Traffic Management in Harbour During Portsmouth Capital Dredge

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth that the Portsmouth Capital Dredge programme is ongoing and will continue throughout 2016 and into 2017.

2.  Work in the approach channel is continuing with the bulk of activity currently taking place outside the current buoyed channel allowing harbour control to manage traffic past the dredge activity in Portsmouth’s approach channel.

3.  Major object clearance and dredge activity north of the harbour entrance is now increasing and following consultation with Portsmouth International Port (PIP) and it’s main users this LNTM promulgates harbour management procedures that will be coming into force to enable object clearance/dredge operations to continue alongside the movement of traffic to and from PIP in the safest possible manner.

4.  The harbour north of Victory Jetty and south of the area between UHAF and 98 Pile will be split into four areas (see graphic below), which will be operated as follows:

• Object clearance and/or dredge activity will take place in either Area 1 or Area 2, 24 hours a day but only one area will be in use at any one time with the other available for harbour traffic to move through.

• Additionally during the quiet hours when routine PIP transit traffic is light to non-existant (normally 2345 to 0530 approx) object clearance and dredge activity will also take place in Areas 3 and 4. 

Additionally Harbour Control will manage activity within each area to minimise impacts on other areas, but mariners are advised that when an area is “live” for Capital dredge work it is possible that a number of different activities may be taking place in that area and are advised to give it as wide a berth as possible.

5.  Some activities taking place in the areas will require vessels to pass at a slow speed (particularly during critical crane operations and diving) but again, harbour control will aim to manage activity to minimise impact on other harbour users.  It is recognised that in some strong tidal stream and wind conditions, passing vessels need to be at a certain speed in order to manoeuvre safely; early liasison with Harbour Control is key here AND IF A VESSEL MASTER THINKS HE WILL BE UNABLE TO PASS AT SLOW SPEED IF REQUIRED, he should remain on the berth or south of Outer Spit Buoy to allow Harbour Control to de-conflict activities before giving final traffic clearance. 

6. All craft engaged in the operation will be listening on VHF Channel 11 and QHM can be called for an update when required.

7. This LNTM provides supplementary information to LNTM 32/16 which remains in force .  Further updates will be issued as operations progress.

8.  While the harbour management routine promulgated by this LNTM is in operation, Harbour Control will suspend the passing areas Tidal Basin and Main Channel currently published in General Direction 06/10. Passing vessels underway in the harbour will be judged on a case by case basis by QHM Harbour Control, and the default for larger vessels will be south of Outer Spit Buoy.

9.  Cancel this LNTM 31 December 2016.