Varne Bank

[1][2] With the Lobourg Channel running along it, the Varne bank lies immediately south-west of the deepest point 223 feet (68 m) in the strait of Dover.

[5] With a minimum depth of about 2 metres (7 ft), it is marked by Trinity House with lighted buoys at the North, South, East and West.

Due to the increase of shipping through the world's busiest channel, several proposals have been made to eliminate the Varne Bank by dredging.

In 1802, mining engineer Albert Mathieu made proposals to Napoleon for converting the Varne Bank into an island staging point for a Channel Tunnel.

During the 20th century, a proposal was made for a bridge across the Channel, which would have used the Varne Bank as a staging post for a support structure.