SEA SAFETY & PORT OPERATIONS

Approximately forty people (myself included) turned up at the Tees & Hartlepool Yacht Club on 25^th March for a talk and demonstration on Safety at Sea and a very interesting and informative talk from Captain Drewitt Harbour Master on Port Operations.

The first presentation from the RNLI on safety at sea was both informative and humorous; it also gave anyone that hadn’t set off a flare the chance to do so.  I had let a smoke flare off before but not a parachute flare, better to do it in a controlled environment than in a panic situation!  The sky was lit up with both white and green parachute flares, and yes there is a bit of a recoil so it must be held firmly in both hands, that was another first and I only hope that I don’t ever have to use one in anger. (Have you seen the price of flares lately?) only joking, but if I have to at least I won’t have to fumble about reading instructions etc which could save valuable minutes.

We returned to the warmth of the club and our pints of course, ready for the presentation by Captain Drewitt (Harbour Master) on port operations in the Tees. This proved to be a very interesting and informative talk filled with anecdotes. It surprised me the involvement of the work and the planning that has to take place to berth these leviathans that run up the Tees channel whilst slow yachts try to cross the channel in front of them, probably screaming “steam gives way to sail!”

All in all it was a very pleasant evening and I’m sure that all those who attended left with more knowledge than they came in with, I know I did. Keep an eye on the notice boards for the next presentation, well worth the time to go along, there was also a selection of sandwiches, and yes there was no charge! It was FREE! ! !