Foreword

SOLFIRE EAST EXERCISE – Response to a major marine incident or emergency in the eastern Solent was tested in an exercise on Tuesday 21 September. QHM Portsmouth, Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) co-ordinated a response to an incident on board a vessel as it approached Portsmouth Harbour during Exercise Solfire ’10.

The scenario involved a fire on board a Wightlink cross-Solent car ferry on passage to Portsmouth followed by a collision with a fuelling tanker inside the harbour which led to a minor pollution incident.

Specialists from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were transferred by tug onto the ferry to deal with the fire. About 50 volunteers, playing the part of passengers, were evacuated from the ferry once it was berthed in the Naval Base. A casualty was transferred from a Ministry of Defence Police launch to an MCA helicopter in the northern harbour. The exercise itself, because of the extensive use of real life events and people, contained a certain level of risk. However it was conducted safely, without incident and no harmful substances were used.

The Solfire Plan is tested annually, with the lead role being rotated among QHM Portsmouth, ABP Southampton and the MCA.

• The Report

• ANNEX A - Annual Report Targets

• ANNEX B - Report by Designated Person

BACKGROUND

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

AIM

Website www.qhmportsmouth.com

The QHM Portsmouth website is at present being upgraded to incorporate all three Naval Bases under the same link. Mariners can obtain all current Local Notice to Mariners (LNTM), Navwarns and General Directions as well as reading the latest news.

The Website distributes information electronically to 470,000 subscribers with 2,519 people receiving LNTM, General Directions and Navigational Warnings via e-mail in 2010.

Ballast Pile

The signage of Ballast Pile has had to be replaced due to a number of incidents involving leisure craft.

Incidents within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth in 2010 were as follows:

• 20 Reportable Incidents
  • 4 Collision Ship - Ship
  • 3 Equipment Failure Vessel
  • 1 Grounding
  • 8 Impact with Structure
  • 2 Fire/Explosion
  • 2 Other Hazard

All incidents were investigated in compliance with the Dockyards Port Marine Safety Manual. Recommendations and conclusions were forwarded to the Mariner concerned, and where applicable to the Maritime Coastguard Agency.

One incident which resulted in a SOLFIRE B being declared by the Port was a fire onboard Commodore Clipper. At 0242 (BST) on 16 June, while the ro-ro ferry was on passage from Jersey to Portsmouth, a fire was detected on the main vehicle deck. The vehicle deck was loaded with unaccompanied freight trailers and the crew identified that a refrigerated trailer unit, powered from the ship’s electrical supply, had caught fire.

The vehicle deck was fully enclosed and smoke built up quickly. The crew contained the fire using the vehicle deck water drenching system and boundary cooling from above, but were not able to extinguish it.

An Admiralty Pilot boarded the vessel in the Solent and the vessel came into port with a tug escort. The crew assisted the local fire and rescue service in attempts to fight the fire. Freight trailers were packed closely on the vehicle deck and fire-fighters found it extremely difficult to reach the seat of the fire. Trailers had to be towed off before the fire, which had by now burned for about 18 hours and spread to four trailers, was finally put out. The incident has been investigated and is subject to an MAIB report which will be issued in due course.

The Port Surveyor carried out monthly checks visiting all the Navigational Buoys in the East and Western Solent to check their condition and position.

North Ryde Middle FL.R. (4)20s at 50.46.604N – 001.14.324W was for the last few months of 2010 been recorded as slightly out of position. As of the first week in February 2011 it was re-laid in accordance with the UKHO recorded position.

The Invincible Wreck Buoy has been off station since 18 May and a Navigation warning was issued (19/10) which is still in force. It is envisaged that the Invincible Wreck Buoy will not be back on station in the foreseeable future.

MMO - We consult with the MMO on a wide variety of issues including planning applications, moorings, dredging and especially fishing matters.

A number of Local Notice to Mariners regarding fishing practice and activities within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth (DPP) have been reissued as General Directions:

• GD 02/11 (Oyster dredging in Portsmouth Harbour)
• GD 04/11 (Fishing Restriction to prevent obstruction to safe Navigation within the DPP).

The General Directions can be viewed on QHM’s website.

A new emergency byelaw issued by MMO came into force on 10 January 2011 regarding trawling gear.

No person shall other than in the execution of a properly authorised fishing activity drop, move, tow or drag any fishing gear or equipment along the seabed or above the seabed from any vessel in such way that it may cause:

• The deterioration of the natural habitats for which the EMS has been classified;
• The deterioration of the habitats of species for which the EMS has been classified; or
• The disturbance of the species for which the EMS has been classified, in waters of the EMS North of the direct line joining the South East Corner of Portchester Castle (50 Degrees 50.17 minutes North 001 Degrees 06.78 minutes West), the Southern Part of Peewit Island (50 Degrees 49.82 minutes North 001 Degrees 08.24 minutes West) and the Shore at Frater (50 degrees 49.63 minutes North 001 Degrees 09.00 minutes West).

PANAR – (Ports Aids to Navigation Availability Reporting). All main Dockyard Port of Portsmouth (DPP) entry and exit lights continue to be checked bi-weekly with any reported faults being rectified as quickly as possible and Navigational Warnings issued in the interim.

A full and detailed inspection of the DPP was last carried out by Trinity House on the 17 May, which was assessed as being satisfactory.
The next inspection of the DPP by Trinity House is planned for the 20 June 2011.

NAVIGATION: DANGERS AND HAZARDOUS OCCURRENCES – During this reporting period 51 Navigational Warnings were issued by QHM.

HARBOUR ROUNDS – As in the previous reports regular three monthly checks of the Harbour navigational marks were routinely conducted. All areas within the harbour were visited ensuring a continuous and visible inspection of all assets, whether MOD sponsored or not.

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY – A full survey of the Harbour was conducted in February following the Maintenance Dredge in November/December 2009. Routine Maintenance Dredging planned for late 2010 was deferred until early 2011 to tie in with other projects.

MOORINGS – The annual mooring survey for 2010 is complete and the final figure for leisure craft within the DPP is 3750. This is a slight fall in numbers from last year’s survey which was 3922.

PILOTAGE – This year 1134 Acts of Pilotage were undertaken by the Admiralty Pilots.

VOLUNTEER HARBOUR PATROL - Continued its work in 2010. Its aim is to promote safety through the provision of education and support to the recreational users of the Dockyard Port. With over 4,000 craft berthed in the harbour, and many more using the 50 square miles of the Port annually, this is a distinctive asset. The 48 volunteer members range from retired big-ship masters to leisure sailors with more modest craft; they all have significant experience and training and give up their evenings and week-ends in the summer months to this valuable service.

This year the Patrol had a fleet of three craft available and maintained attendance during the week-ends throughout the season and, whilst its focus is primarily on the education of the leisure community with the accent on safety offering advice to the unwary or a welcome to visitors unfamiliar with the Harbour Regulations, it responded to 67 calls for assistance following incidents such as engine failure, stranding or other general problems in or near the Harbour. The Patrol also provided marshalling resources for some large events. As a charity, and a unique combination of the resources of the leisure, commercial and military users of the Port, the VHP depends for its success entirely on the generosity of sponsors, and the goodwill of the leisure user.

Yet again, a very diverse collection of recreational events have been successfully planned, risk assessed and subsequently conducted within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth during 2010. There was no one particular event that stands out above the others, but the following are worthy of note:

General Events:

• A Combined Cadet Force Sailing Regatta
• Cowes Week
• A Water Skiing competition
• Southsea Rowing Regatta
• The JP Morgan Round the Island sailing race (1700 yachts)
• Gunwharf Quay’s fireworks display
• 12 Kayak events

Power craft Events:

• Solent Skiers ‘Round the Island’ Jet Ski Charity Cruise

Swimming Events

• 24 RN personnel swam across the Solent in aid of the Charity ‘Help for Heroes’
• A 12 swimmer Charity swim to the ‘Bestival’ on the Isle of Wight
• A ‘Round the Island’ Swim
• Southsea Pier to Pier Swimming Regatta
• Approximately 13 other Cross Solent Charity Swims

Statutory Planning Applications

44 Statutory Planning Applications were received and actioned by QHM during 2010.

Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS)

The Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is a joint venture between the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), in association with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Its purpose is to monitor non-breeding water birds in the UK and the principal aims of the scheme are to identify population sizes, determine trends in numbers and distribution, and identify important sites for water birds. Monthly co-ordinated counts, principally for the winter months of September to March, are made of approximately 2000 wetland sites of all habitats throughout the UK.

The WeBS counts for Portsmouth Harbour are currently done by a team of seven volunteer counters and include the main harbour, the creeks and the adjacent areas of the IBM Lake, the North Harbour reclamation area and Bedenham. The HMS Sultan playing fields are also covered as it has been noted that the Brent Geese roosting there commute to the harbour to feed. Counts are completed within two hours either side of high tide.

On average 20 species of wildfowl, 12 species of waders and 6 species of gulls feature in the counts. Portsmouth Harbour is internationally important for two of these over-wintering species – Dark-bellied Brent Geese and Black-tailed Godwit. Winter counts for these species average approximately 2250 and 200 respectively, although the latter are quite fickle and largely spend the high tide period roosting at Farlington Marshes. Other prominent species are; waders, Dunlin (2000), Redshank (500), Curlew (400), Oystercatcher (400); and wildfowl, Little Grebe (40), Wigeon (450) and Red-breasted Merganser (40).

In addition to these core counts, every five years a series of winter Low Tide Counts are undertaken. The results of these counts show more specifically the number of birds feeding in the harbour and their distribution across the mudflats. These counts are particularly important to assess species that roost outside the harbour; for example the 2008-9 series of counts produced monthly averages of 440 for Black-tailed Godwit and 6400 for Dunlin.

The data collected is important not only to monitor bird species but also to inform assessments of all requests for development in and around the Harbour.

TYPE 45 – The third T45 Destroyer, HMS DIAMOND arrived in Portsmouth on 22 September to join her two sister ships. She has now embarked on a rigorous set of Sea Trials and crew training prior to becoming fully operational.

FOREIGN VISITORS - Portsmouth Naval Base played host to a number of Foreign Warships during the year, which included a variety of ships and submarines from France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Algeria & the USA.

During this reporting period 10 oil spills were reported, 9 required minor clean up operations. All reported spills were in the harbour and were dealt with using internal equipment and personnel.

On 21 September as part of the SOLFIRE East exercise and in compliance with the Merchant Shipping Oil Pollution and Preparedness Responsibility and Co-operation Convention (OPRC) Regulation 1998 the Queen’s Harbour Master Department carried out Tier One oil spill booming exercise.