Welcome to our Summer update from the team at Penzance Harbour.
Commercial news
Throughout the Covid 19 lockdowns Penzance Harbour continued to operate for the commercial sector. We continued to provide our usual services and facilities with the team split into two watches to ensure resilience and Covid compliance.
The Penzance based beam trawlers continued to operate throughout and each vessel has received an annual refit during the summer months. Penwith Marine Services have also undertaken several refits on locally based fishing vessels in the Wet Dock as well as supporting recreational boats from their well-stocked stores. Penwith have also been undertaken work on the harbour workboat Two Sisters which is due to be completed in October.
A new operator has taken over Penzance Dry Dock and recently completed their first dry docking with the Isles of Scilly inter island vessel Lyonesse Lady going on the blocks at short notice for repairs. Linked Solutions are keen to develop their services to recreational as well as commercial customers.
Gry Maritha maintained her regular lifeline link for providing supplies to the Isles of Scilly and the ship has had a busy summer period with the islands at capacity for visitors. Scillonian III has also been busy, including several double sailings during peak season. The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group have also made public designs for their future vessels.
During the summer we have also seen several cargoes for the Scillonian Off Islands undertaken by the landing craft MTS Terramare between her other projects. At this time, she is on contract in Dundee. Once again we welcomed the Sail cargo vessel De Gallant and our resident tall ship, Phoenix, continues her in water refit but will be departing Penzance for film work at Malta in September.
Recreational News
This Summer saw many more local vessels on their moorings than last year as Covid 19 restrictions eased, and much more boating activity. We have seen larger than normal numbers of visiting Yachts recently with many berthing at Penzance and sailing to and from the Isles of Scilly.
In late August Penzance Sailing Club hosted the Scorpion National Championships with over seventy sailing boats in the fleet enjoying an excellent and well organised event.
Abbey Basin has proved popular with wild swimming and paddle boarders which has been encouraged to reduce the numbers using the Outer Harbour amongst moorings.
Maintenance Projects
Maintenance/ improvement projects continue with both the pointing works completed, and all the new harbour ladders fitted. Quay void filling and manhole replacement also completed. Advanced planning is now underway for the in water refurbishment of the wet dock gate. These works will be managed to minimise disruption to harbour users and most likely to be undertaken during this Autumn. Work to install additional safety barriers will also commence shortly to enhance segregation, particularly where public interface with commercial activity.
An automatic barrier is now in place on South Pier for access for registered harbour users only. A second barrier will soon be installed on North Arm and quayside parking permits will be introduced in early 2022. We ask that all users only park in designated parking areas.
The large granite block displaced from the outer South Pier in the Winter storms has been replaced by Sea Wide Services of Falmouth, and fendering repairs will commence on the Inner North Arm berth very soon.
Electricians completed fault finding and repair works around the harbour and boat park. We are working towards the addition of several more electrical power posts around the wet dock to ensure versatility with berthing.
Harbour Staff
This summer has been a busy time for the Harbour team with the management of the harbour maintenance and improvements whilst juggling with the everyday commercial and leisure activities with little disruption, and we thank harbour users for their support and understanding.
Jedna, Peter and Harry have been managing the Slipway and boat storage area during the summer and the tidal watch team managing the daily movements in and out of the Wet dock.
Peter has now left the team and Harry will be leaving in mid-September on completion of his summer contract for St Ives and Penzance Harbours. We are currently advertising for a Slipway Attendant to join us until late September (See the advert here).
Unfortunately, we will shortly say goodbye to Jedna who takes the next step in her career joining our neighbours at Newlyn Harbour as Deputy Harbour Master. I am sure you will join us in wishing her all the best in her new role and thank her for her hard work at Penzance.
Communication
Information about Penzance harbour and other harbours operated by Cornwall Council can be found at www.cornwallharbours.co.uk . The website will be updated regularly with news, Local Notices to Mariners and other useful information useful to harbour users.
MAIB Report – Globetrotter
Following an investigation led by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch the UK Harbour Masters Association, RYA and other maritime bodies have been asked to highlight the lessons learned from this accident and other similar accidents and to request assistance with promulgating the advice contained in Emily’s Code to leisure boat users.
Summary of accident
At about 0800 on 31 May 2020, the 12m wooden hulled recreational boat Globetrotter sank in 5m of water during a sea angling trip off the coast of Fleetwood, England. Its owner made a Mayday call shortly before he, his son and a friend all entered the water. None of the sea anglers were wearing lifejackets or buoyancy aids, but they were able to use Globetrotter’s two lifebuoys to help them remain afloat. The legs of the owner’s son became entangled in Globetrotter’s anchor rope and despite the exhaustive rescue efforts of the crews of two nearby boats, he was dragged under the water and drowned.
Safety Issues
Globetrotter was not in a seaworthy condition and was ill prepared for the voyage the owner was an experienced leisure boat user but had little appreciation of the risks he was taking and the importance of passage planning the son’s chances of survival would have been increased had he been wearing a personal flotation device.
For further information please see – https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/sinking-of-the-wooden-hulled-motorboat-globetrotter-with-loss-of-1-life & https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/safety/emilys-code
