Latest News Last Reviewed and updated 13th February 2025
Thames - PLA phone contact numbers (13th February 2025)
Please note in the Book Updates section that the PLA has changed some important contact numbers.
Ipswick Lock - maintenance closures (28th January 2025)
Ipswich Lock Annual Maintenance - the annual planned lock maintenance will be undertaken on the Ipswich lock. These works will be conducted between: -
Wednesday 5th February to Friday 21st February: The closure will be in place weekdays 0800-1800: The Lock will be made available during weekends.
The lock may be available outside of these hours, however this will depend on the work schedule. Mariners requiring more information should contact ONS on VHF CH68.
Thames Barrier Test Closures (28th January 2025)
You can access the latest schedules of test closures of the Thames Barrier, covering November 2024 to October 2025, on our Downloads page.
Tollesbury - dredging (21st August 2024)
Visitors to Tollesbury Marina will welcome the fact that a dredging programme in the marina has been partly completed, clearing the heavy silting from the SE side. The remainder, in the areas of A, B and C pontoons, is scheduled to be done during February 2025.
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.
Great Yarmouth - Herring Bridge Commencement of Operation (27th Nov 2023)
Herring Bridge was brought into operation today, Monday 27th November 2023. This will affect all vessels who wish to transit from seaward through to the berths to the North of the Herring Bridge and the Norfolk Broads; and in the opposite direction from the Norfolk Broads and berths to the North of the Herring Bridge, through to the South of the new bridge or to sea. Further information on the bridge, Scheme of Operation, opening procedure guidance, bookings and other useful guidance can be found on the Norfolk County Council Website:
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/roads-an...hird-river-crossing/herring-bridge-operations
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’.