List of shoals and sandbanks in the southern North Sea

Shoals and sandbanks are characteristic underwater seabed features of the southern North Sea and the eastern English Channel. The relatively shallow water depth allows tidal currents to transport, configure and alter seabed materials, such as sand, shells, clay, and gravel, into elongated banks or shoals of shallow water.

Sandbanks and shoals

Formation In the southern North Sea the Spring Tide range is in excess of 7 metres. The large tidal amplitude produces tidal currents of 1.5 metres per second (m/s) on the flood tide, and 1.35 m/s during the ebb tide. Water flows parallel to the shore and this is reflected in the orientation of sandbanks. Typically, sandbanks of the English Channel and southern North Sea rise 10 to 25 m above the sea floor and are 10 to 30 km long and 1 to 3 km wide. The volume of material in some of the banks has been estimated at between 70 and 1100 Million m3.

Strong eddies and rip tides occur in the vicinity of many shoals, and the sea can break heavily over shoals especially when the wind is against the tidal current. Sandbanks and shoals are often marked by buoys. There are usually north and south marks, and on large shoals, east and west marks.

Extent The table below is a list of the named sandbanks and shoals of the southern North Sea, the Dover Strait (Pas-de-Calais) and the eastern English Channel (La Manche). The geographical extent is eastwards from a line (00°14'E) extending south from Beachy Head England to Étretat France in the English Channel, through the Straits of Dover, then north through the southern North Sea to a line extending east from Berwick-upon-Tweed England (55°50'N) to Ringkobing Fjord Denmark.

This area includes the shipping forecast areas of Wight (part); Dover; Thames; Tyne; Humber; Dogger and German Bight (part). It includes the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The Thames Estuary is defined as from the Nore Sand eastwards to a line from North Foreland to Harwich.

The Humber is defined as west of the Outer Sea Reach buoy 00° 06'E.

Abbreviations SNS – Southern North Sea; S-N – South to North; E-W – East to West; SW-NE – South-West to North-East; SE-NW – South-East to North-West.

List A tabulated list of shoals and sandbanks in the southern North Sea, Dover Strait and English Channel. +Shoals and sandbanks of the southern North Sea, Dover Strait and the eastern English ChannelNameCountryLocationCoordinates at centre of bank or shoalOrientationLength, kmWidth, kmRemarksAkkaertbankBelgiumSNS51°23'N 02°49'ESW-NE7.40.5Aldeburgh NapesUKSNS52°09'N 01°43'ES-N101Aldeburgh RidgeUKSNS52°08'N 01°37'ES-N71Anrum BankGermanySNS54°38'N 08°00'ES-N23.4Banc BreedtFranceSNS51°07'N 02°22ESW-NE242Banc de SnouwFranceSNS51°04'N 02°15'EE-W7.51Barmade BankUKSNS55°00'N 00°00'---Barrow UKThames Estuary51°37'N 01°10'ESW-NE5.53.5The adjacent Barrow Deep used for dumping sewage sludge 1889-1998Bassurelle BankUK & FranceDover Strait50°38'N 01°05'ESW-NE152.5Bassurelle de la SommeFranceEnglish Channel50°12'N 01°22'ESW-NE5.20.6Bassure de BaasFranceEnglish Channel50°27'N 01°20'E56BatturFranceEnglish Channel50°22'N 01°18'E14Bawdsey BankUKSNS51°59'N 01°33'ES-N12.51.5Bergues BankFrance & BelgiumSNS51°15'N 02°18'ESW-NE112Blakeney OverfallsUKSNS53°01'N 01°11'EE-W4.01.0Bligh BankBelgiumSNS51°33'N 02°35'ESW-NE5.50.5Boulder BanksUKEnglish Channel50°52'N 00°47'E-0.60.6Boulders BankUKSNS54°25'N 01°35'E---Dogger BankBroad FourteensNetherlandsSNS53°00'N 00°03'ES-NNamed from depth of 14 fathomsBroadstairs KnollUKSNS51°21'N 01°29'E-5.55.5Broken BankUKSNS53°19'N 02°12'ESE-NW351Volume of bank: 360 Million m3 Brown Bank, Brown Ridge https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6a27a12b266c4d19b9a3a6dd4b31939fUK & NetherlandsSNS52°40'N 03°15'ES-N302Bruine BankBruceys GardenUKSNS54°50'N 00°50'E---Bullock BankFranceEnglish Channel50°44'N 01°05''E11Burcom SandUKHumber53°35'N 00°04'WSE-NW2.51Buiten RatelBelgiumSNS51°15'N 02°31'ESW-NE14.82Bull SandUKHumber53°33'N 00°05'ESE-NW4.01.5Buxey SandUKSNS51°41'N 01°27'ESW-NE94Chequer ShoalUKHumber53°33'N 00°10'EE-W3.52Cleaver BankNetherlandsSNS54°10'N 03°08'EKlaverbankCoal PitUKSNS53°29'N 01°46'ECork SandUKSNS51°53'N 01°24'ES-N84.5Corton SandsUKSNS52°35'N 01°47'ES-NPosition and depth changesCromer KnollUKSNS53°18'N 01°18'ES-N51Cutler ShoalUKSNS51°59'N 01°27'ESW-NE2.50.5Docking ShoalUKSNS53°10'N 01°45'E-13.513.5Dogger BankUKSNS54°43'N 02°46'E-260100WindfarmDogger BightUKSNS54°19'N 01°50'E---Dogger BankDogger North ShoalUKSNS54°55'N 01°35'E-17.121.6Dogger BankDogger Tail EndGermany & NetherlandsSNS55°29'N 04°00'E---DrillstoneUKSNS51°26'N 01°41'EDudgeon ShoalUKSNS53°17'N 00°56'ESE-NW9.757.5WindfarmDunwich BankUKSNS52°14'N 01°40'ES-N31Dyck CentralFranceSNS51°07'N 02°12'ESW-NE81.5Dyck OccidentalFranceSNS51°05'N 02°00SW-NE18.52Dyck OrientalFranceSNS51°13'N 02°23'ESW-NE132East BarrowUKThames Estuary51°35'N 01°10'ESW-NE93.5East SpaniardUKThames Estuary51°25'N 01°01'EE-WEasternmost ShoalUKSNS54°40'N 02°30'E-5440.5Dogger BankEngelsmanplaatNetherlandsSNS53°27'N 06°03'EFairy BankFranceSNS51°23'N 02°20'ESW-NE5.50.5Fisher BankDenmarkSNSFlemish BanksBelgiumSNS51°17'N 02°38EFoulness SandUKSNS51°37'N 01°02'ESW-NE114.5Extends from shoreFour Fathoms Sand RidgeUKEnglish Channel50°48'N 00°39'ESW-NE5.40.6GalloperUKSNS51°46'N 01°57'ES-N5.51WindfarmGirdlerUKThames Estuary51°30'N 01°08'EE-W31Goodwin SandsUKSNS51°16'N 01°21'ESW-NW22Grandes ÉcamiasFranceEnglish Channel50°59'N 00°54'EE-W50.6Großer KnechtsandGermanySNS53°50'N 08°21'EGunfleet SandUKThames Estuary51°45'N 01°15'ESW-NE233Abandoned lighthouse; WindfarmHaddock BankUKSNS53°19'N 01°31'ESE-NWHaile SandUKHumber53°32'N 00°13'E-Haisborough SandsUKSNS52°54'N 01°42'ESE-NW162Volume of bank: 530 Million m3 Hammond KnollUKSNS52°52'N 01°55'ESE-NW9.7Volume of bank: 99 Million m3 Hastings ShoalsUKEnglish Channel50°49'N 00°34'ESW-NEHearty KnollUKSNS52°46'N 02°10'ESE-NWVolume of bank: 120 Million m3 HelgolandGermanySNS54°12'N 07°55'E-99Hessle SandUKHumber53°43'N 01°25'WE-W21Hewett RidgeUKSNS52°52'N 02°00'ESE-NW284Gas field. Volume of bank: 190 Million m3 Holm SandUKSNS52°29'N 01°47'ES-N111.5Horse of WillingdonUKEnglish Channel50°45'N 01°02'EE-W31Hull MiddleUKHumber53°42'N 00°22'WE-W3.51Indefatigable Bank 1, 2 & 3UKSNS53°30'N 02°23'ESE-NW4Gas field. Volume of bank: 85 Million m3 (1), 69 Million m3 (2), 310 Million m3 (3) Inner BankUKSNS53°12'N 02°01'ESE-NW181Volume of bank: 110 Million m3 Inner BankUKSNS54°20'N 00°30'E---Dogger BankInner DowsingUKSNS53°19'N 00°35'ES-N7.53WindfarmInner GabbardUKSNS51°55'N 01°54'ES-N161.5WindfarmInner Silver PitUKSNS53°32′N 00°47′EIn RatelFranceSNS51°07'N 02°16'ESW-NE6.51In RuytingenFranceSNS51°13'N 02°17'ESW-NE125.5Jim Howe BankUKSNS52°57'N 02°25'ESE-NWKachelotplateGermanySNS53°39'N 06°49'EKentish KnockUKSNS51°37'N 01°38'ES-N13.52.5Knock JohnUKThames Estuary51°34'N 01°04'ESW-NE31Maunsell fortKobbergrundDenmarkSNS57°12'N 11°15'EKoresandDenmarkSNS55°15'N 08°29'EKwintebankBelgiumSNS51°15'N 02°38'ESW-NE112Le ColbartFranceDover Strait50°53'N 01°20'ESW-NE161Also called The RidgeLeman BankUKSNS53°08'N 01°55'ESE-NW4211Gas field. Volume of bank: 840 Million m3 Les RidensFranceDover Strait50°45'N 01°18'ESeveral shoalsLong SandUKThames Estuary51°37'N 01°30'ESW-NE337.5Maplin SandUKThames Estuary51°33'N 00°47'E SW-NE236.1Extends from coastMaplin SpitUKThames Estuary51°36'N 01°06'ESW-NE4.51Margate SandUKThames Estuary51°26'N 01°20'EE-W92MiddelbankNetherlandsSNS51°40'N 03°22'ESW-NE14.80.5Middelkerke BankBelgiumSNS51°15'N 02°43'ESW-NE132.5Middle Cross SandUKSNS52°39'N 01°52'ES-N31Middle SandUKThames Estuary51°27'N 01°02'ESW-NE61.5Middle ShoalUKHumber53°37'N 00°02'WSE-NW4.01MouseUKThames Estuary51°32'N 01°04'ESW-NE4.50.5Newarp BanksUKSNS52°42'N 02°00'ES-N8.52Noordhinder BankBelgiumSNS51°39′N 02°41′ES-N111Nieuwpoort BankBelgiumSNS51°13'N 02°41'ESW-NE9.251Nore SandUKThames Estuary51°29'N 00°46'EE-W61North Cross SandUKSNS52°45'N 01°52'ES-N71North FallsUKSNS51°40'N 01°57'ES-N111OazeUKThames Estuary51°30'N 01°00'ESW-NE5.51Oost DyckBelgiumSNS51°18'N 02°29'ESW-NE14.81.5Oostende BankBelgiumSNS51°16'N 02°48'ESW-NE152OosthinderBelgiumSNS51°32'N 02°38'ESW-NE16.61.5Out RuytingenFranceDover Strait51°14'N 02°17°ESW-NE332Outer BankUKSNS54°30'N 01°05'E---Dogger BankOuter DowsingUKSNS53°25'N 01°08'ESE-NW19.51WindfarmOuter GabbardUKSNS51°58'N 02°03'ES-N52WindfarmOuter Silver PitUKSNS54°00′N 02°00′EOwer BankUKSNS53°14'N 01°52'ESE-NW451Volume of bank: 730 Million m3 PaardenmarktBelgianSNS51°21'N 03°17'EPan SandUKThames Estuary51°28'N 01°10'EE-W3.51RaanNetherlandsSNS51°27'N 03°20'E-226Race BankUKSNS53°12'N 00°51'ESE-NW21.05.5WindfarmRed SandUKThames Estuary51°28'N 01°00'EE-W20.5Maunsell fort Petits ÉcamiasFranceEnglish Channel50°01'N 00°53'EE-W5.21.5RichelNetherlandsSNS53°17N 05°08'EQuemerFranceEnglish Channel50°15'N 01°18'E-10-Ridins de DieppeFranceEnglish Channel50°06'N 01°08'E-10.410.4Ridins de TréportFranceEnglish Channel50°05'N 01°16'E-50.6Rosse SpitUKHumber53°30'N 00°15'ESW-NE4.52Rough ShoalsUKSNS51°54'N 01°30'ES-N108HM Fort RoughsRoyal Sovereign ShoalsUKEnglish Channel50°45'N 00°26'ES-N41Sandettie BankFrance & UKDover Strait51°09′N 01°47′ESW-NE275SchouwenbankNetherlandsSNS51°48′N 03°25′ESW-NE18.51Scroby SandsUKSNS52°38'N 01°47'ES-N142WindfarmSheringham ShoalUKSNS53°03'N 01°10'EE-W101.0ShinglesUKThames Estuary51°31'N 01°13'EE-W6.55.0ShipwashUKSNS51°58'N 01°37'ES-N182Shivering SandUKThames Estuary51°30'N 01°24'ESW-NE3.50.5Maunsell fort SimonszandNetherlandsSNS53°31'N 06°24ESizewell BankUKSNS52°10'N 01°40'ES-N41Smal BankFrance & BelgiumSNS51°06'N 02°30'ESW-NE262Smiths KnollUKSNS52°52'N 02°13'ES-N281Volume of bank: 390 Million m3 Sole Pit HighUKSNS53°35'N 01°23'ESW-NE71South Cross SandUKSNS52°34'N 01°51'ES-N91South Dogger GroundUKSNS54°18'N 02°25'E---Dogger BankSouth FallsUKSNS51°21'N 01°47'ES-N28South ShoalUKHumber53°36'N 00°00'SE-NW3.51SpaniardUKThames Estuary51°27'N 01°03'EE-W10.5SouthWest PatchUKSNS54°35'N 02°05'E-67.522.5Dogger BankSpileUKThames Estuary51°07'N 00°57'EE-W20.5SteenbankenNetherlandsSNS51°41'N 02°25'ESW-NE110.5Stephensons ShoalUKEnglish Channel50°53'N 00°54'EE-W5-StroombancBelgiumSNS51°13'N 02°48'ESW-NE132Sunk SandUKThames Estuary51°39'N 01°15'ESW-NE243Maunsell fort (ruin)Swarte BankUKSNS51°24'N 02°13'ESE-NW411Volume of bank: 440 Million m3 Sylt Outer ReefGermanySNS55°06'N 07°35'E---Terschellinger BankNetherlandsSNS53°32'N 05°08'ESE-NW--Tertius (sandbank)GermanySNS54°08'N 08°42EThe HillsUKSNS54°21'N 00°60'E---Thornton Ridge or BankBelgiumSNS51°34'N 03°00'ESW-NE61WindfarmTizard BankUKThames Estuary51°33'N 01°12'EE-W2.50.5Tongue SandUKThames Estuary51°31'N 01°13'EE-W7.51.5Maunsell fort (ruin)Triton KnollUKSNS53°23'N 01°00'ESE-NW25.5WindfarmVarne BankUKDover Strait51°00'N 01°23'ESW-NE9.31Vergoyer BanksFranceEnglish Channel50°33'N 01°15'E24Weiss BankGermanySNS55°00'N 06°00'E---Well BankUKSNS53°14'N 02°11'ESE-NW572Volume of bank: 1100 Million m3 West BarrowUKThames Estuary51°35'N 01°56'ESW-NE131.8West DyckFranceDover Strait51°03'N 01°51'EWesthinderBelgiumSNS51°28'N 02°31'ESW-NE222Whitaker SpitUKThames Estuary51°40'N 01°07'ESW-NE61Winterton RidgeUKSNS52°50'N 02°02'ESE-NW80.5Volume of bank: 105 Million m3

See also

Shoal Geology of the southern North Sea Geography of the North Sea

References