STOKES BAY UNMANNED SURFACE VESSEL (USV) DEMONSTRATION 4-6 MAY 2022

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth that Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) trials will be conducted in the Stokes Bay area during the period 4-6 May 2022.

2. USV operations will be conducted in daylight only, with a safety vessel in attendance throughout. A small USV “C-Worker 5” will be undertaking a customer demonstration in Stokes Bay. C-Worker 5 is a 5.5-metre craft, is coloured yellow and has a top speed of 8 knots. C-Worker 5 will be accompanied by Valkyrie 6, which will tow the craft from/to Trafalgar Wharf to the operating area and will act as the safety vessel for the Sea Trial.  The trial staff operators embarked in Valkyrie 6 will intervene in the event of any safety issues. For the demonstration serials, C-Worker 5 will be remotely/autonomously controlled, with the operator following the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) at all times.

C-Worker 5

Valkyrie 6

3. The demonstrations will take place from approximately 1000 to 1500 on each day in the Stokes Bay area as shown below. C-Worker 5 will be operated in remote/autonomous mode only when in the trial areas. The trial staff manning the safety boat will verify that the proposed Sea Trial is safe to continue.

Browndown/Stokes Bay area:
1. 50°46’.684N 001°09’.463W
2. 50°46’.362N 001°09’.647W
3. 50°46’.765N 001°11’.398W
4. 50°47’.085N 001°11’.196W

Stokes Bay trials area (Chart not to be used for navigation)

4. The safety vessel Valkyrie 6 will be listening on VHF Ch 11, Ch 12 and 16. Where possible, trials vessels will maintain a 200-metre separation from other craft, and trial runs will be modified or aborted if a close-quarters situation is developing. 

5. All trials vessels will obey the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) at all times. 

6. Cancel this LNTM on 7 May 2022.