PAPER B

FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE - 12 MAY 2003

MARINE SAFETY

HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

At the Select Committee’s development day it was agreed to include an item on marine safety following a press report indicating that the number of deaths in the Solent had risen to record levels in 2002.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

To assist efforts to reduce the number of incidents requiring the involvement of marine rescue organisations around the island’s coastline.

BACKGROUND

The Isle of Wight County Press, on 21 February 2003, carried a story relating to a report by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) which showed that the number of deaths in the Solent had risen from 28 in 2001 to 38 in 2002.

I have been in correspondence with Mr Bob Woodwark, District Controller for the MCA based at Lee On Solent, on this matter. He advises that whilst the numbers are record breaking these were across the whole area and not just in the Solent. The area covered by the Solent District stretches from the Hampshire/Dorset county boundary east to Beachy Head in East Sussex. It also goes south to mid channel encompassing the Island.

Of the 38 deaths, 13 occurred in the Solent itself. Of these only 6 could be connected to the Isle of Wight or its immediate waters. Details of the Solent District fatalities for 2002 are attached at Appendix 1.

Appendix 2 is a press release issued by BBC on the number of incidents in 2002. Nearly one fifth of the 1215 incidents were due to machinery failure. The Solent District is having a major push on this as part of its key target directed at Search and Rescue Prevention.

Representatives of various maritime organisations have been invited to attend the meeting to outline what can be done to promote a better awareness of safety issues affecting the use of the Island’s coast and surrounding waters.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

In the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan summary for 2001/02 it states that “the Council is involved in promoting and increasing safety and quality of life in numerous ways, many of them involving a wide range of partners across the public, voluntary and private sectors.”

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

None.

APPENDICES ATTACHED

Appendix 1 - Solent District Fatalities 2002

Appendix 2 - Solent Coastguard BBC News Press release.

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

Isle of Wight County Press 21 February 2003.

Letter from District Controller MCA dated 24 March 2003.

Contact Point : Paul Thistlewood, ☎ 823285 e-mail [email protected]

ALISTAIR DRAIN

Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support