| 3.7.10 | AREA 10 - SIZEWELL TO SHOREHAM |
| 3.7.10.1 | The area covers three distinctive sub-areas, Harwich, Estuary and Dover. |
| 3.7.10.2 | Harwich |
| 3.7.10.2.1 | The coastline is generally low lying and featureless. The outlets from several major rivers dominate it. Offshore there are numerous shoals with narrow navigable channels. Many of these shoals have less than 5m over them. Tidal streams generally follow the direction of the coast. Overfalls may be encountered. |
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| 3.7.10.2.2 | There is a high level of leisure craft activity based, not only in the Harwich/Ipswich area, but also out of the River Deben, Orford Haven, the Rivers Colne and Blackwater. Commercial traffic makes for the ports of Felixstowe, Ipswich and Harwich, including ferries and High Speed Craft out of Harwich International Port to the Continental Ferry ports. A small amount of commercial traffic also navigates to and from Colchester and Rowhedge. |
| 3.7.10.2.3 | Within a 20-mile radius of the Sunk Solar Light Vessel (SLV) annual commercial traffic movements of 49,765 vessels over 405 routes are encountered (see figure 8 below). |
Reproduced from Admiralty Chart 2052 by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, the UK Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk) and Harwich Haven Authority. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATON
Figure 8: ShipRoutes overlay for the depicting some of the 405 routes identified within 20.00 nm of the Sunk SLV.
| 3.7.10.3 | Estuary |
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| 3.7.10.3.1 | The Estuary sub-area is dominated by outflows from the Thames, Medway and The Swale as well as by numerous off-lying shoals. Through these shoals narrow navigable channels run, some of which are subject to constant change and are therefore surveyed at frequent intervals. The buoyage marking the navigable channels is therefore subject to continuous review. The main channels are marked to 10 or 12 metres, wherever depths permit. |
| 3.7.10.3.2 | The maximum tidal steams encountered are 2.9 knots and tend to follow the direction of the channels. Maximum tidal ranges of some 3m at the seaward limits of the area increase to over 5m in the approaches to the River Thames. |
| 3.7.10.3.3 | Commercial traffic levels within a 10-mile radius of Barrow No.3 Lighted Buoy comprise some 11,320 movements per annum over 115 routes. |
| 3.7.10.3.4 | Within this area are a couple of Offshore Wind Farm developments under various stages of construction, which were part of the 18 sites identified for offshore renewable energy, developments under Round 1. In addition this area falls within one of the three key areas identified for offshore renewable energy development under the Government's Round 2 initiative. These developments, together with other plans, such as the London Gateway Development, will all have an impact on the passage planning of vessels in the area and on the existing routes used. This in turn, may impact on the service provided by the General Lighthouse Authority, in terms of the current disposition of buoyage in the area. |
| 3.7.10.4 | Dover |
| 3.7.10.4.1 | The Dover Strait is characterized by shallow water and dangerous offshore banks and shoals, which restrict vessels navigating through the area. The area comprises three major headlands on the English Coast. With the exception of Dungeness, these headlands are bounded by steep to cliff features, consisting of rock or chalk cliffs. The water is generally shallow; to such an extent that certain large vessels cannot proceed through the Strait at their maximum draft. The area is littered with wrecks. |
| 3.7.10.4.2 | Tidal steam rates reach a maximum of 3.7m off the Goodwins. Generally their direction lies with the direction of the off lying shoals and banks. |
| 3.7.10.4.3 | Due to the high volume of traffic, the constriction of the through traffic, caused by the banks and shoals, coupled with the high volume of crossing ferry traffic, which includes High Speed Craft, between the main ports of Dover, Folkestone, Ramsgate and the Continental ports, the area is one of high collision risk. |
| 3.7.10.4.4 | The main traffic routes, from the southern North Sea through the Strait, lie within the Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) established by the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands. Within these schemes, Deep Draught Routes have been established. An Inshore Traffic Zone (ITZ) lies to landward of the TSS. The bulk of the deep-sea vessels trading to North European ports from other ports of the world traverse through the Dover Strait. Apart from the large numbers of commercial traffic, the area is also one of high fishing and leisure craft activity. |
| 3.7.10.4.5 | Commercial traffic within a 10-mile radius of the Foxtrot 3 Solar Light Vessel is at an annual movement level of 87,866 vessels. Some 439 routes are used (see figure 9 below). Within a 5 and 10- mile radius of Royal Sovereign Lighthouse there are 13,043 and 308 commercial vessel movements per year over 163 and 9 routes, respectively. |
Reproduced from Admiralty Chart 1406 by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the hydrographic offices of Belgium, France the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (www.ukho.gov.uk) NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATON
Figure 9: ShipRoutes overlay for some of the 439 routes identified within 10 nm of Foxtrot 3 SLV
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| 3.7.10.5 | The main proposed AtoN changes for this area include: |