UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL TRIALS 7 – 31 AUGUST 2024

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth that various Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) trials will be conducted within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth over the period 7 – 31 August 2024. (Daylight hours only) 

2.  The USV trials will be taking place in several locations in the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour, focusing on Hayling Bay east of Portsmouth Harbour’s main channel and submarine barrier and the area within Portsmouth Harbour lying between Port Solent and Trafalgar Wharf. 

3. The USV craft involved in the trials will be the yellow monohull “CW5” (LOA 5.5m) supported and towed, when required, by a grey monohulled vessel “KEV4” (LOA 6.2m) and the grey “MAST 9” (LOA 9.0m) accompanied by “VALKYRIE 6” (LOA 11m) acting as the safety vessel for the sea trial.

4. 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. The safety vessels will be in attendance all times for the duration of the trials period.

5. The safety vessel “KEV4” and “VALKYRIE 6” will be listening on VHF Ch 11, Ch 12 and 16.  

6.  All trials vessels will conform to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and Portsmouth Harbour Regulations, including speed limits at all times. 

7. Cancel this LNTM 1 September 2024.