Seatribe - Part 3
Continued from Seatribe - Part 2
For the latest news Project Redsand now have their own established website use the link at the bottom of this page
Tuesday 1st August 2006 - Project Redsand report that the Naja is being repaired by N E Murray Tugs of Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey as the tug is no longer required by the project since there are a number of vessels available in North Kent for tendering the Thames Estuary Fort on Red Sands. It is hoped that the Naja will eventually return to her birthplace in Appledore, Devon where she will form part of a maritme museum
More of N E Murray Tugs in Big L 1997
Tuesday 2nd May 2006 - Tony Pine tells that the Naja is now in Queenborough awaiting assessment. Inspection reveals severe corrosion of a composit iron/brass engine core that leaked sea water into the engine room, finally overwhelming the vessel
Tuesday April 18th 2006 - With the Naja for sale, whilst at sea we logged marine radio diolog between Medway Radio (Port Control) & a tug alongside Naja at Harty Ferry advising her sinking
Saturday 8th Sunday 9th April 2006 - The Maunsell Forts Weekend at Whitstable Castle on Tankerton Hill includes exhibitions, talks, audio-visual presentations on the forts use for Pirate Radio
Monday 3rd October 2005 with weather permitting engineering work is planned to commence by Mowlem Marine with the positioning of a new landing platform on the G1 Southern Gun Tower
The design of the new platform is different from the original ladder & gantry. But the new system will provide a more solid unit & allow for better access to the towers. G1 will provide a base from which a jungle walk bridge similar to the one constructed on Shivering Sands will be built to replace the fallen catwalks making access to the Control Tower
It's the intention to make good the Control Tower first
We'll provide pictures & more information from our next trip into the Estuary
'Naja' breaks her mooring & beaches at Tankerton (Saturday 17th September 2005)
She's undamaged & is taken back to her mooring
' Naja' mooring in Tankerton Bay (Thursday 26th May 2005)
Monday 20th June 2005 - Thanks to Skipper Graham & Dave Firth, here's a little about the Naja:
Built in 1961 she was Agnes a Lady Class Naval Tug of 38gt
Known affectionately as the Girl Class from the female names given by the Navy, the Agnes worked in Falmouth Royal Naval Dockyard
Decommissioned Alan C Bennett of Medway bought her renaming her Naja after an old London tug, as were all their requisitions
The 'Naja' on the River Thames (12th May 2001)
Reproduced by kind permission of Tugphotos
Sadly most of this class of small tugs were broken up, although a few of newer ships were sold on. This class of Tug was replaced by the superior Dog Class
Wednesday May 25th - Open House on 30th & 31st July from 11.00 - 14.00 BST
Sea Fort audio visual presentations & displays at St Mary's Hall Whitstable & Whitstable Castle on Tankerton Hill
Come to the seaside for a relaxing day & find out more about the forts; Design & development, trials building, sinking on site the sea forts fore runners for oil exploration
Learn how the forts became bases for Offshore Radio & what's happened to them since & the plans to preserve the most complete set of sea forts
Wednesday 25th May - All secure, Naja's now on a proper block in a sheltered anchorage off the North Kent Coast
Saturday 14th May 2005 - The Naja broke loose from her mooring in heavy seas off the North Kent Coast. Fortunately a crew member was on his way out to her at the time as she closed for Seasalter beach
The former Admiralty Tug 'Naja' now the Project Redsand work boat on Whitstable Harbour East Quay Brett's aggregate wharf (Sunday 1st May 2005)
Tuesday 8th March 2005 - Seatribe have bought a tug for the project nice boat with 500 HP engine & two auxiliaries each with AC generator
November 2004 - Official Project Redsand News Letter
There was some good news for Project Redsand following the preliminary survey carried out in July this year. A report by The Taylor Woodrow Materials Division showed that the basic structure of The Redsand Towers is in remarkably good condition. Considering that it has existed in the hostile conditions of the Thames Estuary for over 60 years with virtually no maintenance, this is indeed a credit to the designer, Guy Maunsell.
There is of course a great
deal of corrosion but thanks to the robust architecture and substantial steelwork
employed, none of the load bearing members needs replacing.
Had this not been the case, the cost of securing a future for the fort would
have been prohibitive.
Currently, a number of
small companies are bidding for the supply of materials which will be used
to provide a landing stage and new access to the Control Tower. A scaffold
system has been designed which will allow safe access to the tower house
during restoration. This scaffolding will be used on a tower by tower basis
and we are hoping to raise sufficient funds in order to purchase the materials
rather than hire them.
During the early stages of the restoration and from time to time as things progress, we shall be assisted by The Royal Engineers Theatre Troops who will ensure that the work is carried out safely and professionally.
Discussions between Project Redsand and the Department for Transport, the Government agency responsible for the navigational aspects of the Redsand Towers, have gone extremely well. Consultation with the land owners, The Crown Estate, has proved very satisfactory with no objections to the restoration plans. Furthermore, The DFT has assured Project Redsand that there are no plans to dismantle the fort in the light of the restoration program. However, the removal of the Shivering Sand Towers is still under consideration due to its position within the shipping lanes.
If the good luck continues
and all goes to plan, there will be two events taking place aboard the fort
in 2005. Following the provision of safe access, basic amenities and a further
qualified inspection, an Arts Council sponsored event will take place. This
event is not part of Project Redsand and the details of which cannot yet be
publicised.
We’re hoping to announce the details in the next edition of “Offshore
Echo’s”.
Many of you will already be aware that a celebration of Radio Sutch is being planned for late summer 2005. A Radio Sutch RSL, using a medium wave frequency, will be announced later. The organisers are in discussion with Project Redsand with the view to transmitting the service from the Control Tower at Redsands. By then, facilities should be in place in order support this. Depending on the frequency allocated, it is expected that a wide coverage area can be achieved with the minimal power level permitted. We are all looking forward to re kindling the excitement of Dave Sutch’s radio shows from the gun towers of the Thames Estuary, if only for a few weeks!
Official public launch of the Project Redsand followed on Monday by breakfast interview on BBC Radio Kent (Sunday 8th August 2004)
The 3d animation begins (Sunday 8th August 2004)
Features an all angle virtual tour of the control tower (Sunday 8th August 2004)
Project-Redsand Manager Robin Adcroft with guests Offshore Echoes Magazine Editor Chris Edwards & Terry Vacani (Sunday 8th August 2004)
Grateful thanks to Ian Scoones, Robin Adcroft, Paul Harris, John Hatt, Guy Hamilton, Hans Knot & John Spargo for their contributions to this item
For details on all the Thames Estuary Forts see Fort Fax