MCA LONG SAND HEAD ROUTEING REVIEW

The Long Sand Head two-way route is located on the Southeast coast of England in the Sunk TSS area which leads in/out of the major Port of London. Over the preceding 10 years; routine re-survey work has been carried out as part of the Civil Hydrography Programme which has identified a slight shoaling and north-eastward migration of the Long Sand Head which has been found to be encroaching into the adjacent two-way route and ultimately causing a narrowing on the navigable corridor. The MCA is seeking to understand the options and potential solutions which are available relating to the procurement of services to firstly understand the predicted movement of the sandbank, Long Sand Head, over the next 10, 15 and 20 years. Then, utilising that data, to consider and where required, refine and develop alternative potential routeing design solutions based on navigation risk assessments, baselined against risk today, understanding the needs of current users of the scheme and future solutions taking into account the impact of any changes to the Long Sand Head two way route for traffic navigating the SUNK Centre Precautionary Area.