Community

Port issues warning following night time near miss between ferry and speedboat

Published

3 weeks ago

October 3, 2021

MILFORD HAVEN PORT AUTHORTITY has issued a warning following a night time near miss between the twice-daily running Isle of Inishmore ferry and a small speed boat.

Notwithstanding the dangers caused by the near miss the Port have remided those using the waterway that breaching safety regulations could lead to a £50,000 fine or two years in prison.

The incident took place at around 00:30 hours in mid-July, the twice-daily running Isle of Inishmore ferry was on a steady course 050 degrees between Wear Spit beacon and Carr Spit beacon.

Calm weather conditions, calm seas and no moon. During the approach to Carr Spit beacon she started to alter course to starboard.

At the same time the Master spotted small waves on the surface in the area of Carr Spit No2 buoy. Immediately the bridge team started to search for a source of the waves. Shortly after, they spotted a small speed boat without any navigation lights passing Carr Spit beacon and crossing their bow approximately 20 meters ahead.

The Isle of Inishmore was making approximately 10 knots at this point and the small speed boat passed their port side less than 10 metres off. The Master immediately arrested the swing to starboard to avoid hitting the small craft with the stern.

The lookout on the port wing shortly after reported the boat passing clear, so the Inishmore regained her swing to starboard to follow the safe water channel and berthed safely at Pembroke Dock Ferry Terminal

The Port said in it’s 2020 Leisure Safety Digest: “This was potentially a very serious incident. Had the Isle of Inishmore not been vigilant in spotting the wake of the small craft, her stern could easily have collided with the small vessel. What many do not realise is that when large vessels are making a turn, their stern will swing correspondingly to the other side. In addition to this, her wash could have caused the small craft to capsize. In the dark, even in summer, the chances of survival are minimal. Cold water shock can cause heart attacks, even in the relatively young and healthy.

“Leisure vessels often assume that because they can see a commercial vessel, the commercial vessel can see them. Often this mistake is compounded by failing to assess closing speeds accurately, thinking that the larger vessel is going slower than it is. This combination of factors serves to put the leisure vessel in close quarters with the commercial vessel and in an extremely dangerous and vulnerable position. We assume that the leisure vessel on this occasion hadn’t planned to be in such close proximity in the dark, perhaps it was this misjudgement that found it there. A lack of situational awareness contributes to 22.5% of near misses in UK waters annually.

“The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and, in particular, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGS) Part C – Lights and Shapes apply in this context and state in Rule 23 that a power driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length should exhibit an all round white light and sidelights. Annex 1 covers the positioning and technical details of lights and shapes. Part A Rule 1. makes clear that the regulations apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.

“How well do you think you stand out on a large vessel’s radar? The simple answer is not very well at all. Small fibreglass or plastic vessels are virtually impossible to spot on radar as they rarely give a return. For radar to pick you up, you need to be larger and preferably metal. One way you can help is by fitting AIS ‘B’ to your vessel or another solution is the installation of an ‘Active See Me’ radar target enhancer so increasing your vessel’s radar cross section.

“Not withstanding the inherent danger, it must also be noted that breaching the ‘COLREGS’ leaves the master of a vessel liable to prosecution under the Merchant Shipping Act, which on a guilty verdict would leave the master facing a fine of up to £50,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 2 years.”

Community

‘KINDNESS WILL ALWAYS OVERCOME’

Published

3 days ago

October 20, 2021

Cerys Lafferty

Pupils at Pembrokeshire Learning Centre re-planting their garden with the members of the youth engagement programme at MAWW Fire and Rescue Service.

GESTURES of kindness towards a group of young people have been praised.

The Pembrokeshire Learning Centre in Neyland suffered vandalism in September, where vegetable patches planted by pupils were destroyed.

The discovery of the damage upset and affected many pupils who had worked hard to grow the crops.

On hearing about the vandalism, the youth service at Mid and West Wales (MAWW) Fire and Rescue Service contacted the PLC offering to help re-plant and restore the garden.

Graham Jenkins, Service Youth Team Coordinator for MAWW Fire and Rescue Service said they had worked with the PLC on various schemes in previous years and were ‘particularly saddened to learn that the school’s garden had been vandalised in such a way’.

“Our youth engagement work has been restricted during the pandemic, but we are delighted to help these young people to re-plant their garden and, in so doing, re-energise our youth engagement programme in Pembrokeshire,” he said.

Sian Williams is Headteacher at the PLC, a school for 11-16 year olds with complex needs. She said: “We were all shocked and dismayed at the needless damage to an area where the pupils and staff had worked so hard to make into an enjoyable place to spend time. However we were touched by the outpouring of support and offers to help rectify the damage.

“One of our previous learners kindly reached out to help by donating his Education Maintenance Allowance in order to repair the damage. In addition B&Q Carmarthen donated plants to replace those destroyed, aided by MAWW Fire Service who worked alongside pupils to restore the garden to its previous state.

“We are hugely grateful, these offers restore your faith that kindness will always overcome.”

Jo Thomas, Teacher In Charge of the LRC, added: “We were so lucky to have the MAWW Fire and Rescue Service help us re-pot our garden, so it now looks good as new. We cannot thank everyone who offered help to us enough.

“It has made the young people in the PLC feel much happier because they were devastated at the damage children the same age caused, especially when they had worked so hard on the garden. All the children want to say a huge ‘thank you’.”

Local county councillor Simon Hancock said: “The ýoung people of the Pembrokeshire Learning Centre work so hard to cultivate their plants and improve their environment and it is shocking there has been this mindless vandalism. I am so grateful to the MAWW Fire and Rescue Service for their kind and timely support in putting things right.”

Cabinet Member for Education & Lifelong Learning, Cllr Guy Woodham also thanked the Fire and Rescue Service and the others who had helped stating: “When something as unkind as vandalising a school garden takes place, it is heart-warming when the community responds to address the wrong cause. I am very grateful for the continued support offered to the PLC by MAWW Fire and Rescue Service and all those who also helped restore the garden to its former glory.”

Community

Nigel Parlor runs Newport Marathon for Pembrokeshire NHS

Published

3 days ago

October 20, 2021

Cerys Lafferty

Nigel Parlor

WELL done to Nigel Parlor from Merlin’s Bridge, in Pembrokeshire, who is running the Newport Marathon to raise money for NHS mental health services in the county.

Nigel, who works for Network Rail, has been in training since June for the event, which takes place on October 24th.

As he pounds the course, Nigel is raising money for St Caradog Ward at the Bro Cerwyn Centre in Haverfordwest.

He said: “I have been suffering myself with anxiety and depression for the last year, so feel it is an appropriate area to support.

“I’m taking on the challenge of running the Newport marathon to raise money for my local mental health unit and to make people aware of the importance of talking about their mental health.”

Nigel, who has previously taken part in Long Course Weekend and other running events, added: “I am looking forward to the challenge and being part of a team to raise money for a worthwhile cause.”

To support Nigel, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nigel-parlor Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said they wanted to thank Nigel for his fundraising efforts.

““The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive,” said Nicola.

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Community

Pembrokeshire men run Newport Marathon to raise money for Glangwili

Published

3 days ago

October 20, 2021

Cerys Lafferty

Gerald and Bryan

COUSINS Bryan Hughes and Gerald Brace are running in the Newport Marathon to raise money for Prostate Cancer Services at Glangwili Hospital.

The pair are taking part in the ABP Newport Wales Marathon on 24 th October to say thank you for the treatment Bryan’s dad, Delroy Hughes, received at Glangwili Hospital after he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in July 2019.

Gerald said: “When Delroy was diagnosed it was a huge shock and worry for him and his family. But thanks to the quick action and treatment at Glangwili Hospital, along with radiotherapy at Singleton Hospital, Delroy has now been given the all-clear.”

“Bryan and myself will be running in the Newport Marathon to raise as much money as possible to give something back to the Prostate Cancer Unit for the fantastic work they do,” added Gerald, who is a 51-year-old personal trainer and sports massage therapist from Sageston, Tenby.

Bryan, 42, a Track Section Supervisor for Network Rail, from Haverfordwest, has completed the Newport Marathon before, in 2018. Gerald has also already completed two marathons, back in 2014.

Gerald said: “Training is going well. We are both up to 16 miles and reaching the business end of the training with an 18 and 20-miler to do in the next few weeks!”

The pair, pictured with Delroy Hughes, hope to raise £1,000 and are holding a raffle in October to help boost funds.

If you would like to donate to Bryn and Gerald’s fundraiser, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gerald-brace

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said they wanted to thank Bryan and Gerald for their fundraising.

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk