Ipswich Harbour Master has asked us to share the following important message:
Whilst we all enjoyed a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend, there were some of us who found it rather stressful. Please see here some pictures taken by the pilots onboard a cargo vessel approaching Ipswich.
These vessels can only navigate within the confines of the buoyed channel.
In Rule 9 of the Convention of the International Regulations for the Preventing of Collision at Sea 1972, a vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway is obliged to keep "as near to the outer limit of the channel or fairway which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable." The same Rule obliges a vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel not to impede the passage of a vessel "which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway."
In plain terms, that means that a vessel should take early action to avoid inconveniencing the larger vessel which can only navigate safely between the buoys (eg. every commercial cargo vessel calling Ipswich). If the cargo vessel must sound its horn to alert you of a perceived dangerous situation, you can assume that you have taken insufficient action.
Also please appreciate that what may seem a lot of space to you, is not the same as what can be seen from a cargo vessel. So, consider when and how you over take each other, where you pull down your sails (preferably NOT in the middle of the channel), how much space you give to cargo vessels and ask yourself do I really have to be in the channel or can I safely navigate outside the line of the buoys.
Make sure you know the Prevention of Collision at Sea Regulations and apply them correctly.
Many thanks for your consideration.
