UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL SEA TRIALS OFF ROWAY WRECK AREA 22 – 25 AUGUST 2022

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth that Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) Sea Trials will be conducted in the Roway Wreck area during the period 22-25 August 2022.

2.   USV operations will be conducted in daylight only with a safety vessel in attendance throughout. A medium sized USV “MADFOX” will be undertaking pre deployment Sea Trials near the Roway Wreck. MADFOX is a 13-metre craft, is coloured grey and has a top speed of 20+ knots. MADFOX will be accompanied by the catamaran “KITT” (LOA 11.2m), which will be accompanying her in the operating area and will act as the safety and control vessel for the Sea Trials.  The trial staff operators embarked in KITT and or the crew in MADFOX, will intervene in the event of any safety issues. For the Sea Trial serials, MADFOX will be remotely/autonomously controlled, in IMO Level 2, which means that she will be crewed at all times when conducting remote/autonomous serials. The operators/crew will be following the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) at all times.

MADFOX

KITT 

3. The Sea Trials will take place from approximately 1000 to 1500 on each day in the Roway Wreck area as shown below. MADFOX will be operated in remote/ autonomous mode when in the area. For transit to and from the trials area MADFOX will be operated in crewed mode and driven as a normal crewed craft for the transits to/from her berth at Port Solent.  The trials staff crewing the safety/control boat have verified that the proposed Sea Trials are safe to continue.

Roway Wreck Area Co-ordinates:
a. 50°46’.00N        001°03’.70W
b. 50°46’.00N        001°01’.20W
c. 50°45’.20N        001°01’.20W
d. 50°45’.20N        001°03’.70W

Roway Wreck trials area (Chart not to be used for navigation)

4. The safety vessel KITT will be listening on VHF Ch 11, Ch 12 and 16. Where possible, trials vessels will maintain a 500-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. The vessel will operate in accordance with the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth speed limits and will only exceed 10 knots when greater than 1000 yards from the line of Mean Low Water Springs.

6. Cancel this LNTM on 26 Aug 2022.