Archived decisions

Contact: Tony Clatworthy, tel 01489 576387

email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the activities and events on the River from 3 May 2006. Any incidents taking place after this report is finalised will be the subject of a separate Annexe to be distributed at the meeting.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 This report supports Aims 1 to 5 of the Corporate Strategy (Maximising Life Opportunities; Stewardship of the Environment; Achieving Economic Prosperity; Building Strong and Safe Communities; and Improving Services) by contributing to the statutory duties entailed in the management of the River Hamble.

3. Report

3.1 The River has been patrolled daily by the Duty Harbour Master from 1 May at varying times from 0600 hours through to 2000 hours, 2200 hours or 2359 hours. The four summer Coxswains commenced work on 1 May and underwent an induction and training period of 14 days before being permitted to conduct lone working patrols.

4. Incidents

4.1 18 May: Patrol took on board a paramedic and delivered him to a yacht in Southampton Water, which had reported there was a casualty aboard. Casualty recovered to Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

4.2 20 May: Patrol attended to a badly injured yacht crew member who had been recovered to the Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash. Casualty taken away by ambulance.

4.3 25 May: Collision between vessel entering the harbour and a moored yacht (A2 -A3). Damage noted and photographs taken, owner of moored yacht informed and owners agreed on outcome. On further investigation of the incident no further action required.

4.4 27 May: Yacht with loss of engine power recovered to Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

4.5 28 May: The Harbour Patrol found a young boy floundering in the water off Warsash Sailing Club dinghy launching jetty at Lobster Pound. The boy was holding on to the downstream edge of the pontoon shouting and crying and clearly in distress. The patrol boat was unable to get in close to rescue him owing to the number of dinghies moored on the pontoon. The duty Harbour Master sounded the patrol boat's horn in an attempt to attract the attention of two adults in the area, who ran over and pulled him out. The Harbour Master has been informed that the Warsash Sailing Club is holding an internal investigation. He has written to the Club again highlighting his concerns that on some occasions and in certain conditions launching and recovery at Lobster Quay might be dangerous. Notice to River Users 12 of 2006 sets out the responsibilities of those providing such facilities.

4.6 29 May:

(i) A yacht (J109) collided with beacon number 1. The boat was dismasted. The patrol helped to recover the rigging and make safe before recovering the casualty to the Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash. No damage was done to Harbour Authority Equipment. On further investigation no further action was required.

(ii) Patrol towed vessel with loss of engine power into River. Recovered to Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

4.7 3 June: Patrol towed two vessels with loss of engine power to Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

4.8 4 June: Patrol recovered two vessels with loss of engine power to Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

4.9 6 June: Patrol attended to yacht with rope around propeller. Boat recovered by patrol.

4.10 7 June:

(i) A dumper truck slipped quietly over the sea wall at Universal Marina. No injuries were caused and the vehicle was quickly recovered. Contaminated mud was removed and the area fully restored to its original condition. The Health and Safety Executive's Office was informed of the accident and the Environment Agency was informed.

(ii) Patrol boat recovered a yacht to the scrubbing piles at Warsash to remove rope from propeller.

4.11 9 June: Patrol, with the assistance of the Marine Police, recovered a windsurfer who was in difficulties on the bar at the entrance to the River.

4.12 10 June:

(i) 40 foot motor cruiser involved in a collision with yacht on its moorings. Matter settled between owners. On further investigation no further action required by Harbour Authority.

(ii) Collision between small yacht and a Sealine 34 on the Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash. Motor cruiser holed just above the water line. Patrol advised the owner not to leave the River as it would be dangerous owing to the damage. No further action required by Harbour Authority.

4.13 11 June:

(i) Yacht tender stolen from mooring.

(ii) Patrol assisted yacht with rope fouling propeller.

4.14 12 June:

(i) Report of small speedboat water-skiing in Upper Hamble. Patrol attended but found boat at anchor. The owner interviewed and written warning issued.

(ii) Collision between two boats during manoeuvring from moorings. No further action required by Harbour Authority.

4.15 14 June:

(i) Fire and Rescue crews taken on familiarisation trip in the patrol boats.

(ii) 40 foot yacht arrested for non-payment of harbour dues. Boat released following payment in full.

4.16 15 June: Patrol recovered three bicycles, believed stolen property. Police informed, who later collected the bicycles.

4.17 18 June: Yacht recovered to Harbour Master's Jetty with casualty aboard. Casualty was a young lady with chest injuries. Paramedic attended and casualty evacuated to hospital in Southampton.

4.18 20 June:

(i) Audit of the Port Marine Safety Code undertaken by Marine Enforcement Limited on behalf of the Department for Transport and the MCA.

(ii) Ocean Scene, a trip boat from Southampton, complained of a vessel overtaking in a dangerous manner. Patrol attended and issued a written warning following an interview of the skipper.

4.19 22 June: Patrol removed set long lines from bed of River in the Botley area. Lines set on the River bed unattended. This practice is illegal and, following consultations with the Environment Agency, the lines were removed and destroyed. Patrols now regularly trawl for such illegal lines.

4.20 During the reporting period the Harbour Patrols constantly attended various vessels to secure and moor correctly. The Patrols slowed numerous vessels and warned them of speeding and also creating a wash.

5. Patrol Boats

5.1 The engines on the patrol boats have undergone the annual replacement with new 50 horsepower outboards. The replacement is completed under the long term contract with Honda. The patrol boats have also undergone a winter refit to make them ready for the coming season. Mobwatcher devices have been fitted to the patrol boats to act as a kill cord. The operator carries the electronic key in his pocket and if he moves more than a couple of metres from the boat both engines switch off. The system was fitted by Holts free of charge and is an ideal solution to the many incidents reported in the Solent of crews being thrown overboard from RIBs and the vessel continuing at speed.

5.2 The Harbour Authority dory `Kingfisher' has been commissioned ready for the summer season. The dory will be used to reduce speeding and other bye-law infringements in the upper Hamble, making it safer for canoeists and other River users.

6. The Fishermen's Jetty

6.1 On 15 June The Fishermen's Jetty at Warsash was officially opened by the Chairman of the Harbour Board. Local press and television crews were in attendance.

6.2 The Fishermen's Jetty is now being used by fishermen to unload their catch and carry out maintenance to their boats. The jetty has halted the bad practice of transporting the sometimes heavy and bulky catch from the midstream pontoon to the slipway in low freeboard craft. The six fishing boats based in the Hamble now have a safer working environment, with a marked reduction in risk to themselves and all other River users.

6.3 Dinghy sailors, and others who launch at Warsash, are finding the jetty an added bonus and have made good use of it. The jetty has proved very useful for fishermen, dinghies and small craft launched on the slipway.

6.4 The Harbour Master is happy for others to use the jetty to help them launch their craft but the fishermen have priority. Signs have been erected stating this fact and also warning members of the public that it is a working jetty. The Harbour staff will discourage inappropriate use of the jetty.

7. New Buoyage System

7.1 Three starboard hand buoys have been laid at Warsash to indicate the main channel upstream of the College Jetty. This now gives an excellent line of approach, defining the channel at Warsash extremely well, especially at night.

(i) The first buoy, No. 11 - (Q.G. 2M) sits directly under the Warsash sector light (Dir Iso. WRG. 6s 5m 4M). Because of the buoy's location, directly under the white sector of the Warsash sector light, it has become easier to identify the light. In the past it was found difficult, mainly owing to light pollution from Warsash village.

(ii) As the starboard side of the channel is now better marked it has been observed that vessels using that part of the channel do not cut the corner but take a much wider and better line of approach. The well-marked channel has reduced the number of vessels cutting across into the course of other vessels departing, thereby reducing the possibility of a collision.

(iii) The next buoy, No. 13, acts in conjunction with the Fl (2+1) R 10s 2M on the first pile of the central visitors' pontoon. This now becomes a well-defined gateway and buoy No. 15, sitting off the Harbour Master's Jetty, along with buoy No. 13 clearly indicate the main channel.

(iv) Removing all the fore and aft moorings from the Harbour Master's Jetty and Stone Pier Yard has opened up the area giving better lines of sight and safer manoeuvring areas.

8. Hamble River Raid (The Hamble Gig)

8.1 The annual gig race took place on Saturday 13 May with nine boats racing from Hamble Quay to the A27 road bridge and back to Hamble. The Hamble Gig is a 14 foot rowing boat manned by two, four or six rowers, some with a coxswain.

8.2 Two patrol boats covered the race, ensuring other craft in the main channel were not affected. A course had been agreed which highlighted danger areas, mainly at crossing points of the main channel. The Harbour Master allowed the start and finish to take place at Hamble Quay to help make the event more visible. Starting at Hamble Quay did add more risk but with the patrols in place these risks were reduced to a manageable level. The patrol boats and Duty Harbour Master were involved in this activity for some time during a busy weekend, ensuring that the race was a success with no impact on other river users.

9. Port Marine Safety Code

9.1 As reported above, on 20 June 2006 Marine Enforcement Limited completed an audit of the Harbour Authority's records for the Port Marine Safety Code. Procedures were checked and staff were interviewed by the auditors. From all accounts the report was very favourable and showed the Harbour Authority to be up to its normal high standard. A copy of the letter sent with the Certificate of Compliance is attached as an appendix.

10. Youths, Swimming and Jumping

10.1 The patrol has been called to numerous incidents involving children and youths swimming and jumping from various locations in the River. These actions have caused a danger to the youths and others. The police have been called to the most dangerous incidents but this does not seem to deter the youngsters at all.

10.2 Incidents involve jumping in front of the ferry at Hamble Jetty, jumping from the A27 road bridge, jumping from the M27 road bridge and swimming in the main channel.

10.3 Approximately 40 foot of rope was removed from the M27 road bridge. This had been used as a rope ladder and also to swing from the bridge. Children have been seen running along the motorway and standing on the motorway bridge rail before disappearing over the side of the bridge.

10.4 Children have been recovered from the main channel directly in the path of motor cruisers and yachts. A small head would not be seen from the steering position of a large yacht or motor cruiser.

10.5 The dangers involved include jumping into shallow water, hitting an obstruction, of which there are plenty, and being overwhelmed by the 3.5 to 4 knot tidal current.

10.6 The Harbour Master is in the process of arranging visits to local schools to give presentations, assisted by the Coastguard. The presentation will attempt to bring home the dangers of such activities.

11. Fire and Rescue

11.1 Blue Watch, from High Town fire station, completed a liaison visit from 1000 hours to 1300 hours on 14 June 2006. Two pump engines and the complete watch attended the morning's training and investigations. Both patrol boats were utilised during the training process.

11.2 The main objectives of the visit were to:

(i) investigate the use of Patrol Boats when attending a fire or rescue in the River;

(ii) investigate types of moorings;

(iii) investigate rescue of crews from midstream moorings;

(iv) complete a loading trial of boats with equipment and manpower;

(v) complete loading trial and investigate speed and wash with a fully loaded boat;

(vi) investigate and inspect fuel sales location on the River Hamble;

(vii) investigate possible locations for mud rescues, including access and landing points and equipment launched from boats;

(viii) investigate rendezvous locations; and

(ix) confirm rendezvous location at Warsash which will be used for vessels towed in and beached on slipway, possible fire risk and vessels towed in - danger of sinking.

11.3 The morning was a success and all objectives were achieved both by Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the Harbour staff.

12. Impact Assessments

12.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment, in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, has not been undertaken.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

963/TC