and keep well clear. Watch out to for high speed personnel cats travelling to and from the site and Harwich Parkeston Quay.

Wash and Lincolnshire area

Lincs Offshore 

Notices to Mariners issued 29th January 2012 -NM48  More

Lynn and Inner Dowsing area

Cable burying work continues into January issued December 2011 NM

Routine maintenance commence in December until February 2012 with an exclusion zone in force  >>>more

NOTICE TO MARINERS No.41/11 B7 AIS TRANSMISSIONS

Further to Trinity House Notice to Mariners No.1 of 2011 Mariners are advised that AIS transmissions by Trinity House will commence on 17th November, 2011 from the following station. This AtoN service will not be deemed to be fully operational until confirmed by a further notice to mariners.

SOUTHWOLD LIGHTHOUSE LATITUDE 52° 19.632‟N., LONGITUDE 001° 40.886‟E MMSI NUMBER 992351019

 Mariners are further advised that the transmitted Message 21 will be displayed as “Lighthouse, with Sectors” in the Aids to Navigation report. When observed on the Minimum Keyboard Display (MKD), the minimum carriage requirement for SOLAS vessels, for each Aid to Navigation the mariner will see:-:MMSI number: Name: Position: Bearing and distance from observer. Mariners using certain Radar and Electronic Chart Displays may see a symbol on the display and on interrogation, as a minimum, the above information will be available. If displayed, the screen symbol for an AIS AtoN is a diamond shape.
Currently there is a variance on information that will be displayed by different manufacturers on Electronic Chart and Radar equipment.
Captain R. H. Barker -Director of Navigational Requirements - Trinity House,