Whitstable

1. Whitstable boarding, vessels 50-80m Pilot boards51°23.9′N 001°01.6′E

Size limits

Draught 4.9m.

Water density

1025.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Range 4.9m springs, 3.9m neaps.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

Approach: It is advisable to arrive off Whitstable Street Lightbuoy not later than 1.5 hours and 1 hour off entrance before HW.

The line bearing 165.5° of the dolphin (51°21'N 001°01'E) on the W side of the harbour entrance, which lies in the green sector (156°-178°) of the light exhibited from the dolphin, leads from a position W of Whitstable Street Lightbuoy (N cardinal) (51°24.0'N 001°02.0'E) to a position NW of the harbour entrance, passing:

ENE of Columbine Spit (51°24.0'N 000°59.0'E), marked at its NE extremity by Columbine Spit Buoy (starboard hand), then:

ENE of Pollard Spit (51°23.0'N, 000°59.0'E), marked at its N extremity by Pollard Spit Lightbuoy (port hand), then:

WSW of Whitstable Street, (51°22.0'N 001°02.0'E) an old causeway, but now a hard drying ridge which extends 1nm from the coast. A buoy (special) marks the seaward end of an outfall, 0.2nm W of the root of Whitstable Street. Then:

W of Oyster Lightbuoy (port hand), moored 0.4nm NW of the entrance, then:

To a position close NNW of the entrance to Whitstable Harbour.

The bearing (122.5°) in the white sector of a directional light leads through the harbour entrance, between E and W Quays. Lights are exhibited on metal poles at the heads of the two quays

Anchorages

There is an anchorage for vessels of less than 4.0m draught between East Spiniard (51°26.0'N 001°03.0'E) and Middle Sand, 0.5nm NW.

Restrictions

Entrance from 3 hours before HW to HW + 1 hour. Vessels

should arrive at Whitstable Street Buoy 1.5 hours before HW.

Tugs

Tugs are available.

Mooring

All berths NABSA.

Charts and publications

BA 1607, 2571. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Notify ETA 12 hours prior to arrival.

Communications

VHF: Radio listening main working Ch 09, 12, 16. The station is manned from 3 hours before HW to 1 hour after HW and Mon-Fri from 0830-1700hrs.

Notice of readiness

Delivered to agent.

Health

Ship Sanitation Control and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates, contact Harbour Office.

Customs and immigration

Available from Dover.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.

Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.

Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)

Fax: +44 207 944 2175

Email: [email protected]

Recognised Security Organisations:

RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels

RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.

Repairs

Local companies available for minor repairs.

Dry docks

Vessels can lay safely aground on W side of West Quay to enable day to day repairs within tidal window.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available by road tanker, via agents.

Medical

Whitstable and Tankerton approximately 2km from the port and Whitstable Health Care is approximately 100 m from the port.

Transport

Nearest airport: London Southend Airport is approximately 110km from the port.

Nearest railway: Whitstable Train Station is approximately 1km from the port.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs, overtime by arrangement.

Where it is

Whitstable lies on the N Kent coast at the mouth of the River Swale and in the River Thames approaches.

The port

The harbour covers an area of 14ha of which approx 1.5ha forms the harbour basin. There are three quays with accommodation for vessels with a draught of up to 4.9m at mean spring tides and 3.8m at neap tides. The port primarily handles bulk aggregates and fishing activities.

Traffic

Approx 68,000t of cargo and 40 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Whitstable?

The pilot boards at Whitstable boarding, vessels 50-80m, 51°23.9′N 001°01.6′E.

What time zone is Whitstable in?

Local time at Whitstable is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the water density at Whitstable?

1025.

Which load line zone is Whitstable in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Whitstable?

Port State Control at Whitstable: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Whitstable?

The UN/LOCODE of Whitstable is GBWTS.

What crews who called at Whitstable say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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