Personal Watercraft

Using your PWC within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth

The Dockyard Port of Portsmouth covers 55 square miles, this makes up almost half of the Solent from Hill Head to East Cowes in the west and from around to Sandown Bay across to Nab Tower then to the Hayling Island side of Langstone Harbour entrance in the east.

Rule and Regulations

Personal Watercraft can be used in the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth, and within Portsmouth Harbour itself once you have applied for and received the additional PWC Permit from the QHM.

You should enter Portsmouth Harbour only if you hold a permit to do so, and you must enter the Harbour using the small boats channel LNTM 42/05 refers (that is to the left/port side as you enter the Harbour).

You should also look at LNTM 20/07 REVISED REGULATIONS CONCERNING WATER SKIING AND THE USE OF PERSONAL WATER CRAFT (PWC).

You must comply with the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005 in particular. A copy can be found on www.qhmportsmouth.com

11.(1) Save with license in writing of the Queen’s Harbour Master no water-skiing, jet-skiing or windsurfing is permitted within the Harbour.

(2) No water-skiing or jet-skiing is permitted within the Dockyard Port outside the Harbour except:

(a) with license in writing of the Queen’s Harbour Master;

(b) beyond 0.5 of a nautical mile from the line of mean low-water springs; or

(c) within 0.5 of a nautical mile of the line of mean low-water springs in any area which may be designated for such activity from time to time by the Queen’s Harbour Master and marked with buoys.