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The Historic Chatham Dockyard HM Submarine Ocelot

The Historic Chatham Dockyard, Main Gate Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
  • The most accessible entrance has: steps and a narrow entrance opening.
  • There is stepped access once inside.
  • This venue also has the following available: a companion/carer discount.
  • The attractions within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.
    The submarine has restricted access and space.
    Access is only via guided tours with a member of staff.
    A tour time slot can be booked at the Plan Your Visit counter, located by the entrance to the Command of the Oceans, close to the site entrance.

Parking (Main Car Park)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photographs 1-4 show the main car park.
    • Photographs 5 and 6 show the step-free or shallow stepped access onto the pavement from the car park.
    • Photograph 7 shows a tarmacked car parking section that is used at times, however, it is further from the entrance.
    • There are Blue Badge bays and electrical vehicle charging bays in the No.5 Slip, to the right of the site entrance and main car park.

Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is a sheltered car park with a tarmac and concrete surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
  • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 225cm x 470cm.
  • There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 127m from the site entrance.
  • Potential obstacles between the Blue Badge parking and the entrance include dropped kerbs, uneven surfaces and a road crossing.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 1 shows the No.5 slip which has the Blue Badge bays and 6 electrical vehicle charging bays within it. This is to the right-hand side from the main car park and site entrance.
    • Access does not have to be pre-arranged.
    • A security barrier and intercom 120cm high are used to access the car park. Staff will open the barriers when requested via this intercom.
    • Photograph 4 shows one of the Blue Badge Bays and photograph 5 shows the electrical vehicle charging bays.
    • Photographs 6-8 show the route to the site entrance.
    • There is a pedestrian crossing which is level with the road one side, with a dropped kerb and tactile paving on the other side.
    • The route consists of tarmac and block paving.

Public Transport

  • There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • There is a designated drop-off area for coach tours within 150 metres of the site entrance.
  • The nearest train station is Gillingham.
  • Gillingham Station is approximately 1.9 miles away.

Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 173cm.

Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 125cm.
  • Comments View
    • The security barriers, shown in photograph 1, have a ticket bar code reader that is 92cm high. The barriers automatically open away from you.
    • The ramp and corridor, shown in photographs 2-5, lead towards the Command of the Oceans gallery space and the two exit doors that lead outside.

Counter (Plan Your Visit - Tour Tickets)

  • There is step-free access to this counter.
  • There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for seated users.
  • There is background noise here.

Entrance (Command of the Oceans to Museum Square: External Site Area)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 153cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 168cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a very slight slope by the first set of automatic doors, shown in photograph 2.
    • The slight slope is located beyond the second automatic door as shown in photograph 4.

Entrance (Information Exhibit)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 240cm.

Attraction / Exhibit (Information Boards)

  • There is step-free access to and throughout this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: pictorial and information board.
  • Lighting levels are low here.

Entrance (Reception and Route to Gangplank)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 201cm.

Reception

  • There is step-free access to this reception.
  • There is not a low level desk or counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • There are bench seats available in the reception area.

Entrance (Gangplank and Doorway)

  • There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are 10 or more steps.
  • The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single manual door which open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 69cm.
  • Comments View
    • The gangplank to the stepped entrance is 104cm wide.
    • There are 2 steps on either end of the gangplank, with a further 6 leading down to the entrance door.
    • There are then 11 steps down into the submarine.

Inside Access (Walkways)

  • There is not step-free access throughout the majority of the venue.
  • Some of the corridors are narrow.
  • The flooring is not non-slip, with and a very shiny finish which may cause glare or look slippery to some people.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • There is a low ceiling which is approximately 170cm high.
    The narrowest walkways are 33cm and 40cm wide. They are all metallic.
    There are various trip hazards.
    Due to the narrow nature of the walkways, the tour guide advises those with severe medical conditions, recent operations or claustrophobia to not go on the tour.
    There are various steps, such as one the one shown in photograph 12. Most are at doorways, however there are some spaced along the walkway.

Doorways and Hatches

  • There are various doorways through the submarine, which vary from 38cm to 50cm wide.
  • Many of the doors have steps (photograph 2).
  • There are 4 hatches that are passed through in the submarine.
  • The first hatch is 45cm to 115cm high and has a 32cm high step to it. There is a handle/bar 129cm high that can be used to pull yourself through.
  • The second hatch is 54cm to 129cm high and has a 44cm high step to it. There is a handle/bar 135cm high that can be used to pull yourself through.
  • The third hatch is 49cm to 139cm high and has a 40cm step to it.
  • The fourth hatch is 70cm to 136cm high and has a 56cm high step one side, and a 23cm high step to it on the other side.

Entrance (Exit and Gangplank)

  • There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are 10 or more steps.
  • The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 69cm.
  • Comments View
    • The steep narrow steps lead up out onto the gangplank.
    • There are 3 steps (2 at one end and 1 at the other) on the gangplank, with a slight slope down to the last 2 steps.

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