Blog Archives

Santa's view of Medway Queen

23/12/2021

"Santa" spotted this the other day - must have been a training flight I guess!

Yes, she's still there - thanks to the broken winch! The yard have achieved a lot over the past months but it has been expensive and has taken more time than we were led to expect. That has meant no paying visitors this Summer and Autumn (Covid prevented them earlier in the year) with a consequent loss of revenue. Our hoped for Members' Day in January is also at risk. Online and mail order has partly filled that gap (thank you all!!) but we're not where we wanted to be in that respect.

Any contributions to replenish the piggy bank would be very welcome. Give Medway Queen a Christmas Present now or treat yourself to one of our books or souvenirs.

Thanks to Andy Gutsell for the photos.

Christmas Donation

Books & Souvenirs

A very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year to you all!

Medway Queen looks magnificent

12/12/2021

Medway Queen looks magnificent on the Ramsgate slipway (photo: David Stearne).

Unfortunately she is set to continue to look magnificent there for a little while yet. The plan was for her to come off the slip yesterday afternoon and for the tugs to bring her back to Gillingham at the earliest opportunity. The operation had hardly started and MQ was about a quarter of the way down when the winch jammed. Now we have to wait for that to be fixed.

We have been assured that she is high enough to be in no danger, but it is still a cause of considerable frustration! It is just "one of those things" and we have to make the best of it.

Return of the Queen

9/12/2021

Life can be complicated; especially when dealing with ships and towing it seems!

Bob Wilde took on the project management of this operation at very short notice, for which we owe him many thanks. He has summarised the tow requirements for us as follows below.

As you can imagine all this is expensive in both time and cash. Your support through donations and sales is as important as ever.

It is not a simple case of completing work on the MQ and then towing back. The following documents had to be prepared by external agencies and then exchanged between them via me; UK Load Line exemption, Passage Plan, Tow Plan, Insurance Certificates, Tow Contract. All of this is in place.

The MCA and Insurers dictate the weather restrictions for the tow that Pratts (towing company) are obliged to keep within (south to southwesterly wind under 20 knots and swell not exceeding 1m); this has to coincide with the right tide conditions for Ramsgate and Gillingham. There is a sand bar on the approach to Gillingham Pier and we need sufficient depth of water to get both Medway Queen and her tug over that.

Winds and tides etc are in the hands of the gods, not us. Everything is in place. The Tow Master has to approve the return date and time that meets the MCA and Insurance requirements, otherwise full liability may be on him/her.

Photo: Bob Wilde