534(P)/07 ENGLAND — Thames Estuary — Sunk — Precautionary areas. Traffic separation schemes. Recommended route. Two-way route. Area to be avoided. Buoyage. Radio reporting points. Vessel traffic service. Automatic Identification System. Light-vessel.
Source: International Maritime Organization

  1. To improve the safety of navigation in the Northern Approaches to the Thames Estuary, the International Maritime Organization have approved the modification and extension of the existing Sunk Precautionary Area and the establishment of three TSSs, a two-way traffic route at Long Sand Head, an area to be avoided and a recommended route at the Galloper. These changes will be implemented at 0000 UTC 1 July 2007.

  2. The existing Sunk Precautionary Area will be extended to form two parts; the Sunk Inner Precautionary Area and the Sunk Outer Precautionary Area. Three TSSs will lead traffic into and out of the Outer Area. Traffic within the Outer Area will flow in a counter-clockwise direction around an area to be avoided, one nautical mile in diameter, centred on a light-vessel in position 51° 50' .10N. , 1° 46' .02E. The light-vessel will be fitted with an Automatic Identification System.

  3. A two-way route is to be created from Kentish Knock Buoy (51° 38' .09N. , 1° 40' .43E. ) to Long Sand Head Buoy (51° 47' .91N. , 1° 39' .43E. ). This route can be used by vessels entering or leaving Medway/ Thames ports which meet certain pilotage requirements. It can also be used by any vessel of less than 20 metres in length, any sailing vessel or any vessel engaged in fishing irrespective of their port of origin/ destination. A recommended route is also to be created in the Galloper area to take regular ferry traffic into or out of the Sunk Outer Precautionary Area.

  4. These changes are shown on the accompanying diagram.

  5. In addition, the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) rules for the area are to be revised and extended and buoyage is to be amended and repositioned.

  6. Details of the new routeing measures will be included in New Editions of Charts 2692, 1975, 2052, 1183, 1610, 2449. 1406, 1408 and 2182A to be published in May 2007. These charts will be published with a cautionary note advising mariners that the existing charts, which will be given an 'X' prefix, should be retained and used until 0000 UTC 1 July 2007. Chart 1630 will be amended by Notices to Mariners and Chart 5500 will be updated by New Edition to be published on 28th June 2007.


Chart(s) affected — 1183 — 1406 — 1408 — 1610 — 1630 — 1975 — 2052 — 2182A — 2449 — 2692 — 5500

ENGLAND — East Coast — Thames Estuary and approaches.

The following IMO-Adopted traffic routeing measures came into force at 010001 UTC Jul 07: Sunk Inner Precautionary Area, Sunk Outer Precautionary Area, Area to be avoided and traffic roundabout centred on assigned position of Sunk Centre light-vessel 51-50.10N 001-46.02E, Sunk Traffic separation scheme (North), Sunk Traffic separation scheme (East), Sunk Traffic separation scheme (South), Long Sand Head two-way route, Galloper recommended route.

For details of these routeing measures and buoyage changes refer to relevant New Editions of Admiralty charts published in May/June 07.

Previous Sunk VTS ceased operating at 010001 UTC Jul. Implementation of new Sunk VTS postponed until further notice. Notes referring to Sunk VTS on Admiralty charts and entries in Admiralty List of Radio Signals Vol 6 and Admiralty Digital Radio Signals should be disregarded. These will be cancelled, amended or activated in due course.

Vessels requiring a pilot should contact Sunk pilotage service on VHF Ch9.

Cancel Navarea One 155/07.


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