Underwater pipeline begins routing gas to Isle of Wight - 23/3/12
The £20m, 3.8km pipe runs from Lepe in the New Forest to Gurnard, near Cowes, up to 30m beneath the Solent seabed. It replaces three old lines from the mainland to the island installed in the 1960s. The pipeline's construction by Southern Gas Networks (SGN), which began 18 months ago, is believed to be the longest drill of its kind.
The pipe, which will serve about 56,000 people on the island, was put in place using two separate tunnels drilled underneath the seabed from both sides of the water. Once the drill heads met in the middle the new gas mains were pulled through and the supply connected.
The firm is now waiting for official recognition from the Guinness Book of Records for the longest directional drill of its kind.
Posted 23/03/2012 14:17
Southampton's Titanic themed exhibition opens - 19/3/12
An exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster has opened at Southampton City Art Gallery. More than 300 pieces of artwork were submitted by residents from Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Dorset to a competition held on the theme.
Posted 19/03/2012 09:14
Coastal and Marine Consents Guide Edition 4 - 14/3/12
The Solent Forum has published the fourth edition of its popular Coastal and Marine Consents Guide. Targeted at marine businesses around the Solent, the Guide explains what consents are needed to undertake works and development around the coast.
The new edition of this Guide comes at an important time when there have been many changes to consenting processes due to the introduction of the Marine and Coastal Access Act, 2009 and the establishment of the Marine Management Organisation.
The online Guide has seven sections.
1. A works and development matrix to identify what consents a development or works may require.
2. A detailed section on consents to see how to apply for the consent and the factors to consider when applying.
3. Assessment pages to identify what assessments may be required to support an application.
4. A section on site designations and what these mean for the gaining of consents.
5. Pages on marine and land use planning to see how plan policies influence development or works.
6. An additional considerations section that illustrates what other factors should be taken into account when planning works or development.
7. A consents directory to find contact addresses and other sources of useful information.
The Guide has been sponsored by the Crown Estate’s Marine Communities Fund.
It can be freely viewed online at: http://www.solentforum.org/publications/coastal_consents_guide/Edition_4/.
Posted 16/03/2012 14:09
Who Went Boating in 2011? - 15/3/12
The 10th Watersports and Leisure Participation report from the British Marine Federation is now available to download for free – find out who went boating by boat type, demographics, frequency and location and what boats are owned in the UK.
This survey of 12,000 adults has been tracking trends in boating for a decade to give BMF members and the industry invaluable information about their market. In the current survey, we also ask about water-based activities such as angling and sub-aqua diving.
Download at http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/publications.aspx?category=StatisticsandMarketResearch.
Posted 16/03/2012 11:43
Extended transition period for low risk dredging activities - 12/3/12
The UK Government has decided to extend the current one year transition period for low risk maintenance dredging activities for a further two years in respect of English waters.
Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Transitional Provisions) Order 2012, which comes into force on 6 April 2012, the transitional period has been extended for two further years until 6 April 2014. Those dredging operations that will require a licence under the order are those:
* Likely to have a significant effect on a European marine site.
* Likely to adversely affect the ecological status of a water body under the Water Framework Directive.
* Be carried out as part of a project which requires assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.
Visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/protect/licensing/ for more information.
Posted 13/03/2012 09:39
HMS Victory Preservation Trust - 6/3/12
The HMS Victory Preservation Trust has been set up by the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), the new custodian of the vessel. The MoD said it would match a £25m capital grant pledged from another charity to support the new trust.
The NMRN is the sole trustee of the Royal Naval Museum which, along with the ship, is based at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
HMS Victory is the flagship of the Second Sea Lord and Commander in Chief Naval Home Command. The new arrangement means the ship's custodians will be able to apply for grants to help with its upkeep.
Work by BAE Systems Surface Ships to restore the ship under a £16m, five-year contract will continue under the responsibility of the new trust.
Posted 07/03/2012 10:09
Nuclear submarine HMS Tireless visits Southampton - 1/3/12
The navy's nuclear submarine HMS Tireless has arrived in Southampton. The Devon-based submarine, one of six serving Trafalgar-class vessels, is making a five-day official visit to the city. Dozens of sea cadets, scouts and other youngsters are expected to tour the vessel and meet its crew.
Posted 02/03/2012 10:56
Shipwreck film nominated for archaeology ‘Oscar’ - 21/2/12
A film about the shipwrecks in the Solent has been short-listed for an award at The Archaeology Channel’s International Film and Video Festival in Oregon, America.
‘Shipwrecks of the Western Solent’ is a 28 minute film investigating five different shipwrecks in a busy shipping lane in southern England; the Ceres, Fenna, SS War Knight, SS Serrana and MV Margaret Smith. The film was made by award-winning underwater cameraman Michael Pitts in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority for the New Forest Coastal Heritage project.
Posted 21/02/2012 13:55
Drilling rig dredges Portsmouth for aircraft carriers - 9/2/12
A large drilling rig is expected to arrive in Portsmouth soon as part of preparations for the navy's new 65,000-tonne aircraft carriers. Major dredging of the harbour is needed to accommodate the ships HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to enter service around 2020 with HMS Prince of Wales kept in reserve.
The rig, called Deep River, will drill 27 bore holes to a depth of 32m (104ft) with dredging set to start in 2014/15. The drilling rig will operate 24 hours a day and will be brightly lit.
It will need to drill five holes in the harbour which is likely to cause disruption, with 50 residents in Spice Island informed of the likely impact.
Posted 10/02/2012 14:07
Grant for marine education scheme on the South coast - 9/2/12
Two wildlife trusts on the South coast have been awarded a grant of £412,400 to educate the public about the diversity of natural marine habitats. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Sussex Wildlife Trust were given the money by the Heritage Lottery Fund for a three year project.
Making Waves will feature events, practical workshops and road shows. The scheme was devised in response to a survey by Natural England in 2007 which found more than 44% of respondents thought the sea was generally barren in their region.
Posted 10/02/2012 13:40
