QUEEN'S HARBOUR MASTER PORTSMOUTH

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS

No 20/07

REVISED REGULATIONS CONCERNING WATER SKIING AND THE USE OF PERSONAL WATER CRAFT (PWC)

  1. Water Skiing.
    Water skiing is not permitted inside Portsmouth Harbour north of Fort Blockhouse, nor within half a nautical mile from any shore within the Dockyard Port (E. Solent) area except in specially designated areas. These areas must be properly marked with buoys.
  2. Designated Water Ski Area. (See Admiralty Chart No 2036).
    A designated water ski area has been established off Wootton Creek as follows:
    1. An area to the northwest of Wootton Creek bounded by the following positions, each of which is marked by a small white buoy with the word "Ski" written on the side.

    50° 44’ .78 N 001° 12’ .61 W
    50° 45’ .27 N 001° 14’ .05 W
    50° 45’ .05 N 001° 14’ .22 W
    50° 44’ .55 N 001° 12’ .80 W
  3. Lee-on-Solent At Lee-on-Solent a variety of watersports take place in the vicinity of the Hovercraft slipway. In order to allow each type of sport to be enjoyed safely areas and rules described below are hereby promulgated.
    Water Ski Area. An area marked by yellow buoys bounded by the following positions:
    50° 48’ .34 N 001° 12’ .99 W
    50° 48’ .60 N 001° 13’ .98 W
    50° 48’ .38 N 001° 14’ .32 W
    50° 48’ .16 N 001° 13’ .44 W
    1. This area is marked by yellow buoys along the inshore side and by yellow buoys at the corners of the outer limits.
    2. Water skiers wishing to access this area from the shore must use the hovercraft slip at Lee-on-Solent and the transit lane that separates the water ski and adjacent Personal Water Craft (PWC) areas. Craft towing water skiers may exceed the 10 knot speed limit in the transit lane and the PWC area but only whilst making passage directly to and from the water ski area. Within the water ski area their speed is unlimited but they should note the requirements of Rules 5 and 6 of the COLREGS, namely to keep a good lookout and proceed at a safe speed.
  4. Personal Water Craft (PWC) Area. An area bounded by the following positions:
    50° 47’ .94 N 001° 12’ .43 W
    50° 48’ .24 N 001° 12’ .84 W
    50° 48’ .01 N 001° 13’ .20 W
    50° 47’ .71 N 001° 12’ .79 W
    This area is marked by yellow buoys along the inshore side and by yellow buoys at the corners of the outer limits.
    PWCs, commonly known as jet skis, are subject to the same speed limit as all other craft within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth. Within the transit lane (see below) however they are to proceed at or below 10 knots or at the slowest speed at which they can be safely operated. Whilst exceeding 10 knots they are only to make direct passage to and from the PWC area.
    1. Transit Lane. The area between the PWC and Water ski areas is denoted as a transit lane. The transit lane may only be used to proceed between the slipway and either the Water ski or PWC areas.
    2. Other Vessels. The PWC and Water ski areas are designed to allow only these craft to operate safely at speed, other vessels are therefore advised to remain clear.
    3. Swimming. The areas inshore of the PWC and Water Ski Areas are designated as swimming areas. All power driven vessels are to stay clear of these areas with the exception of life saving craft on duty.
  5. Designated PWC Area - Eastney. A Jet Ski area is established 600m south of the beach at Eastney and 400m west of the approaches to the entrance to Langstone Harbour. The area is bounded by the following positions:
    50° 46’ .78 N 001° 02’ .73 W
    50° 46’ .88 N 001° 02’ .09 W
    50° 46’ .69 N 001° 01’ .96 W
    50° 46’ .58 N 001° 02’ .58 W
    1. Six buoys have been laid to mark the perimeter of the new Jet Ski area. The buoys are yellow spherical floats with no lights fitted.
    2. Within this Jet Ski area, Personal Watercraft will operate at high speed. Other water uses should take care when entering this area.
  6. Insurance. Operators of PWC's are strongly advised to obtain third party insurance cover for their vessels and to have them data tagged. Both these measures may become compulsory in the near future.
  7. Licensing of Personal Watercraft. In accordance with The Dockyard Port of Portsmouth Order 2005 no jet-skiing is permitted within the harbour or within 0.5 of a nautical mile from shore outside the harbour without a licence from QHM. The licences are free and application forms can be found at www.qhmportsmouth.com under the Personal Watercraft section.
Thu 8th Nov 2007
Semaphore Tower
HM Naval Base, Portsmouth. 		S O Hopper
Commander Royal Navy
Queen's Harbour Master