Seen from the editorial window on Monday, October 17: six Environment Agency vehicles, two with trailers, arrive by the slipway at Strand Quay and disgorge their contents of 14 EA staff all with hi-viz jackets and lifejackets. Lifejackets? This appears to be regulation equipment if one is going to be within several yards of water.
It turned out that the object of the exercise was to practice laying a boom across the river to prevent a theoretical oil spill from encroaching further up river. Rye Wharf is capable of taking vessels in excess of 400 tons and we understand from the very helpful EA personnel involved in the boom that, because of this size capability, they are required periodically to demonstrate that a containment boom can be laid across the river in the event of a spillage of oil or other contaminant. Quite apart from the general mess that such a spillage would make, there is also the danger to wildlife, including the family of seals that have taken up residence towards the mouth of the river.
The procedure seemed fairly straightforward: a small floating platform with an outboard motor attached was launched from one of the trailers and in good nautical fashion, a small mast with a green and white Environment Agency burgee attached was put in place. Then the trailer was swapped for another containing a drum of rolled-up inflatable boom.
After what appeared to be a somewhat hesitant start, the boom, attached by a rope to the floating platform (one can hardly call it a boat) was pulled out into the river, section by section with each section being inflated as it came off the drum.
Finally the platform, after describing an elegant arc in the river, made its way to the opposite bank by the River Haven Hotel, where the boom was secured and we were safe from any potential disaster down river.
Altogether, five men completed the operation in about one hour and doubtless in an emergency the boom could be stretched between any two accessible points on the river bank. However, five from 14 leaves nine EA staff standing on the bank well back from any of the wet stuff, but nevertheless complying, doubtless, with ‘elf ‘n’ safety rules for correct dress when in the vicinity of water, watching what went on while taking no part in the operation.
Despite the temptation to make a joke along the lines of the “How many EA staff (in this case) does it take to change a light bulb” variety, in fairness it can be assumed that the watchers were there in a learning capacity so that should an emergency arise, even if not involved with the physical laying of the boom, they would understand the process when perhaps dealing with other agencies or the public. One does wonder, however, about the lack of common sense involved in issuing life jackets to those who were going to be nowhere near the water. By the same token, every member of the public walking along the Quay should be wearing one too. It is good to know, though, that the Agency is ready and equipped to deal with emergencies in the event that they should arise.
Photos: John Minter