The River Deben

Local News:

 

Trinity House Lighthouse service have carried out detailed surveys of the main entrance channel between the Woodbridge Bar and the Martello Spit buoys. In view of the deteriorating situation, they agreed with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) that the existing Cautionary Note on the Chart should be strengthened to reflect that extensive local knowledge is necessary to transit the entrance at any state of the tide. Further information is contained in the revised Cautionary Note number 3 which should be detailed on the updated charts.

 

General Information:

 

The River Deben is well buoyed from the entrance at Woodbridge Haven for the whole nine miles up to Woodbridge. The Woodbridge Haven buoy is maintained by Trinity House and is spherical with red and white vertical stripes.  The buoy is unlit and hence entrance at night or in poor visibility is not recommended.

 

HW Deben Bar is 10 minutes before Harwich.

 

For up to date information and location of entrance bouys visit eastcoastrivers.com

 

Once in the river, clear fairways guide the visitor through the moorings at Felixstowe Ferry, Ramsholt, Waldringfield, Methersgate and Kyson Point.  Approaching Woodbridge, the prominent, stilted white structure of the Deben Yacht Club can be seen to port, as is the former Ferry Dock, overlooked by the boarded Tidemill.  Two hundred metres further on, the Tidemill Yacht Harbour entrance opens out to port. A flagpole displaying the harbour logo, the re-fuelling jetty and the tide gauge provide conspicuous marks.

 

Speed Limit:

 

Suffolk Coastal District Council have recently re-published their 'Water Recreation Guidelines' including a very useful diagram showing the speed limit for the various sections of the river. To download a copy of the speed limit diagram click here.