Cowes Harbour Commission Harbour Authority & Marine Services Newsletter 3rd May 2018

River Medina waterfront marine industry opening

In our May E-news, you can read about CHC's guided tour of the harbour for Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, a new and important commercial opportunity for marine industry at Kingston Wharf, an update on estuary sedimentation management, and cruise ship the Astor's visit to Cowes. Meanwhile, I would like to welcome our new Commissioner James Evans who has been appointed to the CHC Board for a three-year term as from 1st May. We will be finding out more about him and some of our other Commissioners in future newsletters. It is encouraging to see that May is set to bring us some warm and sunny spring days, and with the sailing season in full swing, now is the perfect time to read and make sure you are familiar with the current Cowes Local Notices to Mariners. Links to the latest Notices are shown below. Capt. Stuart McIntosh - Cowes Harbour Master

Fact-finding harbour tour for MP Bob Seely Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) was very pleased to have the opportunity of taking Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely on a tour of the harbour on 11th April to view the strategic harbour and current development sites on the River Medina. Bob Seely was joined afloat by CHC Chairman David Riley and Cowes Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh.  The trip included visits to the three interlinked marine employment sites currently in various stages of development along the Medina Estuary; Venture Quays on the East Cowes waterfront, Kingston Marine Park at Whippingham, and Medina Yard in Cowes. Read the full story online

Marine industry waterfront storage land opportunity A unique opportunity for marine industry on the River Medina has arisen at the Cowes Harbour Commission owned Kingston Wharf site in East Cowes, for the rental of 1.5 acres of prime waterfront storage land with all-tide deep-water access and wharfage. The availability of this strategic marine employment site has come about as a result of the decision by current tenant Isle of Wight Aggregates to consolidate their operations at Medina Wharf.  Harbour Master Capt. Stuart McIntosh, said: “The Commission is very keen to see the Kingston Wharf site continued to be used as a traditional cargo wharf or for marine based employment, to the benefit of Cowes Harbour and the Island as a whole. “We are therefore seeking a new tenant that can benefit from utilising the wharfage and the potential opportunity of the land and all-tide wharf access.“ Read the full article on the CHC website and view the letting particulars

Studies on estuary sedimentation management Over the past few years Cowes Harbour Commission has gained a greater understanding of sediment movement in the estuary through studies and monitoring. This work will inform a potential new and innovative approach to maintenance dredging in the estuary, which will be discussed and developed with local stakeholders.  The possible changes to sediment management are intended to create a more efficient system of dredging and licensing that works with the environment, reduces disruption to businesses, and reduces costs for stakeholders. The next steps in the work will be to identify practical options for improved methods, and then to invite dredging stakeholders to a series of workshops to encourage discussion and collaboration. See the CHC website for links to a summary of the report and/or the full report

Reminder for CHC Annual Public Meeting The Cowes Harbour Commission Annual Public Meeting takes place in three weeks’ time on Thursday, 24th May. The event will be held at The Sugar Store in Cowes Harbour Shepards Marina from 1900. Do join us on the day for a presentation of the CHC Annual Report, including an update on harbour developments and news on the harbour’s Sustainable Maintenance Dredging Management Plan.

Open Air Blessing of the Season Service: An Open Air Blessing of the Season Service will be conducted by the Vicar of Holy Trinity Church Cowes, the Reverend Andrew Poppe, at 1800 on Sunday, 6th May on The Parade.  There will be a blessing of the season for the town and sailing community with boats moored in the Trinity Landing basin on the day. A re-dedication of the Sheena Louise, the Cowes RNLI Lifeboat, will also take place in this, the 30th anniversary of lifeboats in Cowes. If you wish to bring your boat to moor in the Trinity Landing basin for the blessing, please contact Mr John Power (tel. 01983 299555). Mooring for the event is given free of charge by Cowes Harbour Commission as a stakeholder benefit.

Cruise ship Astor at Cowes Cruise guests from the Astor received a warm welcome to Cowes on Sunday, 29th April, in spite of the chilly spring weather! Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, who were handling the Astor’s visit, were very pleased with the local support from Cowes Harbour Commission, Visit Isle of Wight Travel Ambassadors, Cowes and Island businesses. The Travel Ambassadors were well received and greeted 346 cruise guests on The Parade with the new “Explore Cowes” leaflet and other Island tourism materials. Around 250 cruise passengers were booked onto various excursions and it was encouraging to see Island coach firms being used, meaning that coaches were not brought over from the mainland. Approximately 100 cruise guests stayed ashore independently, in and around Cowes, and it was good to see Astor passengers in the shops and cafés on the High Street, albeit later than expected. See the full story and photos online plus news on plans for future cruise visits

Chamber networking breakfast at The Sugar Store  Cowes Harbour Shepards Marina is much looking forward to hosting the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce’s June Business Networking Breakfast at The Sugar Store Events Centre on Friday, 1st June, from 0730 to 0900. The event is open to all IW Chamber members and places are limited so do please make sure you book in soon! Read the full story on the CHC website

A new and useful ferry departures page can be found on CHC’s website showing the live status of the next seven ferry departures to Southampton, Hampshire and to West Cowes or East Cowes, Isle of Wight: Red Funnel departures Event highlights of the yachting season in Cowes are shown in our online calendar: Events Cowes Clubs and Classes Association has an online presence on CHC’s website as a stakeholder benefit. Enter online for the Solent Series and Keelboat Championship day boat regattas and view the race documents including the SIs: CCCA

No. 08(T) of 2018 Folly Pontoon - Upper Fixed Red Unlit No. 06 of 2018 Tidal Flows in Cowes Harbour No. 05 of 2018 Safety of Navigation within Cowes Harbour No. 04(T) of 2018 Breakwater West Buoy Reinstated No. 02 of 2018 Risk Assessment of Recreational Events Cowes Local Notices to Mariners

Weather and Tides Latest Harbour News Cowes Harbour Events Cowes Chain Ferry Cowes General Directions Cowes Harbour Developments CHC Annual Report CHC Strategic Plan Local Information Contact CHC More information on Cowes Harbour

Cowes Harbour Services

Cowes Harbour Shepards Marina

Schedule of Charges 2018-19

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Cowes Harbour Commission | chc@cowes.co.uk | 01983 293952

Cowes Harbour Advisory Committee  | chac@cowes.co.uk