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Safety is at the heart of our work at Cowes Harbour Commission. This month Peter Jackson, the Commissioner with portfolio responsibility for safety and security in the harbour, explains more about his role and our work.
Details of our new small craft channel are also being announced here. This should improve navigation through the day class moorings for smaller vessels that are approaching the fairway from the east.
Finally, I am pleased that the 2012 Cowes Port Handbook is going to press as we speak and is on schedule for delivery before Easter. I'd like to extend my thanks on behalf of the publishers to all the individuals, photographers, clubs and associations that have contributed towards the improvements that have been introduced this year.
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Best Regards,
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Diamond Jubilee Celebrations take shape in Cowes
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Clubs and associations on the Island are joining together to celebrate HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee with a one-off special regatta.
Taking place between Saturday 2nd and Monday 4th June and will incorporate IRC and ISCRS rated boats, including a 'Sail the Wight' event on Saturday 2nd June.
The whole event is focused on fundraising for three local charities; the Ocean Youth Trust IOW, Island Youth Water Activities Centre (IYWYC) and The Earl Mountbatten
Hospice.
See the full story on COWES.co.uk
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Work experience and apprenticeships at KMS
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We currently have two students on work experience from the IW College the lads spend a day each week on site, working with the boatyard team gaining a valuable insight into the working environment.
We are also delighted to announce that we have taken this co-operation a step further by formally taking on a marine engineering apprentice. For the next 18 months the apprentice will be based at Kingston Marine Services working both afloat and in the yard, focusing on boat maintenance and boatyard operations in conjunction with his studies at the IW College.
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HMY Britannia now successfully in cradle
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After one failed attempt, HMY Britannia has now successfully been lifted from the water into her bespoke cradle in Venture Quays, East Cowes.
The replica vessel is expected to stay at South Boats Service Centre for twelve to eighteen months while Britannia Trust undertake her final fit-out; after which she will be used for charitable causes.
See the full story and more images on COWES.co.uk
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Please keep in touch!
| Don't forget that Cowes Harbour Commission is always happy to gain feedback on its services and on the issues it is tackling on your behalf. If you want to talk to the Harbour Master, Capt Stuart McIntosh or to Rod Hodgson, the Deputy HM, please feel free to call into the Harbour Office on Town Quay, or phone and make an appointment on:
01983 293952, or
Cowes Harbour Commission also owns and operates the following commercial services: Shepards Wharf Marina, Kingston Marine Services, Cowes Harbour Moorings and Cowes Harbour Fuels.
You can keep up to date with all the news on our website:
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Above: Divers placing strops on HMY Britannia ready for lifting.
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New small craft channel for Cowes
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Cowes Harbour Commission is establishing a new small craft channel into Cowes Harbour, making access for leisure boats simpler, easier and safer. The channel will be in place by March 31st.
The new buoyed channel, just 200 meters long, cuts through the main harbour moorings and runs directly into the fairway. The channel follows a line from the end of the Shrape breakwater to the main fairway opposite the short stay visitor pontoons at Town Quay.
The new channel will be suitable for smaller leisure vessel up to 15m with draught being an additional limiting factor. The least depth in the small craft channel is 0.9m below chart datum but depths as little as 0.0m(chart datum) may be encountered within the approaches. When joining or leaving the channel, special attention should be given to the Shrape Mud (dries 1.5 metres) which extends north of a direct line between the Shrape Beacon and the Breakwater.
Deputy Harbour Master Rod Hodgson said, "It is hoped the new channel will reduce congestion at the fairway entrance and enable suitable craft to avoid the strong tidal flows in the vicinity. In addition it will remove the temptation for vessels to take a short cut through the small craft moorings where damage to boats and buoys has been a problem in the past"
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Spotlight on Captain Peter Jackson
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Safety & Security Commissioner and Designated Person
When Peter Jackson retired from the Royal Navy in 2001 he moved to East Cowes and quickly became involved in local sailing clubs with some instructing at UKSA. In 2008 he was appointed Harbour Commissioner with the conservation portfolio and the following year took up the Safety and Security portfolio on the river. In 2010 he took on the additional appointment as "Designated Person" for Cowes Harbour.
Responsibility for health and safety within Cowes Harbour extends from the very top down to the most junior staff member. In nautical terms the Harbour Master and Chief Executive is the "Captain of the Ship" and as such has day-to-day responsibility for the safe operation of navigation and other marine activities. However the main load of ensuring safe working practices and maintaining the harbour's Safety Management System falls on the broad shoulders of Rod Hodgson, Deputy Harbour Master.
Read the full story on COWES.co.uk
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Shepards welcomes growing Etchell Fleet
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An exciting season of competitive sailing, including the Southern area Championships and UK Nationals, both 2013 world championship qualifiers, awaits the Cowes Etchells fleet that have been stored at Shepards Wharf Marine during the winter months.
Like many other craft, including RIBs, small day sailors and keelboats, the Etchells have benefited from choosing storage packages to suit their individual needs and making use of the superb local services including the sail lofts and specialist local boat builders as well as local crew.
Read the full story on COWES.co.uk
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2012 Cowes Port Handbook
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The 2012 edition of the Cowes Port Handbook will be available from Easter.
The commission's aim is to ensure that our Cowes Port Handbook and COWES.co.uk website continue to provide essential information to yachtsmen whilst creating a first-class visitor guide to Cowes and East Cowes.
Because of this, we hosted a full review of the handbook and have since actioned a number of innovations and improvements to the 2012 edition.
We hope the new edition will continue to help with ensuring that the Cowes Port Handbook and COWES.co.uk provide an international shopwindow for Cowes as the "home of world yachting".
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