Corporate report

Lydney Harbour safety plan 2024 to 2027

Published 21 January 2025

Applies to England

1. Introduction

This Safety Plan outlines Lydney Harbour’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing safety standards. It emphasises 3 key objectives:

• achieving full compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) by March 2025
• implementing the necessary improvements to harbour infrastructure to meet and maintain PMSC compliance
• ensuring the harbour remains operational for at least 90% of the year, weather and sea conditions permitting (WSNP)

2. Safety management system

2.1 Risk assessment

• conduct comprehensive risk assessments of all harbour operations
• annually review and update risk assessment
• implement mitigation measures for identified risks

2.2 Standard operating procedures (SOPs)

• develop and maintain clear SOPs for all harbour activities
• ensure all staff are trained in and adhere to SOPs
• annually review and update procedures to align with PMSC requirements

2.3 Incident reporting and investigation

• implement a robust incident reporting system
• thoroughly investigate all incidents and near-misses
• use findings to improve safety measures and update SOPs

2.4 Review duties and powers

• as a statutory harbour area (SHA), the Environment Agency recognises its statutory duties and powers in relation to safe and efficient port marine operations and will subject them to annual review to ensure they are relevant and effective

3. PMSC compliance

• appoint and maintain a designated person to provide independent assurance on the marine safety management plan (MSMP)
• once complied, conduct regular internal audits to assess PMSC compliance
• engage external auditors to validate compliance efforts
• develop a detailed action plan to achieve full PMSC compliance by March 2025

4. Infrastructure improvements

4.1 Quayside maintenance

• upgrade and maintain quayside facilities to improve safety and efficiency in compliance with PMSC
• preventive maintenance plan for harbour infrastructure including lock gates, sea gates and tidal exclusion gates
• enhance lighting and signage where required

4.2 Dredging programme

• implement a regular dredging schedule to maintain safe water depths
• utilize modern surveying techniques to monitor sediment levels

5. Operational availability

5.1 Weather monitoring

• develop protocols for safe harbour operations under various weather conditions

5.2 Maintenance schedule

• implement a proactive maintenance programme to minimize downtime
• schedule major maintenance works during periods of typically lower activity

5.3 Contingency planning

• develop contingency plans for various scenarios that could impact harbour operations, carrying out exercises to practice our response
• ensure staff are trained in implementing contingency measures
• aim to maintain 90% operational availability (WSNP)

6. Training and competence

• provide regular training for all harbour staff
• ensure compliance with relevant qualifications and certifications
• conduct periodic competence assessments
• develop a training matrix aligned with PMSC requirements by March 2025

7. Communication and consultation

• establish communication channels with harbour users and stakeholders
• consult with the local community on harbour safety matters
• publish annual safety reports and performance against objectives

8. Continuous improvement

• regularly review and update the marine safety management system annually
• seek external audits and certifications to validate safety standards

9. Marine safety activities

Duty Holder Board to regularly meet to analyse, risk assess and discuss all safety factors across the Lydney Harbour. These include:

• regular bi-monthly duty holder board meetings
• the reporting and investigating of marine incidents and sharing of lessons learnt using the Environment Agency’s health, safety and wellbeing and Environmental reporting and learning tool – AIRSWEB / National Incident Recording System (NIRS)
• sharing of investigations and lessons learnt with all port users using harbour newsletter
• detailed marine/navigational risk assessments, maintaining a risk register for harbour
• regular, wide-ranging liaison meetings with stakeholders
• regular external safety/marine operation meeting/committees with industry bodies
• annual and 3-yearly PMSC compliance audit regime
• annual presentation to the duty holders by the designated person
• the maintenance and exercising of Lydney Harbour Emergency Plans and procedures
• comprehensive training and development plan for marine staff