The Dockyard Port of Plymouth Order 2020

Article 7

SCHEDULE 2 Rules as to lights, prevention of collision etc.

PART 1 Interpretation

Interpretation

1.  In this Schedule—

“the Collision Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996(1); and

“narrow channel” means all the navigable waters of the dockyard port north of latitude 50°20’.000N (Plymouth breakwater).

PART 2 General rules

Submarines secured to a buoy

2.—(1) A submarine secured to a buoy in the dockyard port must display an all-round amber flashing light at a frequency of between 90 and 105 flashes per minute—

(a) between sunset and sunrise; and

(b) at any other time when there is restricted visibility.

(2) The requirement in subparagraph (1) applies in addition to any other requirement to exhibit a light under regulation 4 (prevention of collision) of the Collision Regulations.

Blue flashing lights

3.—(1) A vessel must not exhibit a blue flashing light in the dockyard port without written permission from the Queen’s Harbour Master.

(2) Subparagraph (1) does not apply to a vessel used by—

(a) the Queen’s Harbour Master;

(b) the Cattewater Harbour Master;

(c) a UK police force;

(d) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency;

(e) a fire and rescue authority in England or Wales;

(f) the Royal National Lifeboat Institution;

(g) the Torpoint Ferry; or

(h) United Kingdom Border Force.

(3) In this paragraph—

“fire and rescue authority in England or Wales” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Fire and Rescue Act 2004(2); and

“UK police force” has the meaning given by section 375 (definitions relating to police forces) of the Armed Forces Act 2006(3).

Chain link ferries

4.—(1) A chain link ferry operating between Torpoint and Devonport must keep well clear of any vessel that can only navigate in a narrow channel or fairway.

(2) Vessels of less than 20 metres in length, sailing vessels and other recreational vessels shall not impede the safe passage of any chain link ferry.

(3) Chain link ferries must display the following lights—

(a) when underway, a flashing amber light at the leading end in the direction of progress;

(b) when underway with emergency services embarked, a flashing blue light below the amber light required by paragraph (a); and

(c) between sunset and sunrise, or when there is restricted visibility, a light at each corner of the hull showing white ahead and astern and red on the beam.

(4) The lights specified at subparagraph (3) above must be visible at a range of not less than 2 nautical miles.

(5) Where visibility is less than 300 metres, any chain link ferry in progress along the ferry track or stopped temporarily on the ferry track must at intervals of not more than 30 seconds ring its bell rapidly for a period of between 4 and 6 seconds.

(6) In this rule “bell” means the bell a chain link ferry is required to carry by regulation 4 (prevention of collision) of the Collision Regulations.

Vessel passing within the narrow channels of the dockyard port

5.—(1) When two power-driven vessels, proceeding in opposite directions, are about to meet one another in a narrow channel the power-driven vessel navigating against the tidal stream must give priority of passage through the channel to the vessel navigating with the tidal stream.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) a vessel is power-driven if it is propelled by machinery; and

(b) a vessel gives priority to another vessel for the purposes of this rule by reducing its speed and waiting until the oncoming vessel has passed.

PART 3 Exclusion zones

Power to create exclusion zones

6.—(1) The Queen’s Harbour Master may direct that an exclusion zone is in effect on the waters of the dockyard port around a vessel for one or both of the following purposes—

(a) to protect the vessel;

(b) to ensure its safe passage.

(2) Unless otherwise directed by the Queen’s Harbour Master, the exclusion zone around a vessel encompasses the waters in the dockyard port over 20 metres from the shore that are—

(a) 250 metres ahead of the vessel; and

(b) 100 metres abeam and astern of that vessel.

(3) A direction under subparagraph (1) may be expressed as relating to vessels of a particular class, type or description.

(4) The exclusion zone comes into effect as specified in the direction given by the Queen’s Harbour Master under subparagraph (1).

Shapes and lights marking an exclusion zone

7.—(1) When an exclusion zone is in effect around a vessel under paragraph 6, the vessel must while in the dockyard port display—

(a) two black diamond shapes vertically disposed, between sunrise and sunset; and

(b) two all-round flashing red lights at the masthead horizontally disposed—

(i) between sunset and sunrise; and

(ii) at any other time when there is restricted visibility.

(2) This paragraph does not apply to submarines.

Effect of an exclusion zone

8.—(1) When an exclusion zone is in effect around a vessel in the dockyard port under paragraph 6—

(a) a vessel underway must not enter the zone unless authorised to do so by the Queen’s Harbour Master; and

(b) a vessel that is alongside, at anchor, at a buoy or at a mooring in that zone must remain alongside, at anchor, at the buoy or at the mooring.

(2) This paragraph only applies if the vessel to which the exclusion zone applies is displaying any shapes or lights it is required to under paragraph 7 or, in respect of submarines, as specified in the direction given by the Queen’s Harbour Master.

(1)

S.I. 1996/75.

(2)

2004 c. 21, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c.3), Sch. 1(1) paras. 2 and 3 and Sch. 2(2) para. 111, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Fire and Rescue Functions) Order (S.I. 2017/469), art. 12.

(3)

2006 c. 52, as amended by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order (S.I. 2013/602) Sch.2(1) para. 56, and Armed Forces Act 2011 (c.18) Sch. 5 para. 1.