Be Safe
Ensuring the everyday public safety within the Solent embraces a number of different aspects, and falls within the responsibilities of several different organisations. The key areas can be summarised as follows.
Ensuring safety of navigation
The lead authorities are the harbour authorities, with their powers of direction over shipping, bye-laws, notices to mariners, and pilotage arrangements. The exception is the Western Solent where responsibilities rest with the Department of Transport.
Ensuring shipping is safe
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) have a statutory responsibility for the survey and inspection of commercial shipping, to ensure they conform to international standards for safety and pollution prevention.
Salvage Operations
The SOSREP role has been created as part of the Government's response to Lord Donaldson's Review of Salvage and Intervention and their command and control. On behalf of the Secretary of State he is able to oversee, control and if necessary, to intervene and exercise 'ultimate command and control' acting in the over riding interest of the UK in salvage operations within the UK waters involving vessels or fixed platforms where there is significant risk of pollution. Adoption of the principle represents an international first for the UK.
Ensuring competence of those afloat
Commercial seafarers are required to carry certificates of competency, and to be subject to medical examination. The MCA has the overall responsibility for the national scheme; however, there are also arrangements for the certification of Solent-based commercial boats and boatmen which have been agreed through the Solent Harbourmasters’ Association. The certification of pilots is also carried out by the harbour authorities, in conjunction with BP and Esso for oil traffic. There are no statutory safety requirements for recreational craft, although the MCA operates advisory schemes. Qualifications for recreational seafarers are also on a voluntary basis, and the governing bodies of sport, such as the RYA, operate a number of structured training programmes.
Organisation of search and rescue
The lead responsibility for co-ordination of civil search and rescue on the coast rests with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who maintain a 24-hour watch via the ‘999’ service and the international distress frequencies. The Solent is covered by the Solent District Maritime Rescue sub-centre, based at Lee-on-the-Solent. Lee is also the base for one of the Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopters.
Support in the event of an incident may be provided by the harbour authorities, RNLI, MoD and voluntary inshore rescue services; co-ordinated by the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation (SSRO). The SSRO is a registered charity and is funded by local authorities including Hampshire County Council, the Isle of Wight Council and by contributions from local yacht clubs and associations, marinas, boatyards and other maritime interests.
Ensuring safety on beaches and shoreline
The lead responsibility rests with local authorities or the appropriate site owner with the requirements to meet a ‘duty of care’. The MCA operate a Sea Smart Campaign that gives safety information for those visiting the seaside. The RNLI have RNLI-lifeguarded beaches and respond to medical emergencies both on land and in the water and incidents up to 300m out to sea.
Safety of industry
There is a range of legislation to ensure that industrial processes are safe, with the responsibilities for enforcement resting with the HSE, Environment Agency and local authorities.
Prevention and detection of crime
The lead responsibility lies with the police, and the Hampshire Constabulary maintain patrol boats based at Cowes and Portsmouth. In addition to land-based officers, the Ministry of Defence police maintain a twenty four hour presence within the Portsmouth Naval Base, with three patrol boats. Other statutory bodies are HM Revenue & Customs (anti-smuggling), Environment Agency (anti-poaching of migratory fish) and the Sea Fisheries Committees (enforcement of fisheries legislation).
Co-ordination of safety matters
Several organisations exist to co-ordinate safety matters within the Solent. Those with the most significant roles include:
- Solent Pilotage Co-ordination Committee, which is an executive committee of Portsmouth Commercial Port, ABP Southampton, Cowes Harbour Commissioners and the Queen’s Harbour Master. The Committee meets bi-monthly, and considers policy issues with regard to safety of navigation and pilotage. The Secretary to the Committee is the QHM;
- Solent and Southern Harbour Masters’ Association, which is an association of statutory harbour masters between Weymouth and Little Hampton. It meets twice a year and provides a forum for matters of concern to harbour masters, and focuses on operational matters. The Honorary Secretary to the association is the harbour master of Southampton. The association sets up working groups to consider particular issues when necessary;
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight Search and Rescue Committee, which has been established in line with national guidance and has a wide membership, including harbour authorities, local authorities and safety organisations. The committee meets twice annually, and is chaired alternately by Hampshire Constabulary and the Coastguard (who also act as secretary); and
- Solent Sailing Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the Solent Cruising and Racing Association and provides for closer liaison between sailing bodies and harbour authorities. It considers conflicts between recreational and commercial usage, competing recreational activities and port projects.
