Corporate report

Lydney Harbour Safety Plan Compliance Report 2025

Updated 15 January 2026

Applies to England

The Lydney Harbour Safety Plan 2024 to 2027 was published by the Environment Agency in January 2025 to outline our approach to maintaining and enhancing marine safety standards. In line with the Ports & Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC) requirements, we are committed to producing and publishing an annual compliance report.

This report demonstrates our performance against the objectives set out in the safety plan and provides transparency and assurance to stakeholders that safety obligations are being met.

This compliance report for 2025 provides an overview of Lydney Harbour’s performance against the objectives set out in the Lydney Harbour Safety Plan. It demonstrates our adherence to the Ports & Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC) and highlights key actions, achievements, and areas of continuous improvement undertaken during the year.

1. 2.Safety management system

1.1 2.1 Risk assessment

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

Compliance status

Fully complied with. All risk assessments reviewed and updated.

1.2 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

Compliance status

Fully complied with. SOPs are developed and maintained for all identified harbour activities. Harbour team trained for using SOPs. Annual review for procedures carried out.

1.3 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

Compliance status

There is an organisation-based incident reporting and investigation system in place, AIRSWEB. All incidences including near misses and events were properly reported and investigated. Results recorded & shared with wider teams.

1.4 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

Compliance status

The Environment Agency, as the statutory harbour authority, has reviewed its statutory duties and powers during 2025 to ensure they remain relevant and effective for safe and efficient port marine operations. A pursuit of a Harbour Revision Order is currently in effect to support future governance and operational improvements.

2. 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

2.1 Compliance status

A Designated Person (DP) has been appointed by the Environment Agency to provide independent assurance. Regular annual internal audits are conducted, with the most recent completed in March 2025.

An external compliance audit was carried out in August 2025, confirming that Lydney Harbour is fully compliant with the Ports & Marine Facilities Safety Code (PMSC). No non-conformities were identified, and only 13 observations were recorded. The declaration is formally submitted on 14 January 2026.

3. 4. Infrastructure improvements

3.1 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

Compliance status

Continuous efforts are underway to upgrade and maintain quayside facilities. A comprehensive maintenance program for lock gates and sea gates was successfully completed in December 2025. Harbour signage has been assessed and enhanced, and a plan to improve harbour lighting is currently under consideration.

3.2 4.2 Dredging programme

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

Compliance status

Maintenance dredging of the inner and outer basins was completed in March 2025, using water injection dredging method and the ploughing method recommended by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). A sampling schedule has been issued by the MMO, further silt sampling of inner basin to be conducted during first half of year 2026.

4. 5. Operational availability

4.1 5.1 Weather monitoring

• develop protocols for safe harbour operations under various weather conditions

Compliance status

Protocols for safe harbour operations under varying weather conditions have been developed and implemented in Marine Safety Management System (MSMS).

4.2 5.2 Maintenance schedule

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

Compliance status

Fully complaint.

4.3 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)

Compliance status

Fully complaint: a comprehensive contingency plans have been developed and exercised, staff are fully trained with ongoing training in place, and the harbour maintained 96% operational availability during 2025.

5. 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

5.1 Compliance status

A comprehensive training matrix was developed and incorporated into the Marine Safety Management System (MSMS) in the January 2025 edition. All harbour staff are fully qualified in accordance with the approved matrix, and ongoing training is being delivered as scheduled.

6. 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

6.1 Compliance status

A Harbour Advisory Group was established, holding its first session in May 2025 and the second in November 2025. Continuous engagement with all stakeholders and harbour user representatives has been maintained throughout the year.

An annual safety report will be published at the end of each year on the official website to ensure transparency and performance reporting.

7. 8. Continuous improvement

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

7.1 Compliance status

Internal and external audits have been completed as detailed above, and the Marine Safety Management System (MSMS) has been reviewed and updated. The current version, 1.6, was issued on 24 October 2025, ensuring alignment with PMSC requirements and best practices.

8. 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 and National Incident Recording System (NIRS)
• sharing of investigations and lessons learnt with all port users using harbour newsletter
• detailed marine and 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

8.1 Compliance status

Regular bi-monthly duty holder board meetings were held throughout 2025, ensuring oversight and governance. All marine incidents and near misses were reported and investigated using AIRSWEB and NIRS. Lessons learned shared with wider teams and harbour users. Comprehensive marine and navigational risk assessments were maintained, along with an up-to-date risk register.

Liaison meetings with stakeholders and participation in external safety and marine operations committees were conducted as planned. Annual internal and first of 3-yearly PMSC compliance audits were completed, and the designated person delivered the annual presentation to duty holders.

Lydney Harbour Emergency Plans were maintained and exercised, and a robust training and development plan for marine staff continued to be implemented.