Lymington River Association

LYMINGTON RIVER ASSOCIATION - MISSION STATEMENT
To ensure greater awareness of the Environmental and Safety impacts and Regulatory facts relating
to the proposed new much bigger ferries on the Lymington River. To encourage all interested parties,
whether leisure related river users, businesses or residents of the New Forest to become fully aware
of the issues affecting them and to make representations to the relevant Authorities.

FBMA Marine Inc. Announce Contract With Wightlink Limited For Two New Medium Speed Catamaran Ferries 04-Apr-2008 FBMA Marine Inc. (FBMA), the Aboitiz-owned shipbuilder based in Cebu, Philippines has signed a new building contract with Wightlink, Portsmouth UK. The order is to design and build two new 41m medium speed passenger catamarans, for use on the Portsmouth - Ryde crossing. This success builds on FBMA Marine Inc.'s new building contract for a 70m Ropax ferry for Scotland, UK, and a 57m high speed catamaran ferry for New Caledonia. The order for FBMA project 1026 and 1027, was awarded following an international tender and the two vessels, due for delivery in summer 2009, will provide replacements for two existing high speed catamaran vessels. The new catamarans, designed by BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, have been configured to optimise both seakeeping and fuel efficiency on the very busy Portsmouth - Ryde commuter route. The vessels have a single accommodation deck with 260 seats and double width boarding access doors, to enable rapid embarkation and disembarkation. Additional features include the incorporation of a dedicated stowage for bicycles and an external seating area. Craig Patrick of FBMA Marine Inc. commented: "This order has been won by FBMA Marine on the knowledge and experience gained from a growing portfolio of successful high speed catamaran projects. This project was secured against strong competition from traditional catamaran builders, and we are proud to have won this order based on both our cost effectiveness and technical ability to meet stringent MCA and EU regulations. We are also very pleased to be working with BMT Nigel Gee and look forward to our continuing successful association, drawing on our considerable experience of building high speed aluminium vessels here in Cebu. We are also delighted at the repeat business from Wightlink, their existing fast passenger catamarans were refitted with us in FBMA Marine prior to delivery in 1997. Principal particulars: Length overall : 40.90 m Length waterline : 38.60 m Beam overall : 12.00 m Draft : 1.60 m Passengers : 260 Bicycles : 20 Speed : 20 knots at 85% MCR UK Flagged - HSC 2000 Cat A For More information contact: Craig Patrick FBMA Marine www.fbma.com.ph craigp@fbma.com.ph +44 2380 510105

WIGHTLINK BEGIN SERVICE WITH TWO NEW BIGGER FERRIES - HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS CONDEMN THIS PREMATURE ACTION
press release (amended)

Lymington Harbour Commissioners

New Ferries River Trials Information Update to Stakeholders – No. 4

Wightlink have defied the will of all the regulators in deciding to introduce their new ferries before the necessary safety trials are complete and the environmental concerns have been resolved.

They have taken this action despite repeated requests from the LHC and their previous undertaking not to do so. They claim that they are justified because of the needs of the Isle of Wight, but the real problem that has lead to this situation is Wightlink’s determination to design and build ferries in advance of meaningful consultations with all the regulators. As a result, all subsequent consultations have taken place against the commercial necessity on the part of Wightlink to introduce ferries that had already been paid for.

We have once again requested Wightlink to desist from this action, and are contacting all the relevant Government Departments for support in preventing it. However, if Wightlink go ahead without completion and acceptance of the risk assessment we will be providing whatever harbour patrols are appropriate to help safe guard other river users. These actions will be taken by the Commissioners in order to minimise any threat to the safety of other river users but without condoning the introduction of the new ferries. It has been confirmed to us by Government that as presently constituted, the Commissioner’s do not have the power to prevent the new ferries sailing.

We expect the full BMT report to be available by 5 March and it will be circulated to stake holders for consultation as soon as possible.

In this fast developing situation, we will keep you all informed as they occur.

Peter Griffiths – Chairman LHC

NEW FERRIES

River Trials Information Update to Stakeholders - No5

There have been a number of developments since 24 February. The Harbour Commissioners have renewed their request to Wightlink to refrain from operating the new ferries until the environmental concerns have been resolved. Whilst they have ignored this request, Wightlink have confirmed that they are operating within the requirements for safe operation that LHC have laid down following the latest recommendations of our risk assessment consultants BMT Seatech. Our own observations confirm that this is the case.

The draft Phase 2 report from BMT Seatech has been distributed to the stake holders for consultation. This will be followed at the end of this week by an addendum to include the results of the final strong wind trials that were carried out last Tuesday (3/3/09).

The aim is to complete the consultation process and publish the report by the end of April.

At the beginning of this process the Commissioners were clear that once we had definitive advice that we may need powers to regulate for environmental concerns, we would take the necessary steps to acquire them. Now that we have received Natural England’s advice, the Commissioners have resolved to seek a Harbour Revision Order that will enable us to make general directions with regard to environmental matters both in response to this current advice and any future situations that may demand such action.

Peter Griffiths – Chairman LHC

11/03/2009

A present to Lymington from Wightlink : By dead of night the new ferry 'Wight Light' crept into Lymington, causing some consternation to those who opened their curtains to find it blocking their view of the Isle-of-Wight. But they will have to get used to it - now there are two and soon there will be three !