SOUTHAMPTON WATER TER A SOUTHAMPTON W Chartlet 3 Ebb Tide If the tide is ebbing, the ship will be set to the west in the turn and thus the turn to starboard into The Thorn Channel will commence much earlier and as much as 4 – 5 cables from Gurnard Buoy. In this case, the alteration to port at Prince Consort Buoy may be less obvious (See Chartlet 3). 6. Outbound vessel tracks Flood and Ebb tide All ships leaving Southampton via the Thorn Channel start their turn to port as soon as West Bramble Buoy has been cleared, in order that on steadying up, their final heading is north of Prince Consort Buoy and directly towards the main channel south of Ryde Middle Bank. However, in ebb tide conditions the ship will be set to the west during the turn and may use the full extent of the south eastern quadrant of The Precautionary Area (See Chartlet 4). 7. Southampton Harbour Master’s Patrol Launch When operationally possible the Southampton Harbour Master’s Patrol Launch (VHF Call Sign ‘’SP’’ – watching VHF Channel 12) will precede all vessels over 150 metres in length overall within ‘The Precautionary Area’ showing, in addition to the normal steaming lights, an all round blue light. The absence of a patrol launch does not invalidate the implementation of a vessel’s MPZ. Within The Precautionary Area all instructions given by the Southampton Harbour Master’s Patrol Launch should be acknowledged and promptly carried out. Chartlet 4 122 solenthandbook.com