Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Report for Information

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the activities and events on the River from 30 January 2009. Any incidents taking place after this report is distributed will be the subject of a separate annex to be distributed at the meeting.

2. Recommendation

2.1 It is recommended that the Harbour Board notes this report.

3. Report

3.1 The River has been patrolled daily by the duty Harbour Master.

4. Incidents

4.1 8 February: At 1430hrs an 8 metre yacht was found well aground on Hamble Spit with a man and his young daughter on board. The boat was not able to float off until 1900hrs when the weather had worsened, raining with poor visibility. Hamble Lifeboat was requested to attend as the yacht was caught on an obstruction and could not be pulled off the spit. The lifeboat was able to pull the yacht off the spit and the vessel was lifted out at Hamble Point Marina for further inspection.

4.2 5 March: At 1630 hrs the Patrol discovered a yacht listing and on further investigation discovered it was taking in water. The Patrol deployed an emergency pump which enabled the owner to effect repairs to the yacht that evening.

4.3 7 March: Report of a break-in to a yacht on a mid-stream mooring. Nothing taken. Owner reported to Marine Police.

4.4 9 March: Report of parted undersized bow-line on yacht on pile mooring - line secured and owner informed.

4.5 10 March: Report of mid-stream pontoon almost capsized, having been held down by newly fitted pile lines secured too tightly to cleats on pontoon. Owner informed.

4.6 10 March: Yacht found taking in water - patrol attended and informed owner.

4.7 21 March: Charter yacht aground on Hamble Spit - patrol and Hamble lifeboat attended and re-floated.

4.8 22 March: Patrol towed small speed boat from mouth of river to fuel berth - boat had run out of fuel.

4.9 26 March: A fishing vessel on the B pontoon was found to be taking in water and in danger of sinking. The patrol pumped her out and then towed her to the fishermen's jetty for remedial work.

4.10 28 and 30 March: Patrol found a tent semi-submerged in the River in the vicinity of the Upper Hamble Country Park jetty on both dates. Both were recovered, but were beyond further use. Relevant authorities were informed.

4.11 1 April: Warsash Sailing Club carried out a practice race prior to the start of their dinghy sailing season for 2009. The Warsash Sailing Club dinghy races commence at 1830hrs every Wednesday during the sailing season with the start off the Warsash Sailing Club jetty in the main channel. Over forty dinghies have been known to take part in these races, with about 30 being normal. The dinghy racing does affect traffic in the main channel of the Harbour. The Harbour Authority has a number of procedures to help manage the risk to those taking part in the dinghy racing and other river users. The procedures include publication of a Notice to River Users (9 of 2009) detailing the timings and advice on how to avoid the starting area. Two patrol boats will attend each start to assist in directing other river users during the period that the racing affects the main channel. Larger commercial vessels will not be permitted into the Harbour during these periods. Warsash Sailing Club have also signed up to the River Hamble Code of Practice for Races, Events and Regattas.

4.12 6 April: The Ferry boat skipper rescued two youths from the middle of the main channel at Hamble. The youths were approximately 17 years old and were attempting to swim across the harbour. One of the youths was motionless and just laying in the water and was not able to swim at all and the other was beginning to experience difficulties. Both youths were taken to the Warsash side of the harbour by the ferry and re-united with their clothes. The Harbour Office was informed of this by the ferry operator some time after the event.

5. New navigation piles

5.1 The two new starboard-hand navigation piles on Crableck and Swanwick bends were successfully installed on 16/17 March, and the old piles were removed. A Notice to River Users has been issued.

6. Staff changes

6.1 Assistant Harbour Master (Patrol) Richard Lawton has moved to a new

job at Whitby and Scarborough harbours. The current intention is to fill the vacancy on a temporary basis before recruiting for a permanent replacement towards the end of the summer season.

6.2 The first two of the seasonal coxswains have now started - Chris

Willetts and Paul Worthington.

7 Trinity House Inspection

7.1 The Trinity House Inspector of Seamarks carried out an inspection of Local Aids to Navigation under the Harbour Authorities management on 8 April as required by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1995, Section 198(1).

7.2 The 108 aids to navigation, 89 being navigation lights, were found to be in working order apart from 4 which are the responsibility of a third party. The third party responsible for maintaining the offending lights was contacted to ensure swift action in getting them working as soon as practically possible.

8. Impact Assessment

8.1 An Equalities Impact Assessment covering the Harbour Authority's

responsibilities under the Port Marine Safety Code has been conducted and the content of this report does not alter this assessment.