Emergency Plan

River Neath Emergency Plan – Updates

Date	Action	Comments
13.07.2023	Re Issue Plan
31.03.2026	Review & update contact list
22.05.2026	Contact list updated

River Neath Emergency Plan - Updates

Date	Action	Comments

Section One – Introduction and Policy

1.1 Introduction

The Neath Port Authority Emergency Plan is a contingency plan developed to deal with maritime emergencies involving safety of life within the Harbour Limits. It has been prepared by Neath Port Authority in conjunction with Emergency Responders, Port Facility Operators, Local Authorities, Monkstone Sailing and Cruising Club and Environmental Bodies.
The Neath Port Authority, as a statutory body, has a ‘Marine Operations Plan’ which is in compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code and the supporting ‘Guide to
Good Practice on Port Marine Operations’

This Emergency Plan does not include :-

Maritime emergencies that have caused or could cause marine pollution.

The response to these incidents is covered in the Neath Port Authority Oil Spill Contingency Plan, the Local Authority On-Shore Oil Pollution Plan and the MCA National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution.

Responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 :-

Harbour Authorities are classed as Category Two Responders and have only one statutory duty under the Act :-

To provide information to Category One Responders to help them in their Business Continuity Planning and Emergency Response activities. However the Act does leave the door open for future requirements.

Close cooperation is maintained with the Department for Transport (Maritime Transport Security Division) under the International Ship and Port Facility Code.

1.2 Objectives

This plan details the command, control and communications structure to draw together and co-ordinate resources to deal with any marine emergency occurring within the Harbour Limits.

See Map 1 for boundaries to seaward and Map 2 boundaries to landward.

1.3 Responsibility

Nothing in this plan shall relieve any person or organisation from any statutory obligation or duty.

1.4 Marine Emergency

A marine emergency in the context of the Neath Port Emergency Plan is an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare.

1.5 Actuation

In event of an emergency occurring within the Port Authority limits, the Harbour Master or other responsible officer will set in motion the Port’s Emergency Plan.

1.6 Priorities

When the Neath Port Authority Plan is activated the priorities are :-

The safety of human life.
The avoidance or reduction of marine pollution.
The avoidance or reduction of any other consequential loss or damage.
The safeguarding and salvage of property.

The following incidents would result in the implantation of this Emergency Plan :-

An explosion or fire ashore or aboard a vessel underway.
Release of toxic or flammable liquids / vapours ashore or aboard a vessel.
Serious collision of a vessel(s) in or adjacent to Neath Harbour.
Serious grounding of a vessel in or adjacent to Neath Harbour.
Vessel in danger of sinking in or adjacent to Neath Harbour.
Incident involving a potentially large number of casualties.
Serious environmental pollution.

Section Two – Actions and Operations

2.1 Scope for action required

Depending on the incident, any of the following actions may be required :-

Raising the Alarm – alerting essential services / Category One Responders Establishing an Incident Control Centre.
Control of shipping and of vessels in danger; the possible closure of Neath Harbour.
Safeguarding shore personnel and property.
Assisting Emergency Responders with rescue operations, as required.
Assisting Medical Teams with sorting of casualties (Triage).
Provision of transport facilities afloat (subject to tidal constraints).

2.2 Raising the Alarm – Vessel(s) alongside

In the event of any incident on a vessel alongside a berth, the Master will :-

Invoke the Ship’s Emergency Plan and may sound repeated short blasts on whistle.
Telephone emergency services, giving location, nature of incident and cargo details.
Evacuate non-essential / shore personnel to quayside Assembly Point.
Advise Ship’s Agent by telephone.

The Ship’s Agent or Facility Foreman will inform the Neath Port Authority and if necessary invoke the Port Facility Emergency Plan (See 2.4 Shipboard Operation).

2.3 Raising the Alarm – Vessel underway

A vessel underway and restricted in its manoeuvrability whilst in the navigation channel of the River Neath, the Master / Pilot will contact the Harbour Master / Port Authority by telephone and if deemed appropriate will contact UK Coastguard on DSC Ch 70 or VHF Ch 16.

2.4 Port Facility and Shipboard Operations

In event of an incident at a Facility or on a vessel alongside, the Facility Manager or Ship’s Agent will, after contacting Emergency Services, inform the Neath Port Authority giving the following details :-

Nature of Incident
Location of vessel
Number of casualties
Fire/flammable vapour risk
Confirm all vessels alongside are informed of incident
Additional hazards

2.5 Control of Vessel movements

The Neath Port Authority and the Harbour Master will be advised of an incident via UK Coastguard, Neath Pilotage Service or a Port Facility. Emergency Responders will be made aware of any shipping movements within the Harbour Limits and advised accordingly.

2.6 MCA - UK Coastguard (Category One Responder)

UK Coastguard will be informed of any maritime incident that occurs within Harbour Limits and will assume responsibility for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in conjunction with RNLI Lifeboats and Coastguard Rescue Teams.

Vessels within Harbour Limits are required to maintain watch on VHF Ch 16 and VHF DSC Ch 70 under GMDSS regulations and UK Coastguard has responsibility for the integrity and control of designated maritime radio frequencies at all times.

The Harbour Master will maintain a record of any incident that he may become involved with and will ensure communications are maintained between the Port Authority and Coastguard personnel.

Section Three – Emergency Response ashore

3.1 Role of the Police at a Major Incident

The saving of life together with other Emergency Services.
The coordination of the Emergency Services, Local Authorities and other organisations.
To secure, protect and preserve the scene.
Control sightseers and traffic through the use of cordons.
Investigation of the incident, obtaining and securing of evidence in conjunction with other investigative bodies where applicable.
Collection and distribution of casualty information. Identification of the dead on behalf of HM Coroner.
Family liaison officer role.
The prevention of crime.

3.2 Role of the Fire and Rescue Service at a Major Incident

Life-saving through search and rescue.
Fire-fighting and fire prevention.
Rendering humanitarian services.
Management of hazardous materials and protecting the environment.
Provision of qualified scientific advice in relation to HAZMAT incidents via their scientific advisors.
Salvage and damage control.
Hazard assessment and safety management within the inner cordon.
Decontamination of contaminated persons who may have been exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear contaminates (CBRN)

3.3 Role of the Ambulance Service at a Major Incident

To save life together with the other Emergency Services.
To provide treatment, stabilisation and care of those injured at the scene.
To provide appropriate transport, medical staff, equipment and resources.
To triage and determine the priority evacuation needs of those injured and to establish a safe location for casualty clearing.
To provide a focal point at the incident for all NHS and other medical resources.
To nominate and alert the receiving hospitals to receive those injured.
Decontamination of persons exposed to hazardous substances.

3.4 Role of the Local Authority at a Major Incident

Support to responding Emergency agencies.
Provide short term accommodation for displaced persons.
Provide temporary mortuaries if required.
Liaise with public and voluntary agencies for support functions.
Provide traffic engineering and highways services, signing and clearing of debris.
Take the lead role in the rehabilitation of the area and the people affected.

3.5 Cordons

Shoreside incidents are managed using ‘Cordons’ which seal off areas where specific roles are carried out and are established for the following reasons :-

To guard the scene, protect the public, control sightseers and prevent unauthorised interference with evidence or property.

The Police, in conjunction with other agencies, will establish 3 cordons :-

Inner cordon provides immediate security of the hazard area.
Outer cordon seals off an extensive area around the Inner cordon.
Traffic cordon set up at or beyond the Outer cordon to prevent unauthorised vehicles accessing the area surrounding the scene.

3.6 Command and Control – Gold, Silver and Bronze

Each organisation will have a Command and Control structure with roles and responsibilities for those managing the incident.

Gold, Silver and Bronze are titles of functions adopted by each of the Emergency Services / responding agencies and are role related not rank related.

These functions are equivalent to those described as ‘strategic’ – ‘tactical’ and ‘operational’ in other documents about emergency procedures.

3.7 Neath Port Authority – Incident Control Centre

Neath Port Authority will open an Incident Control Centre at their office in Neath where there are landline and mobile telephone connections and also Internet services available.

The Harbour Master may be located closer to an incident at a Forward Command Post and liaise directly with the Neath Port Authorities Control Centre, plus the Emergency Responders, UK Coastguard or the Neath Pilotage Service.

Section Four – Strategic concerns

4.1 Sabotage / Terrorism

While security measures are in place both on board sea-going vessels and at Port Facility sites under International Ship and Port Facility Code regulations, all agencies will be aware of the threat of terrorist attack and the need for vigilance.

4.2 Road Transport Infrastructure

Two transport arteries cross the River Neath at Briton Ferry. The High Level road bridges of the M4 and A48 are of strategic importance and vessels navigate beneath these whilst on passage to or from River berths at Giants Wharf and Neath Abbey. Various incidents have occurred on both bridges.

Section Five - Contact Directory

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Bob Minty	Port Manager	NPA	07796 114 704	01639 633486 01639 620209	[email protected]
H N James	Chairman/ Duty Holder	NPA	07791 389 073	01639 820955
Capt Jaime Voisey	Harbour Master	NPA	07785 302 481	07983 149 448	[email protected]

Designated person

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Chris Ameye	PMSC Auditor		07900 902 142		[email protected]

Pilots & Pilotage

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Capt Jaime Voisey	Senior Pilot	Pilotage	07983 149 448		[email protected]
Lee Shaw	Pilot	Pilotage	07967 913 964		[email protected]
Gareth Cox	Trainee Pilot	Pilotage	07817 989 842		[email protected]

Pilot Boat & Crew (JD Marine & Sons Ltd)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Head Office	Swansea	JD Marine		01792 457 174	[email protected]
Ross Doig	Skipper/JD Director	JD Marine	07580 932 427		[email protected]
Gareth Cox	PV Skipper	JD Marine	07817 989 842		[email protected]
David Jones	PV Skipper	JD Marine	07811 344 819		[email protected]
Cameron Worth	PV Skipper	JD Marine	07720 936 105		[email protected]
Conor Doig	PV Skipper	JD Marine	07853 374 247		[email protected]
Sandy Doig	Crew	JD Marine	07763 837 839		[email protected]
Jack Voisey	Crew	JD Marine	07473 766 189		[email protected]
Ashley Nichols	Crew	JD Marine	07474 617 661		[email protected]
Curtis Lynch	Crew	JD Marine	07730 899 289		[email protected]

5.Ropemen

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Capt Jaime Voisey	Senior Pilot	Pilotage	07983 149 448		[email protected]
Ian Williams	Ropeman		07411 417 099

Commercial Wharf Users

NPTCBC

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Andrew Collins		NPTCBC	07771 674 706		[email protected]

Camplas Holdings Ltd

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Head Office		Camplas		01656 657 482	[email protected]
Tony Williams		Camplas	07734 361 033	01656 646 378	[email protected]
Jacob Lewis	Director	Camplas			[email protected]

Tarmac

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Andy Jones	Marine ops manager	TARMAC	07970 940 297		[email protected]
Dave Watmore	Berth	TARMAC	07483 362 767	01639 812 879
Alec Hall	Production Manager	TARMAC	07970 935 683		[email protected]

Briton Ferry Steverdoring

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Head Office		BFS	01639 825700
Neil Rickard	Manager	BFS	07836 329 329		[email protected]

Neath Abbey

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Head Office		NAFS		01792 472 981
Sarah Black	Manager	NAFS	07722 610 763		[email protected]

Morris & Co (Handlers) Ltd

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Head Office		Morris & Co		01302 864 044
Martin George	Manager	Morris & Co	07482 304 185		[email protected]
Angela Beere		Morris & Co	07539 170 670		[email protected]

Leisure users (Marina)

Monkstone Cruising & Sailing Club (MCSC)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Clubhouse		MCSC		01792 812229
Phil Price	Commodore	MCSC
Gareth Thomas	Secretary	MCSC	07805 612 029		[email protected]
Gary Stone	Treasurer	MCSC	07969 410 412		[email protected]
Wayne Kirkpatrick	Vice Commodore	MCSC	07852 916 266		[email protected]

Emergency Services

Coastguard (MCA)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre	MRCC	Milford Haven	24hr	01646 690 909	[email protected]

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Emergency Hotline		NRW		0300 065 3000
Jonathan Jones		NRW	0300 065 3266	0300 065 3361	[email protected]

Mid & West Wales Fire Brigade (MWWFB)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Switchboard		MWWFB		0370 606 0699
West Wales Control ROOM		MWWFB		01268 909 404

Police

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
South Wales Police		Police		101

Ambipar (Oil Spill Response Contractor)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
24hr Emergency Number		Ambipar		01202 653 558	[email protected]

Local Authorities

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Emergency Control Room		NPTCBC	24hrs	01639 686 899
Neil Thomas		NPTCBC	07896 784 993	01639 686 402	[email protected]
			07951 672 856	01639 632 234
Richard Colman	COPO	NPTCBC	07831 580 857		[email protected]

City & County Of Swansea

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Tom Price	Divisional Manager Pollution Control	CCOS	07796 275 218		Tom.price’swansea.gov.uk [email protected]
Adrian Johnson	Team Leader Pollution Control	CCOS	07919 626 453	01792 635 600 01792 636 595	[email protected]
Call Centre		CCOS		01792 653 600
24hrs		CCOS		01792 636 595

Bridgend, Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Lowrie Morgan Hughes	Emergency Planning		07870 599 516	01656 643 300	[email protected]
Jen Sparrow	Waste contract manager				[email protected]
OOH Duty Officer				01656 815 815
Jay Castle	Porthcawl Harbour Master		07890 569 121	01656 815 715	[email protected]
Rhodri Morgan	Specialist Services		07812 215 410		[email protected]

Other

Associated British Ports (ABP)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Switchboard-LPS Cardiff		ABP		0870 609 6699	[email protected]
Gareth Robbins	Harbour Master	ABP	07969 532 969	02920 835 090	[email protected]
Zoe Davis	Dept Harbour Master	ABP	07472 183 868		[email protected]
Steve Batcup	Marine Ops Manager SW	ABP	07717 327 147	01792 332 283	[email protected]
Elton Prance	Port Planning Supervisor	ABP	07725 639 184	02920 835 024	Eprance’abports.co.uk
Rhodri Evans	Marine Resource & planning supervisor	ABP	07976 050 860	02920 835 026	[email protected]

Waste Oil Contractors

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Adler & Allan	Office	A&A	0800 592 827	01792 456 596
Jonathan Charles		A&A	07446 938 369		[email protected]

Insurance Company (Marsh Commercial)

Name	Position	Organisation	Mobile	Phone	Email
Jade Crockett	Insurance	Marsh Commercial		0330 818 7611	[email protected]
James Hall		Bishop Skinner Marine

Also in Emergency Response:

OPRC Plan