KHM East Cove Port
King’s Harbour Master (KHM) East Cove Port, Falkland Islands.
About KHM East Cove Port
The King’s Harbour Master (KHM) is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of East Cove Port. He is appointed by Letter of Authority in accordance with the Port Marine Safety Code and is also dual appointed by the Governor of the Falkland Islands under Falkland Islands statute law.
KHM has day-to-day responsibility for the safe operation of navigation and other marine activities in the harbour and its approaches, including:
- regulation of the time and manner of vessel movements
- the provision and maintenance of aids to navigation
- the implementation of safe systems of work and standard operating procedures;
- developing and implementing emergency plans and procedures, for regulating dangerous goods and cargoes, and for counter-pollution and waste plans
Port information
East Cove Port (ECP) is situated on the South East coast of East Falkland in the South Atlantic. It was built in 1985 to facilitate construction of the new airport at Mount Pleasant following the 1982 Falklands conflict. The port limits encompass Mare Harbour and East Cove, between them providing a reasonably well sheltered deep water facility accessed from the sea through Choiseul Sound.
The port sits in a pristine natural environment, rich in its own bird and marine life and adjoining the internationally important Ramsar site of Bertha’s Beach, giving a unique environmental responsibility and custodianship for all marine activities.
ECP is the primary maritime logistics node for British Forces in the South Atlantic. The harbour is the operational base port for the Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel, as well as visiting frigates or destroyers, submarines, the Ice Patrol Ship and Royal Fleet Auxiliary when deployed to the South Atlantic.
It also supports routine visits by British Antarctic Survey vessels, Falkland Island government and government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands vessels, and periodically supports commercial activity in support of the wider economic development of the Islands.
Regulations
KHM responsibilities are defined in legislation by:
The responsibilities are achieved in practice through:
- local notices to mariners
East Cove Port sits within NAVAREA VI for notices to mariners, but as a Competent Harbour Authority also issues its own local notices to Mariners when appropriate.
How to contact KHM ECP
To report an incident or access a range of KHM East Cove Port services such as tidal data, our Safety and Environment Management System (SEMS) and information for port users please uses the contact points below:
By post:
King’s Harbour Master
East Cove Port
BFPO 655
By telephone:
Harbour control (24/7): +500 (7) 7003
Very High Frequency channel: CH12 (Port ops) or CH13 (Tug Control)