Historic steamship VIC96 down the Thames - part 4, Chatham bound

The 4th and final part of Shipping TV's unique video footage filmed aboard 70 year-old steamship VIC96, returning home after a weekend on display in London.
This time we steam up the Medway, and are aboard as this little ship enters the lock and finally comes alongside her permanent berth.

[@actthree34]

Your comment about it being an "impressive job" exiting that lock was an understatement. I knew he was going to make it but I was on the edge of my seat, anyway. A thoroughly enjoyable video!

[@benters3509]

This dock was part of Chatham navy dockyard. That is the reason I was born here. My grandfather was stationed here. He spent his entire working life in the navy. Was on active service in WWI. Stationed at Sheerness during the war. Was on duty the night the Montgomery ran aground and sank. Was stationed at Chatham in 49 when I came along. Must have been transferred back to Sheerness after that, because we moved there when I was 1 year old, and that is where I grew up.

[@Joe90V]

Thanks for great series of videos. Going to see if I can visit her in the flesh now - worth supporting.

[@TheMendipman]

Fabulous Chris - just caught up with this one.
Noel

[@ShippingTV]

I'd like to do more, but its difficult to arrange.

[@benters3509]

Chatham. Where I was born. Now live in Tombstone, Arizona. Back in my seagoing days, I think a slight haul in on the aft spring would have pulled the stern in.

[@COIcultist]

Any reason why the interior of the lock including the pontoons is so much wider than the lock gates. I realise it's a marina (former dock?) on a tidal river and I've seen that sort of arrangement to allow a number of barges or lighters and tugs to exit at the same time. However this lock is to small for multiple vessels of that type.

[@ShippingTV]

There are a series of enclosed docks that run right across this meander in the Medway, and the larger ship entrance was at the other end - I think this lock can handle up to 24 metres, while the No1 basin lockl can accommodate up to 145 metres.Look up the Google map for " Chatham Docks" to get a clear view of the layout.