Sheerness (GBSHS)

The port has natural deep water with no locks, consisting of 9 berths, 6 with Ro-Ro facilities. Commodities handled at the port include automobiles, containers, dry bulk cargoes, forest products, metals and project cargo.

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31. Max size. LOA 230m, draught 12.0m.

Sheerness is situated at the head of the Medway River at its confluence with the River Thames.

LOA 232.39m, draught 12.0m, beam 35.4m, 38,690DWT

Great Nore anchorage (51°28.5'N 000°49.0'E), in which there are 5 numbered berths "N1-N5", provides safe anchorage, but it is exposed to the E and NW. Strong winds from these directions combined with the tidal stream can cause a considerable sea. Mariners are advised that the area between Medway Lightbuoy and No 1 Lightbuoy (51°28.6'N 000°50.5'E) offers greater manoeuvring room for entry into, and exit from Great Nore Anchorage. Little Nore anchorage (51°27.3'N 000°45.0'E) lies in the green sector of the light on the E coast of Isle of Grain, N of the approach channel. Vessels using this anchorage must avoid swinging into the approach channel. Sheerness small ship anchorage (51°27.5'N 000°47.0'E) lies S of the approach channel.

From the vicinity of Medway Lightbuoy (safe water) (51°28.8'N 000°52.9'E) the Medway approach channel, which is marked by lightbuoys numbered from seaward (starboard hand on the N side; port hand and N cardinal on the S side) leads 5.5nm WSW then 0.5nm S into Sheerness Harbour, passing: NNW of Warden Point (51°25'N 000°54'E) a steep clay cliff, which suddenly rises from the lower coast to the SE, then: NNW of The Cant (51°27'N 000°52'E), a shoal which extends up to 3.5nm off the coast of Sheppey between Warden Point and Garrison Point. Depths over the shoal are generally regular and the N edge, which runs along the S side of the channel, is steep to. Beacon "F" (orange triangle point down) (51°27.4'N 000° 52.6'E) stands on The Cant, with Beacon "E" (orange triangle point down) 2nm WSW and Beacon "D" (orange diamond) a further 0.6nm WSW. There are numerous pieces of wreckage, some of which dry, on The Cant. Then: SSE of Great Nore (51°28.5'N 000°49.0'E), then: NNW of Royal Oak Point (51°25'N 000°50'E). A line of wrecks extends 0.15nm N of the point to a beacon (red can), then obstructions extend a further 0.8nm N of the beacon, marked by a buoy (N Cardinal). A drying wreck lies close to the N end of the obstructions. Then: SSE of SS "Richard Montgomery" (51°28'N 000°47'E), then: NNW of Cheyney Spit (51°27'N 000°48'E), which lies on the S side of the channel. Cheyney Rocks, which dry and are marked to their NE by a wooden tripod beacon, lie inshore of the spit and 0.3nm N of Bartons Point. The town of Sheerness lies S of the coast between Bartons Point and Garrison Point, 1.75nm WNW. The coast is low, fringed with groynes and protected by a seawall. Swing Bank, Green Bank and Jacobs Bank, all of which dry, front this part of the coast. Then: SSE of Sheerness Middle Sand (51°28'N 000°46'E), a shoal which extends E from Grain Spit a drying shoal fronting the coast of Isle of Grain, then: SSE of Little Nore (51°27'N 000°45'E), then: NNW and W of Garrison Point, (51°27'N 000°45'E) passing well clear to avoid the tidal eddies sometimes present around the point. Garrison Point, on which stands a fort is rounded and formed of shingle. A light (pile structure) is exhibited from the head of the training wall close W of the point. A Ro-Ro berth, marked by a light on its outermost dolphin, extends 0.1nm NE from the point. A lightbuoy (N Cardinal) marks the seaward end of an outfall, 0.2nm W of the berth. Then: Into sheerness Harbour (51°26.5'N 000°44.5'E) at the mouth of River Medway, to a position W of Sheerness Docks, which form the E side of the harbour and N of the entrance to West Swale. The W side of the harbour is formed by the E coast of Isle of Grain, which is embanked marshland fronted by numerous groynes and then a drying shoal, West Shore, with Grain Tower, a Martello tower, standing at the point of turn. The outfall from the power station runs ESE from the coast. It is marked by a light beacon (starboard hand) at its seaward end.

BA 1185, 3683. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

1022.

Compulsory for all vessels over LOA 50m, between Medway Lightbuoy and Rochester Bridge, including Chatham Docks and The Swale. Requests for pilots should be sent to Medway Ports, Tel: +44 1795 662276, 24 hours in advance of the vessel's ETA and the appropriate boarding and landing station, GT, LOA, draught, destination and previous port of call. Confirmation of the above information must be given to Medway Navigation Service not later than 8 hours in advance (this constitutes the compulsory notice). Up to 4 hours in advance any change to an ETA must be notified. Any further changes and the final confirmation must be given when the vessel is in VHF radio contact. Medway Pilots also provide a service inwards from the Sunk for vessels in excess of 6.0m draught only. The PLA outer area, that is North East Spit and sunk to sea reach/Medway buoy compulsory pilotage is applicable for all vessels of and over LOA 90m. Pilots normally board at NE Spit pilot station, Sunk Pilot Station (for deep draught vessels) or The Medway Buoy. Vessels exempt from compulsory pilotage in the Port of London Authority outer pilotage area embark the pilot in the Warp in the vicinity of 51°29.7'N 000° 55.0'E and disembark the pilot in the vicinity of Medway Lightbuoy (51°28.8N 000°52.8'E).

The port limits extend 27.5nm of the tidal river from the Medway Buoy to Allington Lock.

Mile Town Church Tower (51°26.3'N 000°45.9'E). Saint Paul's Church (tower and flagstaff) (51°26.5'N 000°45.3'E). Sector Light (red and white diamond on red tower, 20m in height) (51°26.6'N 000°43.5'E).

Limiting depth in the channel is 12.5m CD.

Range 5.2m springs, 3.2m neaps. ..... Area MHWS MLWS MHWN MLWN Sheerness 5.8 0.6 4.7 1.5 Bee Ness 6.0 0.6 4.8 1.5 Rochester 6.0 0.3 4.9 1.3 The tidal streams and the sea level are affected by strong and lasting winds. Those from NE and N raise the level and those from S and SW lower it. During gales the effect may be considerable. Heavy rain in Sheerness Harbour may cause the out-going steam to run more strongly and the in-going stream less strongly than normal.

Tugs of up to 3,400hp are available, throughout 24 hours, contact Adsteam (Medway), Tel: +44 1795 664311. Two fire fighting tugs are available.

Prevailing winds: SW'ly.

SHEERNESS 51°26.58'N 0°44.61'E UNCTAD LOCODE: GB SHS For details see: MEDWAY PORTS PILOT REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________

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VHF: Medway Ports VTS: Ch 16, 74. Port control, pilots services, navigation services, fitted with radar and AIS, callsign "Medway VTS". Tugs: Ch 73. Medway VTS, Tel: +44 1795 663025, Fax: +44 1795 666596 and Email: navigation@medwayports.com

..... Documents Copies 1. Crew List 1 2. Passenger List - 3. Stowaway List - 4. Bonded Stores List - 5. Crew's Personal Effects List - 6. Stores List - 7. Arms & Ammunition List - 8. Health documents or certificate 1 9. Ship Sanitation Control Certificate 1 10. Load Line Certificate 1 11. Tonnage Certificate 1 12. Certificate of Nationality 1 13. Safety Equipment Certificate 1 14. Cargo Gear Certificate 1 15. Bills of Lading - 16. Manifests (freighted) - 17. Manifests (unfreighted) - 18. Light Dues Certificate 1 19. Safety Radio Certificate 1 20. Safety Construction Certificate 1 21. International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate 1

ETA for inbound vessels should be passed with the following information through their agents to Medway Navigation Service, (Medway VTS), 24 and 8 hours prior to arrival or on leaving the last port, if the last port is less than 24 hours away. ..... 1. ETA Pilot boarding position (Sunk or North East Spit, Warp) 2. GT 3. LOA 4. Draught 5. Destination 6. Last port of call 7. Request for a pilot if required 8. Provisional berthing requirements Outbound/shifting berth or leaving an anchorage vessels: ETD to be sent 8, 4 and 1 hour in advance with details as per 1-5 above.

Marine Coastguard Agency readily inspect vessels as and when necessary.

Port Health based at Sheerness, Tel: +44 1795 664279.