SOLENT AREA UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL HYDROGRAPHIC DEMONSTRATION 23-24 AND 29-31 AUGUST 2023

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King's Harbour Master Portsmouth

LNTM No 96/23

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the King's Harbour Master Portsmouth that an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) Hydrographic demonstration will be conducted in the Solent Areas during the periods 23-24 and 29-31 August 2023.

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 hydrographic demonstration. 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 areas and will act as the safety vessel for the demonstration.  The 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 operators following the International Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) at all times.

C-Worker 5

Valkyrie 6

3. The Demonstration trials will take place from approximately 0800 to 1600 on each day in the Solent area, off Browndown or the backup area of Osborne Bay, as shown below. C-WORKER 5 will be operated in remote/ autonomous mode only when in the area specified. For transit to and from the demonstration area C-WORKER 5 will be taken under tow by Valkyrie 6 The trial staff manning the safety boat have verified that the proposed testing is safe to continue.

Fig 3

Browndown/Stokes Bay area:
50°47’.35N 001°12’.00W
50°46’.85N 001°09’.55W
50°46’.40N 001°09’.75W
50°46’.90N 001°12’.20W

Fig 4

Osborne Bay Area:
50°45’.70N 001°14’.70W
50°45’.25N 001°12’.40W
50°44’.75N 001°12’.70W
50°45’.30N 001°14’.80W

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 1 September 2023.

 

Tuesday 22 Aug 2023

N J RANDALL
King's Harbour Master

Owners, Agents, Charterers, Marinas, Yacht Clubs and Recreational Sailing Organisations should ensure that the contents of this Notice are made known to the masters or persons in charge of their vessels or craft.