Mooring and Management of Vessels

PART III MOORING AND MANAGEMENT OF VESSELS

17. The master of any vessel upon entering the Port shall have competent persons in attendance to run check ropes to the pierheads, quays, buoys or dolphins, and shall also have sufficient competent persons in attendance for mooring purposes.

18. The master of a vessel which is berthed or moored shall ensure that such vessel is securely made fast and that the moorings are adjusted as necessary to allow for the rise and fall of the tide and for the loading and unloading of cargo.

19. The master of a vessel which is berthed within the Port shall ensure that the vessel is laid as close as possible alongside the land or premises at which the vessel is berthed and that neither the vessel nor the vessel’s moorings obstruct other vessels, or hamper the use of a dock entrance, pier, wharf, quay or jetty.

20. Except with the permission of the harbour master, the master of a vessel shall at all times when his vessel is within the Port ensure that his vessel is capable of being safely moved and navigated and that there are sufficient crew or other competent persons readily available:-

1. (a) to attend to his vessel’s moorings;
2. (b) to comply with any directions given by the harbour master for the unmooring, mooring and moving of his vessel; and
3. (c) to deal, so far as reasonably practicable, with any emergency that may arise.

Access to and egress from vessels

21 The master and the owner of a vessel (other than a small vessel) while berthed alongside a quay shall, except where the Merchant Shipping (Means of Access) Regulations 1988 apply, provide and maintain a sufficient and proper gangway for the access and egress of all persons having lawful business on the vessel and shall during the hours of darkness provide sufficient lighting to illuminate the whole length of the gangway.

Vessels to be kept in a moveable condition

22 (1) The master of a vessel shall not, except where his vessel is lying aground, take any steps to render his vessel incapable of movement without first notifying the harbour master and, subject as aforesaid, shall at all times keep his vessel so loaded and ballasted and in such condition that it is capable of being safely moved.

(2) Where a vessel (other than a small vessel) is at any time not capable of being safely moved by means of its own propulsive machinery, the master or owner shall as soon as reasonably practicable inform the harbour master forthwith and give to him any further information which the harbour master may require.

No anchoring in fairway

23. The master of a vessel shall not anchor in a fairway or act in such manner as to obstruct navigation except with the permission of the harbour master.

Access across decks

24 The master of a vessel alongside a quay or alongside any vessel already berthed within the Port shall, if required so to do by the harbour master, give free access across the deck of his vessel for persons and goods to and from vessels berthed alongside his vessel.

Vessels to keep anchor watch

25. The master of any vessel which trades to sea or carries or is designed to carry passengers or cargo within the Port or Port approaches shall, while the vessel is anchored in the Port have a competent person on duty at all times to ensure that the vessel’s anchored position is maintained, that the correct signals are displayed or made, and that the vessel is maintained in a safe condition and shall maintain a listening VHF watch on the appropriate channel.

Inspection facilities etc to be made available to harbour master

26. The master of a vessel shall so far as may reasonably be required by the harbour master in the exercise of his duties, afford the harbour master access to any part of the vessel and provide all reasonable facilities for its inspection and examination.

Testing of engines

27. The master of a vessel within the docks shall not cause or permit the engines of such a vessel to be set in motion for trial without the permission in writing of the harbour master or otherwise than in accordance with the terms of such permission.

Vessels not to be fumigated without permission

28. The master or owner of a vessel shall not cause or permit it to be fumigated without the prior permission of the harbour master.

Lost anchor, cable or propeller

29. The master of a vessel which has slipped or parted from or lost any anchor, chain, cable or propeller shall:-

1. as soon as reasonably practicable give to the harbour master notice thereof and, if possible, of the position of the anchor, chain, cable or propeller and, if the harbour master so directs, shall cause it to be recovered as soon as reasonably practicable; and
2. In the case of an anchor or propeller leave a buoy to mark the position thereof if this is known.

Use of engines while vessel moored or berthed

30. The master of a vessel which is at a quay or attached to any mooring device shall not permit the engines of his vessel to be worked in such a manner as to cause unnecessary injury or damage to the bed or banks of the Port or to any other vessel or property.

Vessels not to make fast to unauthorised objects

31. No person shall make a vessel fast to any ladder, post, quay, ring, fender or any other thing or place not assigned for that purpose.

Moorings to steps or landing places

32. No person shall make fast or anchor any vessel of any description, or cause the same to be made fast or anchored at any steps or landing-place within the dock estate without the permission of the harbour master.

Launching of vessel

33. (1) No vessel, other than a small vessel, shall be launched from any yard or slip within the Port except with the written permission of the harbour master. Such permission shall be requested by the builder not less than 48 hours before the day on which the launch is to take place. Launching will only be permitted during the hours of daylight and in accordance with paragraph (2) of this byelaw.

(2) The builder shall place a boat showing a red flag 100 metres below the course of the vessel being launched, and another boat with a red flag 100 metres above the course of the vessel.,

Obstruction to navigation, other vessels, moorings, etc.

34 The master of a vessel lying at anchor or at moorings shall not permit the vessel to be loaded or discharged in such manner as the harbour master may reasonably consider liable to obstruct the navigation or to create a risk or cause injury to any vessel, mooring, buoy, other property, or persons.