Notes of River Users Consultative Forum (Estuary) Meeting 31 st MAY 2012

Transcription

1 Present:- Notes of River Users Consultative Forum (Estuary) Meeting 31 st MAY 2012 Capt Chris McQueen CM Harbour Master (Lower) - PLA Capt Paul Hanson PH Deputy Harbour Master (Lower) PLA Capt Julian Parkes JP Harbour Master SMS Capt Nick Lee NL PLA Pilot Martin Garside MG Corporate Affairs Manager PLA Lisa Cockerill LC Assistant to HM(L) Chris Edwards CE RYA(E) David Jones DJ ATYC Tom Sims TS RYA South East Nick Dodson ND Trinity House Steve Seabrook SS Kent Police Marine Unit Simon Hiscock SH Kent Police SB Frontier Operations 1. Apologies Michael Shefras, ATYC/ RYA Thames. Archie Turnbull, MCA. Roger Barker, Trinity House. John Window, PLA Haven Master. Cathryn Spain, Harbour Master Medway Ports. Bryan Hopkins, MCA. Neil Dunlop, EA. Alice Wilson, EA. Jeff Stacey, Contingencies Manager PLA. Rod Owen, PLA Pilot. Nichie Jenkins, Environment Manager PLA. Kevin Gregory, VTS Manager PLA. CM introduced Paul Hanson new PLA Deputy Harbour Master (Lower District) to the committee. Chris McQueen has now taken over as Harbour Master (Lower) after Roy Stanbrook s departure. 2. Minutes of RUCF (Estuary) Meeting 24 th November These were agreed as a correct record. 3. Matters arising from 2. ND updated meeting on cabling and trenching situation at Kentish Flats and London Array Windfarm sites. 4. PLA Sitrep i. Safety Management System 1

2 JP updated the meeting on a number of key issues: Recreational User Guide 2012 now available. The Tidal Thames Navigators Club is progressing well about 90 people signed up so far. 2 nd edition of Mariners Guide to Bridges on the Thames now available. Thames Byelaws 2012 Secretary of State had now confirmed Byelaws, which will come into effect on 1 st July. The process of drafting and consulting on these has taken some five years. New craft and vessel registration and licensing byelaws now moving forward. There will be public consultation on these. Olympics JP briefed the meeting fully on the voluntary ID scheme for recreational vessels during the Olympics. JP showed the meeting printouts of the different types of ID documents. These arrangements would be in place from mid-july to mid- September. A full discussion took place on these special Olympics arrangements. In discussion, the issue of marine police officers having harbourmaster powers in certain respects during Olympics was brought up and related training issues. ACTION: HM SMS MG showed new PLA video on navigation on Lower Thames. JP to send Notice to Mariners regarding Olympics to CE and MS. ii Port Security and ISPS Code ACTION: HM SMS JP reported on various security issues. Security level remains at ISPS Level 1. iii. Environmental Matters No report. iv General CM reported on current overall port trade situation. Coryton oil refinery still for sale but no buyer found. 2

3 Tilbury Power Station has converted to biomass burning for a trial period. This trial was successful, though the recent fire had led to temporary closure of station. Will reopen shortly. 5. Navigational safety and Consultancy Matters i. Estuary Incidents No incidents involving recreational vessels. 28//03/12 MISIDA Castle Point disembarking berthing pilot to the tanker Elisabeth Knutsen inwards in Sea Reach. Pilot ladder on the port side. Castle Point went alongside the Elisabeth Knutsen at the behest of the Sea Pilot. The outward bound MISIDA building up to sea speed assumed the Castle Point s intention was to wait until the MISIDA had passed. The wash from the passage of MISIDA drew the Castle Point away from Elisabeth Knutsen when pilot was at the top of the ladder. Investigation showed a situation rapidly developed where assumptions were made by all involved. 17/04/12 FRANCESCA PRIOR FRANCESCA PRIOR ran aground for 20 minutes close to Blacktail Spit Buoy. The explanation given by the master was that a crewman had been scalded with boiling water. He then reduced speed to attend to the crewman. The slow speed of the FRANCESCA PRIOR caused the vessel to be caught by the wind and blown on to lee shore. At 0530 FRANCESCA PRIOR refloated and proceeded At 0650 close to Maplin Edge Buoy, the FRANCESCA PRIOR had a main engine problem but was assisted by the MARK PRIOR until main engine problem resolved. Low water at Southend Pier was predicted Actual LW time was Crewman lost his job. 15/02/12 MAERSK BUTAN Maersk Butan was observed to overshoot the Pilot station for the deep water route. London VTS tried to contact vessel on ch69 but no response. Contact was established through CNIS. When the vessel was contacted it was approaching NE Spit buoy still at 10 knots the Master stated that he had been instructed to proceed to his present position by NE 3

4 Spit Pilots. London VTS were not advised of this arrangement. VTS Manager is raising matter with ESL. 03/05/12 MAZARINE Mazarine suffered loss of propulsion due to Main engine shutting down due to overheating. Mazarine was NUC from 2034 until High water at Shivering Sands was 2256 BST. The vessel continued with residual headway to adjacent to Princes Inner before being taken inwards by the flood. The vessel remained south of Oaze Deep buoy. Main engine power was restored in the vicinity of Red Sand Towers. 08/03/12 BEAUMARIS The Beaumaris was navigating erratically from Shivering Sands. Tried to cross Oaze restricted zone and given navigational to anchor in the Mouse anchorage possibly came into contact with RL11 buoy. 13/04/12 BAYARD1 LVTS observed the southbound BAYARD1 as the crossing vessel in relation to the eastbound roro vessel Norqueen east Marge area. Several calls to the Bayard1 on VHF Ch 69 drew no response. The Bayard1 did alter to starboard to pass astern of the Norqueen but the Bayard1 navigation made Norqueen uncertain as to the Bayard1 s intentions. The Norqueen confirmed that the Bayard1 passed under the stern of the Norqueen very close, 5 metres. The master was dismissed by the owners because of his actions. 03/05/12 EASTHAVEN Holehaven HSL Easthaven discovered in a sinking condition. Easthaven was pumped out and taken out of the water for hull inspection. 23/02/12 ICE BEAM Hoechst Express at Black Deep 3 in DW route outwards. The Ice Beam inward bound from Sunk stated he was aware of the Hoechst Express. Due to a misunderstanding between vessels, Ice Beam found herself settling onto Trinity Buoy and was forced to take avoiding action. Ice Beam turned toward the Hoechst Express this resulted in a close quarter situation. The Ice Beam continued the swing through 360 to port. 4

5 ii. Sunk VTS CM no specific incidents. One near miss. Outward bound tanker incident reported to MAIB. 6. Other updates i. MCA - no report. ii. iii. iv. Environment Agency no report. RNLI no report. Medway CM informed the committee that Guy Peto, had retired and replaced with Jonathan Mills. v. RYA East/South East/Kent No specific report. vi. Medway Yacht Assoc TS reported. A working group was working on the constitution of a new association, to be under new name Medway & Swale Boating Association. vii. Police (Kent Police Marine Unit & Kent Police SB Frontier Ops) SS and SH updated the meeting on a number of policing issues, including on related training matters. Specific updates were given on policing issues for the QDJ and the Olympics. Latest situation with operation Kraken was also given to meeting. viii. Trinity House 7. River Events ND updated the meeting on Trinity House issues. There would be a consultation soon on the Spaniard Buoy. CM updated the meeting, highlighting: - Gravesend Town Regatta 9/10 June - Summer Regatta 21 July - Thames Barge Match 28 July 5

6 Can also see river events on PLA website under Forthcoming Events. 8. River Works i. London Gateway CM updated the meeting. Dredging works progressing in Outer Estuary and off LG site. Dredging work finishing end of this year. Opening currently scheduled for end of First ships July 2013 for trials. ii. Wind Farm Update CM updated the meeting: - Gunfleet Sands nothing new to report. - London Array starting to lay third cable at Swale end. 9. Any other Business Crossrail Bam Nuttall have contract to move spoil to Wallasea Island. Piling work and pontoons at Wallasea have commenced. 10. Time/ Date Of next meeting 1030hrs Thursday 29 th November 2012, London River House 6