Latest News                                           Last Reviewed and updated 3rd August 2026

 

Burnham Supermarket (3rd August 2026)

Many of us visiting Burnham on Crouch will have stocked up provisions at the Co-op supermarket at the top of the road leading from the marina.

We understand that it has now closed for some time to come, pending a refit and re-opening as a branch of Sainsburys.

 

New Obstruction at Ewarton in the River Stour (3rd Augsut 2026)

Mariners are advised that on 23 – 24 July 2026 a duct (floating pipe) mooring system was to be installed in the area of the Erwarton Anchorage.

Two special mark buoys, light characteristic Fl (2) Y 6s, will be used to mark the location of the east and west mooring buoys when deployed. When the mooring is occupied by the 1800m duct (dates to be confirmed), two additional special mark buoys Fl (2) Y 6s, will be placed to the south of the duct. This temporary mooring system is expected to remain in place for approximately 12-18 months.

 

New Chartlets for the Deben and Ore entrances (Updated 2nd April 2026)

We have added new chartlets and accompanying notes for the two river entrances to our Downloads page, following recent Trinity House surveys. Update: Aerial photos added today.

 

Dredging at Tollesbury (18th February 2026)

Dredging of the northern part of Tollesbury Marina is due shortly. More detail later.

Thanks to Roy Clare for the information.

 

 
Fox's Marina announcement (5th January 2026)
"Fox’s has today announced a change of ownership. The Marina, Boatyard, and Chandlery have been acquired by Morgan Marine, forming the newly established Morgans Group.
We’d like to reassure our customers, berth holders, suppliers and friends that Fox’s will continue to operate as usual, with the same team, services, and personal approach you know and trust. Day-to-day operations and management remain unchanged, and Fox’s will continue trading under its existing name.
You can read the full press release here 👉https://www.foxsmarina.com/foxs-and-morgan-marine
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming you at Fox’s as usual."

 

Approaches to Lowestoft (2nd December 2025)

Following advice from local owners, our 'rolling road' diagrams on page 19 of ECP6 have been amended to show that the N.Newcombe PHB should be left on the correct side when approaching from the South or East. The changed diagrams are included in the ECP6 updates file on this website.

 

Yantlet Secondary Channel - extended (18th November 2025)

The Yantlet Secondary Channel, that runs S of the main channel in Sea Reach, has been extended westwards as far as the recommended small-craft crossing point in Lower Hope Reach. We don't show the detail of the secondary channel in ECP, but of course the change will be reflected on charts in due course. The NtM says:

"Mariners are advised that an extended secondary channel in the Yantlet Channel has been established to the south of the Sea Reach Channel. This extension runs further west to Lower Hope Buoy and extends 0.7 cables from the southern extent of the main channel. This amendment will shortly be reflected on all PLA and Admiralty products. 

The minimum depth within the new secondary channel is 4.3 metres. Vessels that can safely navigate outside of the main channel are advised to do so to remain clear of vessels arriving, swinging, or departing London Gateway."

 

New survey of the Spitway (23rd October 2025)

Our colleague Roger Gaspar recently re-surveyed the Spitway, and  there is now a new chartlet available in the Downloads section of his website, available as a jpg or pdf. He says: "Not a lot of change. Still depths down to 1.1m CD in line with the two SWBs. The best water is still as it was and my recommended wpts would give you 1.7m CD - which is 2 feet more."

 

Thames Barrier Test Closures (9th October 2025)

You can access the latest schedules of test closures of the Thames Barrier, covering November 2025 to April 2026, on our Downloads page.

 

Use of the Black Deep (updated 15th August 2025)

Our colleague Roger Gaspar has been in discussion with the PLA regarding use of the Black Deep by leisure craft under 6m draught. The PLA's latest statement is that such craft may only cross the Black Deep, and as quickly as possible, permission not required.

Such craft may not travel along this channel, within the buoyed route, without permission from London VTS. 

 

Stone Point (27th May 2025)

New version of this useful chartlet following a further survey carried out earlier this year - see our Downloads page.

 

Thames - PLA phone contact numbers (13th February 2025)

Please note in the Book Updates section that the PLA has changed some important contact numbers.

 

NEW EDITION OF ECP (Updated 13th May 2024)

We are delighted to announce that the 6th edition of ECP has just been published. It's immediately available by direct order from Imrays,

and retail outlets will be stocked in the coming days.
As with earlier editions, the entire book has been reviewed again, and we have personally revisited every venue (by boat when possible) and updated the text and venue information with the hundreds of changes found. The vast majority of photos used are new as well. Our publishers, Imrays, have excelled themselves with new layout ideas which take advantage of our new high-definition aerial photographs.

 

Tollesbury Marina (4th Sept 2023)

If you are heading for Tollesbury and needing a visitor berth, it's best to call them on the phone, as we understand they are not able to handle VHF calls at the moment.

 

Bradwell Marina - entrance channel tide gauge (3rd May 2022)

Thank you to an ECP reader who informed us that the tide gauge on the pole at the river end of the entrance channel is missing. We’ve been in touch with the marina who tell us it was knocked off by a passing boat and will eventually be replaced.
 
Canvey - available chartlets and diagrams updated (3rd Feb 2022)
The incredibly detailed and useful chartlets and diagrams of Benfleet Creek and the Rays have been updated again by Phil Bostock. As usual they are available on the Benfleet YC website.

 

Middle Sunk - warning (6th Dec 2021)
We don’t cover cross-estuary short cuts in any detail, leaving that to Roger Gaspar and his ‘Crossing the Thames Estuary’. He warns this week that the Middle Sunk crossing looks no longer viable unless extreme care is taken. Details at https://www.crossingthethamesestuary.com/page9.html, under ‘Week 50’.