12 knot speed limit for inner Waitemata begins this Saturday

29 March 2007

The ARC Harbourmaster is introducing a restricted zone between the Auckland Harbour Bridge and North Head, on the inner Waitemata Harbour.

Within this zone the speed restriction will be 12 knots and comes into force at 8 am this Saturday 31 March. It is in addition to current bylaws which apply speed limits in the harbour of 5 knots within 200 metres of the shore, or within 50 metres of another vessel or person in the water.

The new 12 knot limit has been discussed with the public through various channels. A large number of submissions have been received, of which the majority are in support.

The speed limit applies to all power-driven craft, with the exception of some ferries on particular routes, the police and other emergency response craft.

ARC Harbourmaster John Lee-Richards says: "This speed limit will provide protection for all harbour users by ensuring that vessels proceed at a moderate speed, so reducing the risk of collision.

"I have taken this action because of the high number of collisions in the inner harbour due to congestion and speed.

"The Waitemata gets busier and busier each year and everyone needs to slow down and keep a good lookout."

The new rules are as follows:

* The speed restriction is 12 knots and applies to the area between the Harbour Bridge and North Head.
* It only applies to power-driven vessels.
* Automatic steering devices may not be used in the zone.
* Exceptions include a non-restricted area on the south side of the harbour inward-bound to the container terminal, and on the northern side outward bound from the Harbour Bridge to the entrance to the Bayswater Marina.
* Exempt vessels include some passenger ferries (showing orange flashing lights on a particular service), pilot, police and customs, Harbourmaster and other emergency vessels.

The full regulations (known as a Direction and issued pursuant to the Local Government Act 1974) will be sent to stakeholders and posted on the ARC website. It is expected that they will be progressively adopted by the public in much the same manner as the one covering the fast lane through the Motuihe Channel. The Harbourmaster and Maritime Police patrols will adopt an educative, rather than a punitive, approach.

This Direction follows another navigation safety initiative taken by the ARC in 2005. The Harbourmaster introduced a fast vessel lane in the Motuhie Channel designed to separate fast vessels, in particular passenger ferries, from fishing vessels anchored in the channel. It has proved successful and there is a high level of compliance with it.

ENDS

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