One for the shipping geeks

[pmtts]

A screen shot of radar coverage of Southampton Water & the Solent areas.

Note the start of the major shipping lanes via Dover Strait on the right of the image.

HMS Lancaster & The RFA Lyme Bay are also visible. Naval ships will show on radar but not AIS as many of you will know.

[spider]

Its like a motorway down there.

Who monitors the traffic seperation zone ?

Coastguard or is there another body ?

[pmtts]

Southampton Vessel Traffic Service monitor the entire length of Southampton Water, Central & Eastern Solent.

As for out there Channel wise, MRCC Solent would monitor that sector.

[The Sultan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFA_Lyme_Bay_(L3007)

A link to one of the ships, the RFA Lyme Bay. Big.

[pmtts]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFA_Lyme_Bay_(L3007)

A link to one of the ships, the RFA Lyme Bay. Big.

Lyme Bay is a frequent visitor to Marchwood SMC just up the road from me. HMS Ocean payed a visit earlier this year, now thats a big vessel!.

[Goldie fish]

The solent. Ah, remember it well. The chart for the area was the one most commonly used to teach navigation as it has everything you will find on a chart on one.

[Goldie fish]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFA_Lyme_Bay_(L3007)

A link to one of the ships, the RFA Lyme Bay. Big.

Similar to the Dutch lads who were in dublin last weekend.

[Test Pilot]

The solent. Ah, remember it well. The chart for the area was the one most commonly used to teach navigation as it has everything you will find on a chart on one.

Recent pic from the western approach to the Solent, just past the Needles and Hurst Castle on the north shore. A very busy place with the high speed cats and the huge bulkers in and out from Southhampton. The harbour master travels ahead of the large container ships due to their limited vision ahead and warns yachties and the like to keep clear. Those that don't move can be shoved out of the way! Keeps you on your toes this place, especially while navigating at night.

[pmtts]

Recent pic from the western approach to the Solent, just past the Needles and Hurst Castle on the north shore. A very busy place with the high speed cats and the huge bulkers in and out from Southhampton. The harbour master travels ahead of the large container ships due to their limited vision ahead and warns yachties and the like to keep clear. Those that don't move can be shoved out of the way! Keeps you on your toes this place, especially while navigating at night.

The Chimney too the right of that photo is Fawley Power Station. I live just 5 minutes from there!!!. Ive seen the Southampton Patrol boats capture a few yachts for carelessness when crossing the path of the big container ships sailing up Southampton Water.

[Goldie fish]

Bloody WAFIs. The curse of the seas.