ISSUE:Low Tides at NKIEEC and Operations of Gundoo Spirit

Proposed Guidelines – feedback can be returned to Lee by Friday 18t April. Short term action may be taken and a trial decision based upon feedback will be actioned from Wednesday 23rd April.

Identified through separate issues of staff runs and visiting groups.

With visiting groups accessing NKIEEC:

Option 1:

Planned trips to arrive and depart NKI with tides above 1metre.

Benefits:

  • This hopefully aids in ease of access in terms of groups unloading, loading and boarding etc.
  • Boating operations – minimise risk of damage to vessel. For example, sand in water intake and possible prop damage.
  • Hopefully it gives some “space” for Gundoos operations on dropping tides while loading gear so it does not bottom out.
  • Ideally it creates a situation where it limits how wet visitors get.
  • Concerns with female participants getting wet.

Option 2:

Groups come in at any tide and if low (below 1 m) a ferry or swim / wade is done and gear is ferried or left on vessel / picked up early.

Possible ramifications:

Group departures that coincide withstaff boat times where tides are low at 8 or 4 etc. For example this may occur with local groups. This may result in local groups waiting a couple of hours on low tides to come out to NKIEEC and could result in two boat runs when one run could have occurred.

Benefits:

  • Groups arrive earlier
  • Minimise the need for extra runs
  • Load gear on higher tide and wade out.
  • Groups to change on boat or at marina.

Please add constructive comments or additional information or other solutions and preferred option:

Staff Trips

In order to support and minimise staff getting wet there are the following options:

Option 1:

Get wet and come prepared to get wet.

Issues: This is currently what is happening. Is this part of the nature of our workplace and something that we need to accept? Some staff have voiced that perhaps it is not acceptable. For example on Friday this week, Monday and Tuesday next week the tide will be 1m or lower and staff will currently be getting wet.

Possible solution - Staff with concerns bring a change of clothes and keep on vessel and get changed on board.

Option 2:

Plan boat trips earlier or later depending upon tide time. There is currently a requirement for boat departures at 8.00am or 8.30am and return trips at 4.00 or 2.00. Do we want earlier or later arrivals or departures in order to stay dry? This I foresee will get complex.

Option 3:

Use hotdog and ferry.

Issues:Time involved and risks when there is a swell. I think there has been an incident on NKI boarding hotdog in rough weather.

Option 4:

Staff concerned with getting wet use waders.

Issues: How many? Size? Time to put on. Risks when there are a swell.

Please add constructive comments or additional information or other solutions and preferred option:

Thankyou. We need remember and be aware that changing conditions will always mean that we need to be flexible, even with the best planning things change. This will mean that even planning for a 1 metre tide may mean people still get wet.

I hope this is seen as a constructive and participatory approach in a harmonious way. Please feel free to discuss with me if you prefer.