QUEENS HARBOUR MASTER
PORTSMOUTH

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS
No.  43 / 04

TRAFALGAR 200 SHIPPING CONTROL - ADVANCE NOTICE

ADVANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen’s Harbour Master Portsmouth that during the period 22 June 2005 to 3 July 2005 there will a number of temporary rules in force in the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth for the proper protection of the port and the purposes of Her Majesty’s Naval Service during the events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.  This notice gives preliminary information for planning purposes, a general direction giving full information will be published in early May.

1.  Outline plan of activities.

a.  22 - 27 June.  A fleet of warships and tall ships from around the world will gather at Spithead.

b.  27 June.  A rehearsal for the International Fleet Review (IFR) will take place.

c.  28 June -The Fleet will be reviewed followed by a sail past of warships, tall ships and nominated yachts.  In the evening there will be a Son et Lumiere illustrating  the sights and sounds of a Napoleonic era sea battle followed by Fireworks.

d.  29 June - Drumhead Service on Southsea Common

e.  30 June - 3 July. The International Festival of the Sea (IFOS) including a daily dynamic display in the harbour.

2.  Movement Restrictions.  There will be a number of shipping control measures to ensure safety and security:

a.  Fleet Anchorage.  An exclusion zone sketched below but to be promulgated in more detail nearer the time will be activated on 22 June 2005. The zone will encompass the area where participating vessels will anchor for the review plus 200m as a buffer. Only authorised vessels will be allowed entry into this zone.

b.  Commercial Traffic.  The North Channel into and out of Southampton will be closed from approximately 23 June to 30 June though these timings may be refined in due course. Except for two periods as specified below commercial traffic will be able to continue to pass through the Solent on a designated deep water route agreed by QHM and the Harbour Master ABP Southampton. Traffic will continue to move as directed by VTS Southampton who will be maintaining a close liaison with QHM and working on his behalf. The Deep Water Route will be closed as follows:
271200A until 271600A - it may be possible for a limited number of moves to be negotiated in this window which covers the rehearsal for the IFR.
281200A until 281800A - it is unlikely that any commercial moves will be conducted in this period though the channel will be reopened as soon as possible in consultation with the Harbour Master, ABP Southampton.

c.  Swashway.  From 23 June to 30 June authorised vessels only will be allowed to use the Swashway - these will include commercial ferries (and hovercraft) and vessels servicing the Fleet. Recreational craft may not use the Swashway. The Swashway will be patrolled by Royal Naval vessels to ensure this rule is obeyed.

d.  Portsmouth Entry and Exit - Vessels under 20m in length. For the period 23 June to 30 June the Small Boat Channel will extend as far south as Outer Spit Buoy. Vessels under 20m in length will be allowed to use the Inner Swashway when the tide permits but must otherwise use the Approach Channel from Outer Spit Buoy, keeping to the Western side of the channel, using their motors and passing red to red. Vessels under 20m approaching Portsmouth from the East must cross to this new Small Boat Channel as early as possible and in any event before reaching Castle Buoy.

e.  Portsmouth Entry and Exit - Vessels of 20m and more in length.  For the period 23 June to 30 June vessels of 20m and more in length will be able to operate throughout this period under normal control from QHM.  Vessels wishing to use the Swashway should seek permission before departing their berth in the harbour or when greater than 500yds from the Warship Exclusion Zone if approaching from sea.  There will a number of channel closures during the period for the movement of large warships promulgated through the movements signal and three harbour closures as follows:

271145A until 271215A June - IFR rehearsal

281145A until 281215A June - IFR

282000A until 282230A June - Son et Lumiere.

Exact timings will be promulgated nearer the time.

f.  IFR and Spectator Craft.  For the period 280900A until 282300A June further controls will operate for spectator craft in the Dockyard Port east of its western boundary and west of the line joining Southsea along the submarine barrier to Horse Sand Fort, from there to No Mans Land Fort and from there continuing by extension to the coast of the Isle of Wight.  A presentation outlining this scheme is available on the QHM website in the library section at http://www.qhmportsmouth.com/index.php?subject=library&fol=library

g.  Movements in Portsmouth Harbour.  For the entire period it will be extremely busy within Portsmouth Harbour particularly with traffic crossing to and from Gunwharf, and to and from the Naval Base. Extra marshal craft will be in place to control these crossings, vessels without a prior booking at Gunwharf Quays will not be allowed to cross.

h.  IFOS.

(i) During the IFOS (30 June to 3 July and including the arrival day 29 June and departure day 4 July) there will be a relaxation of the 50m Exclusion Zone (LNTM 59/02 refers) around Naval Base Berths in the southern part of the harbour only extending from North Corner to South Railway Jetty.

(ii) In the area north of North Corner to Fountain Lake Corner all craft must remain 50m clear of all ships berthed alongside.

(iii) Fountain Lake will be out of bounds to all vessels under 20m without prior authorisation with the exception of vessels who need to traverse this area to reach their moorings or berths.

(iv) During IFOS large commercial vessels will be escorted in and out of the harbour by patrol vessels indicated by a blue flashing light.

(v) The Small Boat Channel will be extended inside the harbour to 3 Buoy.  A traffic pattern for craft under 20m in length wishing to view the Tall Ships alongside the Naval Base western wall will be established and enforced by marshalling craft. The flow pattern will be a clockwise rotation of the harbour between Oil Fuel Jetty and 3 Buoy. See attached chartlet.

(vi) Traffic leaving Fareham Creek and Portchester Lake bound for the southern part of the harbour must join this traffic pattern.  Traffic leaving Royal Clarence Yard, Gosport Marina and Haslar Creek leaving the harbour should use the Small Boat Channel as normal.

(vii) During the daily 1400 dynamic display further restrictions will be imposed on all traffic passing the tidal basin area. 

3.  Cancel this Local Notice to Mariners on 4 July 2005.
 

Semaphore Tower                                                     T R Herman OBE

HM Naval Base                                                          Commander Royal Navy

Portsmouth                                                              QHM Portsmouth

Owners, Agents, Charterers, Marinas, Yacht Clubs and Recreational Sailing Organisations should ensure that the contents of this Notice are made known to the masters or persons in charge of their vessels or craft.