THE DOCKYARD PORT OF PORTSMOUTH ANNUAL REPORT S O Hopper, Queen s Harbour Master Portsmouth

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1 THE DOCKYARD PORT OF PORTSMOUTH ANNUAL REPORT 2017 S O Hopper, Queen s Harbour Master Portsmouth

2 Introduction and Aim 1. The aim of this report is to demonstrate the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth s (DyP) compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code whilst meeting the Ministry of Defence s needs to maintain core operational outputs. To do this, the report aims to demonstrate that throughout 2017, the QHM Department successfully delivered on all the commitments set out in QHM s Navigational Safety Policy 1, and to highlight the core output of the organisation in supporting the Royal Navy was another extremely busy year for the port which was characterised by the culmination of extensive infrastructure works related to the subsequent arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth on 16 August With the aircraft carrier now fully established in her base port, we are once again extremely grateful to the wide array of port stakeholders whose cooperation and patience helped make this happen without major incident or long term disruption Headlines 2. The year featured a number of headlines as set out below. a. Completion of Capital Dredge and Approach Channel Realignment. The capital dredge to prepare Portsmouth for the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carriers completed on 12 May. Following the removal of 3,200,000m 3 of spoil and 20,907 obstructions including 7 large items of ordnance, this project increased the depth of the main channel between Outer Spit Buoy and just north of Princess Royal Jetty to 10.5 metres; doubled the width of and partially straightened the approach channel between Outer Spit Buoy and 4 Bar Buoy; and, created a 13.5 metre deep berthing pocket for the carriers at Princess Royal Jetty and Victory Jetty. Following the Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) removals in 2016, there were two more large items of UXO, a 100lb bomb removed on 17 February and a 500lb bomb removed on 22 February; their removal once again required close cooperation with Hampshire Police and HM Coast Guard who ensured public safety while the Royal Navy s Southern Diving Unit 2, acting for Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal, removed the items from the harbour. Among the objects removed were the following notable items: 110 minor items of UXO 7 large items of UXO 8 cast iron cannons 1000 artefacts recovered and reported on by Wessex Archaeology 37 anchors ranging in age from late 18 th century to WWII 107 iron shot cannon balls b. Arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth. The carrier arrived on a still Wednesday morning on 16 August, met by a small flotilla of local boats who escorted her to the harbour mouth. 1 The latest edition of the Navigational Safety Policy is available at 2

3 Her planned entry had been set for the Friday but with a deteriorating weather forecast, the opportunity was taken to get her safely alongside prior to the winds across the harbour entrance exceeding a level suitable for her first entry. The carrier subsequently sailed again for further contractor sea trials in the autumn, and was commissioned in to RN service at a ceremony attended by Her Majesty the Queen on 7 December. c. Traffic Management Changes in the Small Boat Channel. On 2 March, a new version of Admiralty Chart 2625 was published showing the widened and re-orientated channel. Immediately following this, the main channel lateral buoys were moved to match the new chart and the opportunity taken to adjust their characteristics to sequences that follow a more logical pattern, easier to recognise and memorise. The directional light on Southsea Castle was switched off on 8 March and was replaced by a directional port entry light on the newly established Castle Pile. Shortly after introduction of the new chart, it became apparent that further adjustments were needed to the route of the small boat channel which was subsequently straightened and the requirement to leave 4 Bar Buoy to port was introduced. This measure is intended among other things, to avoid outbound traffic pushing inbound traffic in to the main channel, or vessels squeezing past in opposite directions to the west of 4 Bar Buoy where depths shoal relatively quickly towards Hamilton Bank. Uptake of this measure has been relatively low to date. With details published in General Direction 2/17 (Portsmouth Harbour Entrance Approach Channel, Small Boat Channel, Swashway and Inner Swashway), QHM staff and the Volunteer Harbour Patrol will be working throughout 2018 to try to improve adherence to these regulations. d. Publication of a new Safety and Environmental Management System. Following advice from the port s safety audit in 2016 and based on guidance contained in MOD regulations and the Port Marine Safety Code, 2017 saw the publication of a completely revised Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS). Updated to fully reflect current process and practice, the main document is published on the QHM Portsmouth website at and sets out QHM s commitment statement, the roles responsible for safety in the DyP, and a basic overview of the management measures in place. A series of underpinning documents and management process annexes are held internally or published on the website, and are the detailed means by which the port runs its business. 3

4 e. Introduction of a new QHM Patrol Capability. In May 17, QHM took delivery of a Pacific 22 RIB for the purpose of patrolling DyP waters. This vessel bridges a capability gap for a shoal draft patrol vessel suitable for accessing shallower waters within the harbours and creeks around the DyP and for a craft suitable for the purpose of engaging with the public while patrolling leisure activity throughout DyP waters. The delivery of the boat was followed by the employment of a Port Safety Officer Assistant (PSOA) whose primary role is focussed on the safety of small craft and leisure activity. The PSOA runs QHM s patrol capability; manages the collation of the recreational events calendar; assists with assurance of associated risk assessments; and, is available to speak to clubs, organisations and event organisers in order to help members and participants to comply with QHM s rules and regulations. Safety and Environmental Management System 3. Following on from the overhaul of QHM s Risk Management System in 2016 and in order to ensure continued compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC), the Dockyard Port Marine Safety Policy and the Defence Maritime Regulator s newly published DSA02 (MOD Ports and Harbours Regulations for Safety and Environmental Protection), a substantial overhaul has been conducted of much of QHM Portsmouth s key safety documentation. The following notable activity has taken place to support ongoing port safety. a. Safety and Environmental Management System. This document and its supporting documents have been fully revised, as set out at paragraph 2c. b. Navigational Safety Policy. QHM s Navigational Safety Policy has been fully updated and provides a statement of the measures by which the DyP is managed in a safe and compliant manner. c. Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Marine Safety Plan. An updated plan, previously known as the Harbour Safety Plan, this document is in the process of consultation through the Dockyard Port Forum and the Dockyard Ports Board. It will be published in mid-2018 and will set out how the port intends to develop over the next three years in order to maintain and further improve safety in the DyP. d. Consultation of new General Direction 1/17 (Regulations for Vessels Passing Others Underway in Portsmouth Harbour). The introduction of the widened approach channel and the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth, necessitated a change of traffic management. In close consultation with Portsmouth International Port who in turn liaised with the many commercial shipping companies who use the port, the passing of large vessels in the approach channel was introduced while some traditional passing areas in vicinity of the naval base became more closely constrained. e. Commercial Pilotage Exemption Certificate (PEC) Board involvement. QHM staff sit on the Portsmouth International Port (PIP) PEC board and in 2017 examined 14 successful candidates; a pass rate of 93%. Membership of this board and subsequent annual refresher visits to Semaphore Tower, allows QHM and the PIP to ensure that mariners exempted from taking a Portsmouth Pilot are safe to operate the vessels for which they hold exemptions while in the DyP and the Competent Harbour Authority Area, and as such, this activity constitutes an important part of the ports SEMS. 4

5 Infrastructure Managed Change 4. As well as the completion of the capital dredge and changes to AtoNs described under the headlines, 2017 saw development in the following key infrastructure areas. a. Completion of Princess Royal Jetty. On 20 March, Princess Anne formerly opened Princess Royal Jetty, formerly known as Middle Slip Jetty. This opening marked the completion of extensive infrastructure work to prepare a strengthened jetty with suitable power, mooring, reception and security arrangements to home the QEC carriers. c. Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Update. Harbour Control operated from a temporary location throughout 2017 while structural work continued on Semaphore Tower ahead of relocation to its permanent home. Use of the Kongsberg VTMS suite is now well established and has enabled QHM to maintain an IALA compliant system despite the temporary location. Berthing, Movements and Events 5. In 2017 there were 210,534 vessel movements within Portsmouth Harbour. This figure is a combination of commercial, military, and ferry movements and also includes an average of 5000 leisure moves a month. The Capital Dredge works for the new Portsmouth Channel and Aircraft Carrier Berth Pockets meant an increase in large vessel moves for the first three months of the year, supported by a total of 1408 acts of pilotage by Admiralty Pilots. 6. The Volunteer Harbour Patrol s continued commitment to providing advice and assistance in the harbour entrance during peak times between March and October was once again key to reducing risk in the most congested area of the DyP. This was made particularly interesting due to the introduction of new measures for the Small Boat Channel during the spring, and we are again, extremely grateful to the 32 volunteers for giving their time to this highly valued service. 7. This calendar year saw over 199 notified events, ranging from cross-solent swims to powerboat races and major regattas take place within DyP waters. The continued submission of programmes and risk assessments to the Port Safety team by event organisers and clubs, remains a key measure to ensuring suitable de-confliction of events, issuance of Local Notices to Mariners and oversight of safety for all port users. Enforcement 8. QHM undertook 27 enforcement actions in 2017, most of which involved education and warning for minor breaches of DPPO Rules and Regulations. These actions were backed by two cases of prosecution in Portsmouth Magistrates Court. The first resulted in fines of 365 each for two Personal Watercraft operators who ran amok in the harbour and disrupted ferry traffic in late The second was for a Rigid Inflatable Boat operating at excessive speed in the Portsmouth Approach Channel and Harbour Entrance, well in excess of the 10 knot speed limit. The owner pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay 800 fine and court costs. Incidents and Near Misses 9. A standard port metric to measure safety performance is to look at a ratio of recorded incidents to total vessel moves. For 2017 there was 60 incidents and near misses recorded. 36 of those incidents were related to safety of navigation which equates to 0.17 incidents per 1000 moves. 5

6 10. Four incidents in 2017 were MAIB reportable: A yacht impeding the passage of an outbound oil tanker from Southampton. A fishing vessel impeding the passage of a ferry during her arrival into Portsmouth. A ferry encroaching the limits of the Small Boat Channel resulting in a close quarter situation with an inbound yacht. A ferry made contact with a vessel berthed on Gunwharf Quays due to a tug line parting. 11. QHM was involved in the joint coordination of two emergencies within DyP waters in late The first was working with MCA counter pollution teams following a fuel spill that occurred at St Helen s Anchorage (see paragraph 16). Then on 26 December QHM assisted Secretary of State s Representative (SOSREP) when an 85 metre Russian deck cargo ship, MV Mekhanik Yartsev lost much of her timber load in the English Channel and entered DyP waters for safe refuge, listing to 29 degrees. Following a night at anchor in the central Solent, she was subsequently taken alongside in Southampton. Conservancy and Environmental Compliance 12. Provision of Aids to Navigation. During 2017 there were 23 failures of aids to navigation with four failures on category 1 equipment. Category 1 availability was 99.91% which exceeds the Trinity House target availability requirement of 99.80%. Previous category 1 item fragility related to old technology in use on the Fort Blockhouse and Southsea Castle directional lights was resolved in March by replacement and retirement of the lights respectively. Ongoing fragility due to a long term defect of Fort Gilkicker Light is due to be rectified by its replacement with a pile placed south of Gilkicker Point in Hydrographic Survey Activity. There were five major hydrographic surveys undertaken during Three were for the purpose of maintenance dredging and one on completion of the QEC Capital Dredge by Boskalis Westminster Ltd which focussed primarily on the dredged areas in Portsmouth Harbour and the Approaches. The other survey was undertaken by HMS Gleaner who verified the latter areas and surveyed may of the creeks within the harbour and the Spithead anchorages. All data was provided to the UKHO. 14. Tidal Monitoring. Following completion of the capital dredge, tidal monitoring equipment was placed in several locations within and outside Portsmouth Harbour. The data has been provided to the UKHO who will be incorporating it in to their publications in due course. 15. UKHO Consultation and Chart Publication. QHM staff were consulted on five new editions of UKHO charts covering DyP waters: BA2036, BA2037, BA2625, BA2629, and BA2631, all of which were re-published during March. 16. Oil Spill Response. Fourteen minor pollution incidents were recorded involving small quantities of light fuel oils; all reported to the MCA. One more serious spill took place on 19 December from a vessel undertaking bunkering operations at anchor. The MCA took the lead for response as the spill dispersed to the east of Solent Waters. This has resulted in a complete moratorium on bunkering at anchor in the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth until lessons from the investigation are understand and a complete risk assessment review has taken place. There was also a change in Tier Two Oil Spill Response Provision, when Adler & Allen took over the contract from the beginning of This contract fulfils QHM s requirement to maintain guaranteed cover for spills beyond the capability of the port s own resources. 17. Environmental Monitoring. QHM staff have again contributed to the Solent European Marine Site (SEMS) annual monitoring of activities and their impact on the environment, and attended the subsequent working group meeting. Additionally, a workshop was undertaken by several members of the SEMS group, led by Natural England, to assist harbour authorities with methodologies for conducting environmental impact assessment. 6

7 Human Resources 18. A new position of Port Safety Officer Assistant was created as described at the headlines and the position of Movements Officer s Assistant was disbanded following the promotion of its incumbent to take up the Movements Officer post. The previous Movements Officer, Mr Gary Cassap, retired after 24 years in the role. Taking with him a wealth of highly valued experience, he was a familiar voice and face to most RN Navigating Officers who have served throughout his time. Top 10 Risks held by QHM 19. At the end of 2017 QHM held the following top 10 risks on MarNIS which are all assessed ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable). Number Risk 1 Fire/Explosion: Large Vessel Alongside 2 Other Nautical Safety: Wash Causes Injury and/or Damage 3 Pollution Water: Oil/Fuel Spill 4 Other Nautical Safety: MOB/Person in the water 5 Flooding/Foundering: Large Vessel 6 Equipment failure (vessel): Loss of Propulsion and/or Control 7 Fire/Explosion: Large Vessel at Sea 8 Pollution Water: Sullage/Bilge Spill 9 Collision: Large Vessel vs. RAM vessel operating in Bar Channel 10 Collision: Vessels Collide in Fog 7