UNCREWED SURFACE VESSEL TRIALS 7 AUGUST – 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth that Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) trials will be conducted within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth over the period 7 August - 30 September 2024. 

2.  The ASV will be trialled in Hill Head and Stokes Bay, with weather contingency locations of Osborne Bay and the water East of Portsmouth Harbour’s main channel and submarine barrier.

3. The designated trials period will be from 0930 – 1730 daily and include the ASV operating in remote/autonomous mode within the trials area. Only one ASV will be trialled at any given time. The ASV will be towed on transit between the Hamble River and the trials location.

4. The ASV, of which there may be several, are grey monohulled vessels (LOA 5.7m). A RHIB ‘ALPHA’ will act as the safety and support boat during the period of the trials. The safety vessel will attend all times of the trials period.

5. The safety vessel will be listening on VHF Ch 11/12.  

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 October 2024.