It is fantastic news that the Solent LEP's 'Gateways' project is moving forward, with bold plans to enhance connections between Southampton and the Isle of Wight, bringing even more inward investment to the area and greatly assisting East Cowes' regeneration. My Commissioners and I are very supportive of this scheme and would encourage you all to visit the upcoming Public Exhibition in East Cowes to view the new concept plans.
Cowes Harbour has long been recognised as a key gateway to our Island, and CHC's current strategic review gives all harbour users a valuable opportunity to put forward their ideas for the future of the port. I do hope you will participate in our consultation if you haven't already done so, and thank you to all those who have taken part so far.
Meanwhile, Boskalis Westminster have now completed the reshaping of the breakwater pre-load and will continue to survey and monitor the gravel core during the winter consolidation period. As planned back in October, we have deployed tidal flow monitoring equipment in the harbour and full details of this can be found in LNTM No 32(T) of 2014.
The weather has definitely turned autumnal, yet Cowes has still enjoyed its fair share of sunshine as you can see in our latest photographs of the harbour. Our next newsletter comes out in mid-December and will carry all the essential Christmas and New Year information.
With best wishes for the remainder of your autumn,
Captain Stuart McIntosh
Cowes Harbour Master
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| Cowes Harbour annual moorings - renewals |
All Cowes Harbour licenced mooring holders will shortly be receiving their annual licence renewal forms. Please ensure that these are completed and returned promptly; the deadline for payment of annual moorings licences is Tuesday, 6 January 2015.
Do get in touch if you would like to go on the moorings waiting list, and if you are already on the list, please ensure that your contact details and intended size of vessel are up-to-date.
For all enquiries, please contact the moorings team at Shepards Wharf Marina by phone on 01983 297821 or send an email.
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Please note that the hours of operation at Cowes Harbour Fuels have been changed as follows:
Monday-Sunday 1000-1600
Information on fuel prices and discounts available can be found on the CHC website.
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| Dredge Licence Application 04/2014 RYS |
An application has been received for a maintenance dredge licence at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes. The area to be dredged includes the complete basin and approaches up to the fairway boundary. The work is aimed to be carried out during the winter months subject the necessary consents being received from the Marina Management Organisation (MMO). The deadline for comments or objections is 5th December 2014; these should be submitted to the Harbour Office in writing.
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Get set for 2015! Next year's tide times for Cowes can now be viewed on the CHC website. Please note that all times are 'local time' and corrected to account for British Summer Time (BST) where appropriate.
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We would like to encourage all our readers to share this newsletter with family and friends via the "Forward email" link at the foot of this email.
Alternatively, click here to subscribe to Cowes Harbour news.
Please help us to keep our mailing list up-to-date by clicking on the "Update Profile/Email Address" at the foot of this newsletter whenever you change your contact email address.
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Cowes Harbour Commission is always glad to receive feedback on its services and on the issues it is tackling on behalf of all harbour users and stakeholders.
If you would like to talk to the Harbour Master, Capt. Stuart McIntosh or to Rod Hodgson, Deputy Harbour Master, please feel free to call into the Harbour Office on Town Quay, phone and make an appointment on 01983 293952, or email us.
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Cowes Harbour Commission also owns and operates the following commercial services:
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| Local Notices to Mariners |
Links to recent Notices:
Sign up to receive notification of all Local Notices to Mariners by emailing us and including 'LNTM subscription' in the subject line. |
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'Solent Gateways' Public Exhibition
Cowes Harbour Commission (CHC) is pleased to share some exciting news this week as a Public Exhibition is announced on new concept plans for East Cowes and £15m investment for improving cross-Solent connections between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
CHC attended a meeting hosted by East Cowes Town Council on 25th November to hear about a project called 'Solent Gateways'. A presentation was given showing the concept plans for East Cowes town centre. Alongside a new floating bridge, the scheme includes re-positioning the Red Funnel marshalling yard, a new ferry terminal, and new public realm around East Cowes town centre.
Inward investment to support the local economy, encourage regeneration and create employment is an integral part of CHC's vision and strategic policies for the development of Cowes Harbour and the Medina gateway. CHC considers that the Commission's investment into the new detached breakwater and associated harbour infrastructure can act as a catalyst for transformative growth throughout the Medina Valley, the economic driver for the Isle of Wight.
We are therefore keen to play our part to promote and assist, where possible, with the delivery of this important Solent Gateways scheme, which will provide a strong platform for economic growth in Southampton and on the Island.
Top image: visual of how the future Trinity Wharf might look
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Strategic Review - report on progress
 There are just four days left to take part in Cowes Harbour Commissions's E-consultation on 'The vision for Cowes Harbour in 2020 and beyond'. If you prefer, you can download a PDF of the consultation questionnaire or pick up a printed copy from the Harbour Office. The online consultation closes on Monday, 1st December and we would also request than all hard copies of the questionnaire are returned to CHC by this date. There has been an encouraging level of response so far and once results have been gathered and analysed, we plan to publish the findings in the New Year.
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Consultation delivers valuable feedback
One of the recurrent themes emerging from the Commission's ongoing stakeholder consultation is the question, "Why does CHC undertake commercial operations in addition to its statutory and regulatory duties?" In essence, CHC performs three main functions, to be the statutory harbour authority for Cowes, to provide harbour users with marine services, and to supply stakeholder benefits; all as per the standards and practices set out in the Department for Transport's document Modernising Trust Ports.
The new Cowes breakwater - a stakeholder benefit
Cowes Harbour is a Trust Port, run for the benefit of all stakeholders of the port and the community in general. In accordance with the Trust Ports Guide to Good Goverance, CHC is required to be self-funding and is encouraged to run the port as a commercial business in order to generate a surplus which should be ploughed back into the port, or otherwise directed towards the interests of stakeholders.
Firstly, any surpluses that are produced as a result of CHC's provision of marine services have the important function of reducing the Commission's reliance on harbour dues and thereby helping to keep the cost of harbour dues down.
Secondly, the generation of a surplus enables CHC to reinvest back into the harbour and provide stakeholder benefits that would not otherwise be possible. Some of the investments and projects financed by CHC's accumulated financial surplus include, the new Cowes breakwater under construction, Trinity Landing, the sailing school training pontoon, the Cowes Port Handbook, plus support and sponsorship in attracting new events to Cowes.
Read the full article at cowesharbourcommission.co.uk
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KMS gets involved with next generation tidal wave technology
East Cowes based Sustainable Marine Energy Ltd (SME) has completed the first round of sea trials with its innovative tidal energy platform, PLAT-O. Also based in East Cowes and proud to be associated with the PLAT-O project is Cowes Harbour Commissions's team at Kingston Marine Services (KMS) who have been assisting SME with its marine operations.
 PLAT-O at Venture Quays. Credit: Sustainable Marine Energy Ltd In mid-November, the PLAT-O tidal energy device was launched from SME's facility at Venture Quays and towed to the test site at Yarmouth. The KMS team then used their Multi-Cat vessel Seaclear as a stable platform to assist PLAT-O operations and host the engineers who were controlling her ballasting and recording data during the trials. Barney Sollars, CHC's Marine Services Manager at Kingston, said: "The initial deployment from 15th to 16th November required us to crew and deploy Seaclear between 0600 on Saturday and 1900 on Sunday. The engineering team from SME were able to test the systems, PLAT-O was then successfully retrieved from her deployment depth and returned to Venture Quays." Managing Director of SME, Jason Hayman said: "Barney and the team at Kingston Marine Services did a great job of supporting us during these first sea trials of PLAT-O. We are committed to using local companies and building the local supply chain in the Solent region, so it was great to have the opportunity to work with KMS." Read the full article at cowesharbourcommission.co.uk |
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The Medina Greenway
 Work has now commenced on the Medina Greenway, an improved, shared route between Island Harbour and Seaclose Park, Newport. The Estuaries Partnership, of which Cowes Harbour Commission is a funding member, has a long involvement with the development of this project. The Greenway is being delivered by Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council with funding from the Department for Transport's Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The current works will upgrade the surface of the path for a variety of different users to share. The project also involves bridge widening to improve access, drainage, path repairs and the removal of some dead or dying trees. New trees will be planted to replace those removed and a boardwalk created above particularly sensitive habitat. The timing and nature of the work has been carefully planned to avoid an impact on the wildlife and habitats of the estuary. The shared route is expected to be completed by the end of the year and we will provide further information on the project in a forthcoming newsletter. By Sue Hawley, Estuaries Officer, Isle of Wight Estuaries Project. Read the full article at cowesharbourcommission.co.uk
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Buoys of Cowes Harbour 1880-2014
We are all used to our local Solent hazards being clearly marked with the necessary buoys, most of which are lighted; the Exclusion Zone around the new Cowes breakwater being a prime example of cardinal and special mark buoys. This is all made possible by recent advances in solar power, lighting technology and plastic buoy construction.
 Breakwater Exclusion Zone North Cardinal buoy. Credit: Nick Edwards Lighted buoys did not arrive until the early 1880s when Pintsch gas buoys were introduced in the Thames Estuary by Trinity House. Up until this time the only afloat lighting was provide by manned lightvessels. There were also lights on the Portsmouth forts. The inshore and harbour buoys were not lighted and many would have been of wooden construction. 
Post 1860 engraving showing wooden buoy
A yachting pilot of 1892 mentions a red and white checked buoy to the east of the Medina estuary entrance and an all red buoy on the west side. The pilot goes on to suggest that yachts would usually anchor in Cowes Roads unless coming in to the harbour to lay-up or for repairs and notes that "Cowes is not a very interesting place in itself, but it contains some excellent shops"!
By Adrian Wilkins, author of 'A History of Floating Aids to Navigation', and Vice Chairman of the CHC Advisory Committee. Read the full article at cowesharbourcommission.co.uk |
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