Medway Navigation

All information concerning the movement of ships within the Port area is conducted through the Medway Navigation Service (MNS) — call sign ‘Medway VTS’ — located at Garrison Point, Sheerness

The service is manned continuously 24 hours a day and close liaison is maintained between owners, agents, dock and berthing masters, pilots, tugs and London VTS

The MNS keeps continuous watch on VHF International Maritime Channels 16 and 74 with Channel 74 allocated for port operations generally. Channel 73 is the normal channel for communication with tugs.

Arial view of Sheerness Docks - Home of Medway Navigation Service

Ships may be given or may request berthing, docking or pre-arrival information at any time as required. Visibility and weather forecasts and reports are available, and predicted and actual tide heights at Sheerness, Chatham and Strood are also available on request.

The MNS provide a Vessel Traffic Service with high definition radar coverage, using up-to-date equipment incorporating daylight viewing, tracing and alarm facilities. Radar information is available to any shipping in the Medway area on request.

The service is connected by direct telephone lines to Sheerness Docks, HM Customs, Thamesport and London VTS.

Tel: 01795 663025, Telex: 96435, Fax: 01795 666596, Email:

Environment Agency

Attractive, remote and virtually unknown to boaters who restrict themselves to the main canal system, the Medway flows for some 112 km (70 miles) through deepest Kent, gouging its way through the North Downs to a salty tide. Rising in Sussex, it flows north and then east, and has been navigable since the 16th century.

The River Medway has 31km (19 miles) of freshwater river above its tidal limit, maintained by the Environment Agency, it starts at Allington Lock near Maidstone and extends to the footbridge immediately downstream of the Leigh flood-regulating barrier just west of Tonbridge.

Allington Lock - Beginning of Environment Agency Jurisdiction

It is thought that the Medway got its name from the Celtic word medu meaning mead, presumably signifying a river with sweet water.

Allington Lock is tidal and is operated from 3 hours before to 2 hours after High Water.

The lock is manned at tide times only (Telephone 01622 752864).

The dimensions of the lock are 53.34m x 6.55m.

The maximum draught from Allington Lock to Maidstone is 1.98m.

Craft navigating this part of the river should pass port to port and craft proceeding up river against the stream should give way to craft going down the river.

For further information and downloadable charts of the area visit: www.environment-agency.gov.uk