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 2008. Any incidents taking place after this report has been distributed will be the subject of a separate Annex to be distributed at the meeting. This report also includes details of a consultation on pontoon safety ladders, requested by the Management Committee.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That the 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 Fishermen'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 7 June; Patrol attended and assisted a capsized dinghy which was experiencing difficulties in the area of Swanwick Marine with two crew.

4.4 8 June: Patrol received a report from a member of the public reporting the collision between a moored craft and a dinghy. Patrol attended and recorded details pending a possible insurance claim.

4.5 8 June: Outboard engine reported as stolen from a boat on the A piles.

4.6 8 June: Collision between two yachts during a vessel approaching its mooring on a midstream mooring. Patrol attended to ensure both parties were content and details had been exchanged.

4.7 8 June: A dinghy was in collision with a moored yacht causing damage to the yachts bow navigation lights. The dinghy had tacked close in on a yachts bow. Patrol assisted yacht to River Hamble Sailing Club. Details exchanged for insurance purposes.

4.8 8 June: Patrol received a report of a tender being swamped by a passing motor cruiser which was reported as speeding down the River. Patrol attended but unable to trace the offending vessel. The crew of the tender were given assistance in recovering and confirmed as being safe.

4.9 14 June: Patrol found a Bic Sports kayak upturned and wedged under a pontoon. It was recovered to Warsash. Coastguard informed.

4.10 15 June: Patrol assisted in the recovery of a casualty from a yacht suffering from an epileptic seizure. The casualty was recovered to hospital in an ambulance following the attendance of a paramedic.

4.11 16 June: 36 foot yacht fully aground on Hamble spit. Assistance given to the crew by patrol in laying kedge anchors. Safety of the crew was confirmed by the Patrol who also observed and assisted when the tide returned. Reported to Coastguard. Yacht safely recovered at high water.

4.12 18 June: Outboard engine stolen from Jetty at Warsash.

4.13 22 June: The patrol came across a 12 metre trimaran among the fore and aft moorings in the area off the ferry hard on the Warsash side of the river. The boat had lost all power and been blown and drifted against a number of moored vessels. The patrol inspected all boats involved for damage but none was discovered. The patrol then recovered the boat to its own mooring to reduce the possibility of any further damage.

4.14 26 June; Report of a tender being stolen from Swanwick Marina by 4 youths and then being abandoned on the public hard at Swanwick. Patrol recovered the tender.

4.15 28 June: Investigation underway regarding two collisions reported to the Harbour Office.

5. Patrol Activity

5.1 The Harbour Patrol has been very active throughout the period in carrying out the following tasks:

a. Recording and completing appropriate action of boats observed or reported as causing a wash or speeding.,.

b. Attempting to control youths on all the public jetties.

c. Working closely with the Local and Marine Police on a number of matters.

d. Attending dinghy racing to provide safety cover.

e. Towing or recovering broken down vessels with the aim of removing them from the channels for safety reasons.

f. Working with the Lifeboats of Hamble and Calshot.

g. Working with the Coastguard.

h. Repainting navigation marks.

i. Completion of navigation mark and light audits.

j. Collection of Harbour Dues.

6. Rescuing People from the Water

6.1 Following a number of incidents involving rescues of people from the water the Harbour Master has written to all yacht clubs and the Mooring Holder's Association regarding safety in small tenders or dinghies. A copy of the letter is attached at Appendix 1 to this report.

6.2 To assist in recovering people from the water two Jason's Cradles have been purchased, one for each patrol boat. These devices were tested by the Patrol Officers and found to be easier than the hoist to operate especially when working single handed. The Jason's cradles are capable of recovering a fully grown man wearing sailing gear easily over the gunwales of the patrol boat. The recovery in the prone position also assists in maintaining the correct blood flow following increased hydrostatic pressure during submersion and possible effects of hypothermia.

7. Pontoon Safety Ladders - Consultation

7.1 At its last meeting, the Board asked that the Management Committee should consider whether or nor safety ladders on mid-stream pontoons should be made mandatory. A report was prepared for the June meeting of the Management Committee and it was decided that a period of consultation was required. A consultation document has now been posted on the Harbour Authority website and a copy is at Appendix 2.

7.2 Copies of the consultation reply form are available in the Harbour Office for those who do not operate a computer. The consultation closes on the 12 September 2008.

8. M27 Motorway Bridge

8.1 Work on renewing and replacing the main bearings on the M27 motorway bridge has been extended and it has been estimated the work will now be completed on or around the 30 September 2008.

8.2 Eastlands Boatyard has complained of sand and metal filing debris falling on boats moored within the yard. This has been investigated and the contractors insurance adjuster is currently in discussions with the owner of Eastlands Boatyard.

9. Recovery and Reinstatement of eastern Bank Habitat

9.1 Riverside boatyard are continually working on removing and cleaning up the eastern bank between the Railway Bridge and the M27 motorway bridge. This work forms part of the Section 106 agreement secured through the planning process. Three large metal barges and a landing craft are currently in the process of being removed from the bank.

9.2 Following discussions with Riverside Boatyard the site with the least environmental impact was chosen to break-up the vessels. The chosen site was less damaging to the protected area but more expensive to the yard.

10. Impact Assessments

10.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an equalities impact assessment has not been undertaken.

APPENDIX 1

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

APPENDIX 2

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

RIVER HAMBLE HARBOUR AUTHORITY

CONSULTATION REGARDING

PONTOON SAFETY LADDERS

CONSULTATION CLOSES ON 12th SEPTEMBER 2008

The River Hamble Harbour Authority is required to take all practicable steps to ensure that the harbour is as safe as possible for all who use it. This means that when an incident occurs, the associated risks should be reassessed and appropriate control measures taken to ensure that the risk is as low as reasonably practicable. Following a series of incidents where river users have fallen into the water and been unable to climb out again, the Harbour Board has taken a preliminary view on the matter of fitting safety ladders to mid-stream pontoons and has requested advice from the River Hamble Management Committee. The Management Committee has deferred making a decision until full consultation has been carried out.

The Harbour Master's report to the River Hamble Management Committee concerning details of incidents and the risk assessments can be found at:

/decisions/decisions-docs/080620-revhma-R0613110823

The consultation form can be completed electronically and sent to the Harbour Authority.

If you know of anyone who has not got a computer please ask them to contact the Harbour Office and we will send them a form through the post. Forms can also be collected from the Harbour Office.