dport

Dublin Bay Guidance Notes

for Leisure Craft

For all recreational craft using Dublin

Port and Bay, compiled by Dublin

Port Company in consultation with

local yacht and boat clubs

FACTS TO BEAR IN MIND

1. As both the number of large commercial ships and

recreational craft using Dublin Port is increasing it is

essential that close quarter situations do not arise.

2. Commercial vessels using Dublin Port or Dun

Laoghaire Port normally have a qualified pilot or

certified master with proven local knowledge on

board.They "listen out" on VHF channel 12 when in

Dublin Port’s jurisdiction.

3. Commercial vessels will follow the routes designated

in the attached illustration. All recreational craft when

obliged to navigate within such areas should do so

with extreme caution following the Int. Collisions

Regulations.

4. Large conventional commercial craft travel at a

manoeuvering speeds of between 8 to 15 knots

whilst within the ports jurisdiction.The lower limit

varies from ship to ship and is "as safe navigation

permits".

5. Ships will be traveling faster than you may estimate,

even in congested waters.

6. Ships that are light or partially loaded, particularly in

windy conditions, will require a higher minimum

speed to remain under full control.

7. A large ship visible on the horizon may take no more

than 10 minutes to reach you under clear conditions,

under hazy conditions this time could be much less.

At 10 knots a ship will travel a nautical mile in 6

minutes, at 15 knots it takes only 4 minutes to travel

one nautical mile.

8. A large deep draught ship cannot easily avoid small

craft in a narrow channel. It is up to leisure craft to

keep clear. (See Rule 9 Int. Collision Regs excerpt on

page 4.)

9. A ship slowing down does not steer very well. It

requires the action of its propeller to respond.When

the propellor is going "astern" the ship’s steering

will be adversely affected.

10. As well as large cargo ships, a variety of working craft

also use the port, tugs, pilot cutters, dredgers, fast

ferries, barges under tow etc. In particular a towing

line may be partly submerged and therefore

potentially dangerous to other craft passing too

close.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

1. Avoid sailing in the buoyed channel area, avoid sailing

within 0.5 nautical mile of the Dublin Bay buoy and in

the separation schemes, (see illustration).This is

especially critical in periods of reduced visibility.

When obliged to cross the fairway, cross at right

angles to the traffic flow. Also obey rule 9 of the

Collision Regulations by either keeping to the

starboard side of the channel or if the water depth

allows outside the buoyed channel.

2. Keep a good lookout. Be aware of all ship

movements, especially astern of you.

3. Do not underestimate the speed of ships. Allow

plenty of time to take effective evasive action in the

vicinity of large ships.

4. Be visible. At night make sure your navigation lights

can be clearly seen. If you see the navigation lights of

a vessel approaching and you think that he has not

seen you, get out of the way. Also use a torch or

search-light to illuminate the sails (if appropriate).

Remember (as indicated in the attached illustration),

from the bridge of a loaded container ship or large

tanker the captain/pilot may lose sight of you a half a

nautical mile ahead, although you can see that ship

clearly from your vessel at all times.

5. Keep watch at night.You may have difficulty seeing a

large ship approach, even on a clear night. In reduced

visibility you may have little warning of its approach. If

you see a black shadow against shore lights or as a

growing shadow, at that point a close quarter

situation is already imminent. Remember you cannot

be easily seen at night (particularly in a background

of lights) and judging distances at night can prove

difficult.

6. Watch the ships navigation lights. If you see both

ships sidelights you are dead ahead, follow the Int.

Collision Regs. and any alteration of course should be

early, substantial and be visible to the approaching

ship. Be aware that ships alter course at the Dublin

Bay buoy and No.3/No.4 buoys. Be aware of your

position and the position of other vessels around you

at all times.

7. Know the whistle signals (see illustration). Five or

more short and rapid blasts on the ships whistle

indicates the ship is in doubt about your action or

the lack thereof. Check immediately if this signal was

meant for you, if so take immediate and appropriate

action.Three short blasts means "my engines are

going astern" one short blast means "I am altering my

course to starboard".Two short blasts "I am altering

my course to port".

8. Keep your VHF tuned to channel 12 the port

working frequency, and have the volume high enough

to hear above the noise of the engine. Listen for

traffic information from Dublin Port V.T.S. Only if you

are the controlling vessel in a flotilla of other vessels,

and you observe a hazardous situation developing, or

in the event of an emergency developing within the

ports jurisdiction, you should transmit on VHF

channel 12.

Remember CH 12 is Dublin Port’s primary working

channel and used to manage port traffic. No private

or unneccessary communications to take place on

this channel.

Dún Laoghaire

SouthBull

NorthBull

Howth

DublinBay

Area 2 Area 3

Area 1

Sorrento point

Inshore Traffic Zone

Burford Bank

AREA TO BE AVOIDEDNorthBurford

SouthBurford

InshoreTraffic Zone

Baily

Limit of Dublin Pilotage District

Limit of Dublin Port District

R W

Area 1- from Dublin Bay Buoy to Poolbeg Lighthouse

Small craft shall not navigate inside the fairway and should remain outside the line of buoys. If it is necessary to cross the

fairway, crossing should be at right angles.

Area 2 - Poolbeg Lighthouse to No. 14 Buoy

Small craft shall comply with the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea and shall keep as near to

the outer limit of the channel which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable. Rule 9 does not apply outside

the channel and craft may pass outside the buoys when and where it is safe to do so. If it is necessary to cross the

channel, e.g. to enter area 3, crossing should be at right angles, at a position abeam of the E.S.B. Jetty (Berth 48).

Area 3 - No. 14 Buoy to the west

All small craft should pass along the south side of the channel, remaining as far as is practicable to that side.

General

All craft shall operate under power when within areas 2 and 3, but may additionally raise their sails outside the channel

but not in the channel.

1. No sailing in the channel, craft should only cross at right angles when it is safe to do so.

2. Maintain a listening watch on channel VHF 12 and avoid unnecessary communication.

Keep a sharp lookout and keep clear of all shipping.

Attention of all skippers is drawn to the annual Notice to Mariners No. 7 concerning small craft.

Capt. David T. Dignam, Harbour Master

1st March 2005

DUBLIN PORT COMPANY

Small Craft (Leisure) Regulations

The port area shall be divided into three areas for purposes of small craft.

NOT TO SCALE. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.

LINE OF SIGHT

1/2 MILE

LARGE SHIPS OFTEN HAVE RESTRICTED VISIBILTY

MANOEUVERING AND

WARNING SIGNALS

EXCERPT FROM RULE 34

These signals may be

supplemented by light signals:

1 Short blast

–

Altering to starboard

2 Short blasts

– –

Altering to port

3 Short blasts

– – –

Going astern

5 or more short blasts

– – – – –

Keep clear

International Regulations for the Prevention of

Collisions at Sea

Rule 9 - Narrow Channels (Excerpt)

(a) A vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway shall keep as near to the outer limit of the

channel or fairway, which lies on her starboard side as, is safe and practicable.

(b) A vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can

safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

fairway.

(d) A vessel shall not cross a narrow channel or fairway if such crossing impedes the passage of a vessel which can

safely navigate only within such channel or fairway.The latter vessel may use the sound signal prescribed in Rule 34(d)

or in doubt as to the intention of the crossing vessel.

Rule 10 - Traffic Separation Schemes (Excerpt)

(i) A vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the safe passage of a power-driven

vessel following a traffic lane.

Collision Avoiding Check List

Avoid the busy shipping channels and routes. Cross them at right angles and as quickly as possible after checking

that it is safe to do so. Recreational users of the port area are particularly requested to be familiar with the Int.

Collision Regulations (particularly Rule 9), Dublin Port Bye Laws, Small Craft (Leisure) Regulations (see chartlet)

and Local Notices to Mariners (particularly No.7). Information is also available on the Dublin Port web site, www.

dublinport.ie.

Remember

Keep a good lookout, particularly at night

Do not under-estimate the speed of ships

Be visible

Watch the lights of other vessels

Know the whistle signals

Keep your VHF tuned to channel 12

Obey any instructions given by Dublin Port VTS.They are also interested in your safety.

UNDERKEEL CLEARANCE CAN BE AS LITTLE AS 1 METRE

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