Hydrographic Services

In the 1960s the Medway Conservancy Board took over the duties of the Royal Navy Hydrographic Inshore Squadron to produce all of the local hydrographic surveys.

As the successors to the staff of those days, the present Hydrographic personnel continue to undertake surveys of the waters within the Port Limits.

Two craft are utilised: the 18.9 metre Medway Surveyor which surveys the main reaches of the River Medway and the deeper, offshore areas, and the 6 metre Medway Recorder, which surveys the ports' berths and shallow water areas. Both craft have permanent installations of modern echo sounders which can also double up as side scan sonar recorders.

Wreck of SS Richard Montgomery - Reson 8125 Seabat

All data - time, fix number, soundings, position, height of tide - is logged by computers prior to transfer to the office system for reduction and plotting of the survey chart. The charted information can be used for comparisons of historical data; for volume calculations associated with dredging requirements; the production of cross sections and "3-D" views for illustration purposes.

The Hydrographic Department can also carry out float tracking, current metering, sweep clearances and bottom sampling projects, with its own equipment. Other, specialised equipment, such as sub-bottom profilers, colour video sonars, acoustic doppler current meters/sediment trackers and vibro corers, can be hired in for specific project requirements.

A major development in recent years has been the acquisition of the 'Autocad', Computer Aided Design software package, which is used to produce dock plans, engineering drawings, licence/lease plans, fire plans, flow charts and building layouts, to name but a few of the items on an increasing list of tasks this versatile software is capable of.

In addition, Medway Ports publish the Official Tide Table Booklets for the River Medway & Thames Estuary each year.

Pilotage Services

From 1 October, 1988, the then Medway Ports Authority assumed responsibility for Pilotage Services.

Pilotage for vessels to or from the River Medway is compulsory for vessels 50 metres and over in length. The Medway Pilots are stationed at the Medway Navigation Service, Garrison Point, Sheerness, and operate a 24-hour service, 365 days a year.

A compulsory area extends to Rochester and includes the Swale.

First LNG tanker to visit the new Isle of Grain gas terminal - Berge Arzew

The recognised seaward Boarding and Launching Station is in the vicinity of NE Spit buoy, served by launches at Ramsgate. Deep draught vessels may approach the River Medway using the 'sunk' route.

In both instances, Port of London Pilotage Directive no. 6 applies. Pilot Exemption Certificates are available to certain regular traders by application on the prescribed form.

Marine Operations

Medway Ports can offer a range of marine services including lineboats for mooring ships and attendance for safety, personnel and stores transfer; pilot transfer; provision and maintenance of yacht and commercial moorings; salvage.

Buoy Maintenance - Gun Wharf