Local Notice to Mariners No. 29(T) of 2012

Cowes Week Regatta fireworks display 17 August 2012.

Notice is hereby given that the annual Cowes Week Regatta Fireworks Display will be held on the 17th of August 2012. The display will commence at 2130 BST. The fireworks display will be launched from a barge holding position in the fairway to Cowes Harbour (see figure 1). An exclusion zone will be enforced around the barge from 2100 BST by Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) vessels to protect spectating craft from firework fallout and debris; in the interest of safety all vessels must remain outside the exclusion zone as directed by CHC vessels.

Figure 1: the approximate position of the fireworks display barge and exclusion zone, however, this may change as wind direction and speed may require the barge and exclusion zone to be relocated.

Order of Events

From 1900 hours onwards, CHC patrol vessels will be directing small craft to moorings and anchorages, as appropriate. The main fairway will be closed to all commercial traffic from 2110 BST to 2150 BST for the duration of the firework display. Prior to the display the firework barge will hold station in the vicinity of the Trinity Mooring buoy and transfer to the above position using a tug at approximately 2115 BST. The exclusion zone (Figure 1) will be strictly enforced and applicable to all craft before the fireworks display begins at 2130 BST.

Safety of Navigation

Notice is also given that during the time period preceding, during and immediately following the fireworks display, particular attention must be given to safety of navigation within the Harbour approaches and main navigable fairway.

No vessel may anchor where it will obstruct the main fairway and its approaches. All vessels are reminded that the seabed around all mooring buoys may be fouled with chain and ground tackles; such ground tackle may extend a significant distance from mooring buoys.

Mariners are reminded of the importance of displaying the correct navigation lights, maintaining a good lookout at all times and in all directions, and proceeding at a speed consistent with safe navigation, particularly at the conclusion of the display as spectator craft get underway and return to their home ports (see below Safe Speed).

Safe Speed (CHC & ABP/QHM, 6kts and 15kts speed limits respectively)

Mariners are reminded that a speed limit of 6 knots is in force at all times for the Cowes Harbour Commission area of jurisdiction; this area is bounded by Egypt Point, Prince Consort Buoy and Old Castle Point to the North and includes the River Medina south to the Folly Inn (see UKHO SNC no.2793). All vessels navigating in Cowes Harbour should expect to encounter very dense concentrations of traffic and poorly lit moored craft on departure of the fireworks display area, and should therefore anticipate the need to proceed at a speed slower than the Harbour speed limit (see above) so as to comply with rule six (safe speed) of The MS (Distress and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as amended.

Similarly, a strict speed limit of 15 knots will be imposed by ABP Southampton and the QHM Portsmouth for all vessels navigating throughout Southampton Water, from 2130BST to 2300BST, to promote the safe and orderly departure of vessels from the display area (see ABP Southampton Notice to Mariners, No 30(T) of 2012). The only craft exempted from this speed restriction will be Red Funnel Red Jet high-speed vessels. Red Jets on the Cowes to Southampton route will indicate their presence by illuminating their quick flashing yellow identification lights during the above period

Mariners are advised that this measure has been introduced to reduce the risk of collision between the many hundreds of small craft that gather to view the firework display. In previous years collisions have occurred, particularly after the event, which have resulted in serious personal injury to passengers and crews of small craft.

This notice will be self-cancelling on 18 August 2012.

Rod Hodgson
Deputy Harbour Master, Harbour Office, Town Quay, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7AS

Email: chc@cowes.co.uk

Internet: www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk

10 August 2012

You can view a PDF of this LNTM here.