Agenda item

To receive a quarterly report from the Harbour Master. (Grahame Forshaw)

The Harbour Master highlighted and updated a number of aspects of the circulated report.

·         The Bascule Bridge was now operational again. The team had been busy using the boat crane, and also liaising with those customers who have had to wait to move their boats.

·         the Waterways Team Manager had looked at a weed control boat in operation at Tiverton Canal, and although the boat was not suitable for Exeter’s canal there were a number of features including the weed cutting operation with the weed laid on the bank. The Harbour Master anticipated the proposed action to control the weed in the canal by only cutting the middle third of the water to keep the waterway clear for rowers and kayakers would help to manage expectations as well as the navigable aspect of keeping the channel and view clear.

·         the ownership of the Turf Hotel has changed along with their business model to include year round opening, which will have an impact on the canal access road, the numbers of people walking along the canal bank and boat use and a different ferry offer has been suggested, but will require more thought by the team on how this is managed.

·         a recent pollution incident in the Canal Basin was dealt with quickly and the oil and residue had dissipated. The Waterways Team Manager advised that daily checks had been mounted to monitor the situation. It was unfortunate that the Exe Water Sports Association had held an open event on the following day.

·         the new Rigid Inflatable boat (RIB) has replaced the City of Exeter patrol boat, which will be easier for staff and volunteers to respond and be afloat more quickly to any incidents in the river. The RIB will also be more visible with a warning light, harbour master insignia and radar for night use, as well as being more economical to run. An update will be made on its operation at the next Harbour Board meeting.

·         it was anticipated that, by the end of the year, all of the vessels used by the team would be Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) coded.

·         the Harbour Patrol team would undertake further training before any enforcement on the Estuary commenced, as well as an opportunity to educate personal watercraft operators, reinforcing the message that personal watercraft operators and drivers could be prosecuted if they endangered lives or property by their actions.  There was a conflict of use between the speedboat racing area close to the Imperial Sports Ground and slipway which was also popular with paddle boarders, kayakers and kite surfers which the RIB patrols will help to manage.

·         the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) surveying exercise would provide an accurate measurement of the sandbanks and mud banks in the Estuary with just one small section of the river to complete. 

·         mooring servicing work would be completed soon despite the recent poor weather. Servicing the navigation aids will then commence with particular attention on No 17 and 35 buoys.

·         work on the alternative power trains for boats using possibly hydrogen or battery power has continued.  Exeter University have submitted a grant application and the outcome will be known by September.

·         it is hoped the successful Estuary volunteers programme could be extended to educate people about safe behaviour around the canal.

·         the Britannia, a sailing fishing boat was due to come into the Quay to complete restoration in the third week in September. A replica Thames sailing barge called the Snark will come in and stay in the Basin for the 23/24 winter period. The Thames sailing barge, the Lady Daphne was expected to come to Exeter next year.

The Harbour Master responded to the following comments:-

·         he would continue to discuss the issues raised by Board members including the potential impact of greater visitor numbers and changes to the access, with the new owners of the Turf Hotel, as well as any opportunity to work together.

The Waterways Team Manager added that access and car parking was limited and was part of the Council’s canal estate.

·         the approach to greater enforcement of the Estuary would continue with more training and more equipment such as the provision of bodycams to deal with the potential challenges ahead.

·         the recent pollution incident did not involve any heavy fuel and it was likely to be bilge water as the light liquid had mostly evaporated. There were no large amounts of emulsified fuel drifting around.  The Waterways Team Manager added that it was often difficult to pinpoint the source of the pollution when investigating any diesel or bilge water spills. He had spoken to a number of boat owners and put out a preventative action message.

·         Exmouth Dock was a harbour authority in their own right and would have a pollution response plan. He would speak to the Harbour Master at Exmouth Docks to discuss their arrangements for any such incident.

·         an invoice had been raised in respect of the MV Johnny Eager and they hoped to recover the costs from the boat owner. Any non-payment would be referred to the legal team for action.

·         a pause in the dredging work was not having any impact on the channel, and the removal of some material using an alternative means was work in progress.

The Waterways Team Manager also responded to a Board Member’s comment and referred to the weed clearance and base of the bank effected by regrowth.  No trees have been removed and tree planting had taken place near the Trews Weir allotments. The main thrust of the work was to preserve the canal, stopping any breech of the banks and more effort would be made to communicate better with the public about the approach to maintenance.

Members noted the report.