SMALL yachts and pleasure boats in the Solent will be endangered by even more giant ships if the proposed £750m Dibden Bay terminal is built, according to the largest yachting association in the UK.

The Cruising Association told the inquiry into ABP's scheme to build a container terminal just upstream from Hythe that the capacity for large vessels in Southampton Water has been reached.

The association said that the Solent area is the most popular area in the UK for recreational sailing and it is of considerable international repute.

But small boats could be put at peril by a flow of large vessels to the port that would need to perform turning manoeuvres which can be hard to control.

The association claimed that many of the smaller craft are not equipped with radio equipment to hear warnings about ship movements, meaning there could be more accidents.

A Cruising Association member and owner of a yacht moored in the Solent, Ted Osborn, said: "They fail to consider the very severe problems caused to yachts and dinghies from wash. A yacht can usually do something about risk of collision. It can do nothing about dangers from wash."

The association also criticised ABP estimates of traffic movement because they have not taken into account secondary traffic such as tugs, pilot boats or control craft.

President of the Cruising Association Julian Harrap said: "Geographical limitations barely permit safe handling of the present size of commercial vessels. They do not permit the safe handling of future vessels."

Proceeding.