Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. This report summarises the incidents and events in the Harbour from 19 September 2009. For information, it also includes (as an Appendix) a list of incidents during the period 26 June to 18 September (ie. covering the full period since the last Management Committee meeting), all of which have already been considered by the Harbour Board. Any incidents or events which take place after this report is distributed will be the subject of a separate Annex to be distributed at the meeting.

2. Report

2.1. The Harbour has been patrolled daily by the duty Harbour Master at various times between the hours of 0600 and 2200 (and, on appropriate occasions, until midnight). Incidents which took place during the period 26 June to 18 September 2009 have already been considered by the Harbour Board and require no further action. A full list can be seen at Appendix B.

2.2. Incidents which have taken place since the most recent Harbour Board meeting are set out below:

3. Incidents and events

3.1. 25 September. Harbour staff gave a `sea safety' talk and practical demonstration to a large group of local Cub Scouts, which was extremely well received.

3.2. 28 September. The buoys marking the `No boating area' off Hamble Jetty were removed for the winter.

3.3. 30 September. Diesel spill reported. Traced to discharge from motor vessel in Hamble Point Marina. All cleared up swiftly with full assistance by the crew of the motor vessel.

3.4. 30 September. Report of tender stolen from a boat at RK Marine. Later found adrift in the River. Police informed.

3.5. 3 October. A yacht lost its propeller in the main channel and become wedged between a pile and a pontoon. Patrol towed to safety.

3.6. 3 October. A yacht with a gearbox failure was towed to its berth. A charge was made for this service.

3.7. 9 October. A charter yacht grounded on the spit at the river entrance at approx 0545. patrol rendered assistance to deploy kedge anchor. Yacht refloated at 1315.

3.8. 11 October. Patrol intercepted a speedboat near the River entrance with two boys aged 10 and 11 in it, without adult supervision. Patrol escorted the boat to Swanwick slipway where mother was waiting.

4. Recommendation

4.1. That this report be noted.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

Incidents already considered by the Harbour Board

1. 27 June. The patrol look in tow a Sadler 34 which had experienced engine failure at the entrance to the harbour.

2. 27 June. The Patrol discovered an 18 foot speedboat hard aground on Hamble Spit with two people on board the vessel. The patrol towed the vessel to deeper water then recovered it to the Harbour Master's Jetty at Warsash.

3. 2 July. The commercial vessel `Spirit of Portsmouth' came alongside at Warsash to land a passenger with a medical emergency.

4. 2 July. The Patrol assisted a J109 suffering from engine failure from Hamble Point buoy to HYS.

5. 3 July. Three youths were discovered swimming across the main channel at Hamble. They were recovered and taken via the Ferry back to Hamble.

6. 5 July. PWC found exceeding the speed limit. The PWC was stopped and issued with a written warning. A follow-up letter was sent by the Harbour Master.

7. 6 July. The Patrol assisted a 65' Swan into the harbour, suffering from intermittent engine problems.

8. 6 July. The Patrol discovered a Sunspeed 25 speed boat which had broken free from its moorings. It had been incorrectly moored. Patrol re-moored and invoiced the owner for time and materials.

9. 9 July. The Patrol recovered and moved a vessel on a for-and-aft mooring which was in contact with its neighbour. Owner and mooring contractor informed.

10. 12 July. The Patrol assisted a number of dinghies which were experiencing difficulties in the entrance to the harbour. The Patrol also recovered a Laser dinghy to WSC's pontoon. The incident was discussed with the Commodore of WSC to confirm that safety procedures were in accordance with the Code of Practice.

11. 13 July. An outboard engine with a value of about £25,000 was stolen from a RIB in Stone pier yard. CCTV checked but no sightings. Police informed.

12. 19 July. Patrol assisted a Laser dinghy with three persons on board which had capsized off Mercury Marina. Boat recovered to Hamble. No casualties.

13. 19 July. Patrol discovered that the upstream end of the RAFYC mid-stream pontoon had become disconnected from the adjoining pontoon, leaving moored boats at risk. Pontoon secured with ropes and RAFYC informed. Affected boats removed to Visitors' Pontoon.

14. 20 July. Thank you letter received from dinghy sailor who had been assisted by the Patrol, including the words `....it was the un-patronising and gentlemanly way the help was offered that made it all the better to receive.'

15. 23 July. Patrol went to the assistance of a yacht with engine failure. Towed to Port Hamble (nearest point of safety).

16. 24 July. Report of tender and outboard, stolen from Deacon's yard

17. 25 July. Numerous complaints about weed accumulation on Warsash slipway, making access to launching facilities very difficult. Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council informed. The slipway was eventually cleared on 29/30 July

18. 25 July. Catamaran berthed alongside Hamble Jetty had shore lines let go by local youths during the night. Police informed.

19. 25 July. Patrol attended a collision between a sailing yacht with engine failure and a fishing vessel berthed on the Fishermen's Jetty. Details exchanged.

20. 26 July. Patrol assisted a capsized dinghy off Port Hamble. Dinghy and crew were returned safely to Stone Pier Yard.

21. 27 July. Patrol attended a collision between two yachts off Hamble. Details exchanged.

22. 31 July. Patrol responded to reports of people trespassing on moored boats near Deacon's yard. No damage, but one owner (who was on board at the time) was very shaken by the experience.

23. 4 August. A Laser SB3 was found aground on Hamble Spit with no one on board. Owner informed - likely that the boat had been set adrift from Cowes the previous evening.

24. 5 August. Report of tampering and attempted theft of a RIB from the Royal Southern Yacht Club. Marine Police informed.

25. 6 August. Report of a collision between two yachts (one moored) off Royal Southern Yacht Club. The offending yacht had left the scene without stopping. Patrol investigated and found the offending yacht - details passed to Royal Southern.

26. 6 August. Patrol assisted yacht with engine failure - towed to Warsash Jetty.

27. 7 August. Tender reported stolen from Swanwick hard. Police informed.

28. 7 August. Speedboat with two persons on board towed from River entrance to Hamble Jetty - engine failure.

29. 8 August. Report of three people seen stealing a tender from Deacon's boatyard. Police informed.

30. 9 August. Report of propeller stolen from outboard engine on moored vessel (midstream mooring).

31. 9 August. Speedboat with four persons on board broken down and aground in upper Hamble. Patrol attended and towed boat to Swanwick slipway.

32. 9 August. Patrol assisted a yacht which had fouled the picking line of an adjacent mooring. Patrol secured the yacht temporarily and returned at low tide to re-berth correctly.

33. 11 August. Report of theft of a prop guard and 40 litres of fuel from a RIB.

34. 12 August. Yacht with engine failure towed from River entrance to Deacon's boatyard. A charge was made for this service.

35. 13 August. Report of youths jumping from superstructure of Warsash Maritime Academy jetty. Patrol attended.

36. 14 August. Tender stolen from Deacon's boatyard. Police informed.

37. 14 August. Report of swimmers in the main channel opposite Hamble Jetty shortly before arrival of a large sight seeing vessel. Patrol attended and found swimmers hiding under a mid-stream pontoon. Patrol returned swimmers to Hamble Jetty. Marine Police attended.

38. 16 August. A dead swan was found in the River. DEFRA officials removed the carcass.

39. 17 August. Yacht with engine problems towed from River entrance to Visitors' Pontoon.

40. 17 August. A vessel which had spent the night on Hamble Jetty reported that some of its lines had been let go during the night.

41. 19 August. Yacht with engine failure towed from River entrance to Warsash Jetty.

42. 21 August. Report of a large (225hp) outboard engine stolen from a RIB. Police informed.

43. 22 August. Report that the Hamble - Warsash Ferry and the River Taxi had both had their lines let go during the night, whilst alongside Hamble Jetty.

44. 23 August. Lines of three more vessels on Hamble Jetty let go during the night. Police informed but did not attend.

45. 25 August. The Patrol found two RIBs high and dry on the east bank opposite Hamble jetty. On further investigation is was found that they had been let go from the Royal Southern Yacht Club during the night.

46. 25 August. A member of the public reported seeing a Portuguese `Man o' War' jelly fish just inside the mouth of the harbour.

47. 27 August. Dinghy found high and dry on Bunnie Meadows. Further investigation found that it belonged to the Royal Southern Yacht Club and had been let go during the night.

48. 28 August. The Patrol towed a yacht off Hamble Spit on a falling tide, saving the owner a six hour wait whilst the water returned.

49. 29 August. A number of `Pirates' were reported to be operating in the Bursledon/Swanwick area throughout the day. The patrols were forced to board a number of vessels and on one occasion had to repel boarders. A large number of pyrotechnics were seen in the area as night fell.

50. 3 September. A 6hp outboard engine was stolen from a yacht moored midstream.

51. 3 September. Tender reported stolen from Riverside boatyard.

52. 5 September. A tender was taken by two youths from a vessel moored midstream. The occupants of the vessel were woken at 3.00am as the tender was stolen. The tender was later recovered and Scene of Crime Officers inspected it for forensic evidence.

53. 5 September. Thieves attempted to steal a tender from a moored vessel in the early hours of the morning. The theft was unsuccessful because the tender was shackled to the pontoon, but the thieves ripped out the dinghy' inflatable centre thwart and made off with that. The owner was woken as the thieves departed.

54. 5 September. The Patrol gave assistance to a Dragonfly tri-maran with engine failure.

55. 6 September. The Patrol gave assistance to a Westerly Storm with engine failure.

56. 15 September. The patrol gave assistance to a yacht which had grounded on Hamble Spit. Calshot Lifeboat and the RNLI Inshore lifeboat also attended. The vessel remained aground for nearly eight hours before refloating.

57. 15 September. Harbour office staff gave first aid assistance to a yacht crew-member who had dislocated a finger. The casualty was then sent to Haslar hospital.