News

Notice 1 for 2015

All Dun Laoghaire Notices to Mariners are automatically cancelled at 2359 hours on the 31st December 2014.

At that time 2015 Notices to Mariners will come to in to force until specifically cancelled or until 2359 hours on the 31st December 2015.

Previous Notice: No 8 (2014)

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Notice 2 for 2015: FAIRWAY PRIORITIES

The harbour fairways and approaches are generally to be kept clear and free. It is prohibited to anchor or lay moorings in these areas as marked on navigational publications and charts

No Race Marks, Buoys, Floats, etc. are to be laid in the fairways or the near approaches to the harbour – other than by specific, written permission from the Harbour Master

Any Lobster / Crab Pots that are laid shall remain clear of all harbour navigational waters, and slipways

Clear Fairway Priorities
Large Power driven vessels (Ferries, Lighthouse Authorities, Naval) have priority over all other craft, including the area of the harbour limits that extend 600 metres seaward of the harbour mouth

Signals
Large Power driven vessels are to sound a prolonged blast when approaching the harbour mouth from either direction, or the appropriate signal when manoeuvring off, departing or preparing to depart from their berths

Irrespective as to whether or not any such signal is sounded, the obligation remains for small craft to give priority to the large power driven vessels

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Notice 3 for 2015: VHF REPORTING: SOUND & VISUAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS

VHF Reporting
All vessels (including fishing but excluding pleasure craft) are required to call “Harbour Office Dun Laoghaire” on VHF Channel 14 as follows:

1. ETA at Breakwater at least two hours in advance, and for any scheduled ferries & local fishing craft a call at least half an hour in advance
2. ETD at least one hour in advance, followed by confirmation five minutes prior to departure or for scheduled ferries & local fishing craft a call five minutes prior to departure

Sound Signals
All power driven vessels shall on approaches to the harbour mouth (both arriving and departing) sound one prolonged blast on the whistle in accordance with Rule 34(e) of the “International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea”

A vessel shall sound when departing, both by day and night:-
(a) Departing ship’s head out, one prolonged blast on the whistle.
(b) Departing stern first, sound three short blasts on the whistle

A vessel may also sound a preliminary, prolonged blast, just prior to departure, so as to alert other harbour users of its imminent departure

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Notice 4 for 2015: SMALL CRAFT – VARIOUS REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

Main Fairway Large power driven Vessels (Ferries, Lighthouse Authorities, Naval, smaller power-driven vessels with restricted manoeuvrability such as cruise ship tenders etc) have priority over all other craft in the main fairways and harbour approaches

It is incumbent upon each individual small craft, but especially boats engaged in sail training, to ensure early and sufficient action is taken to present a free and unhindered passage to the large power-driven vessels

Attention is also drawn to the “Maritime Safety Act, 2005” whereby the contravention of its Section No. 23 attracts heavy fines and /or terms of imprisonment for, “Dangerous navigation or operation of vessels”; and to the DTTAS Notice No 29 of 2009 – “Small craft operating at entrances to ports”

The Marina Fairway is to be kept clear at all times. Craft transiting to/from sea are to keep on the Starboard side of their fairway

Windsurfing, Paragliding, etc. are NOT permitted within the Harbour unless with specific permission in writing from the Harbour Master

Speed Limits – Speedboats, Jet Skis, etc are to observe a speed of 8 Knots (15 kph) This applies to all craft in Dun Laoghaire Harbour and its approaches. This limit reduces to 4 knots (or no wake) within the marina

Diving, Sub Aqua, Swimming activities, etc are generally NOT permitted within the harbour owing to the danger from water traffic. Application for permission to dive (e.g. for servicing of yacht moorings) must be made in writing. Diving may then take place only when the specific permission (in writing) is received from the Harbour Master. The activity must comply with all the operational conditions of the granted permission

Harbour Recreational Area for Small Craft is the triangular area of the North Bight- westwards of a line from West Pier Lighthouse to the marina west breakwater

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Notice 5 of 2015: PASSENGER SHIP TENDERING

This Notice to Mariners is intended to provide for the regulation of all ship-carried tenders used for transferring passengers from cruise ships anchored in Dublin Bay into Dun Laoghaire Harbour

Anchorage
Passenger ships intending to tender into Dun Laoghaire Harbour should normally anchor within the recommended Dublin Bay anchorage area. Please note that the water that lies between the charted anchorage area and Dun Laoghaire Harbour is used by leisure sailing and yacht racing. This area contains numerous statutorily sanctioned sail racing marker buoys. The position of the buoys can be found listed in the Dublin Port Company, Notice to Mariners No 14 of 2014

Preparation
Special attention should be given to Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Notice 19 of 2014 and a copy of the Safety Proposal Plan required by that notice must be provided to Dun Laoghaire Harbour prior to the commencement of any operations

This Safety Proposal Plan must also contain a Risk Assessment and Standard Operating Procedure specific to tendering operations from the proposed anchorage position into Dun Laoghaire Harbour

If a ship wishes to anchor at a position outside the recommended anchorage area and closer in to the entrance of Dun Laoghaire, a written request must first be submitted to the Dublin Port Harbour Master. This to include the aforementioned Risk Assessment and Standard Operating Procedure and a Communications Plan

Operation restrictions
There is a speed limit of 8 knots within the harbour

All Tenders should stand well clear of any large commercial vessels arriving in to, or departing from, Dun Laoghaire

All Tenders should be aware that many pleasure boats operate in and out of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and they should navigate with caution at all times and the pleasure boats are requested to not obstruct these tenders whilst within Dun Laoghaire Harbour Limits

Attention must be given to the Dublin Port Company, Notice to Mariners No 10 of 2014

Communication Plan
The following should be noted in the Communication plan:

The ship and all its tenders are required to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 12 for VTS Dublin while operating within the Dublin Port area of jurisdiction.

Once tenders cross over into the Dun Laoghaire Harbour area of jurisdiction they should change over to VHF Channel 14.

A Dun Laoghaire Harbour craft will be stationed between the anchored ship and the mouth of Dun Laoghaire Harbour to monitor all tender movements and RIBs will be provided to guide tenders to the tender berth(s)

Tender berths
The primary tender berth is located in the Coal Harbour in the western side of the harbour

Lat: 53° 17.84’ N
Long: 06° 08.63’ W

If more than one cruise ship is operating on the same day a second tender berth will be provided on the east side of Carlisle Pier in the eastern side of the harbour

Lat: 53° 17.70 N
Long: 06° 07.80’ W

On such occasions a second monitoring craft will be stationed within the harbour to direct tenders from both ships to their appropriate berths

By Order
Simon Coate
Harbour Master