Queens Harbour Master
Someone who has a vast knowledge of Portsmouth Harbour and the surrounding water is The Queen's Harbour Master (QHM), Peter Chapman Andrews. As the Harbour Authority for Portsmouth Harbour and the Eastern Solent, the Queen's Harbour Master and is staff of 28, carry out a significant number of duties each year to ensure that the 156,000 yearly shipping movements under their control each year, are safely carried out and with minimum impact to the surrounding area.
Workboat and pilot boats under Semaphore Tower
Copyright QHM Portsmouth
Using powers granted by Act of Parliament, some of the Queen's Harbour Master's duties include:
- The safety of navigation anywhere in the Harbour and in the area of the Solent between Portsmouth Harbour and the Isle of Wight and the approaches to Southampton. With regard to safety in the Solent, the number of incidents take take place are well below the national and international averages, despite the number of craft using the confined waters.
- The QHM plays an important role in finding the right balance between the needs of the many users of the Solent. Wherever possible, he tries to ensure that any conflict between competing parties is kept to a minimum. Portsmouth naval base is home to almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy's surface ships, as well as three aircraft carriers, and two mine countermeasure squadrons. Also calling Portsmouth their home, are Type 42 destroyer and Type 23 frigate squadrons, fishery protection and P2000 units, the assault ship, HMS Fearless and of course, HMS Endurance. Portsmouth will also be the home to the Royal Navy's new carrier fleet, each of which is expected to exceed 50,000 tonnes and is more than twice the size of the current carrieres. This difficult management role is successfully achieved in Portsmouth through ongoing consultations with all the users of the area.
- The marine and coastal
resources of the Solent are of great importance,
locally and internationally, as they include some
stretches of natural underdeveloped coast and examples
of natural graduations from maritime (water) to
coastal (land) and marine habitats themselves. The QHM
is committed to protecting this fragile environment.
Working closely with local authorities, organisations,
associations and agencies, the QHM works hard to
minimise all possible impacts of operations under his
control on natural wildlife habitats and landscapes. A
possible danger in any busy harbour is oil pollution
and part of Portsmouth's "frontline" response team to
any emergency in the local marine environment is the
QHM. Working alongside the emergency services, the
Royal Navy and local Authorities, the QHM ensures that
all emergency planning is carried out immediately and
effectively.
Photo courtesy of UK
Perspectives: info@ukperspectives.com
The challenges of running a Harbour as busy and complex as Portsmouth are immense, but again partnerships are the key here and The QHM is part of The Solent Forum, a voluntary organisation dedicated to the planning and management of the Solent area. Established in 1992, The Solent Forum works with its members to develop an understanding of the natural, recreational and commercial pressures that the Solent is facing, as well as develop a sustainable future.
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