The Radio Forts of the Thames Estuary
A copy free 'Grand Forts Tours' from the All Tide Landing Queenborough, Sheerness, Isle-of-Sheppey aboard the 'X-Pilot' on 1st May 2023
Click on image for large version if available
Re-Publishing or Sharing please credit Bob Le-Roi (Red Sands Radio Productions)
'Baltic Bright' (Mariehamn)
Ro-Ro Container/Carrier (Vehicle carrier) formerly 'Balti',then 'Baltic Brghyt' IMO 1929263 built by Karlskronavarevet, Karlskrona, Sweden in 1996 owned by Charterfrakt Baltic Carrier, Gothenburg, Sweden sailing under flag of Finland
'Baltrader Cemsky'
General carrier built in 1990 IMO 9000211 sailing under flag of Cyprus
With cargos of Scandinavian wood pulp it was planed she'd unload on the Thames but due to resident protests the ship berths at Sheerness with the cargo being transported to London by truck
Svitzer Tugs at Garrison Point, Sheerness
Sheerness Dock Buildings at head of redundant Docks on Slipway Road
Decaying historic dock
Garrison Point Fort
Crane Grabs at Garrison Point Fort
'Botnia Seaways'
Ro-Ro Carrier built in 1990 at Jinling Shipyard, Nanjing, China IMO 9192129
Lithuanian Flagged on the 6 hour 41 minute Sheerness - Calais route transporting unaccompanied HGV trailers
Grain Fort
'Maran Gas Agamemnon'
Built in 2016 Flagged by Greece IMO 9682590 capacity of 174000 cubic meters of Liquid gas
'Lady Ann' day fisher off Minster
Wreck of SS 'Richard Montgomery' from Medway Dredged Channel
Starboard Channel Buoy at Wreck of SS 'Richard Montgomery'
SS 'Richard Montgomery' West wreck Buoy
SS 'Richard Montgomery' with Sheerness coast beyond Edit
Wreck of SS 'Richard Montgomery' with Grain Container Port beyond
SS
'Richard Montgomery' towards Southend
Wreck of 'SS Montgomery' with Mulberry Harbour wreck between Thorpe bay & Shoeburyness
SS 'Richard Montgomery'
warning notice
'Mass' Van Oord Hybrid
Water Injection Dredging Vessel in Medway Channel
Built in Rotterdam she was named by former Company Chair Karien van Oord in 2021
Red Sands Army Fort from the South West
Red Sands Fort looking from North East
'Fehn Cape'
Built in 2012 IMO 9556820 General cargo Ship operated by EMS Germany
'Osaka Express'
Container Cargo Ship built in 2007 sailing under German flag IMO 9320697
'Osaka Express' making for Felixtowe
'Osaka Express' with Shivering sands Army Forts astern
'Alectro'
Built in 2007 IMO 9373278 fly flag of Antigula & Burmuda
Phil, Jerry & Rebekah at Knock John
Knock John Naval Fort looking West
Knock John looking North East
Knock John looking East
Knock John's inhabitants
The Forts make relativley safe nesting sites ...
... suffice for the odd Pereguine Falcon
Passing through the legs of Knock John
Knock John wings ...
... when built from which were slung Lifeboats
Knock John Southern leg
Between Knock John's legs looking towards Red Sands
Knock John looking North West
Knock John looking West
Knock John looking South East
Shivering Sands Army Fort with distant Red Sands
Shivering Sands: Searchlight Tower, Gun Tower 3, Bofors Tower
Shivering Sands: Bofors, Control & Gun Tower 3 looking West towards Red Sands
Shivering Sands Gun Tower #4 Shell Holes
Shivering Sands Gun Tower #2 leg remains
Shivering Sands overview with South Cardinal Buoy
Shivering Sands as the sun dips
Shivering Sands and Knock John
Kentish Flats Windfarm 1
Kent Coastline
Kentish Flats Windfarm 2
Kentish Flats Windfarm 3 & 4
Kentish Flats Windfarm 5
Kentish Flats Windfarm 6
Kentish Flats Windfarm 7
Herne Bay
Red Sands Army Forts looking North East
'MSC Adonis'
Built in 2007 Liberian Flagged Container Ship IMO 9706310
passing the North Red Sands Buoy, sometimes a little closer which is disconcerting when aboard the Fort
Red Sands: Gun Tower #3, Red Sands North Buoy, Gun Tower #3
Red Sands: Gun #4, Gun #1 Bofors & Control Towers
Red Sands: Overview looking South East
Red Sands: Looking East
Red Sands: Gun #1, Bofors Towers with remnants of Red Sands Radio antenna
Red Sands: Sunset looking East
Red Sands: Looking East
X-Pilot Engine Checks
The 'Pilot' was built by James W Cook & Co in 1967
The former James Husk Yard had been taken over by the MoD for Vospers, no longer needed Coaster and Lighterage firm Cook's were looking for a site for constructing steel vessels, in 1947 they acquired the site, first off the slipway were a pair of war replacement tugs and thirty lighters
The Pilot was constructed when Cooks became a subsidiary of William Cory & Son Limited
X-Pilot Engine is an 8 cylinder 240HP Bergius-Kelvin
From 1904 Bergius-Kelvin built vehicle engines turning to Maritime from 1907
their first diesel dates from 1931 variants of which continued until the 1970's
'Botnia Seaways'
(ships detail earlier)
Another day's cruise 'X-Pilot' readies for mooring mid-river ...
... securely berthed at Queenborough Harbour
Tide falls at the All Tide Landing
'Pluto' formerly 'Union Pluto' makes her way cautiously up river
Built in 1984 IMO 8415665 General Cargo Ship now an aggregate Coaster
Another fine sunset concludes this feature
For Thames Estuary & Medway Cruises X-Pilot Sailings