Fisherman’s Gat
Encyclopedia
Fisherman’s Gat is a channel in the Thames Estuary
. The channel cuts across Long Sand and links Knock Deep to Black Deep.
Fisherman’s Gat was opened up to shipping as a route though Long Sand, following the demise of North Edinburgh Channel as a buoyed route. Opened in 2000 with a controlling depth of 7.4 metres, depths have since increased to 8.3 metres (January 2006).
Shipping generally approaches Fisherman’s Gat from within an arc, extending from south of Kentish Knock
to the east, around to North East Spit buoy to the south-southeast. For vessels approaching the Thames Estuary from the south or east, the Fisherman’s Gat route provides a saving of 20 miles and lower pilot charges when compared with the Sunk route to the north. The advantages of Fisherman’s Gat over the Sunk route may lead to its increased use by vessels not constrained by draught and approaching from the south or east, some of which are still being routed via the Sunk.
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
. The channel cuts across Long Sand and links Knock Deep to Black Deep.
Fisherman’s Gat was opened up to shipping as a route though Long Sand, following the demise of North Edinburgh Channel as a buoyed route. Opened in 2000 with a controlling depth of 7.4 metres, depths have since increased to 8.3 metres (January 2006).
Shipping generally approaches Fisherman’s Gat from within an arc, extending from south of Kentish Knock
Kentish Knock
Kentish Knock may refer to:* Kentish Knock, an area off the coast of Kent and Essex in England* Battle of the Kentish Knock, fought in October 1652* London Array, a wind farm near the Kentish Knock....
to the east, around to North East Spit buoy to the south-southeast. For vessels approaching the Thames Estuary from the south or east, the Fisherman’s Gat route provides a saving of 20 miles and lower pilot charges when compared with the Sunk route to the north. The advantages of Fisherman’s Gat over the Sunk route may lead to its increased use by vessels not constrained by draught and approaching from the south or east, some of which are still being routed via the Sunk.