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 30 May. All incidents occurring from 24 April to the 30 May, already reported to the Harbour Board are in Annex A to this report. Any incidents taking place after this report has been distributed will be the subject of a separate Annex to be distributed at the meeting.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That the contents of this report be noted

3. Report

3.1 Summer timings commenced on 1 May 2008 and from that date the River was patrolled from 0600hrs until 2200hrs, and on weekends until 2300hrs and 2359hrs on special occasions. These timings will remain in place until 1 September 2008.

4. Incidents

4.1 1 June; Two fishing boats on the Fisherman's jetty at Warsash were deliberately untied and another attempt had been made to untie a larger fishing boat. Luckily the tide held the boats against the jetty and the boats were caught and did not drift off into the main River fairway. One boat had a strop with a lock fitted stopping it from drifting off. One fisherman also reported encountering threatening behaviour from groups of young men in cars when unloading gear at night. Details of these incidents given to Marine Police who also contacted the local Police.

4.2 5 June: Patrol received a report of a small power cruiser being caught and held on mooring lines on the `L' piles. Patrol attended and rescued the boat towing it back to the marina as the lines were around the propeller.

4.3 The patrol has attended to a number of small incidents involving mooring holders in collisions while mooring midstream. The patrol has also been constantly removing youths and children from various pontoons at Warsash and other locations throughout the river. The patrol has been active on a number of occasions in assisting vessels with engine failure to safely enter the River and come alongside.

5. Following a number of incidents involving rescues of people from the water the Harbour Master has written to all yacht clubs and mooring holders associations about safety in small tenders or dinghies. A copy of the letter is attached at Annex B to this report.

Annex A

List of Incidents Reported to the Harbour Board 25 April to 30 May

1. 25 April: A yacht was in collision with a moored vessel causing damage to the topsides of the moored yacht. The matter is being dealt with through the insurance services of the two boats involved. Accident caused through helmsman error and not a matter for the SMS.

2. 27 April: A crewmember of a racing yacht was recovered to the Harbour Masters Jetty at Warsash. The man had been struck or was very near a lightning strike and was suffering from severe muscle pain and shock! The patrol applied first aid and an ambulance was called. On arrival the ambulance crew gave the casualty a complete check over in the ambulance and he was declared fit and well.

3. 2 May: A young lady was found swimming in the River fully clothed and was forcibly rescued by the Patrol. It appeared the incident was an attempted suicide by a patient from Coldeast Hospital who was being held under section 17 of the Mental Health Act. The casualty was recovered to the Harbour Office and a change of clothing was supplied along with hot drinks. A paramedic checked the casualty and an ambulance then transferred the patient to Coldeast Hospital.

4. 3 May: A report was received of a collision between a 40 foot motor yacht and a moored vessel on the `V' pile moorings at Bursledon. On further investigation it was determined that the cause was a combination of wind, tide and boat handling skills. This matter is in the hands of the insurance companies representing the two owners. No changes to the SMS or the navigation aids in that area are recommended.

5. 5 May: Patrol observed a small oil spill in Universal Marina which was unable to be traced. A small absorbent blanket was deployed to recover the spill.

6. 4 May: Patrol reports that there have been a number of incidents involving youths causing a nuisance in the area of Bursledon Pool and Swanwick. A number of complaints have been received and on one occasion the Patrol found four youths drifting upstream in the main channel at Bursledon in a small dinghy. They had no oars or lifejackets and the patrol returned them to X pontoon at Swanwick Marina. The Dockmaster called the police, who did not attend and did not give an incident number. The youths ran off and no details were obtained on that occasion. The next day there was another report of youths taking a tender but nothing was found when the patrol attended.

7. 11 May: Police arrested three youths who had allegedly been involved in taking a tender and leaving it upturned in the mud along with its outboard engine. Police are dealing with the matter.

8. 14 May: An open sailing Lugger (7metres) was in collision with a moored yacht. Patrol ensured details were exchanged to enable repairs to be arranged by the owners of both boats.

9. 15 May: Patrol, Coastguard and Police involved in a search for three youths suspected of capsizing a small tender and in need of rescue. Police traced the youths' home address from a mobile phone found on the shore and are dealing with the matter.

10. 15 May: Vessel observed speeding and causing a dangerous wash in the River. Investigations are proceeding with regard to a possible prosecution.

11. 17 May: A 4 metre speed boat sank at the entrance to the River in the main channel between Piles 1 and 2. Three youths were rescued and returned to the Harbour Office. The matter is still under investigation and attempts are being made to locate the boat as it might be causing a danger to craft entering the River.

12. 17 May: The Patrol saved a 4 metre motor boat from sinking in the Upper Hamble. The boat was recovered by the patrol to Swanwick slipway with two people aboard. The owner had failed to replace the bung in the transom of the boat.

13. 18 May: The Harbour Patrol attempted to give assistance to an elderly Gentleman and his woman companion, neither wearing lifejackets, who appeared to be having difficulties in manoeuvring their tender. The man was using a wooden thwart to paddle and was having great difficulty. He refused all assistance from the Harbour Patrol even though the lady was willing to accept the Patrols help. The Patrol stood by and observed in case there was an accident. Another tender appeared and his assistance was accepted. The second tender then had to be assisted by the Patrol as his engine also failed.

Note: There are a number of older people who use the River in very small craft who refuse to wear a life jacket and do not have a secondary means of propulsion for their tender. The Harbour Master will be writing to all yacht clubs on the River and to the Mooring Holders Association asking them to advise their members of the dangers.

14. 19 May: Report of a stolen outboard from the mooring at the Royal Southern Yacht Club. 3.5hp Tohatsu serial number T44203XF.

15. The sunken sports boat (paragraph 11) was located by sonar 15 metres due west of Beacon No. 1 in the main channel. As there was a slight danger to long keeled yachts touching the wreck at low water the following action was undertaken. An Isolated danger mark buoy was established over the wreck and a Notice to River Users (Local Notice to Mariners) was distributed warning of the dangers. During the recovery of the small sports boat at the entrance to the River the boat broke up and was lost in deeper water in Southampton Water. H.M. Southampton informed through VTS. The Isolated Danger Mark was discontinued and a local Notice to Mariners Issued (Notice to River Users) was issued.

16. 26 May: Report of a yacht going aground at Swanwick. On further investigation it was discovered that a RIB had recovered the yacht. Incident was an error on the part of the helm therefore no changes to the SMS.

17. 28 May: Patrol rescued a 78 year old gentleman who had fallen from his yacht whilst coming alongside a midstream pontoon. He was single handed and had slipped from the pontoon following a jump to get from the boat. He was in the water approximately 25 to 30 minutes being unable to attract attention. He was recovered to Hamble Jetty and taken by ambulance to Southampton Hospital where he made a complete recovery. There had been a fear of hypothermia and secondary drowning. The man was extremely lucky as he was spotted and recovered and remained strong enough to stay on the surface, as he did not have a life jacket. The local river users, the Coastguard and the Coastguard helicopter assisted in the search.

Note: This is another example of an of elderly person being alone on the water and not wearing a lifejacket. A lifejacket would have assisted him in swimming fully clothed. The bright colours of the lifejacket would have assisted in the man being spotted because his street cloths were the same colour as his surroundings.

Annex B to Harbour Masters Report

Dated: 20 June 2008

Copy of letter to all Yacht Clubs and Mooring Holders Associations

6 June 2008

Dear

The Dangers of Small Tenders

I am writing to all the yacht clubs and The River Hamble Mooring Holders Association with the aim of drawing attention to a number of incidents that have occurred recently on the River.

There has been a number of incidents involving the rescue of individuals from the water, these involved the capsizing of small tenders or people falling from pontoons. In two incidents the people involved were extremely lucky to survive as they had both been in the water for some time unable to attract attention. All the accidents except two involved single handed sailors on near deserted waters. One elderly person was in the water for nearly 30 minutes and was extremely lucky to recover from hypothermia and the possibility of secondary drowning.

I would respectfully request that you draw your members attention to the danger of single handed boating, especially in low freeboard tenders.

I would recommend that all tenders carry a secondary means of propulsion (paddle), a bailer and that all occupants wear lifejackets. It is also my advice to wear bright clothing and possibly tell someone where they are going and when they will be returning. The dinghy or tender should be fitted with buoyancy enabling it to stay afloat should it capsize. At night lights should be shown to avoid collision.

The old adage that it will never happen to me or I have always done it this way without a problem, could be dangerous. I would ask people to examine their routines for operating tenders, as it could save their lives.

I can assure you that witnessing the condition of rescued people quickly brings home these dangers. Thank you in advance for your help with this very important matter.

Yours sincerely

Tony Clatworthy

Harbour Master