RUCF (Estuary) Minutes 7 April 2006

Notes of a Meeting of the River Users’ Consultative Forum (Estuary)

Held at 1030 on 7^th April 2006

at London River House, Gravesend

The meeting opened at 1030hrs.

Present:-

AW - Andy Willmore - Medway Ports

MR – Mick Ross – Southend Borough Council

DDC – David De Coster – Environment Agency

LM – Len Mott – TFAC

KH – Kim Hawkins – NFSA

DG – Darrel Godbold – SLFN

RB – Roger Barker – Trinity House

MS – Michael Shefrass – ATYC & RYA Thanet Region

JW – Joss Wiggins – Kent & Essex SFC

CE – Chris Edwards – RYA (Eastern Region)

RG – Roger Gee – MCA (Harwich Marine Office)

JP – Julian Parkes – PLA

RS – Roy Stanbrook – PLA

GD – Gordon Dickins – PLA

AC – Andrea Chell – PLA

NJ – Nicola Jenkins – PLA

1. Apologies for Absence.

Received from Catherine Boyer-Besant and Adrian Bates – MCA.

John Greenleaf – RAFT

Jill Goddard – TEP

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting.

Accepted as a true record subject to the following amendments:

Para 6iii. Amend Nick Ross to read Mick Ross and “62 incidents reported, 94 people stood by, 74 people assisted”.

3. Matters Arising

1. Personal Water Craft. RG updated the meeting on the current situation following the crown court judgement upholding the ruling that PWCs are not “vessels” as defined by the Merchant Shipping Acts. It was noted that since the COLREGS are incorporated into PLA Byelaws, the regulation of Personal Water Craft in the Thames is covered. MCA are issuing guidance on the subject.

2. CE expressed concern over the analysis of machinery failures (para 6 I b), particularly as the number of such failures in leisure vessels may be misrepresented.

4. PLA Sitrep

iv. Environmental Presentation (taken out of order). Nicola Jenkins provided an update and overview of the PLA’s Environmental Management System (copy of presentation attached). CE questioned the PLA position on the Essex Estuaries Marine Site as the process has stalled. NJ to research this and raise directly ACTION: NJ. DG requested access to the benthic and fish survey data. This was agreed. KH commented on the apparent increase in siltation around the Mucking Creek area. DG reported that this phenomenon is common to a wider area and cited the recent tidal surges as being a possible contributory cause. DDC questioned where maintenance dredging spoil is disposed of. It was asked that most maintenance dredging left the sediment in the system. MS asked how the boundary of PLA jurisdiction related to the those boundaries delineating the river basin management areas under the Water Framework Directive. NJ to research and report. ACTION: NJ

JW commented that if benthic and fish surveys were ongoing then it may be worth reviewing the periods to coincide with maximum fish population. DG and JW to liaise with PLA Environmental to increase effectiveness of surveys.

ACTION: DG/JW/NC

i. Safety Management System

JP introduced AC and explained her responsibilities as the SMS Administrator as well as distribution of publications and Notices to Mariners. Public Consultations on draft Pilotage Directions and Draft General Directions are underway.

A draft byelaw mandating the carriage of AIS for certain classes of vessel is also in the process of informal consultation. This will then be subject to a formal public consultation process through the DfT. It was noted that there is currently no intention to regulate leisure vessels in this way.

Code of Practice for Safe Mooring – an addendum is to be published as a Permanent Notice to Mariners.

Code of Practice for Craft Towage - A Navigation Advisory Panel was held in March to assist in the development of this new code. It is hoped to publish the code this year.

The new Dangerous Goods in Harbours Areas Regulations were not forthcoming and therefore the PLA Dangerous Goods in Bulk Byelaws are now being submitted to DfT for formal public consultation together with the revocation of three river byelaws which are being transferred to General Directions.

Local Navigation Certificates – services by Watermen. Draft proposals are now with the PLA legal department.

ii. ISPS and Port Security

The ISPS threat level remains at Level 1. The PLA continues to develop liaison with facilities and conducts tabletop security exercises. An EU directive expanding the scope of ISPS to the port infrastructure will be in place by June 2007. TRANSEC will produce the required Statutory Instrument for consultation in due course.

RG related an incident where customs boarded a charter vessel causing damage to the vessel.

iii. Trade Figures

2005 trade was up by 553000 tonnes to 53.8 million tonnes with both fuel and non-fuel cargoes increasing by 1%. Unitised traffic increased by 2%. Traffic at TCS was up by 540 thousand tonnes. Throughput at Dart Terminal down due to the loss of the Dunkerque line. Aggregates up by 4% and coal was 496000 tonnes up from the previous year. Oil was down by 299000 tonnes compared to the previous year.

5. Navigation Safety and Consultancy Matters

i. River Incidents. RS presented a digest of incidents which occurred in the estuary:-

15/11/05

CORY WASTE BARGES

GEORGE LYRAS

Outbound GEORGE LYRAS collided with a raft of four barges and one collar barge which had come adrift from Mucking Barge Roads. Four barges sank between West Blyth buoy and Coryton 5. Salvage effort completed. No enforcement action taken.

03/01/06

AASHEIM BEAUTY 2

Outbound between SR6 and SR7, BEAUTY 2 navigated on the north side of the fairway causing AASHEIM to take evasive action. Skipper of BEAUTY 2 interviewed at LRH. Incident caused by disorientation due to sudden and unexpected reduction in visibility coupled with lack of training and experience. Verbal formal warning issued.

06/03/06

LOCATOR

Crossing from Shoebury to Medway LOCATOR took late action to avoid close quarter situation with outbound SAONE. Owner/Master of LOCATOR attended LRH and viewed VTS recording. Formal Verbal warning issued.

ii. Sunk Traffic Proposals

The present position, resulting from months of protracted negotiation, was explained to this meeting. It is expected that the Traffic Separation Scheme proposal will be presented to IMO by the end of April.

CE commented that RYA may issue advice to Yachtsmen concerning navigation through the area en route to Holland.

iv. Inland Waterways National Standards

JP explained that the regulations concerning these standards would be entering the consultation phase next week and are expected to be entering force on 31^st December this year, as a result of which changes to the Port of London Act and revocation of the Watermen and Lightermen byelaws will take place. The technical standards are due to enter force in 2008. New national Fitness for Purpose standards, derived from PLA standards, have now been implemented nationally by the MCA. The PLA has applied to administer the examinations for the Thames local knowledge endorsement (Margaretness and Putney Bridge) - subject to agreement with the MCA. Medway Ports have also applied for a local knowledge endorsement.

v. Explosive Ordnance Disposal. The local TA EOD team gave a useful briefing for the aggregates industry in response to a request from the PFSO of an aggregates berth. It was agreed that a similar briefing should be extended to include the fishing community. MASM to pass EOD contacts to DG.

ACTION: MASM

6. Other Updates

i. MCA

a) RG reported that the Inland Watermans National Standards are now published on the MCA website.

b) A new “Hire Boat Code” is now in production as a result of an accident on the Norfolk Broads.

c) The Small Passenger Boat Code would not be mandatory unless local authorities required it to be so.

d) MAIB are recommending that the limits imposed by the Rail and Transport Safety Act on blood alcohol levels should apply to pleasure craft.

e) RG related an incident where an angling boat lying at anchor but not showing shapes was run down by a tug and tow.

f) Continuing concerns were expressed over the marketing of NASA AIS Radar. JP commented that a number of incidents involving RIBs had been reported nationally. PLA had reviewed the MAIB reports and a Notice to Mariners has been issued concerning the use of RIBs.

ii. Medway. AW reported on the trade situation in the Medway Sheerness docks reported a downturn in trade. Coal and Ecofuel and Biomass are now commodities being delivered to Grain Power Station LNG. Plans for a second terminal will be submitted shortly.

The Thamesport expansion plan is ongoing. Rochester Riverside development is to receive the spoil from the Princes Channel dredge.

AW reported on an accident at Thamesport where a line handler fell off a ladder sustaining head injuries. Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport recently visited Medway to view the “Richard Montgomery” wreck. A report on the stability of the ammunition and how it will behave is expected. Medway have trialled a helicopter shuttle service for pilots from Manston to Harwich.

iii. Riparian Boroughs

Southend-on-Sea – Mick Ross

a) Southend Pier – Listed planning consent has been received and demolition of the fire damaged section will commence on 18^th April.

b) Southend Airshow will take place on 28^th & 29^th May. Balmoral will be running passenger trips from Tilbury. 500m exclusion zone around pier remains.

c) MR reported recent cuts in the staffing of the Pier and foreshore dept. Now operational only from April to September. Low water patrols may be forced to cease. The Patrol vessel “Sir Alec White” will be launched next Monday (11^th April).

iv. EA – David DeCoster

a) DDC reported that allegations had been received from an unsuccessful bidder for the George Lyras/Cory Salvage contract stating that there had been pollution. This had been investigated and found not to be the case.

b) Illegal Waste Transfer Sites at Erith are under investigation as is an unlicensed barge breaking operation at Greenwich. Complaints of “River Gypsies” discharging sewage into Deptford Creek are also being investigated.

v. Trinity House – Roger Barker.

a) The current major project is the Sunk routing Scheme which was covered earlier in the meeting.

b) Kathy Hossain has now left TH with RG, a Master Mariner now in the navigation Section.

c) The conflict concerning the visibility of aero beacons on wind forms continues.

d) AIS – The Statutory Instrument to enable AIS to be used as an Aid to Navigation is yet to be produced. RG commented that the introduction of AIS B brings the possibility of system overload.

e) Trial of synchronised buoy lights in the Swale – feedback awaited.

f) Trial with Emergency Wreck Marking Buoy – Blue and yellow with a blue/yellow light continues.

g) Oaze Buoyage appears to be working well.

7. River Events

16^th April	Powerboat Shakedown Race – AYC
29/30^th April	National Kent Classic Grand Prix – Powerboat Racing – AYC
30^th April/1^st May	Hovercraft Racing - AYC
8^th May	Multi Cup 60 Race – Start of Trimaran Race series – London to Nice
28^th May	National Water Ski Race – AYC
28^th/29^th May	Southend Air Show
17^th June	EAORA Burnham to St Katherine’s Dock
18^th June	Nore Race
1^st July	Pinn Mill Passage Match
15^th July	Thames Sailing Barge Match
22^nd/23^rd July	National OCR Racing – AYC
26^th August	Southend Sailing Barge Match

8. River Works

i. London Gateway – Still no firm decision from minister. All are working on the assumption that it will go ahead.

ii. Windfarms – RS reported on the current status of estuary wind farm developments. CE asked about the possibility of other renewable energy sources in the estuary – particularly concerning rumours of wave generators in the Blackwater estuary. Nothing had been received proposing such schemes.

iii. Princes Channel Dredge – This is due to go ahead in April but progress is dependent upon adequate beneficial use and various issues with EA. The initial dredge is to 8.0m. Realignment of buoys will be made in conjunction with TH.

iv. BRITNED interconnector – River Works Licence issued – the routing of the cable within port limits was discussed.

AOB

RG – Marking of fishing gear. It was reported that the culprits who leave unmarked gear are not full time fishermen. MCA are trying to follow up reports of such gear. Reports should be made to RG at Harwich MO.

RG Mentioned EU Directive 2005/36 concerning the criminalisation of seafarers. UK government are trying to halt its progress.

Date of Next Meeting

Friday 20^th October 2006.

Meeting closed at 1255hrs.