Safety – Page 13 – Medway and Swale Boating Association

Obstruction in the entrance to the River Medway

Medway obstruction — Photo by Wendy Webster, Benfleet YC, 2011

Look closely on your chart and you may see “obstns” but the true horror is revealed by this photo from Benfleet Yacht Club’s website. Have you ever cut in between the Grain Hard Buoy and the Grain Fort, in order to cheat the outgoing tide, or to keep out of the shipping channel? Please let us know what you think or if you have had a close encounter. Afterthought: Is it just me or does it look like a fossilised grand piano?

Endurance tragedy report released

The Marine Accident Investigation Board has released its chilling report on the circumstances leading to the tragic death of Medway crewman Steven Trice from motor tug Endurance (now renamed Phoenix) in February 2013. Among many lessons are the need for training, wearing lifejackets, and taking heed of marine weather warnings. The report is also critical of Medway Ports.

The key safety issues identified were:

Endurance was not certified to operate in the sea conditions experienced.
The skipper was not qualified to operate the vessel during the coastal sections of the intended voyage.
The skipper was not trained or qualified in towing operations and did not follow good practice.
Decision-making and behaviour on board were likely to have been affected by fatigue.
Safety was afforded a low priority on board.
Issues relating to the roles of the vessel’s Certifying Authority and the port authorities were also identified.

Read the MAIB report

Kingsferry Bridge problems resurface

After a few years of much improved operation, we are once more receiving reports of excessive delays at Kingsferry Bridge, which is supposed to open once an hour on request. The bridge is operated by Network Rail. If you cannot get a response from the bridge operator on VHF channel 10, or you are held up for an excessive time, please contact Medway VTS on VHF channel 74 and ask for the incident to be recorded.

Delays at the bridge can seriously affect the viability of Queenborough Harbour as a destination for visiting yachts. It can also jeopardise the safety of boats heading for moorings in the Swale creeks due to their limited tidal access.

Medway to lose harbour master

We have been advised that Peel Ports do not intend to replace the current harbour master, Cathryn Spain, when she steps down at the end of March. It is unclear how a “group harbour master” based in Liverpool will be able to fulfil the port’s statutory responsibilities.

Your comments are invited (click Reply)

David Holden’s legacy

David Holden with Robin Knox-Johnston in Queenborough — David Holden (left) with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in Queenborough

It was recently revealed that the late David Holden, well known to boaters on the Medway and Swale, left £50,000 to the RNLI. We are all in debt to this generous man!

Do you listen to the Shipping Forecast?

That is the question being asked by the BBC. However their poorly designed questionnaire refers not to the forecast but to “Maritime Safety Information” and is really about whether they should keep their aging long wave transmitter going. Moreover the answers are on a scale of 1 to 5 but 1 is high and 5 is low so the survey may give misleading results. A cynic might conclude that the decision has already been taken!

For more comment and the survey itself: http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/specials/535619/bbc-to-assess-future-of-shipping-forecast