Know Your Neighbours: Issue 2

The British boating community is something we should all be proud of.Here at Aquacote we celebrate the idiosyncratic nature of our harbours and marinas.

In this issue of ‘Know Your Neighbours’, we focus on two very different marinas that have both achieved an incredible 5 Gold Anchor rating.

Waveney River Centre 

This 150-berth marina is particularly interesting due to its location on the Norfolk Broads. Its 3 separate marinas basins are all part of the largely River Centre establishment, which includes hospitality for park holidaymakers. Arguably, being part of a complex could take away from the authentic community boating spirit, though the facilities provided by the Centre benefit mariners with resources that would be otherwise difficult to come by considering its location.

As well as boasting a 2,500 ft² boat-building and service centre, the marina complex was awarded the PBO Green Award in 2010, and the park won the David Bellamy Conservation Award in 2012/13. If that wasn’t enough, you can even watch the marina live via Waveney’s ‘Eddiecam’, at http://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/eddiecam. They really have though of it all!

Lowestoft Haven Marina

Lowestoft has a more conventional setup in the form ofits coastal marina, as well as an extension about 2 miles inland. The Haven Marina holds upwards of 150 berths, and as members of Trans Europe Marinas, berth-holders enjoy reciprocal visitor discounts when visiting another member marina.

The harbour site offers all expected facilities including a chandlery, and waste facilities following the Maritime & Coastguard Agency approved Port Waste Management Plan. Recycling services cater for the responsible disposal of waste oil, as well as a service for used batteries and for domestic dry mixed recycling items.

With access to beautiful East Anglian beaches, an on-site restaurant, workshop, and boat sales offices, it isn’t difficult to see why Lowestoft was reaccredited its 5 Gold Anchor rating in 2010.

Want to your marina or harbour to feature in the next issue? Tweet us @Aquacote using the hashtag #KnowYourNeighbour.

 

The Low-down On The British Boating Big Dogs

With the London Boat Show coming up, it’s very exciting to be a part of the maritime industry, but being part of the British Marine Federation makes it even better. Here are 6 of the many things that makes BMF membership great.

1.    BMF Membership Awareness Day

Every year the BMF host Membership Awareness Day, which offersnew membersa chanceto meet BMF staff, network with other members, and to learn about the services they’re entitled to. What’s not to like about kicking off with a free mini party for you and a partner from your business?

2. Since it has been around for over 100 years, they have access to some very cool vintage photography: 

[http://www.britishmarine.co.uk/about_bmf/history/centenary.aspx]

Artsy or what?

3. They’ve got multiple awards to prove how great they are, the most recent of which being the prestigiousExhibition of the Year award (2009) at Southampton Boat Show. Adorned with multiple other titles, they're not exactly bad friends to have.

4. Speaking of friendship, BMF are pals with some of the biggest names in the maritime industry, so being a member is like being friends with the ones at the popular table in high school. The RYA, Maritime Coastguard Agency, and British Waterways are just a few of the key names you can expect to see.

5. BMF runs the ‘On The Water’project.They really love the world on water, and want everybody else to enjoy it too. The number of active boaters currently stands at around 3.2million, but they want to increase that number even further. From canoeing to inland boating, they hold events to encourage activity all year. This year’s cycle concludes with January’s London Boat Show.

6. They set up The Green Blue project to drive environmental awareness. With help from the Royal Yacht Association (RYA), they endeavour to help all boating participants to reduce their impact on the health of our water bodies. However, the project goes beyond simply raising awareness to conduct relevant scientific research, and seeking out environmentally-considerate products to best advise those wishing to increase the sustainability of their current boating practices.

Think BMF are great? Let us both know by tweeting @Aquacote, and @britishmarine.

We Bet You Didn’t Know...

It is surprising how little we actually know about our oceans. Despite the amount of time we spend studying, designing products for, and transporting ourselves across the oceans, the Earth’s marine water bodies still remain a largely unknown mystery.

Of the things we do know, however, there are many fascinating facts that lie just outside of common knowledge. Impress your friends down the boatyard or in the pub by reeling off some of these details about the depths.

1.    The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world. According to Marine Bio, high tide can reach 16.3 metres above the point of low-tide at certain points of the year.

2.    If that wasn’t enough, the deepest point of the ocean is 8.38km down. Marine Bio tell us that the pressure at the bottom point is 11,318 tons per m², “or the equivalent of one person trying to support 50 jumbo jets”!

3.    The proportion of the oceans explored by humans is less than 10% of its total area.

4.    Jacques Mayol set an incredible record for the deepest free dive by travelling 105m down without any breathing equipment. His skills earnt him the nickname Dolphin Man.

5.    A large proportion of life in the oceans is imperceptible to the human eye. Mother Earth News suggested that swallowing a milliliter of ocean water means you also ingest 1 million bacteria and 10 million viruses!

These facts would also make great icebreakers following the inevitable family arguments of the festive season. Use them wisely.

 

Know Your Neighbours: Issue 1

The sense of community that exists is one of the best things about the boating world. No matter how many big brand supermarkets pop up near your home, marinas and harbours remain individual and independent.

Just like the owners that use them, marinas and harbours have their own unique personalities and plus points. To show our appreciation of these small-scale societies, we’ve created the ‘Know Your Neighbours’ feature. By focusing on a couple of the UK and Ireland’s harbours every week, we want to really get to know the groups that keep boating so great – we hope you will to.

Chichester Harbour

In the past, Chichester has had a run of bad press due to excessive fouling in its waters. However, the area’s glorifying features overshadow this small negative. Not only does the harbour lie within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but it is also home to ‘Solar Heritage’, a fascinating solar-powered catamaran. The virtually silent boat is the perfect vessel to discover the surrounding landscape and wildlife.

A number of initiatives exist to promote and preserve the unspoilt natural character of Chichester, including the Chichester Harbour Trust, and Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

Whitstable Harbour

The community spirit at Whitstable is no less than admirable. Home to the Hands Off Our Harbour campaign, through which 18,000 local people fought to prevent supermarket and hotel chains from settling in their town. Whitstable also boasts the 1,500-strong Whitstable Harbour Watch, meaning that members directly influence the future of their local gem.

As well as protecting it, the local people also do a great job of celebrating their harbour. The Oyster Festival and Biennale is a great demonstration of the local passion, which holds Harbour Day as the main event. 

Want us to feature your harbour or marina? Just tweet us @Aquacote. To find out more about Aquacote, visit our website at www.aqua-cote.com.

Resources on 4 Special Species – ‘That’s so 2013’

In many ways, 2013 has brought with it a number of milestones of open-mindedness. From the accepted decision to allow gay marriage, to a major cosmetics brand dedicated to a ‘Self-Esteem Project’, the year has championed care and equality in the UK. So much so, that particularly creative or emotional  displays have been welcomed with the maxim that they are ‘so 2013’.

Carrying on this affectionate trend in 2014, the 3^rdWorld Conference on Marine Biodiversity will be held in Qingdao, China. At the last conference, held in Aberdeen in 2011, the conference parties agreed with the IUCN that 30% of the world’s oceans should be protected areas. The current level is under 3%.

The UK accommodates just 4 of the many endangered marine species. Getting to know these 4 species is the first step to getting on-trend with mindful marine habits.

One – North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
As they are endangered, fishing and sale of the species is illegal. Authorities are so vigilant on this, that even when a Torquay fisherman caught a 300lb Bluefin tuna, worth a reported £500,000, and the sale was prohibited.The Marine Management Organisation suggests that tuna accidentally caught as by-catch should be released alive and unharmed back into the oceans.

Two – Leatherback Turtle

The UK is particularly important to this species, which is also critically endangered. Its declining numbers in the south Pacific are offset a very small amount by their increase in more northern regions. In springtime they have been spotted just off UK shores, attracted by flourishing groups of jellyfish.

Three – White-clawed Crayfish

The biggest threat to our native crayfish is the invasion of non-endemic species, which can take over their habitats and compromise their ability to survive. As part of our national natural heritage, trapping crayfish for food is illegal in many British areas. Check for guidelines and information here.

Four – Angel Shark

Described comprehensively by the Shark Trust here, the angel shark (aka monkfish) is an endangered species protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Killing, injuring, possessing, or trading the sharks is highly illegal. EU authorities have produced the ‘Shark Action Plan’ to cover these needs.

With these resources, you’re already well on your way to carrying on the craze for caring. Conservation’s never been so chic. 

THE WHY: A Quick Guide To Green Boating

A lot of people see green approaches as one of life’s many ‘shoulds’. However, investing in the environmental standard of your marina or boat club has very real paybacks and benefits that directly benefit you whether you’re a member or a manager.

• Keep up with the competition – we all know your marina is the best, but it won’t be a fair contest if it is lagging in the green sector. Prioritising green practices not only keeps your harbour as great as it is, it ensures everybody else knows that too.

• Save money – monitoring your energy and water usage often reveals a lot of unnecessary surplus. Cut your bills by clamping down on clumsy wastage, and lower your landfill tax by encouraging recycling onsite.

• Securing new members – the uptake of such green methods as recycling and energy saving in the domestic world means that prospective members may expect such measures as standard practice. Considering the necessity of new members to the future of your marina or harbour, it just isn’t worth losing them to greener competition.

• Prepare for tightening environmental laws – frequent changes to EU legislation are not uncommon, and when environmental issues are in vogue, it’s a good idea to stay ahead of the green game.

• Qualify for TYHA’s Gold Anchor Scheme – put your harbour on the map for the right reasons. Environmental practices account for 15% of the overall marking criteria – a significant loss if there are no practices in place.

Now you know why it matters, click over to our guide that covers the ‘how’.

For more information and for comprehensive resources, The Green Blue have got it covered: http://goo.gl/eF8itv

Alternatively, you can visit our website, or tweet us @Aquacote.