On Friday 25th June 2021 between 11.15 hours and 12.15 hours a vessel collided with the Cross Boom navigation beacon on the port side of the channel near the harbour entrance. Ferry CCTV footage has helped to narrow down the time the incident occurred.
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The collision snapped the post at seabed level below the waterline and there is impact damage above the waterline together with blue paint, believed to be antifoul. From the angle of the post and the location of the damage, it is likely that the collision involved an outbound vessel. The post has been removed and a temporary port navigation buoy has replaced it – see Local Notice to Mariners No 9/2021.
The collision, which is likely to have caused significant damage to the vessel, has not been reported, in contravention of the Harbour General Directions. The fact that the incident has gone unreported also means that LHC cannot make a claim against the vessel owner for a replacement post which is likely to cost in the region of £10k to replace.
We know that this was a busy time in the river and someone may have seen the incident. If so, I would be grateful if you can please contact the Harbour Office on 01590 672014.
Ryan Willegers
Harbour Master
