On constant watch
Captain Mike Pryce
Many of us have a childhood vision of the man who lived in a lighthouse, keeping boats safe on stormy nights. But who makes sure our rocky shores are safe in this hi-tech age? That's where Greater Wellington's Harbours team comes in.
With the 2008-09 summer season now behind them, the Harbours team has reason to be satisfied. There was a welcome absence of boating fatalities or serious accidents in a season that has seen, nationally, a larger than usual number of fatalities, accidents and near misses.
But "nothing" doesn't just happen. "We have to work at ensuring that activities on the water - from shipping to recreation - are safe for everyone, and that our rules and regulations are effective," says Regional Harbourmaster, Captain Mike Pryce.
In fact, ensuring navigational safety for all our harbour and coastline users means the Harbours team is on constant watch. It's a big task for the team, working in a region whose waters extend from the Otaki River in the west to the Mataikona River north of Castlepoint in the east, and include both Porirua and Wellington harbours.
Harbours is in charge of:
- Maintaining the main navigation lights in Wellington Harbour (many are solar powered) and smaller navigation aids throughout the region
- Mooring areas for boats
- Protecting the marine environment and responding to oil pollution
- Helping to prevent accidents by educating the public
- Operating the Beacon Hill Communications Station
- Working with CentrePort to operate a safe commercial port
- Making sure commercial ships follow
- Regulations
The shipping news
"Harbours never sleep," says Captain Mike Pryce. And indeed the Beacon Hill Communications Station operates 24 hours a day, every day, throughout the year. At 131 metres above the entrance of Wellington Harbour, and staffed by a roster of six dedicated people, it's the "eyes and ears" of the Harbourmaster.
Beacon Hill is the first and last point of contact for ships arriving and departing the harbour. Its tracking systems record and monitor ship movements inside the harbour day and night. Once contact with a ship is made, Beacon Hill transmits information on shipping movements, weather conditions and any navigation warnings. The station also works closely with CentrePort to organise berths, pilots, tugs and other services.
Check out Beacon Hill's webcam for weather and shipping during daylight hours: www.gw.govt.nz/beaconhill
Pollution response
What happens to old, abandoned boats? The Harbours team makes sure our harbours and coastline are protected from major pollution by removing rusting harbour hulks (abandoned ships), cars, large logs, drums or other large floating objects that may present a hazard to vessels. It also responds to oil spills.
The team has removed three hulks over the past two years that were a pollution risk and hazard to navigational safety. It's also assisting to move a fourth hulk from Wellington Harbour for scuttling (sinking) as a dive site. "It's quite a process but essential to reducing the likelihood of any environmental damage to the harbour," says Captain Mike Pryce.
Check out a video or the Harbours team sinking two trawlers in Cook Strait: www.gw.govt.nz/harbours
Wear your lifejacket
Changes to safety bylaws mean it's compulsory to use lifejackets in boats and other vessels less than six metres long, unless the skipper consider sit safe not to wear one. Another change to the bylaws requires all vessels to carry a device to attract attention - such as a whistle for kayakers close to shore or a distress radio beacon for boats heading out to Cook Strait or beyond.
Find out about other safety bylaws changes: www.gw.govt.nz/harbours
Planning an event on the water?
The Harbours team helps organisations plan events on the water. It does this by advising on safety requirements, ensuring the safety of other water users, and also other safety precautions, such as checking the weather and shipping movements during the event.
If you'd like to run an event on the water, contact Harbours during office hours on 04 381 7760 or harbours@gw.govt.nz
Bright light
Regular seafarers passing near Wellington's Pencarrow Coast may have noticed the Pencarrow lighthouse at sea level looking considerably brighter. That's because it got a spruce-up late last year - its first repaint in 15 years. Get a closer look by walking or biking from Burdans Gate in Eastbourne to the lighthouse.