05/05/2005
Here are some more pictures of typical LNG tankers, supplied by Don Cockrill (Vice Chair MYA).
14/03/2005
Those of you who regularly cruise down river will have been noting with interest the building of a new dock, just past the container port. This dock is now complete and will shortly be receiving large ships loaded with natural gas from abroad to supplement our dwindling North Sea gas supplies.
There is an exclusion zone of 150 metres around the docks for small craft (to approximately where the yellow buoys were during construction) so don't be surprised if you are chased out of it by a large tug. The exclusion zone is not buoyed because the buoys would be in the way of the docking ships so you will have to work out for your self how far away you need to be.
It is also not a good idea to get too close to the gas ships as they also have an exclusion zone of one mile in front and half a mile behind. I am told by Captain White, Medway Ports harbourmaster, that these ships will be easily recognisable and will have four tugs in attendance.
They will start arriving at the beginning of May, about one a week and not just during the working week but at weekends as well. There will be warnings given on VHF Channel 74 which is the Medway Ports working frequency (which you should already have your radio set to whilst in The Medway).
See Notices to Mariners for more information.
J-P Declémy
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