Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Information Report

Title:

Environmental Update

Presented to:

River Hamble Harbour Board

Presented by:

The Director of Recreation and Heritage

Date:

30 January 2009

Distributed to:

Members of the River Hamble Harbour Board

Method:

Hard Copy with Reports

Date:

  

Contact name:

Alison Fowler

Tel:

01489 576387

Email:

[email protected]

1) Summary

1.1. This report provides a summary of key aspects relating to the environmental management of the Harbour since September 2008

2) Recommendations:

    It is recommended that this report be noted.

3) Issues Covered in Report:

3.1. Maintenance Dredging Protocol & Dredging Plan

    The River Hamble Boat Yard & Marina Operators Association has formed a Dredging Plan Working Group in partnership with the Harbour Authority in light of the publication of Defra's Maintenance Dredging Protocol. This group is chaired by the Assistant Harbour Master (Environment) and will be further developing the River Hamble's Dredging Plan to ensure a balance is maintained between future dredging requirements and environmental protection.

3.2. Winter Maintenance Dredging at MDL Marinas

    The Harbour Authority has received an application for maintenance dredging works to take place within sections of Hamble Point Marina, Port Hamble Marina and Mercury Yacht Harbour during early 2009. The application is currently being processed.

3.3. ABP Southampton Channel Dredge

    The Harbour Authority is continuing to liaise with ABP to ensure that any impacts on the River Hamble are fully assessed and mitigated.

3.4. Marine Bill

    The Bill, now known as the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, was announced in the Queen's Speech on the 3 December 2008. The Bill will now go through stages of debate and amendments in the House of Lords then the House of Commons, and may proceed to Royal Assent by autumn 2009. The Marine Bill team have published a document `Managing our marine resources - licensing under the Marine Bill' , available via http://www.defra.gov.uk/marine/index.htm which sets out the proposed changes to the marine licensing and enforcement systems. "These changes will: provide a clear proportionate regulatory system to protect the marine environment and allow low risk activities to take place where appropriate; streamline the decision-making process, allowing more strategic and sustainable choices to be made about what we want in our seas; enable a more flexible and proportionate approach to be taken when dealing with licensing offences". The Harbour Authority has been in discussion with the Marine Bill team and have received confirmation that although the marine works licensing process will be streamlined, the River Hamble Harbour Board will still be responsible for granting a separate Harbour Works consent as set out in s48(2) of the Southampton Harbour Act 1949.

3.5. Marine & Fisheries Agency visit

    The Marine Environment Team swapped their London office for a visit to the River Hamble in September. This team is responsible for granting Defra's FEPA and CPA licenses for works in the marine environment, but rarely gets the change to visit any sites. As part of the visit, the HM and AHM(E) took the team responsible for granting licenses in the Solent area out on the River to give them a good insight into the Harbour and the many complex issues that surround it. The team wrote afterwards to thank the Harbour Authority for the valuable trip and information. Benefits of this improved local knowledge and enhanced relationship and have already been seen in recent consent consultations.

3.6. Marine Archaeology meeting

    The Harbour Authority hosted a meeting between English Heritage, Hampshire County Council Archaeologist, and the Hants & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology to improve the understanding of each others' responsibilities towards maritime archaeology. Clarification was given regarding statutory remits of each organisation, and agreements were reached on the consultation processes for consent applications in these sensitive areas.

3.7. Oil Spill Response Contract

    On the 2nd October 2008 the Harbour Authority's Tier 2 response contract was sold by Oil Spill Response Limited to Adler & Allan. The new contractor will be supplying the same cover and equipment in the event of an incident.

3.8. Oil Spill Training

    Two Assistant Harbour Masters (Patrol) attended a training course in December run by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Local Council Emergency Planning Teams covering practical oil spill response procedures. This course provided a good opportunity to practise cross-agency working as would be required in the event of a real incident.

    The AHM(E) also ran an additional table-top exercise in December for the Harbour Office team covering the initial actions required by staff to deal with a large oil spill. The exercise focused on first response actions, health & safety, communications & media, setting up the operational response area and team roles & rotas.

    The 2008 annual report on oil spill exercises and training undertaken by the RHHA has been submitted to the MCA as required, see appendix 1.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

LINKS TO THE CORPORATE STRATEGY

Yes

No

Hampshire safer and more secure for all

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

Maximising well-being

_

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

Enhancing our quality of place

Corporate Business plan link no (if appropriate)

OR

This proposal does not link to the Corporate Strategy but, nevertheless, requires a decision because:

OTHER SIGNIFICANT LINKS:

Links to Previous member decisions:

Title

Ref

Date

     
     
     

Direct Links to Specific Legislation or Government Directives

Title

Date

   
   
   

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

 

    The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report. (NB: the list excludes published works and any documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.)

 

    Document

    Location

    None

  
   
   
   

Appendix 1

PORTS AND HARBOURS ANNUAL REPORT FORM

Port of

River Hamble Harbour Authority (RHHA)

Annual return for the period 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008

Plan approved date: 09/07/2007

Plan re-approved by: 17/07/2012

Summary of exercises undertaken:

RHHA staff held a training exercise in July with marina staff who operate the fuel berths in the river. Staff practised the deployment and use of oil booms and absorbent materials, as well as familiarisation with emergency response procedures.

A Tier 1 exercise was held in August where RHHA staff had to respond to a mock sinking vessel that was also leaking oil.

A table-top exercise was held in December for a Tier 2 incident of a spill just outside the harbour entrance. Staff ran through initial response and communication procedures, and agreed the likely set up of operational areas, team rotas and record keeping should a real incident occur.

Updates

On 2nd October 2008 Adler & Allan took over from OSRL EARL as the RHHA's Tier 2 response contractor. Initial meetings have been held and an operational meeting is due in January 2009. Any updates to the OSCP will be circulated to plan holders shortly after the meeting.

New pollution training undertaken:

The Harbour Master and Assistant Harbour Master (Environment) are trained to oil spill management level, with the majority of RHHA staff being trained to incident response level.

During 2008, the Harbour Master attended OSRL's Oil Spill Refresher training course to keep within the 3-yearly training requirements of UK and OPRC legislation.

The AMH(E) attended OSRL's 2 day Environmental Impacts training course.

2 Patrol Officers attended a training course in December 2008 ran by the MCA and Local Authority emergency planning teams covering practical oil spill response procedures, and provided a good opportunity to practise cross-agency working as would be required in the event of a real incident.

The seasonal coxswains were trained in the Oil Spill Contingency Plan for the River, the equipment held in the store and its use for Tier 1 as part of their annual inductions between March and May 2008.

The Harbour Master and AHM(E) are scheduled to attend a training course on Awareness of Hazardous & Noxious Substances during 2009.

Signed:

Print : A J Fowler

Date: 5th January 2009