Shoreham Port recognises both its statutory and community responsibilities for the protection of the natural environment of the Port.

Shingle Bypassing

There is a natural process of shingle movement along the Sussex coast from west to east, which results in the build up of approximately 15,000 cubic metres of shingle annually at the east end of Shoreham Beach, where its progress is blocked by the west breakwater. It is the blocking of further eastwards shingle movement by the harbour entrance breakwaters that causes the erosion problems on Southwick Beach.

Shoreham Port has adopted, in addition to various sea defence measures, a programme of shingle bypassing, whereby shingle is excavated from the west side of the entrance and transported and placed on the east side. This process is split evenly between spring and autumn campaigns and care is taken to minimise the impact of the operation on local residents.

Studies have shown that as a result of shingle bypassing, beach volumes along the Port have improved and stabilised.

The shingle bypassing operation is supported by the South Downs Shoreline Management Plan and by the two coastal defence strategies that define the needs for sea defence improvements between the River Arun and Brighton Marina.

Kingston Beach – Shingle Recycling

Shoreham Port has a statutory duty to maintain Kingston Beach.The effective maintenance of this beach is crucial to the integrity of the A259 Brighton to Worthing road.

Kingston Beach is very dynamic, in that waves entering the harbour and spending themselves on the beach cause a movement of shingle from west to east.Thus the beach is eroding at its western end in front of the lighthouse and is building up at its eastern end at a terminal groyne.

In order to counter the erosion effect and to avoid shingle being lost over the terminal groyne, Shoreham Port undertakes shingle recycling operations as and when required, but typically, every four or five years, whereby shingle is excavated from the terminal groyne area and transported back to the western end, filling in areas of erosion.

Oil spill response

At Shoreham Port, the Harbour Master has overall responsibility for the conduct of the oil spill response operations and for casualty and/or salvage management. He is supported in this role by the Oil Spill Management Team and Shoreham Port’s own Internal Incident Management Team.

In the event of a one-tier incident, appropriate response actions will be taken in accordance with Shoreham Port’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan.To deal with this type of incident, Shoreham Port has its own in-house Oil Spill Response Unit.

Should a tier two or three incident occur, the Port’s Oil Spill Management Team would convene and assistance would be provided by Oil Spill Response Limited (Southampton), who provide regional oil spill response services to the Port.

Environmental Management

Following the European Sea Ports Organisation’s adoption of an Environmental Code of Practice in 2003, Shoreham Port is in the process of developing an Environmental and Information Management System.

Officers of the Port have drafted an Environmental Policy Statement as the initial element of our proactive role in protecting the environment:

Environmental Policy Statement

Shoreham Port as the Competent Harbour Authority is the responsible body for conservancy, pilotage and the maintenance and sustainable development of the Port, and it recognizes that it plays an important part in the economic, environmental and social life of the surrounding communities and Region.

The Board and Management recognize its environmental responsibilities and are committed to:

Using its best endeavours to prevent pollution and minimize the impact on the environment of its operations and those of Port users and tenants as far as possible and within its control by means of a programme of continuous improvement.

Implementing and developing an environmental management system which will provide a framework for the setting, monitoring and auditing of environmental objectives and targets.

Making sure its environmental programme remains appropriate and its performance satisfactory by performing regular reviews that consult and involve employees, the local community, Port users and other relevant organizations.

Reporting on and publishing environmental indicators as part of an environmental management system.

Complying with applicable legislation, regulations and other standards to which it subscribes and, where practical, exceeding these requirements.

Encouraging staff, contractors and Port users to consider the environment in all their activities by developing systems of work that use resources more efficiently, use fewer harmful materials and reduce waste that cannot be re-used or recycled.

Identifying potential risks and develop plans of preparedness to cope with any incident in the Port liable to cause environmental harm.

Using all appropriate means of communication to publicise and promote this Statement and our continuing commitment to this policy for the benefit of existing and prospective customers and Port users, and the wider stakeholders in the local community.

Waste Management

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) regulations 2003 require all ports and terminal operators to provide waste reception facilities adequate to meet the needs of vessels using the Port or its terminals.

A Waste Management Plan has been prepared by all terminal operators and these have been collated into a single Port Plan, which is administered by the Port and approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Shoreham Port has now implemented a Waste Management Plan approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

We continue to investigate recycling opportunities throughout the Port as part of our commitment to protecting the environment.

Internal environmental policies

Office staff at Shoreham Port are also committed to doing what they can for the environment, by introducing recycling bins and saving energy by switching off lights and equipment that is not being used.