Yachting and Boating World forums: Reply from Barrage Control re Queuing

Start at the end!

>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barrage Control Room [mailto:BarrageControlRoom@cardiff.gov.uk]
> Sent: 16 May 2008 12:25
> To: Iain Sneddon
> Cc: Williams, Clive
> Subject: RE: Lock procedure
>
> Dear Iain
>
> Thank you for your email, we are sorry your experience in using the
> Barrage locks was not as we would have wished. Unfortunately queue
> jumping does occasionally occur; we are investigating the incident you
> describe through our CCTV footage and we shall report any vessel that
> navigated without due care and diligence and report this to the Harbour
> Master for appropriate action.
>
> To help with understanding as to how we manage the locks and why we do
> not as a rule allocate specific spaces to vessels the below description
> on day to day locking may help.
>
>
> We allocate lock numbers to vessels as they call up and enter these onto
> a date base held within Barrage Control. These allocations can change
> due to subsequent vessels calling, vessels not arriving in the order in
> which they call or vessels not moving up and using available space. All
> vessels dimensions (beam, length, draft) have to be taken into
> consideration and the correct lock allocated to them.
>
> Our locking procedure is for 2 outbound lock times and 2 inbound lock
> times per hour. During busy periods such as weekends and Bank holidays
> (such as your visit) we try to turn the locks around as quickly as
> possible to avoid delays; which does mean that dependant on tide we can
> fit in a greater number of locks. This is particularly noticeable if we
> have large tidal range to deal with.
>
> If we were to stick to loading locks in the order to which they were
> booked or have a formal booking system, we would lose the flexibility
> of making use of the available space by squeezing small boats in
> alongside larger ones etc. We would also lose the ability to turn more
> locks around during busy periods.
>
> Other issues are with vessels that have had a lock allocated that do not
> turn up (a common problem when we had a booking system in place), with
> vessels that are un-contactable, and vessels arriving early which cause
> obstruction. So we have found from experience that it is more flexible
> and safer to load the locks as and when the boats arrive on station.
> This reduces queuing keeps the lock approaches clear and keeps lock
> delays to a minimum.
>
> We hope that this experience did not spoil your visit to Cardiff to much
> and that you managed to make the most of the good weather. It was one of
> our busiest weekends with our highest recorded boat movements through
> the locks (1210 over the two days)
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Mark Cranmore
> Lock Manager
> Cardiff Barrage Control
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Iain Sneddon [mailto:ISneddon@clevelandcable.com]
> Sent: 13 May 2008 15:00
> To: Barrage Control Room
> Subject: Lock procedure
>
> Good Afternoon
>
> I thought I would bring to your attention the comments of a friend, who
> was on his first trip to Cardiff by sea at the weekend, in company with
> and following us.
> He was amazed, and I was a little perturbed, by the free for all
> scramble to enter the lock both on Saturday (inbound) and Sunday
> (outbound).
> While waiting to lock in we were "pushed" out of the way (not literally)
> by one of the yellow ribs that ply their trade in and around the bay, he
> obviously was not willing to wait his turn.
> Although we had booked an outbound lock on Sunday, we were again pushed
> out of the way by more than one sailing vessel, one of whom subsequently
> had to reverse out of the lock he had barged his way into as there was
> no room for him.
> I really think a more formal system of queuing should be introduced and
> enforced by barrage control in order to prevent collision, frayed nerves
> and quite possibly "lock rage!"
>
> Yours, with safety and good seamanship in mind
>
> Iain
> "Bush Baby"

--------------------
"See the rainbow not the rain"

Edited by Sneddon (18/06/2008 07:26)