Diving Banned on the Hood [Archive] - BSAC Scuba Diving Forums

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Paul B

11-01-2004, 08:19

Apologies for cross posting but felt that this was important to all divers.

Paul

>--Please PASS ON this email to any relevant party/diving
>list/media/club or diving group as soon as possible as I can only post
>it here on DIS-UK. It is important. Thanks and Regards
>
>****
>
>Portland Port Bans Diving on the HMS Hood
>
>The Portland Harbour Authority Ltd. which has full control over
>Portland harbour and its wrecks has:
>
>Banned *all* diving on the HMS Hood beginning January 2004
>
>...for an indefinite period which looks as if it will be a lasting one
>either until the wreck is removed or Portland Port takes an alternative
>decision.
>
>(Description on the Hood is available at
> <a href="http://www.divernet.com/wrecks/wtour7999.htm" >http://www.divernet.com/wrecks/wtour7999.htm</a>)
>
>The diving ban, issued without any consultation with local businesses,
>diving groups and concerns and/or dive boat operators or national
>diving clubs, noticably coincides with Portland Port's ongoing efforts
>to build an oil terminal close to the South Entrance of the Harbour in
>a major expansion scheme and even more controversial future plans to
>build windmills (with exclusion zones) in the same location.
>
>Local sources have said the decision is already being and will continue
>to be policed by Portland Harbour. (Please note, the Harbour Master
>"does" have policing rights, inclusive of fining and detention).
>
>According to a brief "Notice to Mariners" dated 1 January 2004 and sent
>recently by the PHAL to boat owners and operators, the decision was
>taken after "a recent survey of the wreck of the 'Hood' which lies
>across the seaward entrance to the South Ship channel, has indicated
>that the wreck has degraded and is collapsing on itself."
>
>The notice was signed by Harbourmaster S. Mault "with the written
>permission of the Harbour Authority".
>
>The Notice said the Harbour Authority "is presently considering the
>future use, structure and status of the South Ship Channel together
>with the future of the wreck of the Hood" adding that "all options"
>were being considered.
>
>It added that "in the meantime, the Harbour Authority will not permit
>any diving on the wreck of the Hood" and revoked any permission
>previously given by saying "any permission... with respect to diving in
>the South Ship Channel; which includes the wreck of the Hood is revoked
>from the date of this notice."
>
>The Notice alleged "The withdrawal of permission to dive on the Hood
>has been made in the interests of the safety of all divers and those
>tasked to rescue a diver should he/she get into difficulty."
>
>It is not yet known whether Portland Port aims to open the South
>Entrance by destroying or removing the wreck altogether, thus opening
>it to larger marine vessels. As no previous consultations or
>communication with the interested parties were made by Portland Port,
>it is not known whether there are plans to extend the ban(s) to other
>sites.
>
>TO QUESTION THIS DECISION AND/OR GET MORE INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO
>IT, INCLUSIVE OF THE MISSING CONSULTATION AND COMMMUNICATION PROCESS IN
>ADVANCE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT:
>
>Portland Port Limited
>Castletown, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1PP, England
>Tel: +44 (0) 1305 824044 Fax: +44 (0) 1305 824055
>e mail: <a href="mailto:info@portland-port.co.uk">info@portland-port.co.uk</a>
>
>Or visit their web site on: <a href="http://www.portland-port.co.uk/" >http://www.portland-port.co.uk/</a> (which
>appears to miss this vital bit of "development" :-)
>
>INFORMATION ON THE HOOD IS AVAILABLE AT:
>
> <a href="http://www.divernet.com/wrecks/wtour7999.htm" >http://www.divernet.com/wrecks/wtour7999.htm</a>

Keith Lawrence(BSAC)

13-01-2004, 22:20

There is an active discussion about this on the DiverNet site (www.divernet.com) and an online petition is available on <a href="http://www.divernet.com/xtra/hoodpet1.shtml" >http://www.divernet.com/xtra/hoodpet1.shtml</a>

The BSAC (and probably the other agencies) are well aware of the situation, we'll be doing what we can to represent the interests of all divers.

Regards

Keith L

TUE

14-01-2004, 18:49

on questioning the harbour authority they have sent this reply.

PORTLAND HARBOUR AUTHORITY LIMITED

It is confirmed that a temporary halt in diving approval for the wreck of the HOOD has recently been enforced. The reasons for this are as follows:

The depth of water at the South Ship entrance has increased from 2m to 5m in the last few years this has led to:

a. Larger swell conditions through the entrance

b. Increased depth therefore (although the entrance is supposed to be closed) use by larger vessels.

c. An indication that the wreck itself is settling quite rapidly.

It should be appreciated that the Portland Harbour Authority is responsible for the safety of all harbour users; the authority is required under the Port Marine Safety Code to carry out risk assessments on a regular basis. The risk assessment is audited six monthly by an independent marine solicitor who monitors the safety performance of the authority.

Following the recent audit the auditor recommended that some action be taken to recognise the increased risk presented by a, b and c above, the following options are available:

1.. Do nothing - the conditions that all divers have enjoyed in the past have been changed as in a, b and c above, to do nothing was considered to be an option that would leave the Authority vulnerable.
2.. Remove the wreck and open up the entrance for fully authorised use - not a desirable option for the authority as vessels entering through the South Ship Channel would cross the commercial vessel navigation routes.
3.. Restore the original 2m depth and carry out a safety survey of the wreck - the preferred option for the Authority.

The advice to the Authority, given by the independent auditor, was to enforce a temporary ban on diving and to reinforce the prohibition of vessels using the channel until a permanent solution was found. This was carried out using the Local Notice to Mariners (LNTM), the LNTM is the most efficient and speedy method of communicating temporary decisions such as this, all harbour users should be aware that there is no requirement for the Harbour Authority to consult on matters dealt with by LNTM.

Action now is in hand to come to a clear and fully consulted way ahead, it is stressed that full consultation with the Harbour Consultation Committee, upon which all harbour users are represented, will be carried out. Once a final decision is made all parties will be informed through proper channels