Porstmouth harbour patrol...again

BlueChip

BlueChip

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The Portsmouth harbour patrol small craft were extremely active today - zooming all over the harbour chastising raggies and yachties for minor misdemeanours, could that be anything to do with the two 'Naval' types watching intently with binoculars from the Pilot boat pier? Could one of these have been the mysterious QHM checking up on his volunteers?

I noticed that although the PHP were all over private craft, they conspicuously ignored several inbound small fishing boats that left the ballast pile to starboard and an outbound pleasure boat that hogged the port side of the small craft channel forcing entering craft right into the middle of the harbour entrance.

The new rules should be enforced fairly for all. I don't believe that passenger carrying commercial craft or pilot boats have any place in the small craft channel, their size, wash and the speed they travel at makes them a hazard to most small craft
 
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I noticed that although the PHP were all over private craft, they conspicuously ignored several inbound small fishing boats that left the ballast pile to starboard and an outbound pleasure boat that hogged the port side of the small craft channel forcing entering craft right into the middle of the harbour entrance.

The new rules should be enforced fairly for all.

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Commercial vessels, of which both vessels you refer to are, do not fall under our remit! I was aware of the situation this morning.

I'd be interested to know what you consider "minor" misdemeanours? If you call be told to [no thanks] off when politely asking a large motor cruiser to slow down to minimise his wash and th effects it was having on yachts within the harbour a minor misdemeanour - so be it. I can assure you that minor misdemeanoers are "allowed" to go unchallenged, but what you may regard as minor may not be so within the overall scheme of things.
 
Well maybe I'm a little naive; but do people really tell QHM to [no thanks] off? And if so what redress do you (as QHM's representative) have against such cretins?

I'm constantly astonished by the complete lack of awareness of the procedure in Portsmouth Harbour by some boatowners. It's really not too much too ask to stick to a few simple rules in the small boat channel & ballast pile. The real problem is that those folk who are up to date; and keep any eye to LNTM; are then brought in to direct conflict with those that don't know the score (eg routing around ballast pile). I think there is a responsibility here on the marinas to make sure that harbour information is available to thier clients. I'm at Royal Clarence and the marina email me LNTM as and when they come out. They only take 2 mins to read and to my mind make us all a little safer in what is an astonishingly busy port.

rob
 
It is very very rare, but yes some do. The incident was logged and any further action is now down to the powers that be. Each vessel is equiped with a digital camera for such eventualities.

Under our warrants, we are able to issue a "special instruction" which carries the force of law. Failure to observes such instructions is in fact a criminal offence.

In the vast majoritity of cases, it is a simple hello, were you aware of etc etc. Now, some say no, I wasn't, others say yes I was but I forgot, others no dam well they have tried to pull a fast one - had two motorboats like that yesterday, cut across the main channel coming from the East, they knew exactly what they'd done! Chancers!

Our role is not to act as policemen, we are there to "advise and educate" leisure boaters in terms of the correct procedures in using the harbour. As you say, they are simple rules, abide by them and the harbour will be a safer more relaxed place to operate. It is a fact of life that the waters have become more busy - watch out on June 28th!! You think the M25 is bad, I reckon getting in and out for those who berth in PH will be a nightmare - even more reason for people coming to grips with the procedures now!
 
On Sunday afternoon I heard a strange signal from a ship, it was 9 blasts of the horn modulated into groups of 3. Is this a special signal that says "Come quick QHM Patrol, death of a leisure boat is imminent" :-)
 
Nah, most likely a mobo testing his sound signal knowledge to get out the way of a raggie - I'm running my engines astern - really I am! And because he's a civil servant, it's in triplicate! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
A criminal offence? So if I dont do what you tell me, in your position as a volunteer QHM type person, I have commited a criminal offence? Are you quite sure about that?
 
I find the amount of Portsmouth Harbour Patrol bashing on here a little surprising.

I sail in and out of Portsmouth Harbour often. I know the rules regarding the use of the Small Boat Channel and don't find them difficult to follow. I do however frequently witness abuses of both the Main Channel and SBC by both MOBOs and yachts. I find the patrol's presence and attempts to maintain some sort of order reassuring and I'm pleased they're there.
 
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I find the amount of Portsmouth Harbour Patrol bashing on here a little surprising.

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I suppose I started this, maybe with a slightly over the top post initially. However despite all the responses that have drawn my attention to other LNTMs etc I have yet to discover why I was being told to breach QHMs rules by one of QHMs boats? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
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I have yet to discover why I was being told to breach QHMs rules by one of QHMs boats? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

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If following their instructions resulted in your standing into danger I can see reason for complaint, if not with all respect what's the problem ?

Whilst driving my car I've often been directed by police officers to drive on the hard shoulder, cross double white lines or drive across bus lanes etc in order to avoid some obstacle or obstruction, I'm sure you have too. If I considered that they were placing me in danger by directing me thus I would refuse their instruction, otherwise I would do as asked becuae I respect their authority, why is this any different ?
 
I wasn't bashing the patrol, I don't really have any opinion on them - except to wonder why a person would choose to do that at a weekend instead of being off sailing or moboing

My point is that these new rules should apply equally to all. If pilot boats, fishermen and commercial traffic can steam through the small boat channel at speed, creating huge wash, ignoring the rules and generally creating mayhem in their wake - then that is perhaps a greater problem that needs to be addressed than a leisure craft that passes the wrong side of the outer marker.
 
I agree that there's something slightly condescending in having a harbour patrol that deals exclusively with leisure craft and has no mandate to deal with abuse of the rules by commercial craft.

I'm still glad they're there though !
 
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Well maybe I'm a little naive; but do people really tell QHM to [no thanks] off? And if so what redress do you (as QHM's representative) have against such cretins?


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... I believe they have a 5 inch Naval gun mounted strategically near the entrance? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

If not, they should.
 
As Solitaire has stated, the VHP remit does not extend to commercial vessels. However, if you feel that a commercial vessel is breaking the rules/causing excessive wash/using the small boat channel, etc. then a quick call to QHM on C11 to register your complaint would not go amiss. Harbour Control can/will jump on the commercial traffic if need be. The harbour entrance is bristling with CCTV and radar coverage, all of which is recorded so any incident can be tracked.
 
Forgive me, but it's difficult to balance the purpose of PHP to 'advise and educate' with the fact that the boats carry a video camera. Is this for some sort of 'yotties from hell' training video in preparation?
 
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