RMA – HARBOUR USER GROUP

Hi everyone,

Here are some notes which I made following the Harbour Users Group Meeting held on Wednesday 19^th March; the meeting was chaired by Councillor Roger Latchford.

Dredging 

The dredger has arrived in the harbour (the tug pulling it ran aground and the dredger ran into the back of the tug!) but has broken down. Repairs are to be completed and work restarted after Easter. It is likely that only the entrance and a limited area of the Eastern Marina will be dredged. Tenders have not yet been obtained for the 3 year dredging contract.

Flares

Estuary Services (Pilot Boats) will organise dates when the weather is better. 

Wind Farms 

It is unlikely that the Royal Harbour will be used as a base during construction for it would cost £40 million to build the necessary facilities. TDC hope that Ramsgate will become the Operation & Maintenance Base. Some part of the boat yard may be lost but more space can be found closer to the cliffs. 

Other matters 

(a)    Two sets of recycling bins have been provided for 2008

(b)   Work is in progress to provide signs for the safety ladders and paint adjacent steel piles red.

(c)    A new oil recycling facility is to be ordered.

(d)   The pump out facility is to be installed by the end of April.

(e)    An automatic fuel pump operated by credit card is to be provided by the end of the summer.

(f)     Estuary Services are to buy a new pilot boat and increase their annual trips from 850 to 1500 due to the new pilotage arrangements in the Thames.

(g)    The possibility of fitting an electrically operated system to the security gate near the dock office is to be investigated because the current system does not lock the gate.

(h)    An apron for guide dogs is to be fitted to the car park entrance barrier.

(i)      Southern Water no longer permit permanent hose pipes to be fitted to the Marina standpipes because of the risk of contamination. Individual Owners will need to use their own portable hoses.

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The following points relevant to the RMA were discussed at the Harbour Liaison Committee on Thursday 22nd June.

 

1. Electrics.

The upgrade of the marina electrics is almost complete. One pedestal with four sockets has been provided on the Eastern Marina southern breakwater and a second is on order. The cost of supplying electricity to the Marina exceeds the cost and meters will eventually be installed. There are berth holders who do not pay for electricity but do use it and action is to be taken to stop this practice. Meters will be individual and the outlet socket locked to prevent theft of electricity.

 

2. Disabled Parking

Additional disabled parking to be identified; the use of the parking space adjacent to the East Inner Marina gate is for loading/ unloading only.

 

3. Loading Bay

A loading / unloading bay adjacent to the East Inner Marina gate is to be established, limited to 30 minutes, monitored by the Dock Office.

 

4. Dredging

Dredging by the Ramsgate dredger will continue but otherwise dredging by external companies is complete for this year. All marinas (including the Inner Marina)require dredging and quotations are being obtained to carry this out over a 3 year period.

 

5. Cleanliness

Undertakings were given that the Inner Marina would be continuously be kept clean throughout the season. (It is much better than a couple of weeks ago).

 

6. East Marina

More berths have been taken up by small fishing craft and commercial craft in the Eastern Marina causing lack of space for temporary mooring by Inner Marina boats working the gate opening times. It is recognised by the Harbour Master that a berth management system for all outer marina berths is a priority - but no date for resolution given.

 

7. Transmanche Marinas

Letter and questionnaire issued to all berth holders by the Harbour. The EU is funding a study by Consultants to identify ways to encourage reciprocal visits between the Transmanche Marinas. RMA suggested that 50% discounts on mooring fees (outwith the main season) to visitors to and from other Transmanche marinas could be funded by the EU instead. May be considered.

 

8. Trolleys

The Harbour Master assured the RMA that there would be an adequate supply of trolleys after the Power Boat weekend (Normally they all disappear with the power craft)

 

9. Dover Marina

It was reported that Dover Harbour are looking at proposals to extend commercial activities at the Western Docks and might need to fill in one of the marinas. The lost berths could be replaced by a move to Ramsgate.

 

Regards

 

Brian

 

 

Dear Dominic,

 

There is one further point which Tim and I should have discussed with you when we met last Thursday.

 

There is a regular problem in the season by visitors occupying permanent berth-holders spaces in the Outer West Marina. As you know, the Dockmaster simply tells visitors to find a space and although the permanent berth-holders spaces are marked, when space is tight then visitors use them. This gives rise to confrontation and anger when the permanent berth-holder returns from fishing or a cruise.

 

The short term solution, adopted in many marinas, would be to adopt a red/green system. A red board is fixed to the end of the berth and states "occupied". This board can be covered by a green board stating "free" hung on a couple of pins. Berth-holders on an extended cruise could phone the Dockmaster the day before they return to have the green board removed. Sometimes this system is augmented by a cord across the entrance to the berth with a board stating "reserved".Could you please give consideration to this issue.

 

Some Marinas actually give a rebate in mooring fees to permanent berth-holders who advise them that their berth will be unoccupied.

 

The longer term solution now used in the many modern Marinas is a PC based berth management system; Breskens has the best example I have experienced. A plan of the Marina is loaded into a PC - I am sure that the software package is readily available - and this enables berth availability to be accurately managed. Visitors call by vhf or phone in advance and are allocated a specific berth together with other instructions such as berthing side to enable ropes and fenders to be readied. Something for Ramsgate to aspire to?

 

Regards

 

Brian