RUCF (Lower) Minutes - 10 November 2006

AT LONDON RIVER HOUSE, GRAVESEND

Meeting opened at 10.30hrs

Present:               Captain G Dickins (GD) - Harbour Master (Lower) – Chairman

                           Captain R Stanbrook (RS) -Deputy Harbour Master (Lower)

                           Elaine Wybourn (EW) - Asst. Harbour Master (Lower) - Secretary

Present:

                           John Skellorn (JS) - RYA SE Region

                           Derek Bell (DB) - Adsteam Towage Ltd

                           Bryan Hopkins (BH) - MCA

                           Ian Dunkley (ID) - RNLI

                           Bill Waylett (BW) - RAFT

                           Mike Sheffras (MS) - ATYC & RYA

                           Beth Axtell (BA) - Environment Agency

                           Katherine Harris (KH) - PLA

                           Alan Turner (AT) - POTLL

                           John Window (JW) - PLA Canvey

1. Apologies for Absence

Received from; Capt. Julian Parkes, Peter Finch, Essex Police, Donald Chard, Customs, Fr Paul Boagey, Mr R Lukes.

New members

Elaine Wybourn PLA, Katherine Harris PLA and Beth Axtell Environment Agency.

2. Minutes of River Users Consultative Forum 05 May 2006

Accepted as a true record.

3. Matters arising from 2.

ID asked of the outcome with the Kent Fire Brigade concerning what extent they cover ‘afloat’ fires in the river and estuary. GD and BH confirmed that the Kent Fire Brigade is the designated afloat response organisation for the tidal Thames, Essex have an agreement with Adsteam for the transport of fire fighters and that Sheerness can cover the Kent coast if need be.

4. PLA Sitrep

GD speaking on behalf of Julian Parkes, provided details of SMS continuing evolution.

i) SMS

Thames AIS rules for class 5 passenger vessels and reporting vessels are with    DfT and should be approved next year.

Dangerous Substances in Bulk Byelaws and revised River Byelaws are approved and awaiting printing.

A craft towage code of practice is being developed with the assistance of river users to run in line with existing codes of practice including rowing codes, ship towage and mooring.

New General Directions 2006 are now in force along with Pilotage Directions 2006. Revised River Byelaws are to follow.

A guide to navigating through the Thames bridges is under development. The new document will give an in-depth guide to each bridge in order to improve safety.

Boat Master’s Licence (BML) - new agenda item

BH updated the members that the MIN and guidance letters had been sent out to watermen and lightermen detailing the changeover process.

The regulations are expected to come into force on 1^st January2007; applications will need to be made by 31^st December. AH asked how the BM’s would be monitored. BH confirmed that the Watermen would need to provide proof of service prior to application, for the changeover anyone who was an active waterman would be issued with a BML. Random checks would be made on applications using a data base and own knowledge of the BM applicant’s skills.

ii) Port Security – No problems on the water since last meeting. Recent problems in the aircraft industry which implemented security restrictions at Heathrow and elsewhere, did not impact on the shipping industry, ISPS level remained unchanged. The national threat level went up to critical very briefly. There is no change likely in the foreseeable future.

Following receipt of intelligence reports concerning Greenpeace activity, a ship carrying Indonesian hardwood was escorted by Kent, Essex & Met Police. There was no sign of Greenpeace.

GD explained that ISPS is likely to be extended under the EC Directive next year to cover all sea-going ferries and domestic (coastal) passenger ships over 300 tons.

There will be an EC extension in 2007 of existing ISPS regulations to the    ‘Greater Port’, which is yet to be defined by Transec. 

GD reported that there was a security exercise held in mid October covering oil terminals, based on the forth coming Olympic Games, which was well represented by the security forces.

iii) Environmental matters

KH introduced herself and explained her position within the PLA.

The PLA website has an environmental section that KH is currently re-writing and re-designing. The main points being addressed are dredging, environmental legislation, projects and environmental monitoring in the Thames. KH acknowledge a gap on the website that had been identified regarding recreational boating from a environmental point of view, and confirmed that she was looking at developing it into the website. KH welcomed any further improvements or comments regarding the website

iv) General

Trade figures down from January to June by 5 % generally. Fuel traffic down, Crude Oil down.  Vopak  picked up trade since the closure of Buncefield.  Aggregates down 346 thousand tonnes, construction industry was slack. Unitised traffic up, Coal down, Sugar up, Steel up, Vehicles lower, a general downward trend.
       

5. Navigational Safety and Consultancy

i) River Incidents

RS reported on the incidents since the last meeting.

ii. Inland Waterways – National standards

BH updated the members. EA and British Waterways will be implementing the code; PLA will implement it through their existing legislation. Medway may not implement owing to council’s reservations. For stability purposes the “standard passenger weight” has been increased to 75k.   

iii. Leisure Craft crossing points

John Skellorn of the RYA had raised an issue with the provision and promulgation of crossing points for leisure traffic in the lower river.

RS confirmed the recommended route for leisure craft. This route causes problems at Tilburyness, a blind corner where traffic lights can go unnoticed. RS highlighted another problem that the route was marked on Admiralty charts but not on Imray or Stanfords charts used by leisure users. RS asked the members for their views.

MC felt that the problems mostly affected sailing crafts and that education and consultation was important and would raise the issue at the next yacht club meeting. JS agreed to consult with Tilbury. RS informed the committee that the PLA was investigating the production of user guides in a format similar to that issued by Harwich.  RS to convene a small working party to look into crossings.

The general perception was that the problems were caused by lack of knowledge, ability and generally not listening. Foreign visitors have difficulties understanding VTS jargon and the use of historical names causes problems for yachtsman being unable to find them on charts.                                                  
                                     ACTION; RS TO ARRANGE MEETING WITH MEDWAY                                                                                                             

Additional agenda item - Whitstable Street Buoy;
GD asked the members for their comments on the Whitstable Street Buoy for him to report back to Trinity House. Comments have been received from RYA. General consensus from PLA & Medway is that it should remain.

6. Other Updates

i. MCA

BH is currently re-organising the RUCFs’ parent body the District Marine Safety Committee. The committee is perhaps not as affective as it should be. The proposal is to split the committee to form Thames and Estuary committee & the South of England committee. In due course all committees in other areas will be looked at, as currently a lot of meetings are being repeated.
A new Regional Director has been appointed, Jan Jackson and a new Chief Executive is expected to take up appointment in January.

BML changes discussed earlier.

A tragic incident, up-river highlighted Health & safety issues and concerns regarding the condition of afloat repair facilities. MCA and PLA are putting together a letter including a ‘best practise’ to be sent out to everyone. The message is, repair facilities to be safe or do not operate. BW raised concerns about PLA’s & MCA’s often differing opinions with repairs. BH confirmed that this should not be a problem and would need examples of this happening.
The recent large commercial detentions were in response from pilots reporting problems. Feedback is given to pilots on the action taken following the receipt of complaints.

ii. Riparian – none

iii. Environment Agency.
BA introduced herself.

Up-dates mostly water quality based. BA confirmed theThames water quality base was satisfactory. Heavy rain in September resulted in storm discharge into the Thames. Hydrogen Peroxide dosages were made into the Thames during October to keep the Oxygen level from dropping too low due to the expected heavy rain fall.

The fisheries survey has now been completed and the results will be available shortly. BA reported that only 2 salmon had been sighted in the Thames this year.

iv. London Port Health – none

v. RNLI

ID reported the relocation of the station to Royal Terrace Pier had been agreed, construction due to commence in January 2007, to move in March 2007.
Incidents slightly up, 90 at Gravesend, hoax incidents down only 1or 2.

Referring to the Incident at Thunderer jetty involving a surveyor falling from a chemical tanker, ID reported that the surveyor was ok.

ID confirmed the commencement of trials using the ‘Atlantic 85’ and the trials of the petrol fuelling facility at Battersea 

7. River Events

RS reported nothing until May 2007

8. River Works

i. London Gateway - GD reported still awaiting approval. Answer expected before the end of the year.

ii. Town Pier –  No movement.

iii. Canal Basin – gates still leaking, silting up, no news on second gate.

iv. Belvedere waste – Cory environment meeting, movement on jetty, lots of public interest. Possible construction next year.
Cross rail – No news 

v. Marina Development – RS Confirmed latest iteration of Greenhithe Marina Plan, 270 berths included. Dartford Council reduced it to 180.

Thurrock Marina – Gosport keen to develop, other ideas at Greenhithe, nothing confirmed.

vi. Wind generation riverside location, AT confirmed Tilbury interested.

RS up-dated members of the wind farm situation

a. Kent - producing electricity to target.         

b. Gunfleet - commencement 2008.

c. London Array - Objections still not lifted. Have agreed the removal of turbines to the south west.  PLA objection still standing, should be lifted by end of November.

Vii Canvey LNG

GD confirmed Proposal to re-instate LNG through into Canvey Terminal, subject to risk assessment by consultants.  The project has been rejected by Castle Point council. BH pointed out that LNG operations are the safest being well regulated and inspected. RS confirmed that their safety record was 100%, although there were concerns that crew expertise might be diluted should the demand of the LNG increase massively.

9. Future meetings- structure

GD asked if the members were happy with the way the RUCF meetings werestructured and whether anyone would like to see any changes in the format.

Any ideas are welcomed.

10. AOB

JS asked whether a new Lower Thames Crossing had been discussed GD confirmed that the Thames Gateway Bridge is to be built across Gallions Reach, completion in 2013. No other crossing has yet been discussed with the PLA

DB Informed the members of recent changes in the Adsteam tug fleet.

BH requested for the 2012 forth coming implications to be included in future meetings.                                                     

                                                                        ACTION; GD TO ADD TO AGENDA

EW Asked members who wanted to receive future minutes and agendas by E-mail to please contact her.

11. Date of Next Meeting

Friday 4^th May 2007 at 1030hrs

Meeting closed at 12.10hrs