SOUTH COAST & CHANNEL ISLANDS
Changes have been made to designs for Elizabeth Harbour, Jersey, which is being reconfigured to increase freight capacity and improve passenger experience as part of the St Helier Harbour Master Plan. The changes are an update to the existing planning application, following feedback from stakeholders.
Among the amendments is a reduction in the volume of material to be dredged by 30%. Approximately half of this material will be processed and reused in the Elizabeth Harbour redevelopment.
Two people were rescued after an 18m Princess motor cruiser caught fire just off Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
HM Coastguard received a Mayday from the boat at 1020, 11 November, and tasked both RNLI lifeboats from Bembridge, along with the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team, plus Sandown &Shanklin Independent Lifeboat.
The HM Coastguard helicopter crew from Lee-onSolent were also scrambled but stood down once it was confirmed all those on board the vessel were safe.
A Bembridge RNLI spokesman said: “The two crew had taken to a small tender that they carried on board and initially a fishing vessel that was in the area had stood by.”
The Norman Harvey inshore lifeboat, which had been training in Whitecliff Bay, was first on the scene and took the two uninjured casualties on board before transferring them to the all-weather lifeboat for transport ashore. Norman Harvey then towed the tender to Bembridge Harbour.
HM Coastguard received more than 100 calls about the incident.
WEST COAST, WALES & IRELAND
Boat owners are being advised not to stow large quantities of fuel on board after a boat was gutted by fire at Swansea Marina.
Fire crews from Swansea Central, Swansea West, Morriston, Gorseinon and Llanelli responded to the incident, late afternoon on 19 November. The 40ft boat, which had 100gal of diesel and 20gal of petrol aboard, was well alight. The blaze was extinguished but the vessel was ‘completely destroyed.’
Swansea City Council and Natural Resources Wales also attended the incident.
The cause of the fire was said to be ‘accidental’–with no further details available.
Afire service spokesman said: “Advice to boat owners, following this incident, would be to not store large quantities of fuel if possible.”
