STOKES BAY UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL TRIALS 1-23 JUNE 2023

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth that Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) trials will be conducted in the Stokes Bay / Browndown area during the period 1 – 23 June 2023.

2.  USV operations will be conducted in daylight only with a safety vessel in attendance throughout. A small USV “FAS-902” will be undertaking Sea Acceptance Trials (SATs) in Stokes Bay / Browndown area. FAS-902 is a 9 metre craft, is coloured red and has a top speed of 10 knots. FAS-902 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 trials serials, FAS-902 will be remotely/autonomously controlled, with the operator following the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) at all times.

Fas-902

Valkyrie 6

3. Trials will take place from approximately 1000 to 1530 during the day in Stokes Bay / Browndown as shown below. FAS-902 will only be operated in remote/autonomous mode when in the area. The trial staff manning the safety boat have verified that the proposed mini Sea Acceptance Trial is safe to continue.

The Trials area will be the Stokes bay area shown below within the pink boxed area. 

Browndown /Stokes Bay area: 

50°46’.684N 001°09’.463W 
50°46’.362N 001°09’.647W 
50°46’.765N 001°11’.398W 
50°47’.085N 001°11’.196W 

Browndown 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 25 June 2023.