The harbour limits of the Ports of South Wales, are defined formally in the relevant British Transport Docks Acts 1972, and encompass areas as shown on Admiralty Charts 1161 and 1182. Within these areas Associated British Ports (ABP), the owner and operator of the Ports of Swansea, Port Talbot, Barry and Cardiff, is the Statutory Harbour Authority, the Competent Harbour Authority and the Local Lighthouse Authority with responsibility, respectively, for safety of navigation, pilotage and fixed and floating aids to navigation. In the River Usk these functions are provided by Newport Harbour Commissioners.
From 1 May 2004 all the harbour areas came under 24-hour radar surveillance from a new marine control centre, known by the call sign 'Severn VTS' (VTS stands for Vessel Traffic Service), located on the top floor of the Port of Cardiff's port office. The officers manning Severn VTS, all experienced mariners, communicate with commercial vessels in the harbours and their approaches on VHF Channel 69 to ensure that essential information becomes available in time for on-board navigational decision-making. This takes the form of reports on the position, identity and intentions of other traffic; waterway conditions; weather; navigational hazards; and any other factors that may influence the vessel's transit.
With several thousand shipping movements recorded annually it is essential that commercial and leisure interests coexist within the harbours in absolute safety. To achieve this objective, in addition to the statutory requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (as amended), the various port bye-laws, and all applicable maritime legislation, the following guidance is given to persons with specific responsibility for small vessels [1]:
- Maintain, so as practicable, a listening watch on VHF Channel 69 when within any of the harbour limits and in the approaches thereto. If it is necessary to change to another VHF Channel, for example to call Cardiff Bay Barrage Control or Swansea Marina, return to Channel 69 as soon the communication ends.
- Keep clear of the main shipping channel when commercial vessels are approaching or departing.
- Keep to the edge and avoid navigating in the deep water in the centre of the channel. If it is necessary to cross a channel do so as quickly as possible and at a right angle.
- Do not anchor or wait (underway but not making way) in the approaches or the main shipping channel. In Cardiff this requirement is of particular relevance to small vessels waiting to enter Cardiff Bay Barrage Outer Harbour.Avoid approaching too close to commercial vessels. A ship's master on the bridge wing on one side of a large ship can quickly lose sight of a small vessel passing down the ship's opposite side. Even on a relatively small commercial vessel a master will be unable to see a small vessel crossing his bow at a distance of less than 500 metres. Be aware that commercial vessels can not stop or turn quickly and may, because of their draught, be extremely limited in their ability to manoeuvre.
- Be aware that the tidal streams within the harbours can be extreme. The Bristol Channel has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world.
- Be aware that commercial vessels may have attendant tugs working some distance from the vessel, and that tugs can, and frequently do, travel sideways as well as ahead and astern.
- Notify Severn VTS of any incident, close quarters situation or accident observed or experienced within any of the harbours and any defective aid to navigation. Severn VTS may be contacted on VHF Channel 69 or by telephone on 0845 6018870 [2]
- Be aware of the content of all local Notices to Mariners promulgated by ABP by checking club notice boards and Severn VTS' own website.
1] "small vessel" means any vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel and for the purposes of this definition "sailing vessel" means a vessel designed to carry sail, whether as the sole or as a primary or supplementary means of propulsion. 2] Please note that all calls to this number are recorded.
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