Harbour limits increase to foil protesters

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 2

Harbour limits increase to foil protesters

PA Auckland Auckland Harbour will have wider harbour limits before the nuclear submarine U.S.S. Haddo berths next month, in a move to thwart protesters from hindering the submarine’s passage. The Ministry of Transport’s nautical adviser, Captain E. G. Boyack, said yesterday that the new limits were likely to be approved and gazetted by January 12. They will be from Rakino Island in the Noises group to Toroa Point north of the East Coast Bays. The U.S.S. Haddo is due on January 19. Previous attempts by protesters to block the passage

of nuclear warships have mostly been just outside harbour limits where protesters have tried to manoeuvre their craft in such a way that under the international regulations the nuclear warships have had to give way. By creating a line of crossing vessels the protesters tried to block the narrow harbour entrance at the northern end of Rangitoto Channel. This made it difficult for the authorities to bring prosecutions because the Auckland Harbourmaster has no jurisdiction over craft outside the harbour limits. To obstruct the new and much wider harbour entrance protesters would need far more boats.