Portsmouth small craft channel

[Solitaire]

Right, I have just returned from VHP patrol duty. I took some photographs with specific reference to this thread. Here they are!

Firstly the outside pile giving instructions re the use of the inner swash way.

And what it says on it!

Now we have the Ballast Beacon - and people who know what they are doing!

And what the Beacon has on it - all be it at the moment slightly bent, but it will be repaired soon!

Next we have those who think that they can just make the small boat channel as wide as they like!

And now the way it should be done!

The Ballast Beacon is a Port Lateral mark - it will not become a Special mark, not a Safe Water mark, nor a cardinal or any other colour but RED. It is to left to PORT on both exiting and entering the harbour as stated on the Beacon itself and as indicated by an arrow. It has been moved further East to accomodate vessels exiting the Harbour. From my observations today it works! Until somebody "drives" down the wrong side. It was very busy this morning, when the regualtions were followed there were no problems, it only took one errant vessel to set up a reaction, but they were rare!


With regards the Beacon outside the Harbour, if exiting thru the small boat channel out No 4 bouy it will remain on the starboard side. On entering the small boat channel at No 4 bouy, the beacon will be on the port side.

Now, regarding those who take the inner swash way on leaving the harbour - it is at this point where the pile outside the harbour should be left to port, if you don't draw enough water at certain states of the tide then you can't use it!


Much of the issues this morning were caused by pushing to wide on leaving the harbour, this in turn forced out vessels entering into the main channel and on several occasions put small boats into conflict with entering ferries. One yacht, who crossed the main channel was not even aware he had the X Channel ferry bearing down on him! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif


I now feel that I can not explain in any more detail than I have done so to date. Those who choose to ignore the regulations should not be surprised if they have the Harbour Patrol come over and "advice & educate" them. So have a good summer on the water /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Trazie]

Re: Portsmouth small craft channel - an observation

Just a small observation with reference to Solitaires piccies

In the pic that shows the small boat channel being 'widened' - all raggies

The pic showing the correct way to do it - led by a mobo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[capt_courageous]

Solitaire
When I was younger, richer and not so responsible I had a mooring on the Hamble. My Sunday evening sport was to go back into the river on the opposite side from the guy in front of me - regardless of the rules - but make a definite manoeuvre to do it. Surprise, surprise everyone behind played follow my leader. Whots new dude?

Tazie - It was not lead by mobo - he has just passed the rest on the wrong side. Sorry could not resist it!!

 

[landaftaf]

not a very helpful notice board - whatsit say again ..... if you can read this you are too close /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Steve Clayton]

[ QUOTE ]
...the vessel from the Swashway is stand-on (due care and ready to take avoiding action if necessary) with the exiting vessel bound to give way by altering course/speed and to avoid crossing ahead.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? - I would have thought the exiting vessel is the stand on vessel because he is following the channel. The boat entering from the swashway is crossing the channel so surely he is the give way vessel? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

L'escargot - I stand corrected - thankyou;

"The Approach Channel to Portsmouth Harbour including the harbour entrance is considered to be a Narrow Channel.."

Colregs for Narrow Channels

Rule 9 - Narrow channels

(b) A vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

(d) A vessel shall not cross a narrow channel or fairway if such crossing impedes the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within such channel or fairway....

SO anybody entering Portsmouth from the Swashway is give-way

 

[DJE]

As you say one errant vessel can cause a lot of trouble in this area. Like as not the skipper of that vessel has not read the LNTM and has a very scant understanding of IALA bouyage. So arguments on the correct colour of the piles is irrelevant. The text on the noticeboards is too small to read until you are dangerously close to the piles. I reckon you should put large blue and white keep right arrows on the piles; as seen on road bollards. It is the only thing some of these people will understand.

Relying on LNTMs is not reaching everybody it should. Sad but true. Also the QHM website leaves much to be desired in that the relevant LNTM is not in the current list of notices in force. I am genuinely trying to be constructive here. The harbour Patrol have a difficult job to do and from what I have seen you do it well. The real danger is from uniformed skippers and saying that they are in the wrong for not reading the notices and Almanac will be of little comfort to their victims.

 

[Solitaire]

[ QUOTE ]
The text on the noticeboards is too small to read until you are dangerously close to the piles.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree!

[ QUOTE ]
Also the QHM website leaves much to be desired in that the relevant LNTM is not in the current list of notices in force.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again I agree, it seems to have "gone downhill" a bit lately. You can find things via key word search on the site, but it's not ideal. Questions will be raised! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ QUOTE ]
The real danger is from uniformed skippers and saying that they are in the wrong for not reading the notices and Almanac will be of little comfort to their victims.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again I agree. You'll (not!) be staggered at the number of "skippers" from a well known charter company residing in PH who are totally oblivious to anything at all!

 

[fireball]

You need to get a tin of waterproof paint and paint the channel ....

 

[snowleopard]

[ QUOTE ]
The Ballast Beacon is a Port Lateral mark - it will not become a Special mark, not a Safe Water mark, nor a cardinal or any other colour but RED. It is to left to PORT on both exiting and entering the harbour...

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Like as not the skipper of that vessel has not read the LNTM and has a very scant understanding of IALA bouyage.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting combination of comments!

a) Who has the scant understanding of IALA buoyage?

b) A proper understanding of IALA would send a skipper the wrong side of the Ballast beacon.

 

[DJE]

FWIW I think they should be red and white stripes with sherical top marks (plus keep right arrows). This would refect their function in relation to small craft. It would make no sense to large comercial vessels but such vessel would be nowhere near these piles and their masters would presumably have read the LNTM and would know to ignore them. It could get a bit wierd at night though if they were showing white isophase lights.

 

[cardinal_mark]

Solitaire, thank you for this and long may the patrol be in the entrance area!

As an observation from the weekend, it seems to me that a part of the (inbound) problem comes from vessels entering the SBC some way north of No4 which has the effect, despite the colregs, of 'pushing' those already in the channel further across toward the main channel.

I for one am glad to see the patrol boats marking the eastern extent of the SBC (esp outside of the entrance itself as was the case on Sunday pm)... if nothing else it makes everyone less inclined to take liberties in heavy traffic.

Mark

 

[A1Sailor]

How about a mark with a yellow and white traffic bollard with a blue and white "keep right" arrow on the top!!!