DOCKYARD PORT OF PORTSMOUTH

PORT MARINE SAFETY CODE ANNUAL REPORT 2006

Commander K Carter BSc MNI Royal Navy, Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth

Forward

This has been another busy year for the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth, with a unique mix of Royal Naval movements, Commercial and Ferry traffic and leisure events. HMS Ark Royal returned home after an extended refit. Ferry and Commercial traffic remained at a high level, and leisure use increased, spurred on by the hosting of the seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean Race event in the port.

In spite of the continued high level of traffic using the port area (which covers over 50 square miles of the Eastern Solent), the safety record was exceptional, with only a few relatively minor incidents. The port Safety Management System was completely re-written and after extensive consultation with port stakeholders published on the QHM website for all to consult.

The unique QHM Portsmouth Volunteer Harbour Patrol greatly enhanced safety for the leisure users of the port, using its mix of patrol boats and personal water craft to aid and educate.

Kendall Carter

Headlines
WEBSITE – www.qhmportsmouth.com Mariners can obtain all current Local Notice to Mariners (LNTM) as well as reading the latest news and indeed the full Safety Management System. The website also contains a report form which allows mariners to report a Navigational incident on-line. QHM Website distributes information electronically to 2335 subscribers with 81,000 hits to the website during this reporting period
HMS Ark Royal returns – After a major refit lasting over a year in Rosyth, HMS Ark Royal returned to her home port of Portsmouth to join her sister ship HMS Illustrious. Both aircraft carriers are now routinely running from the port
The Volvo Ocean Race – the premier yachting event of the year was hosted by Portsmouth this year. The finish of the leg of this round the world event and the start of the next leg, with in port racing went without a hitch, greatly aided by marshalling from the port’s Volunteer Harbour Patrol

Contents

    The Report

    ANNEX A - Annual Report Targets

    ANNEX B - Report by Designated Person

The Report

BACKGROUND

DETR Ports Division published the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) in March 2000. The aim of the code was to establish an agreed national standard for port marine safety and a measure by which harbour authorities can be held accountable for their legal powers and duties to run their harbours safely.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The application of the Safety Management System (SMS) is the responsibility of the Queen’s Harbour Master as the Duty Holder and under the review of the Designated Person. The SMS is regarded as a living document and is used as a tool actively driven by QHM and his staff. The purpose of the SMS is to improve the level of safety for everyone using the waters that constitute the area of jurisdiction for the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth.

AIM

The aim of this document is to direct and describe how the Queen’s Harbour Master demonstrates compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code for the Year 1st January – 31st December 2006.

MANAGED CHANGE
To reinforce the structure to the base of Round Tower several tons of rock armour was put in place at the base of the Tower. A new starboard hand navigational pile was driven 1m out from the rock armour in the Harbour Entrance on 4th March 2006. Charting action taken and a local Notice to Mariners was issued.
As a result of a navigational incident within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth a recommendation from QHM was that a light be fitted to the navigational pile at Ryde Sands (LNTM 47/06). Work was under taken on this project and the light was installed on 13 October 2006.

OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

Incidents within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth in 2006 were as follows:

36 Reportable Incidents

    1 Mechanical Failure

    1 Grounding

    1 Berthing

    6 Close Quarters

    2 Dangerous occurrences

    16 Wash

    4 Collisions

    2 Impacts

    1 Sinking

    1 Fire

    1 Man Overboard

All incidents were investigated in compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code. Recommendations and conclusions were forwarded to the Mariner concerned, and where applicable to the Maritime Coastguard Agency.
BUOYAGE – The Warner buoy situated in the Solent was damaged from an unknown source and consequently had to be removed from station in late August, being replaced by a temporary buoy. The damage to the Warner Buoy was rectified and back on station within 2 weeks.
DEFRA – A wide variety of issues including planning applications, moorings, dredging and especially fishing matters is on going with DEFRA. A Local Notice to Mariners regarding fishing practice/activities within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth was issued in early August after consultation with the local Fisheries officer (see LNTM 03/05)

PANAR – (Ports Aids to Navigation Availability Reports) A total of 14 incidents were recorded where lights have either been unlit or irregular during the previous 12 months. Quarterly returns were made to Trinity House Light Service (THLS) who maintain the countrywide database. All main entry and exit lights were checked bi-weekly by a designated vessel. A full inspection was carried out by a Trinity House Inspector in April and was assessed as very satisfactory.

NAVIGATION: DANGERS AND HAZARDOUS OCCURRENCES – Within the reporting period 56 Local Notices to Mariners (LNTM) were issued to promulgate General Directions or inform Mariners of unusual activity. Urgent navigational information was promulgated by the NAVWARN system and 41 were issued in 2006.
HARBOUR ROUNDS – As in the previous years regular three monthly checks of the Harbour navigational marks were routinely conducted. All areas within the harbour were visited, thus ensuring a visible inspection of all assets, whether MOD sponsored or not.

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY – A complete commercial bathymetric survey of Portsmouth Harbour was completed in February 2006. This was used to identify the areas within Portsmouth Harbour requiring to be dredged / ploughed. In addition to this a variety of other surveys took place which included a Current, Geophysical and another environmental bathymetric survey which was undertaken for the South East’s Strategic Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme.

MOORINGS – An annual mooring survey was conducted and as of 15th November 2006 there were 5049 pleasure craft residing within the Harbour.
PILOTAGE – This year there were 1033 Acts of Pilotage undertaken by the Admiralty Pilots at Portsmouth. During this period there was one reportable incident of a vessel being “cold” moved, causing minor damage to the vessel.
QHM HARBOUR PATROL - Manned by the MOD Guard Service the QHP patrol attended and assisted over 50 vessels a week during the summer period ranging from, assisting yachts with engine failures, to advising crews on the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order Regulations.
VOLUNTEER HARBOUR PATROL - The QHM VHP, a registered charity, patron the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, did some good work in 2006. Its aim is to assist and support the leisure users of the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth. With over 5000 leisure craft berthed in the harbour and many more than that using the 50 square miles of the port water area annually, this is an important asset to the port. The 40+ volunteers are all safety boat, sailing, first aid and radios trained, and give up their evenings and weekends in the summer months to this very useful task.
The Personal watercraft section continued to grow with the loan of a second craft from Yamaha UK. A Jet Ski safety awareness event staged by QHM in the spring was a great success, making a major contribution to jetski safety in the port area.

The VHP had another very successful year in 2006 assisting with the marshalling of the Volvo Ocean Race and helping the many leisure users of the port. As a registered charity, the VHP depends entirely on the generosity of sponsors and the goodwill of the leisure users.

PWC LICENCES (Jet-ski) – The ever growing popularity of Jet-Skiing in the Solent resulted in 158 licences being issued during 2006 by QHM. QHM has now amended the Jet Ski licensing rules, to reduce unnecessary administrative work; all licences will last indefinitely negating the need to renew the licences every two years.

Local Events
Yet again, a very diverse collection of noteworthy military and non-military events have been successfully planned, risk assessed and subsequently conducted within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth during 2006. In addition to the hundreds of events that took place, the following are worthy of note:

    QHM PWC Safety Gala

    2 Major powerboat events

    17 Cross-Solent swims

    2 RN/CCF/ Sailing Regattas

    Cowes Week

    ‘Round the Island’ Jet ski Charity Cruise

    Start of ‘Round the World’ circumnavigation by ‘Lively Lady’

    3 Zap Cat events

    2005 – 2006 Volvo Ocean Race

    1 Rowing event

    Round the Island sailing race (1700 yachts)

    1 Major fireworks display

    9 Kayak events

    ‘Wight Air’ Festival

NAVAL ACTIVITY
NUCLEAR SUBMARINE VISITS – There were 3 Nuclear Submarine visits to Portsmouth in 2006. The first two were from the French Navy, SNA RUBIS in January and FS EMERAUDE in June and this was followed in August by HMS TRAFALGAR’s homecoming from deployment as her home port of Devonport was full with Navy Days ships. The Port of Southampton hosted its first Nuclear Submarine for many years when HMS TRENCHANT visited the port in August.
FOREIGN VISITORS – Portsmouth played host to a variety of foreign ships from around the World in 2006, which included Ships from Belgium, France, Holland, Norway, Spain, Russia and the USA. This included the Norwegian Sail Training Ships HNoMS CHRISTIAN RADICH and HNoMS STATSRAAD LEHMKUHL, shown opposite. There was also an operational visit from a NATO Squadron composing of the American Ship USS BARRY, the French Ship FS DE GRASSE and the Russian Ship RS ADMIRAL LEVCHENKO.
HMS ARK ROYAL – After almost 18 months in Refit in Rosyth, HMS ARK ROYAL returned to her Base Port of Portsmouth on 28 October 2006 to join HMS ILLUSTRIOUS as one of the 2 operational Carriers. HMS INVINCIBLE transferred to Extended Readiness and was moved into No 3 Basin.
HMS CLYDE LAUNCH – This year saw the first Warship to be built in Portsmouth Dockyard since HMS ANDROMEDA, nearly 40 years ago. The Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS CLYDE, built by VT Shipbuilding, was launched in No 14 Dock in June and was subsequently named in a grand ceremony on the evening of 7 September 2006. After undergoing Trials and Sea Training, she will sail for the Falkland Islands in mid 2007 for permanent service in the South Atlantic.

OIL POLLUTION CONTROL

A review of the Oil Pollution Preparedness Response & Co-operation plan is being conducted. During this reporting period sixteen minor oil spills have been reported, all in the harbour, the spills were investigated and where necessary cleanup operations instigated.

In compliance with the Merchant Shipping Oil Pollution and Preparedness, Responsibility and Co-operation Convention (OPRC) Regulation 1998 the Queen’s Harbour Master carried out a Tier One exercise on 16th September. The exercise tested The Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Oil Pollution Response Plan and the deployment of oil spill and booming equipment by Fleet Support Limited and Serco in the Tidal Basin Area.
SOLFIRE WEST EXERCISE – On Tuesday 10th October 2006 ABP Southampton carried out a Solfire West exercise. The exercise involved an RCL (Ramped Craft Logistics) vessel on passage from Netley MOD mooring buoys to Sea Mounting Centre Marchwood where, loaded with explosives, the RCL looses steerage off of Dock head and collides with the passenger vessel ‘Saga Rose’ secured alongside the QE2 terminal at 38/9 berth.
The exercise tested the emergency services response to a Solfire West incident, all objectives were achieved and the exercise was considered a success.

PERSONNEL/TRAINING

Pilots and Port Control Assistants continued with professional training at the South Shields Maritime College. All staff will be qualified to the new V-103 standard by the end of 2007.

ANNEX A – ANNUAL REPORT TARGETS 1

SerialDescriptionTargetFormal method of Recording for Safety Management SystemPeriod of in-year Monitoring/MeasuringMethod of Reporting
4.3

ACCOUNTABILITY

04/03/01Reporting periodAnnual1 Jan 06 – 31 Dec 06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/02Report publicationBy31/03/07AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/03Vessel Recording (commercial & militaryAnnual43488QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/04Vessel Recording (ferries)Annual51124QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/05No. Of leisure berths/moorings in DPPAnnual5135AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/06Marine incidentsAnnual36AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/07Notices to MarinersAnnual56AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/08ConsultationsAnnualN/AAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/09Staff DevelopmentAnnualOngoing Reviewed March 06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/10PilotageAnnual850 moves in totalQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/11VTS Radar CoverageAnnual84.00%QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/12VTS VHF CoverageAnnual100.00%QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/13Hydrographic SurveysAnnual01/02/06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/03/14Physical inspections of Navigational marksQuarterlyJan, April, July, OctAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.4

ENVIRONMENTAL/EMERGENCY PLANNING

04/04/01SOLFIRE
PLAN - Review of planAnnual01/01/06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
PLAN - Revision to planAnnualRevision 2 Feb 06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
PLAN - Resource adequacyAnnualYesAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
EXERCISE - Plan Exercise3 yearly01/07/063 yearlyAnnual NBC/DPF
EXERCISE - Conduct Exercise3 yearly10 October 06 Solfire West3 yearlyAnnual NBC/DPF
EXERCISE - Debrief Exercise3 yearly10 October 06 Hot wash-up3 yearlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/04/02OPRP
PLAN - Review of planAnnualMCA Audit 08 March 07AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
PLAN - Revision to planAnnualReview of OPRP Jan 06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
PLAN - Resource adequacyAnnualAdequateAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
EXERCISE - Plan ExerciseAnnual01/07/06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
EXERCISE - Conduct ExerciseAnnual16 September 06 Tier 1AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
EXERCISE - Debrief ExerciseAnnual16/09/06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.5

NAVIGATION CONTROL/SAFETY STANDARDS

04/05/01SQEP100.00%AchievedAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/02Promulgate hazards to navigation100.00%100.00%QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/03Continuous service99.50%AchievedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/04Justified complaints from customersLess than 4 per monthAchieved - less than 1 per month receivedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/05Recording of incidents100.00%Portsfolio –Year 2006 incidents recorded on database.QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/06Review principal legislationAnnualOngoingAs requiredAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/07Review local legislationAnnualOngoingAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/08Review statutory/non-statutory instrumentsAnnualOngoingAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/09Review any proposals for draft legislationAnnualOngoingAs requiredAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/10Review any changes in riskAnnualPortsfolioQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/05/11Review changes to SMS's in adjacent areasAnnualtbdAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.6

VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES (VTS) STANDARDS

04/06/01Suitably qualified/experienced personnel100.00%Achieved All personnel undertaking ongoing training to IALA V103/1(2) StandardAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/02Provision of a continuous 24 hour service100.00%AchievedAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/03Timely promulgation of navigation warnings100.00%AchievedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/04Justified complaints from customers100.00%NilMonthlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/05Maintain Radar/VHF records for 3 months100.00%Hard Drive 30 Days 60 Days DVDQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/06Maintain CCTV records for 20 days100.00%20 Days Hard DriveQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/07Staff Training95.00%OngoingAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/08Maintain radar coverage99.00%84.00%QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/09Maintain VHF coverage99.00%AchievedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/10QHM/ABP Reissue of Local Notice to MarinersAnnuallyUpdated 1 January2006 (issued as required)AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/06/11Incidents contributed to by VTS Operator errorNoneQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
4.7

ADMIRALTY PILOTAGE STANDARDS

4.7.A

ADMIRALTY PILOT TRAINING - TRAINEES

Tug Handling - within 6 months of starting100.00%N/AAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
Stage 1 - within 6 to 9 months of starting Stage100.00%N/AAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
Stage 2 - within 6 to 9 months of starting Stage100.00%Due qualification All Ships Mar 07AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
Stage 3 - within 12 to 18 months of starting Stage100.00%N/AAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.7.B
MoD approved bridge simulator course - every 3 years100.00%OngoingAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
ARPA refresher training - every 3 years100.00%Ongoing not in YearAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
VTS operator refresher training - every 3 years100.00%OngoingAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
Nuclear Safety - every 18 months100.00%11 required 11 trainedAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.7.C

ADMIRALTY PILOT AVAILABILITY

Immediately during normal working hours100.00%100.00%QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
Within one hour out of normal working hours100.00%100.00%QuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
4.7.D

BOARDING/LANDING OF PILOTS

I.A.W. the Merchant Shipping (Pilot Boats) Regulations100.00%AchievedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
4.7.E

PERFORMANCE TARGETS

04/07/01SQEP100.00%AchievedAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/07/02Provision of 24 hour service100.00%AchievedAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/07/03Performance of other pilotageReport annuallyN/AAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/07/04Safe boarding/landing of Pilots100.00%100.00%AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/07/05Compliance of pilotage acts with national standardsReport annuallyYESAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/07/06Justified complaints from customersLess than 4 per MonthNilQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/07/07Incidents contributed to by Pilot errorNoneNilQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
4.8

HYDROGRAPHY/CONSERVANCY STANDARDS

4.8.AHYDROGRAPHY
4.8.BCONSERVANCY
4.8.CPERFORMANCE TARGETS
04/08/01SQEP100.00%100.00%AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/08/02Navigation Marks Lit-
- Sector99.80%99.8% achievedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
- Primary99.00%99% achievedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
- Minor97.00%97% achieved relights achieved within 24hrsQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/08/03Navigation Marks on position98.00%98% Buoys off station repositioned within 48 hrsQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
04/08/04Survey of maintained channelsAnnual survey01/02/06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/08/05Dredge safety trigger level reachedMonitored6 Monthly ReviewAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/08/06Investigate reports/concerns within 24 hrs95.00%YesAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/08/07Issue navigation warnings within 24 hours100.00%41 IssuedQuarterlyAnnual NBC/DPF
4.9

PORT MARINE SERVICES STANDARDS

4.9.A

GENERAL

4.9.B

TOWAGE

Tug availability98.00%Achieved 100%AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
Tug use98.00%Achieved 100%AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.1

STANDARDS FOR RESPECTING LEGISLATION

4.11
04/11/01Recording of reportable events100.00%PortsfolioAnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/11/02Ensure completion of follow-up actions100.00%All reportable incidents for 2006 investigated.AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/11/03Ensure closure action when follow-up actions complete100.00%100.00%AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
4.12
04/12/01Annual review of targets100.00%D4P April 06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/12/02Annual discussion of targets with steering group100.00%D4P April 06AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF
04/12/03Annually publish targets/achievements100.00%31/03/07AnnualAnnual NBC/DPF

Abbreviations used

VHF - Very High Frequency
VTS - Vessel Traffic Service
ARPA - Automatic Radar Plotting Apparatus
SOLFIRE - Solent Marine Emergency Plan
CCTV - Closed Circuit Television
OPRP - Oil Pollution Response Plan
DPF- Dockyard Port Forum
SQEP - Suitably Qualified/Experienced Person

ANNEX B

DESIGNATED PERSONS STATEMENT

QHM (PORTSMOUTH)

SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

This year has seen greater managerial stability and continued integration of the SMS into the routine operation of the Dockyard Port. There has been increased emphasis on the Pan-Solent aspects of safety management.

The DP Report last year noted the need to re-invigorate the SMS. This has been achieved via a complete rewrite of the document, which also had the effect of drawing peoples minds back to the core issues. I have carried out a number of check audits this year and these indicated only minor non-conformances although it is clear that further emphasis needs to be placed on the internal audit system. However, the need for such internal checks has been reduced by the inclusion of large sections of the system within an ISO 9002 system, which is routinely subject to both internal and external audit. Part of next years work will be to rationalise the various audit systems to ensure that all areas are checked by those best qualified to judge compliance whilst cutting out duplication of effort.

A prime benefit of the SMS has been to identify trends and this has allowed effort to be focussed on those areas providing the greatest benefit. The PWC Awareness day is an example of activity in one such area and allowed the many responsible users of these craft to demonstrate their commitment to enjoying their sport in harmony with other harbour users. In other areas, such as wash generation from large vessels, it has proved more difficult to address the problem and continued vigilance will be necessary.

QHM Staff are now spending more time on the water and this, coupled with the efforts of the VHP, provides a more visible regulatory presence. However, the emphasis remains on education and on allowing harbour users as much freedom as possible whilst maintaining safety for all users.

Overall, this has been another successful year for the DPP SMS but continued effort is needed. It would be all too easy to let complacency creep in and destroy all the gains that have been made. Involvement of all harbour stakeholders remains critical to the continued safe operation of the harbour and close links to adjacent authorities must be maintained.