NOTICES
WARNING
Several stone heaps have been placed in the Fossdyke between Torksey and Drinsey Nook up to 12ft from the bank, but they may roll further into the canal.


BREAK-IN'S AT TORKSEY MOORINGS

Those members that moor on the British Waterways moorings at Torksey should have received a letter from Allan Lindley regarding several break-in’s at the end of November.

Please keep an eye out for strangers who do not look as if they should be around and remove what valuables you can from your boat.

British Waterways are required by government to raise there prices eventually to the general market prices. As the prices are now approaching the market price then British waterways should provide the same services as marinas, or there prices should be somewhat lower.

Those that have BW moorings should now be requesting that better facilities be provided. IE: more security, toilets (not public ones as there are now) secure parking for vehicles among other things.

Again it must be stressed if you do nothing yourself then don’t complain as doing nothing means you are satisfied.

Your first letter should go to :-


Business Development Manager
British Waterways
The Kiln
Nather Road
Newark
NG24 1FB



USEFUL NUMBERS

British waterways telephone numbers Emergency 24 hours - 0800 4799947 Newark office - 01636 704481 office hours Local operational issues - Darren Smith Newark office Customer care issues - Richard Noble, Debbie McLardy Newark office Bylaw offences/ licences - Allan Linley Newark office Allocation of Moorings - Sandie Dunstan Newark office


LOCKS FOR ELECTRICS

Subject: Fw: Electricty Locks
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 22:42:43 +0100
Just a quick update on the locks for the electricity bollards - we
approved the locking mechanism yesterday and they are now on order.
Hopefully they should be fitted later next week.

Kind regards

Caroline.

NEW VHF SETS

The new VHF sets are to work with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) is part of it.

In future to make a distress call all you will have to do is press a button on the VHF radio, this will automatically transmit data about your vessel and its position from the vessels GPS, therefore your position is imediately known and if programmed details of your vessel so they know what to look for.
Each VHF set will have an identifying number (MMSI number) issued by the ships Radio Licensing Authority.

The use of DSC is so a call can be made to another vessel like using a mobile phone, or several vessels can be grouped together (so there will be no need to wait for Sheffield club to stop gossoping so Torksey club can get talking).

The Advantages
Simple safety transmittions by anyone and the vessels position given automatically.
Better intership communication.
Easier to use (after it has been programmed)

CHARTS - TIDAL TRENT
Any chart which is published by an organisation even including Admiralty charts are only as good as the person or people who use them.

Many people over the last 40 years have used the Trent Charts without any problems, the number of groundings which occur are minimal to the hundreds of vessels that navigate the River successfully every year.

If these charts were not available there would be many more groundings in the river every year.

The Tidal Chart is checked 3 times a year above Gainsborough Bridge to Cromwell Lock and found to be 100% correct, below Gainsborough Bridge to Trent Falls the Chart has been checked by Associated British Ports personnel and again has been given a clean bill of health.The TBA have confirmation of this Survey in writing from A.P.B.

The TBA cannot be held responsible for the extended Shoaling on the insides of the Ness due to the lack of maintainance i.e.dredging etc. The TBA has no control over the Signage in the River, some of which can be misleading to the boater who is not familiar with the River.

Boaters who are inexperienced in the Tidal River should seek better advice when using this stretch of the River especially at low summer levels and Neap Tide situations. Boaters should also be aware of the International Collision Regulations and the BW Bye Laws which affect this section of the River. Keeping to the channel is essential, but the Rules Of The Road are of Paramount Importance owing to the Commercial Traffic which uses the River.

The TBA publishes these charts as a guide to Navigating the River Trent, much care and effort is put into these charts to try to make them as accurate as possible for the boater to use.

Please Remember when keeping to the outside of the bends keep 20 to 30 feet away from the bank since the River Levels vary owing to Tide Water, Flood Water and Dry Summer periods. Always look at the channel at Normal Levels, this will indicate the normal depth and width of the channel. Water above normal level will be a bonus for deeper draughted vessels, but the position in the channel will be the same. Finally the TBA are always available to assist any boater using the Tidal Trent, we are just a telephone call away from giving you assistance and information.

RCAny chart which is published by an organisation even including Admiralty charts are only as good as the person or people who use them.

Many people over the last 40 years have used the Trent Charts without any problems, the number of groundings which occur are minimal to the hundreds of vessels that navigate the River successfully every year.

If these charts were not available there would be many more groundings in the river every year.

The Tidal Chart is checked 3 times a year above Gainsborough Bridge to Cromwell Lock and found to be 100% correct, below Gainsborough Bridge to Trent Falls the Chart has been checked by Associated British Ports personnel and again has been given a clean bill of health.The TBA have confirmation of this Survey in writing from A.P.B.

The TBA cannot be held responsible for the extended Shoaling on the insides of the Ness due to the lack of maintainance i.e.dredging etc. The TBA has no control over the Signage in the River, some of which can be misleading to the boater who is not familiar with the River.

Boaters who are inexperienced in the Tidal River should seek better advice when using this stretch of the River especially at low summer levels and Neap Tide situations. Boaters should also be aware of the International Collision Regulations and the BW Bye Laws which affect this section of the River. Keeping to the channel is essential, but the Rules Of The Road are of Paramount Importance owing to the Commercial Traffic which uses the River.

The TBA publishes these charts as a guide to Navigating the River Trent, much care and effort is put into these charts to try to make them as accurate as possible for the boater to use.

Please Remember when keeping to the outside of the bends keep 20 to 30 feet away from the bank since the River Levels vary owing to Tide Water, Flood Water and Dry Summer periods. Always look at the channel at Normal Levels, this will indicate the normal depth and width of the channel. Water above normal level will be a bonus for deeper draughted vessels, but the position in the channel will be the same. Finally the TBA are always available to assist any boater using the Tidal Trent, we are just a telephone call away from giving you assistance and information.

Flags NOT to fly Flags that may NOT be flown afloat without permission include :-
the blue ensign, blue ensign with any modification, red ensign with any modification, union flag, white ensign.
A fine of £2000 may be imposed on offenders.

Restricted VHF RADIO Operators Licence This certificate (an operators certificate) is being phased out and is being replaced by the GMDSS short range certificate (SRC), the present certificate can be upgraded and short courses are available with examination at the end of the course.
The reason being, after January 2005 channel 16 will not be monitored.
There will be no point in having this certificate if the VHF radio on the vessel dors not have the capability of being GMDSS compatable.
If you have GMDSS compatable VHF/DSC radio, a GMDSS short range certificate is needed to use the radio.
A ships radio can be used without an operators certificate to listen to transmittions only, or in case of Distress to transmitt when all means possible can be used. A ships radio licence is needed to receive.
If you know what GMDSS or DSC stands for please let us know. Web address on front page.


FLOOD PREVENTION
If you lock out and the sea doors (big ones used to lock up into the river) are used ensure they are CLOSED after you.A narrow boat went out recently and did not close them and water started to run back into the Fossdyke, the consequences could have been to flood Lincoln or surrounding area