Agenda item

To submit a report by the Senior Harbours Officer.

• To note and accept the report.
• To respond as follows to the Department of Transport Consultation Paper "Strengthening enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft”: -

 

1.    That this committee preferred option 3, namely creating legislation under section 112 of the Railways and Transportation Safety Act 2003 to extend the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and relevant regulations, to include recreational and personal watercraft.

2.    The importance of ensuring training for users and a call to increase the age limit for driving recreational and personal watercraft were emphasised.

 

The following reports were presented, and members were invited to give feedback on their content and to ask questions.

 

a)      The Senior Harbour Officer's report, giving a brief update to the committee on harbour matters for the period from March 2021 to October 2021.

The Senior Harbours Officer noted that it was pleasing to announce that it had been a successful year with an increase in the number of visitors and customers reflecting the gradual relaxation of Covid restrictions and barriers to overseas travel.

 

Attention was drawn to the following matters:

 

Moorings

 

There had been 54 boats on annual moorings in Barmouth Harbour in 2021

 

Staffing Matters

 

All the staff (harbour and beach) were praised for their service during a busy and very challenging time.  It was reported that they had a proactive attitude and it was pleasing to see good cooperation and safe supervision over the summer.  No complaints had been received. It was added that the staffing situation in the harbour had received detailed consideration and it was proposed that the Assistant Harbourmaster and the Harbour Assistant would be offered a secondment to stay with the intention of advertising the Harbourmaster's vacant post early in 2022. 

 

Following a very recent review it had been resolved that the Assistant Harbour Master would be promoted to the Harbour Master's post on secondment until 30 September 2022 and the employment period and post of the Harbour Assistant would also be extended until 30 September 2022 with a promotion based on secondment. 

 

Financial Matters

 

In response to a question regarding the Harbour's finance, the Maritime Officer highlighted that a brief summary of the Harbour budget and the current financial position would be shared with members in the next few weeks.  It was added that approximately a further £6k was to be spent on maintenance matters, however, the income level this year had achieved the target. In relation to Barmouth Harbour's proposed fees and charges and the Powerboats and Personal Watercraft launch fees for the 2022/23 season, it was noted that the Service intended to amend the fees in line with the rate of inflation. It was also noted that there was a need to consider energy costs.  The Service had not received confirmation of the rates that should be implemented - it was suggested that the information would be available before Christmas. The Maritime Officer to circulate a brief summary of the Harbour budget and the current financial position to members

 

Feasibility Study - Dredging

 

It was reported that there would be a need to dredge a volume of 70,000m3 if it was desired to have an appropriate depth within a small area opposite the harbour quay. Members were reminded that a financial bid, with the support of the Cardigan Bay Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), had enabled the Council to commission a feasibility study with an additional £10k to the £35k for a scheme to sample the nature of the mud. It was reported that an analysis and results of the scheme would determine the possible options with a draft report to be released at the end of November. Peter Appleton was thanked as well as FLAG for their support.   Maritime Officer to circulate the draft report to Members.  Members to consider the draft report and to present feedback / comments / questions to the Maritime Officer to give to the experts, in order to report back on the matter at the March 2022 meeting.

 

Registration Issues:

 

To facilitate the registration process, powerboat and personal watercraft owners could register their vessels on-line via Gwynedd Council's website.  It was reported that the process was effective and had reduced the administrative work considerably.  It was added that an e-mail would be sent to owners in February 2022 to re-register on-line. It was noted that the service continued to work jointly with the Information Technology Unit to try and ensure that a scheme to pay for moorings would also be available for spring 2022.  It was suggested that the Senior Harbours Officer and the Harbour master communicated with local forums to raise awareness of the on-line registration scheme.

 

In response to an observation that there had been registration difficulties with some launching personal watercraft from leisure sites / holiday parks along the coast, it was noted that officers had communicated with the managers of these locations to ask them to encourage owners to register their vessels prior to launching.  In response to a follow-on question, it was noted that the response had been weak, but officers were continuing with the venture.   It was accepted that it had been a difficult year and there had been 'new visitors' in the area - the hope was that the situation would improve.  It was suggested that Councillor Mathew Harris should contact the leisure sites/holiday parks again and for Councillor Rob Triggs to raise the matter at the Town Council.

 

The Department of Transport's Consultation Paper

 

Reference was made to the consultation relating to altering legislation to bring recreational and personal watercraft within the scope of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, to ensure safe practices.  The Maritime Officer highlighted that Gwynedd arrangements for this matter were tight enough, with the exception of some private sites. Members were encouraged to submit their individual responses by the closing date of 1 November 2021, however, reference was made to the responses of the Harbour Committees of Pwllheli and Porthmadog to the consultation.  

 

The main elements of the consultation were outlined and it was noted that some amendments were complex and long-winded. It was proposed to support option 3, namely creating legislation under section 112 of the Railways and Transportation Safety Act 2003 to extend the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and relevant regulations, to include recreational and personal watercraft emphasising the importance of ensuring training for users and a call to increase the age limit to drive recreational and personal watercraft

 

(b)    The Senior Harbours Officer report, summarising the navigational and operational matters that had arisen between March 2021 and October 2021, including maintenance matters.

 

The Maritime Officer thanked Barmouth Harbour staff for their work during the season - Members added their gratitude and reported that it was pleasing to have staff stability and support for the community. 

 

It was reported that the Service had received its annual inspection of navigational aids in Barmouth and the channel approach by Trinity House staff on 28 September 2021.   A report on their findings would follow. 

 

Currently, no Local Notice to Mariners was in operation regarding the navigational marks in the channel.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      To note and accept the reports.

 

2.      To respond as follows to the Department of Transport's Consultation Paper, "Strengthening enforcement of the dangerous use of recreational and personal watercraft":-

 

·               That this committee supports option 3, namely creating legislation under section 112 of the Railways and Transportation Safety Act 2003 to extend the relevant provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and relevant regulations, to include recreational and personal watercraft.

·               To emphasise the importance of ensuring training for users and a call to increase the age limit for driving recreational and personal watercraft.