I am very pleased to report that the optimised layout for the proposed Eastern Channel and Shrape extension has been finalised following consultation with the project partners, Advisory Committee and harbour users. It is now hoped that the outline project timeline should see the dredging works and construction of the Shrape extension commence in January 2017. You can read more on this in our lead story opposite and on our website.
September has also seen the launch of a new marine apprenticeship scheme due to start later this autumn at our Shepards Wharf Marina in Cowes. This apprenticeship represents an excellent opportunity for a student to achieve a valuable marine industry qualification, which could lead to future job opportunities in marinas or boatyards worldwide.
Meanwhile, our Assistant Harbour Master Jon Kidd was invited to visit East Cowes Studio and talked to students and teachers about careers at sea, cadetships, gaining qualifications to rise through the ranks of the Merchant Navy, shipping and world trade. Jon also explained his current role as Cowes Assistant Harbour Master and Pilot - and will be on hand again to talk to prospective Port Operative apprentices at the Marine Careers Fair on Thursday, 29th September at the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Best regards,
Captain Stuart McIntosh
Cowes Harbour Master
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| Army divers train in Cowes Harbour |
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At the beginning of September Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) welcomed a team of Army divers into Cowes for a training exercise held alongside the Red Ensign training ship MV Sea Trident.
The Marchwood based 10-strong team arrived on their dive support vessel, mooring alongside Sea Trident, to carry out trials on hydraulic cutting and rescue equipment, including an impressive submersible chainsaw. They also carried out emergency drills to test their diver recovery and first aid techniques.
The unit's Commanding Officer Nick Buzzard said: "We are always looking at opportunities to work in challenging locations like a busy harbour, and are keen to build on existing relationships with local providers."
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Please share this E-news with family and friends via the "Forward email" link below.
Please help us to keep our mailing list up-to-date by clicking on the "Update Profile/Email Address" at the foot of this newsletter whenever you change your contact email address.
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Harbour users in Cowes vary from leisure sailors to commercial shipping, training schools to local traders. Cowes Harbour Advisory Committee (CHAC) represents the different stakeholder groups within Cowes Harbour, and plays a key role in maintaining successful two-way communications between the Harbour Commission and harbour users.
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CHC is always glad to receive feedback on its services and the issues it is tackling on behalf of all harbour users.
If you wish to talk to the Harbour Master, Capt. Stuart McIntosh or to Rod Hodgson, Deputy Harbour Master, please call into the Harbour Office on Town Quay, phone and make an appointment on 01983 293952, or email us.
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CHC owns and operates several commercial marine services:
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| Local Notices to Mariners |
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Cowes Harbour Commission has now agreed the final Outer Harbour Project (OHP) design layout with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and their development partners Camper & Nicholsons and Westcourt Real Estate.
Following consultation with Natural England, CHC is now applying to vary the existing dredge consents for the next phases of the OHP, the Eastern Channel dredge and Shrape extension.
CHC has discussed the final OHP layout with the Harbour Advisory Committee, including the following:
New Eastern Channel (Small Craft Channel)
- Increased width to 42 metres minimum
- Moved further eastwards away from the Cowes Breakwater
- Alignment amended to straighten channel
- Extension of Eastern Channel southwards, parallel to new HCA marina and Inner Fairway to give a secondary small boat channel.
Detailed negotiations are still ongoing with the HCA, their partners, and CHC's potential contractors, with a view to carrying out phases 2 and 3 of the harbour infrastructure (Shrape extension and Eastern Channel), plus the HCA marina dredge, from mid-January through to mid-May 2017.
However, this is still reliant on CHC concluding the 'Harbour Infrastructure Funding Agreement' with the HCA and their developers that will enable the funding stream to flow for the phase 2 and 3 works, and for the HCA to complete on the current conditional agreement with their East Cowes development partners.
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 The 2016 conference of the UK Maritime Pilots' Association (UKMPA) was held in Cowes on14th-15th Sept, supported by local lifejacket and coat manufacturer SeaSafe Systems who are celebrating their 50th anniversary of business.
The second day of the conference concentrated on the practical hazards and challenges of pilot transfer operations and was held on the waterside at Cowes Harbour Commission's marina at Shepards Wharf and inside the adjacent Sugar Store Events Centre.
The purpose of the "Pilot Transfer Safety" seminar was to draw awareness to risks that maritime pilots are exposed to when transferring between pilot boats and vessels at sea.
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 Applications are now open for an exciting new Port Operative Apprenticeship, which commences in autumn 2016 at Shepards Wharf Marina in Cowes.
This is an excellent opportunity for young people with enthusiasm for working in a marine environment and a great way to start your career. As an apprentice, you will be earning as you learn, combining practical training in a job with working towards an SQA Diploma in Maritime Studies - Marinas and Boatyards.
The apprenticeship takes between 18-24 months to complete and students will be involved in all aspects of marina activity from launching and recovering boats using a state-of-the-art hydraulic crane to participating in harbour patrols on the River Medina.
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The 2016 Etchells World Championship, which was hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club in Cowes from 5th-10th September, was won overall by Australian John Bertrand, representing the Royal Brighton YC, with a crew of British sailor Paul Blowers and Ben Lamb (AUS).
"It's been a roller coaster ride," said Bertrand, winning his second Etchells Worlds at 69 years old.
Runner up at the Etchells Worlds for the second year in a row was Steve Benjamin from USA, representing the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. "The best team won, you can't say fairer than that," said Benjamin. "I love coming to Cowes, it is one of my favourite places to sail anywhere in the world and this week, we have had a real mix of conditions."
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 The 2016 Cowes-Torquay-Cowes race will surely go down as the roughest ever run; only three boats made it to Torquay within the time limit and only two made it back to Cowes. With a calm ride through the Solent, the 14 starters were then faced with Force 7 westerly winds, which made the trip to Torquay more a test of endurance than a race.
It was eight times UIM Class 1 World Champion, Steve Curtis MBE who carefully throttled the Cougar 46 through the huge seas and crossed the finish line for an emotional win. The British racer has won nearly everything in the sport but this race had eluded him - until now. It was an incredible day to add to the 56-year powerboat racing history at Cowes.
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 The title of overall Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week winner went again to Adam Gosling's JPK10.80 Yes!, which finished the regatta counting only first places in IRC Class 3 to earn Gosling a class win and also victory in Black Group overall. Nigel Grogan's Rehydrated gave a performance that saw him win the Squib class with a day to spare as well as White Group overall.
As we contemplate the approach of autumn, let us tarry awhile and enjoy our memories of Cowes Week 2016 with a host of regatta photos and a poem from our very own in-house poet...
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 Cowes Harbour Commission is continuing a programme of investment into its Kingston Marine Services site in East Cowes with the recent development of a new indoor storage facility.
The new 'Kingston Boat Store' on the top terrace has just opened for business, offering year-round under cover boat storage to small and trailered vessels up to 10m LOA.
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 CHC has been taking on board feedback received from our Cowes Harbour Moorings customers with regard to winter berthing in the harbour.
As a result, we have taken the decision to introduce a discount on winter berthing at Shepards Wharf Marina, exclusively for CHC mooring holders. This will entitle all CHC berth holders to a 10% discount off the standard winter monthly rate in the marina and the offer will be available from 1st November 2016 to 31st March 2017.
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