HM Coastguard coordinated assistance to a 180 metre bulk carrier which dragged her anchor and grounded on the western side of the port entrance between Swanpool and Gullyngvase beaches at around 0540 on 18 December. The vessel had 18 Russian crew on board. There was no cargo on board the vessel. She had a list of 5 degrees but there was no report of any pollution.

Tugs arrived and a lifeboat was standing by at the scene. The Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team cordoned off an area around the ship.

Tugs were attached to the vessel as the tide rose.

The Kuzma Minin has been successfully refloated following a combined effort between five harbour tugs and a salvage vessel.

At around 2.00pm on 18 December the vessel was back afloat and was moving back out into Falmouth Bay under her own power, with the assistance of the tugs. The weather conditions had improved, which assisted the refloat attempt.

Two maritime and coastguard surveyors were on board to carry out an initial assessment of the vessel, before the vessel was brought alongside for a full inspection.

There were no reports of any pollution following the successful refloating of the vessel.

The Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSRep) Maritime Salvage & Intervention monitored the situation.

James Instance, maritime operations controller for HM Coastguard said ‘It was great to see an excellently and swiftly coordinated response to this incident. The cooperation of all service involved helped to ensure a successful rescue operation in very demanding conditions.’

Three projects to tackle the water pollution caused by historic metal mining in the North Pennines are due to be substantially completed before Christmas.

Contractors will be leaving the sites in the next few days before returning in January to finish the earthworks.

They will be back again in spring, when the weather allows, to complete the final work, such as planting to encourage vegetation to grow.

The works – at Garrigill culvert, Carrshield tailings dam and Nenthead car park – are part of the Water and Abandoned Metal Mines (WAMM) programme.

They include stabilising river banks, reconnecting culverts and reshaping spoil heaps, to prevent several tonnes of lead, zinc and cadmium from entering the River Tyne each year.

Metal mines played a major part in Britain’s history, but abandoned mines now pollute our rivers and harm aquatic wildlife, such as fish and river flies.

In the Northumbria River Basin District they affect around 340km of watercourse, including the River Tyne, River Tees and River Wear, and their tributaries.

WAMM is a partnership between the Coal Authority and the Environment Agency, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

The government’s 25 Year Environment Plan makes it clear that cleaning up chemical pollution from abandoned metal mines is a priority.

30 January, 2019

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Jacob Hill │ Managing Director │ Offploy

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Published 19 December 2018

The Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC, has appointed Duncan Penny QC, as First Senior Treasury Counsel (criminal) to the Crown at the Central Criminal Court with effect from 17 December 2018.

Mr Penny was appointed Junior Treasury Counsel in 2006, First Junior Treasury Counsel in 2011, and Senior Treasury counsel in 2014. He was made Queen’s Counsel in 2014. He takes over from Mark Heywood QC, who was appointed as First Senior in 2015.

The Attorney General has also appointed Sarah Whitehouse QC, as Deputy First Senior Treasury Counsel (criminal) to the Crown at the Central Criminal Court with effect from 17 December 2018. Ms Whitehouse was appointed Junior Treasury Counsel in 2006 and Senior Treasury Counsel in 2014. She was made Queen’s Counsel in 2014.

The title “Treasury Counsel” derives from the days when all Crown Counsel at the Central Criminal Court were instructed by the Treasury Solicitor. That procedure was changed in 1908, and since then the Director of Public Prosecutions has instructed the permanent counsel there.

Treasury Counsel are appointed by the Attorney General. They are divided into 2 groups: Senior Treasury Counsel and Junior Treasury Counsel.

The Regulator of Social Housing reports that Ongo Homes Limited’s grading is currently under review.

The regulator notifies that a provider’s grading is under review when its compliant grade (G1 and G2 for governance, V1 or V2 for viability) is being investigated in relation to an issue which may result in a downgrade to a non-compliant grade (G3 or G4 for governance, V3 or V4 for viability).

The outcome of the investigation will be confirmed in an updated regulatory judgement once completed.

Ongo’s current grade is G1/V1 and the regulator is currently investigating a matter which may impact on Ongo Homes Limited’s compliance with the governance element of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard.

The GUR list is available on the website.

1. The Regulatory standards can be found on the RSH website.

2. The Regulator of Social Housing promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver homes that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants. For more information visit the RSH website.

3. See our Media enquiries page for press office contact details. For general queries, please email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5225.

Published 19 December 2018