Latest Caernarfon Bar Buoy Chart June 2020
The Caernarfon Harbour Master has issued the latest chart of the bar buoy positions, both colour and black & white versions are available.
Conwy Notice to Mariners 05/2020
Mariners are advised that from 00:01 on Monday 1st June 2020, recreational boat owners are permitted to use their boats within Conwy Harbour for recreational purposes, as part of their local daily exercise and recreation away from their homes, but not for overnight accommodation. Mariners must follow Welsh Government Guidelines and only be accompanied by persons permanently residing at the same address or, where the vessel is of a sufficient size and design to maintain social distancing, with persons from a different household subject to the current regulations. The rules regarding ‘Staying Local’ apply and as such Mariners must consider the amended regulations when deciding to travel to their vessels.
Mariners based within Conwy and Deganwy Marinas should consult with their berth provider regarding the level of access to their vessels currently permitted and comply with any instructions to ensure the safety of Staff and other users.
Mariners are reminded of the following requirement regarding travel as announced by Welsh Government on Friday 28th May:
To allow more outdoor activity we are also amending the requirement to ‘stay at home’ to one to ‘stay local’. This means that as long as you are within your local geographical area and are outside, you will no longer be subject to the numerous restrictions that apply today.
The same restrictions as now will apply when a person wants to travel outside their local area. We will provide guidance to help people to understand how to interpret ‘local’ in this context, using five miles as a guide but recognising this is a flexible concept which can vary depending on people’s circumstances.
Many vessels within the Harbour will not have been used for a considerable time. In order to minimise the need for the emergency services to be mobilised, potentially placing them and you at risk, the following conditions should apply:
- The latest weather forecast should be obtained and vessels are to be checked and inspected thoroughly before leaving the berth. This should include ensuring that all boat systems and engines are operating correctly and all equipment is in date and operating as it should.
- Lifejackets or buoyancy aids should be worn by all on-board for your own safety.
- Mariners are urged to exercise good seamanship, courtesy, patience and common sense as they begin to move around the Harbour.
- The skipper and crew of all vessels are required to follow government guidance in relation to Covid-19 to protect themselves and others they may come into contact with.
Please note that the advice contained here is very new and Conwy Harbour Authority and other marine businesses, Marinas and Clubs around the Harbour will need to adjust their routines and ensure that the risk from infection of Covid-19 can be reduced by adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Please be considerate and allow staff time to assess the level of service they are able to provide. This is for your safety and that of the emergency services and the NHS.
Conwy Harbour Authority will continue to review the situation and any new Welsh Government guidance. We appreciate your continued support in maintaining safe and efficient Harbour operations whilst being able to enjoy the benefits of getting afloat.
Matthew Forbes
MSc LLB (hons) BSc MNI
Conwy Harbour Master
Launch Operations Re-Commence
In line with the latest announcements from the Welsh Government, the launch will be running for passenger service again from 1st June, with the following restrictions in force:
- Only one “Household” may be taken on the launch at any one time. This can be any number from a single household living together.
- Social distancing must be adhered to, keeping a 2m gap between the launch operator and the passengers.
- Nobody exhibiting COVID symptoms will be permitted to board.
- Surfaces on the launch will be disinfected after every passenger trip.
- Hand sanitiser will be provided for passenger use on board.
- Pre-bookings by phone only. The launch operators will NOT be taking bookings by VHF.
- ONLY LOCAL BOAT OWNERS PERMITTED. If visiting your boat, you must live within 5 miles of Conwy to conform to the Government restrictions.
Please be sensible and courteous when using the launch, take personal precautions to avoid infection and be patient – because the launch can only take one household at a time, you may not be able to get a pick-up at exactly the time you request.
I hope you all stay safe and well.
Austin Goudge
NWCC Commodore
Caernarfon Notice to Mariners 11/2020
Pont Yr Aber – Aber Swing Bridge
Proposal to instigate temporary change to current operational procedures at the Aber Swing Bridge dated 08/04/20.
The bridge will be open to pedestrians, closed to river traffic from 07:00 until 23:00 every day until further notice.
In the event the bridge requires opening to river traffic – currently only four commercial vessels are authorised to leave the river Seiont, namely:
- SEIONT IV (YHCHT)
- Y FORYD (YHCHT)
- VALHALLA (MFV)
- GIRL HELEN (MFV)
For vessel arriving by sea other than the above vessels and requiring safe haven Please make contact through the numbers below.
We have three trained members of the Gwynedd Bridge operating team available to respond to requests to open the bridge – please provide a minimum half hour notice, more wherever possible.
- William Derek Jones on 01286 676689 or 07836360616
- Eryl Bryn Davies on 07747013477
- Dafydd Roberts on 01286 831521 or 07903586937
In the very unlikely scenario a response has not been received from the above, please contact Gerallt Hughes on 07970975519 who can contact and mobilise maintenance engineers to attend to open the bridge.
David John O’Neill
Harbwr Feistr
Caernarfon Harbour Master
Caernarfon Notice to Mariners 10/2020
Aid to Navigation Starboard C1 Fl.G.5s is now on its new appropriate station.
53ᵒ07.212′ N 004ᵒ24.491′ W
Mariners are advised that this notice hereby replaces Notice 04/2020.
David John O’Neill
Harbwr Feistr
Caernarfon Harbour Master
Caernarfon Notice to Mariners 09/2020
Aid to Navigation Port C2 Fl.R.10s is now on its new appropriate station.
53ᵒ07.301′ N 004ᵒ24.512′ W
Mariners are advised that this notice hereby replaces Notice 05/2020.
David John O’Neill
Harbwr Feistr
Caernarfon Harbour Master
Important Coronavirus Update
Dear All,
Due to the need to protect you our members and our steward Elaine, and in line with the recent escalation in the lock-down directive from the Government, we need to take the unfortunate and unprecedented step of closing the Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse will therefore be completely closed from 12:00 on Sunday 5th April.
We’re keeping a close watch on the situation and will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. For the moment we strongly advise you to follow Government advice and stay at home. Your boats are being well looked after by the Marinas and Harbour Master.
We are obviously suffering as a Club in these difficult circumstances with continuing costs but a significant loss of income, and we fully understand that some of you will be suffering personally too. We are investigating all possible avenues of funding, including the UK and Welsh Government and Sport Wales initiatives.
We really appreciate all the support and understanding we are hearing from you and ask that you brave it out with us and continue to support your Club through this very tough situation.
I hope you all stay safe and well.
Best wishes,
Austin.
Commodore, NWCC
Conwy Notice to Mariners – COVID-19
Please be advised that harbour staff are carrying out twice weekly checks of all vessels moored, berthed, beached and laid-up ashore at Conwy Harbour. In the event of finding frayed mooring strops or mooring lines, harbour staff will replace lines with ‘sea steel’ line free of charge and notify owners directly. If owners have spare lines on board these will be deployed after discussion.
If a vessel appears that its bilges requiring pumping out, staff will contact owners for permission to gain entry to pump the bilges using our pumps. Our emergency response protocols remain in place i.e. we will act immediately if a vessel is in imminent danger.
The harbour is staffed Monday to Friday, although the office is closed to the public and therefore the office phone will only be answered if staff are in attendance inside the office. The Duty Harbour Master can be reached on 07733012568. We ask that the number is only called outside of normal working hours in an emergency please. All staff are responding to email requests as normal and this is the best method to raise any queries or concerns.
Essential maintenance continues, such as dredging and servicing of moorings. The harbour will remain fully operational and ready for use as soon as the restrictions on movement are lifted. We look forward to welcoming everyone back.
Best regards
Matthew Forbes
MSc LLB (hons) BSc MNI
Conwy Harbour Master
Caernarfon Notice to Mariners – COVID-19
Dear Harbour Users.
Given the developing national situation and following the Prime Ministers announcement on the 23/3/20.
As the movement surrounding pleasure vessels would be designated as non-essential. Ymddiriedolaeth Harbwr Caernarfon Harbour Trust (YHCHT) are now putting the prime Ministers mandate into action. Access to all Moorings and Berths within the Harbour limits is now prohibited. Access points have been locked, and will remain locked until further notice.
The Yacht compound will also be locked accordingly.
The Harbour team will remain available, but of course, will not be available to members of the public or Harbour users to contact. We will, whilst possible or permitted undertake regular inspections and of course endeavour to safeguard what we can.
The Dock Masters office will not be manned until further notice.
To date the Harbour Office will be manned and routine enquirers can still made through the usual telephone number and email addresses.
In Emergencies the first contact should be made directly to 07483 072850.
I appreciate that this will be a difficult task to administer. However we are committed to doing our part in the preservation of life and respectfully request that we all do the same by limiting our movements to essential only.
With the new season just about to start I am sure there will be a lot of difficult thoughts regarding the future use of your pride and joys. There will be more updates as things develop, now is a time of pulling together in a unified approach to tackle this threat.
Difficult decisions and difficult measures are nationally required to protect lives. When our own life, the life of our friends, family and colleges are on one end of the balance these decision become much easier to make.
Stay safe
David John O’Neill
Harbour Master Caernarfon.
Conwy Notice to Mariners 04/2020
All mariners are advised that Local Notice to Mariners 03/2020 is hereby cancelled.
The vessel “Taurus” is now back on its mooring
Matthew Forbes
MSc LLB (hons) BSc MNI
Conwy Harbour Master