Port of London - River Thames
SAFETY OF NAVIGATION
CONSULTATION NOTICE
SECOND INFORMAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION
REVIEW OF THAMES BYELAWS 2012
FURTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Introduction
The Port of London Authority (PLA) undertook an informal public consultation in July 2015
regarding revisions to a number of its byelaws, which followed a scheduled 3-yearly review of the
Port of London Thames Byelaws 2012.
Further Proposed Amendments
As a result of that consultation and in the light of experience and the ongoing development of the
Port’s marine Safety Management System, the PLA is proposing the following, further changes to
the Thames Byelaws.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Amendments to Byelaw 15 – Restrictions on Mooring - which has been developed
further following the initial consultation in July 2015;
Amendments to Byelaw 22 – Local Knowledge Requirements – which tightens local
knowledge requirements on those vessels being operated under a Certificate of
Compliance;
Amendments to Byelaw 29 – Modification of the International Collision Regulations – this
is to give more clarity to this byelaw regarding vessel lengths; and
A new Byelaw – Byelaw 59 is proposed regulating activity associated with repairs to
licensed works and structures.
Informal Public Consultation
Additional draft amendments to the Thames Byelaws 2012 are therefore offered for informal
public consultation, prior to, in due course, the formal public consultation required by the Port of
London Act; through which the PLA will seek the confirmation of the Byelaws by the Secretary of
State, which will bring the Byelaws into force. A copy of the proposed revisions to the Byelaws is
attached for your information, and the various proposed changes to the existing Byelaws are
highlighted in red.
Any comments you may have in response to this consultation exercise should be addressed, in
writing, to Darren Knight, Deputy Harbour Master (Safety Management) at the address below or
by e-mail: [email protected], to arrive no later than Friday 18 March 2016.
We are happy to answer any queries over the phone (Tel: 01474 562200), but regret that verbal
submissions cannot be accepted.
Please help us to manage the feedback effectively by using the designated e-mail
response address: [email protected]
THAMES BYELAWS 2012
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Amendment
15.
RESTRICTIONS ON MOORING
Except in an emergency, the master of a vessel must not, without the permission of the
harbourmaster, cause or permit the vessel to be berthed or moored:
a) at any docks, landing places, other works and land at any time vested in, belonging to or
administered by the PLA;
b) so as to obstruct or interfere with navigation, any public access to the Thames or the access
to a dock entrance;
c) at any bridge, river wall or other structure, in over or under the Thames while works of
construction, demolition, repair, renewal or maintenance to the bridge, wall or other structure
are being carried out; or
d) to any work, structure, post, ring or other thing or place not provided for that purpose.
Amendment
22. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
22.1 The master of any vessel which is:
a) less than 40 metres but greater than 13.7 metres in length overall, and not subject to
compulsory pilotage; or
b) operating with a certificate of compliance issued by the harbourmaster under the provisions
of Byelaw 16(3)(d); or
c) less than 13.7 metres in length overall engaged in towing or carrying passengers; and
d) not a pleasure vessel
if navigating and/or working in the Thames local knowledge area, is required to hold a valid
Boatmaster’s Licence Thames Local Knowledge Endorsement; or alternatively, to demonstrate
such local knowledge to an equivalent standard, through assessment by the PLA.
Amendment
29
MODIFICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COLLISION REGULATIONS
Notwithstanding Part C of and Annex I to the International Collision Regulations:
a) on a power-driven vessel of 20 metres or more but less than 50 metres in length, the forward
masthead light, or if only one masthead light is carried then that light, need not be placed at a
greater height above the hull than 3.5 metres;
b) on a power-driven vessel that ordinarily navigates both above and below London Bridge the
masthead light or lights may, when the vessel is navigating above Cherry Garden Pier, be
placed at any convenient height above the hull;
c) Rules 24 (e), (f), (g) and (h) and 27 of the International Collision Regulations do not apply to
a barge; and
d) Rule 30(d) of the International Collision Regulations does not apply to a barge, a berthed
vessel, or to any vessel above Cherry Garden Pier.
New Byelaw
59. REPAIR OF LICENSED WORKS AND STRUCTURES
59.1 Subject to Byelaw 59.3, before undertaking or allowing to be undertaken to a licensed work, or
any other structure, any inspection, maintenance, repair or renewal, involving vessels and/or
marine operations that will or are likely to become an obstruction, danger or impediment to the
safety of persons or vessels on the Thames, the holder of an existing works licence, or owner of
any other structure, must at least four weeks before the proposed inspection, maintenance, repair
or renewal, consult with the harbourmaster on the navigational and safety issues arising.
59.2 The holder of an existing works licence, or the owner of any other structure, must:
a) provide to the harbourmaster the findings of any comprehensive risk assessment requested
by the harbourmaster as a result of the consultation under byelaw 59.1; and
b) comply with any measures or conditions issued by the harbourmaster to avoid any
obstruction, danger or impediment to the safety of persons or vessels on the Thames for the
duration of any proposed inspection, maintenance, repair or renewal of a licensed work, or
any other structure.
59.3 Prior to or on undertaking any emergency inspection, maintenance, repair or renewal, involving
vessels and/or marine operations that will or are likely to become an obstruction, danger or
impediment to the safety of persons or vessels on the Thames, the holder of an existing works
licence, or owner of any other structure must, without delay:
a) inform the harbourmaster;
b) consult with the harbourmaster on the navigational and safety issues arising; and
c) comply with any measures or conditions issued by the harbourmaster to avoid any
obstruction, danger or impediment to the safety of persons or vessels on the Thames for the
duration of that proposed emergency inspection, maintenance, repair or renewal of a
licensed work, or any other structure.
59.4 In this byelaw:
a) “works licence” means a licence granted under section 66 of the Act;
b) “licensed work” means a work for which there is an existing licence under section 66,
c) “owner” in relation to any other structure includes any person responsible for the inspection,
maintenance, repair or renewal of that structure; and
d) “any other structure” means any structure in, under or over the Thames which is not subject to
any consent under the Act.
3 February 2016
Port of London Authority
London River House
Royal Pier Road
Gravesend, Kent DA12 2BG
DAVID PHILLIPS
CHIEF HARBOUR MASTER
th
Expiry Date:18 March 2016
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please contact us at [email protected]
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