A MAJOR improvement programme to the marking of the Nab Channel in the eastern part of the Solent has been undertaken by Trinity House.

The revised marking, costing about £300,000, involves one of the busiest stretches of water around the British Isles constantly used by both merchant and Royal Navy vessels heading for Southampton and Portsmouth.

Improvements to the marking was carried out by the crews of the Trinity House lighthouse tenders, THV Patricia and Mermaid, in a joint exercise undertaken over last weekend.

Captain Duncan Glass, Trinity House director of navigational requirements, said: "The commercial vessels using the eastern Solent have grown larger and deeper in recent years.

"The concerns of the ports, pilots and users led to the measures we have put in place in order that risk is controlled and safety of navigation in the area together with the protection of the environment is improved.''

The work involved the establishment of six buoys to mark the Nab Channel Deep Water Route and two buoys to mark the seabed ridges in the eastern approaches to the Solent.

Trinity House carried out the work following a widespread consultation with the marine community including the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth, the Queens Harbour Master (Portsmouth), Southampton pilots and commercial shipping lines.

These discussions highlighted the difficulties faced by large vessels in avoiding the shoals situated in the deep water approach area to the south of the pilot boarding station and general concerns over the inadequate marking of the Nab Channel.

The Nab Channel was originally provided for large vessels to access Fawley. The buoyage was provided by Esso.

In view of the fact the Nab Channel is now used by a wide variety of commercial and military vessels for general navigation, Trinity House has assumed responsibility for marking the channel that will be financed through the General Lighthouse Fund.