HARBOUR CRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24214, 4 March 1942, Page 4

HARBOUR CRAFT

NEW BEGrIJLATIONB AUCKLAND RESTRICTIONS THE PROHIBITED AREA Restrictions on the . movements of rowing boats and other small craft within an area of the Auckland Harbour are included in the recently gazetted Shipping Safety (Small Craft) Order. The area is bounded toward the east by a line from tjbe outer, end of the eastern tide deflector to the eastern end of the Devonport ferry wharf, and at the west by a line from the light tower on the western reclamation to th*e outer end of the Bayswater ferry wharf. This area includes most of the important shipping facilities of the port. No rowing boat, at any time between sunset and sunrise,* shall enter, leave or move in the waters in the restricted area, states the order. The new regulations will be administered by the Police Department and the police launch Tiromoana will patrol the area. No Approach to Wharves The order prohibits small craft at any time from approaching within 50 yards of any wharf in the area, or the wharf at Chelsea, or any ship in the harbour, whether or not it is moored at any wharf. The only exemptions from the restrictions on small craft are vessels engaged on Government or Harbour Board service, trading vessels, fishing boats within the meaning of the Fishing Boats Emergency Regulations, and vessels used during a period of emergency for the purposes of any Emergency Precautions Service. A vessel is (regarded as a trading vessel if it holds a valid survey certificate issued by the Marine Department. The restrictions on small craft shall be deemed subject to the terms of any permit for the time being in forco authorising the owner or any other person to use the small craft. Any such permit may be granted by a constable, but it may be revoked at any time by any constable. Two Ferry Jetties Small craft might use the launch steps between Queen's and Prince's wharves only under permit, said the superintendent of police, Mr. R. Ward, yesterday. Although under the Shipping Safety Emergency Regulations, 1940, the term "wharf" includes quays, piers, jetties, or other places used for loading and unloading ships, Mr. Ward said it was not intended that the new restriction on small craft approaching within 50 yards of any wharf would include the Stanley Bay ferry wharf or the Bayswater wharf. Launches and yachts were moored close to Stanley Bay wharf, which contains dinghy lockers. Those wharves were not connected with the shipping of the port, said Mr. Ward.