Author: Hannah Theobald

Meet our apprentice Declan

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

Declan joined the Authority last year to complete a two-year Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship, which incorporates all aspects of the Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship Standard and additional RYA/MCA qualifications. The apprentice is delivered in partnership with training provider Searegs.

> How is your apprenticeship going?

I’m loving the challenge! Before I took up the apprenticeship I was working as a welder and fabricator with a local Harwich company. I enjoyed the work but with a significant birthday looming on the horizon I felt it was time to look for a new opportunity. I enjoy the variety of the apprenticeship as my time is split across the Marine Support and Pilot Launch teams. The residential element of my apprenticeship is delivered by SeaRegs at their training established in Plymouth. The teaching groups are very small, usually 4 to 6 apprenticeships so I really feel that we get good, quality interactions with our tutors.

Joining a new organisation as the ‘trainee’ can be a bit daunting. But, I can honestly say that from the word go I’ve been embraced as one of the team. My two immediate line managers are extremely accessible and supportive of me, which is brilliant.

> What have you found challenging about your apprenticeship?

I haven’t found anything particularly challenging because the training I’ve received has been very comprehensive. I was, however, quite nervous on my first night-time trip on a Pilot Launch as you have to depend on your navigation equipment. After now completing many night trips I now feel very confident.

> What would you say to someone that was considering doing a Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship?

As someone who has grown up in a coastal town I had never considered a career in the maritime industry. But, when I explored the apprenticeship structure further I knew it was for me. The quality of the training I am receiving is superb and on completion of my apprenticeship I know that my qualifications will ensure that I will secure work in the industry. I’m slightly older than the average apprentice. That shouldn’t be a barrier if you’re looking for a career change and I’d say go in to the apprenticeship with an open mind and absorb as much as you can.

Find out more about the Workboat Apprenticeship.

Meet our apprentice Lewis

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

Lewis joined the Authority last year to complete a two-year Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship, which incorporates all aspects of the Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship Standard and additional RYA/MCA qualifications. The apprentice is delivered in partnership with training provider Searegs.

> How is your apprenticeship going?

I’m really enjoying my time with Harwich Haven Authority. No two days are the same and I split my time between the Pilot Launch Service and the Marine Support department. Colleagues have been extremely supportive, so I never have to worry about asking questions or seeking advice.

I’ve particularly enjoyed the residential, block release training we do with Searegs, who are based in Plymouth. Being with other apprentices really helps my learning and the instructors are very thorough and helpful. Learning on the job and attending regular residential placements work really well for me.

> What have you found challenging about your apprenticeship?

As I split my time across two teams I have found it a bit tricky getting used to the change in shift patterns.

> What would you say to someone that was considering doing a Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship?

I’d say Go for It! The marine industry has lots of opportunities for people who complete this apprenticeship and I’m really confident that I will have a future career within the industry.

Find out more about the Workboat Apprenticeship.

Recharge of Mersea Harbour completed

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

The beneficial placement project to recharge areas of Mersea Harbour, using dredged materials from Harwich Haven Authority’s £120 million channel deepening initiative, was completed on 16 January 2022.

Mersea’s Harbour has been under severe threat from the rise in sea levels and storm wave action.  It is protected by islands that have been washing away for many years due, increasingly so in recent years. The Save Mersea Harbour project, led by the Mersea Harbour Protection Trust, a group of local volunteers, began back in 2014. After 4 years effort to meet stringent marine, environmental, ecological and legal requirements they received approvals to place 98,000 m3 of dredged sand and gravel from Harwich Harbour to ‘recharge’ locations on Cobmarsh , Packing Marsh and Old Hall Point in Mersea Quarters as well as at Shinglehead Point at Tollesbury Wick.

The recharged materials will reinforce the islands to slow down the erosion ensuring the harbour can remain active and usable for many years to come. It will ensure that important wildlife sites and oyster beds are protected and waterfront properties and businesses will no longer come under threat from increasing storm wave action. Brushwood fencing has been installed at two locations to ensure no material can move into any navigable channels.

The recharge work was carried out on behalf of Harwich Harbour Authority by a joint venture between leading international marine contractors Boskalis Westminster and Van Oord.

Harwich Haven Authority, one of the UK’s largest trust ports, funded much of the recharge project, in excess of £1.2M. The Environment Agency contributed almost £300k towards the recharge costs as well as funding essential pre and post recharge monitoring, aspects of which are also being carried out by RSPB at no cost to the Trust.

It is hoped that the project will ensure that people are able to enjoy the wildlife, the beautiful creeks and all the activities that are based around them for the foreseeable future.

Harwich Haven Authority is inviting Tenders from interested parties to act as our Designated Person

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

The safety of the Haven is Harwich Haven Authority’s main objective and as the harbour authority we are required to comply with the Port Marine Safety Code, which includes appointing a Designated Person.

We therefore seek Tenders from organisations that can provide independent assurance about the operation of our Marine Safety Management System. The Designated Person will report, and have direct access to, the Harwich Haven Authority Board as acting Duty Holder.

Tender applications, or requests for further information, should be submitted to Mike Dunn, Harbour Master and Executive Member of the Harwich Haven Authority Board – [email protected] – by Monday 31 January 2022.

Beneficial placement project at Cobmarsh Island continues…

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

Work continues through the Christmas 2021 holiday season on the beneficial placement of dredged materials from our major channel deepening project at Harwich to Cobmarsh Island.

Members of the project group, led by the Mersea Harbour Protection Trust, were out this morning on Cobmarsh Island to review progress of the recharge. They were happy to report that the placement was going well and the dredged materials were of ‘good quality.’

The beneficial placement project to recharge areas around Mersea will continue throughout the first quarter of 2022.


Click on the images to enlarge. 

The trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Amalia arrives in Harwich

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

The trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Amalia has arrived in Harwich to begin dredging the main deep water channel.

PEC (Pilotage Exemption Certificate) training sessions and other briefings have been completed by our Deputy and Assistant Harbour Masters with the crew of Vox Amalia.

Click on the images to enlarge.

 

Beneficial disposal site moves to Wrabness

Posted on by Hannah Theobald

From around the 18 November 2021, for a period of about 3 days, the trailing suction hopper dredger Sospan Dau (IMO number: 7711062) will continue dredging in the main channel, but will move the disposal site from Mersea Harbour to the beneficial disposal scheme at Wrabness.

The dredging contractor is the Boskalis Westminster / Van Oord Joint Venture appointed by the Harwich Haven Authority to carry out the Harwich Haven Channel Deepening Project.

The dredge area is a section of the main channel known as area C2 covering the whole width of the main channel and running from about 250m east of the Platters / Pitching Ground buoys to about 1,000m west of the same buoys.

Dredged material will be disposed of at two separate locations at Wrabness to reinforce the eroding foreshore. The dredger will dispose only at high water and be positioned as close to the disposal area as possible (see attached sketch WR 001). Disposal will be carried out on each high water (weather permitting), day and night, by direct pumping of material over the bow of the dredger.

Mariners are requested to keep clear of the equipment and the site of the placement works.

The dredging is covered by the MMO licence held by Harwich Haven Authority: L/2020/00360/2.

The disposal of material at Wrabness is covered by MMO licence held by Balhaven Ltd: L/2020/00413/4.

Maintenance Dredging & Beneficial Placements

From around the 22 November 2021, for a period of about 3 days, the trailing suction hopper dredger Sospan Dau (IMO number: 7711062) will change dredging location and beneficial placement locations.  The beneficial placement locations are identified in the chart on the PDF version;

From around the 26 November 2021, for a period of about 20 days, the trailing suction hopper dredger Medway (IMO number: 9524152) will commence maintenance dredging within the haven.  It is expected that the Medway will use the Inner Gabbard disposal area.

From around the 22 November 2021 for a period of 25 days, the work boat Forth Drummer (IMO number: 9676917) will undertake plough dredging within the Harbour.

From around the 17 November 2021 for a period of 28 days, the survey vessel Porthos (11m LOA) will be surveying within the haven.

Mariners are requested to keep clear of the equipment and the site of the placement works.

 Detailed vessel movements can be obtained from Harwich VTS on VHF channel 71.