Events

Upcoming Events

"ECDIS - Asset or Liability?"

 

Presentation by Captain Paul Hailwood MSc MNI

Thursday 23rd February 2011 - 1800 for 1830 hrs

 

 

 

 

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Meeting Schedule 2011/ 2012

 

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Past Events

"Safe Return to Port"

Designing the latest cross channel ro-ro passenger ferries to meet the latest safety and environmental standards

Presented by Capt John Garner FNI, FIMarEST, CMarTech, Fleet Director, P&O Ferries

Thursday 20th October 2011 - 1830 for 1900 hrs

 

"Marine Policing in the 21st century - A strategic overview"

Presented by Neil J Hall AFNI - Assistant Commissioner (Retired)

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Thursday 15th September 2011 - 1800 for 1830 hrs

 

"Modern training systems for educating & training ships staff"

A joint meeting with IMarEST

Presented by Mr P.A.Russell - Principal for NW Kent College

Tuesday 17th May 2011 - 1915 for 1945 hrs

 

Dover Straits Working User Group

Dover Straits Working User Group

(A Summary to date)

 

Captain Gerald Irvine MNI
Attending as the Nautical Institute Representative

The Dover Straits is possibly the most known and probably the most used waterway in the world. A myriad of users from sea-going vessels of every type and flag plus pleasure users from yachtsmen, motor launches, wind surfers, canoeists to  cross-channel swimmers, divers and Jeremy Clarkson in his unsinkable car ply its waters every year. All these users of various seafaring competencies proceeding at different speeds in different directions in varying sea conditions and visibility offer real possibilities for danger and disaster to both life and the environment.

In early recognition of the problems of transiting this waterway a traffic separation scheme was brought into force in 1972.This scheme was aimed mainly at effecting the safe passage of commercial vessels through this environmentally sensitive area. Since its first introduction the number, size and speed of commercial vessels has increased with the growing trade to and from the EU and the number of pleasure users has also increased.

Amongst its further attempts to improve safety in this sea area the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Centres Regionaux Operationals de Survellance et de Sauvetage (Cross) have met with representatives from all interested parties during the past four years to discuss the perceived problems and seek acceptable and practical solutions.

The consultation has taken the form of  meetings at approximately six monthly intervals, nine of which have been held to date, at the MCA's  Dover MRCC  Langdon Battery over-looking the Dover Straits and Cross Griz Nez, the French Coastguard MRCC. Up to 25 representatives have met initially under the excellent chairmanship of Mike Toogood, Channel Navigation Information Service (CNIS) Manager MCA, and latterly Kaimes Beasley, to promote their own particular interests and special needs and to learn about and recognise the needs of others.

The early meetings focussed on the social activities such as cross channel swimming, diving and sailing with particular emphasis on their inter action with the commercial through and crossing traffic. Such occurrences as five cross channel swims taking place in the scheme in restricted visibility and their effect on the commercial shipping at the time were raised and practical guide-lines agreed as to the number of  swims taking place simultaneously and the conditions under which swims would be commenced.

Later meetings focussed on the deep water route to the  west of the Sandettie Light Vessel and the way this definition was being interpreted by through shipping. Amendments to the Dover Coastguard's routine broadcasts were proposed to better inform shipping of the appropriateness of the route for certain vessel types. The area was also expanded to the north to the F3 buoy and various approaches to this area and the proposed changes to make this junction safer for shipping. Some of these changes have taken place this year and more may follow with the building of the large wind turbine farm off Thanet.

Any member who has an interest in this sea area is strongly recommended to read the minutes posted on the Nautical Institutes South East web-site to gain a good insight into the discussions and the decisions being taken to ensure that the Dover Straits remain safely navigable by all. Any suggestions for improvements in safety in this sea area should be forwarded to Harry Gale,  MNI at Headquarters, for collation and forwarding to the attending SE branch member for raising at subsequent meetings or raising at IMO through the NI own representative as applicable.

Updated to the meeting held on the 24th March, 2010.
Posted on the web-site 7th July, 2010.

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