Pas de Calais - Dover Straight

Shoals

The Varne (50°58'N., 1°20'E.), a dangerous steep-to and narrow shoal, lies 11 miles NW of Cap Griz-Nez and extends for about 8 miles in the middle of the traffic lane heading SW in the Pas de Calais TSS. It is possible to pass on both sides of the bank. Strong tide rips occur in the vicinity of this shoal and a heavy sea breaks over it during bad weather. This shoal has a least depth of about 3m and is marked by lighted buoys to the W, E, and S.

The Ridge (Le Colbart) (50°53'N., 1°20'E.), a dangerous steep-to and narrow shoal, lies about 10 miles W of Cap Gris-Nez. It extends for about 10 miles and forms a natural separation between the traffic lanes of the TSS. This shoal, which is composed mostly of sand with mud and shells in places, has a least depth of 1.5m and is marked by lighted buoys. The sea breaks heavily on this shoal, especially with the wind against the tidal current.

Bullock Bank (50°45'N., 1°05'E.), a steep-to and narrow shoal, lies about 20 miles WSW of Cap Gris-Nez. It extends for about 7 miles and is marked by a lighted buoy. This bank has a least depth of 14m and is usually marked by strong tidal rips.

Les Ridens (50°45'N., 1°18'E.), lying about 13 miles SW of Cap Gris-Nez, is an area consisting of several shoals. These shoals are formed of sand, gravel, and shells disposed irregularly on a rocky bottom. The area has a least depth of 13m and is marked by a lighted buoy. The sea breaks heavily on this area and strong eddies occur in bad weather.

Bassurelle (50°38'N., 1°05'E.), a sandy shoal with a least depth of about 7m, lies 24 miles SW of Cap Gris-Nez. Strong eddies and a dangerous sea occur during bad weather, especially with the wind against the tidal current, in the vicinity of this shoal. The shoal extends for about 9 miles and the depths over it frequently change.

Vergoyer (50°33'N., 1°15'E.), a narrow sand bank, lies 23 miles SSW of Cap Griz-Nez. It extends for about 15 miles and is marked by lighted buoys. A shoal patch, with a least depth of 4.2m, lies near the NE extremity. The E side of this sand bank is steep-to, while the W side slopes gradually. In bad weather the sea breaks over this bank.

Bassure de Baas (50°27'N., 1°20'E.), a narrow bank of sand and shells, lies with its N end located about 4.5 miles SSW of Cap Griz-Nez. This bank has mostly depths of less than 7m and extends for about 35 miles. During bad weather the sea breaks heavily over the entire bank. Numerous unmarked wrecks lie in the channel leading between the mainland coast and the N part of Bassure de Baas.

Battur, a shoal extending for about 9 miles, lies parallel with and SE of the SW extremity of Bassure de Baas. It has a least depth of 8.9m and is formed of sand, gravel, and shells. During strong W winds the sea breaks heavily on this shoal.

Sandettie (51°15'N., 2°00'E.), a shoal bank extending for about 15 miles, lies with its SW end located 11 miles NNW of Calais. It has a least depth of 5m and is marked by lighted buoys.

Information Service

Vessels in the vicinity of the Dover Strait TSS are advised to listen to the appropriate VHF broadcasts given by the Channel Navigation and Information Service (CNIS). This service, which is operated from Dover Strait Coast Guard and CROSSMA Griz-Nez, provides  information concerning traffic, navigation, and visibility.
CNIS broadcasts are given on VHF channel 11 by Dover Coast Guard at 40 minutes past the hour (additional broadcasts at 55 minutes past the hour when visibility is less than 2 miles) and by Griz-Nez Traffic on VHF channel 79 at 10 minutes past the hour (additional broadcasts at 25 minutes past the hour when visibility is less than 2 miles).
The information broadcasts are preceded by an announcement on VHF channel 16 and followed by a reminder concerning the time and VHF frequency of the next broadcast.