Publication date : 02/09/2024 | Update : 29/10/2024
In each port, a reference document
These are known as the Internal Regulations and Port Police Regulations, Port regulations, General regulations governing the police and use of the port…
Whatever it’s called, it’s a document that every boater must read and approve when signing a mooring or storage contract in one of our afloat or dry ports.
It is a regulatory document designed to ensure the efficient management of the marina, the safety of boats and all users, and the preservation of the environment within the harbour or marina.
The Port Regulations apply to all users, whether professional sailors or boaters, but also to all categories of vessels: sailing or motorized, moving in the port or parked.
In each of the ports in the Port Adhoc network, a single regulatory document defines several elements:
- Key regulatory principles
- General safety and security rules
- How to behave during navigation
- Storage and mooring rules
- Use of facilities and services
- Good conduct for the environment
- A few rules for good behavior towards other users
- Special measures to take in an emergency
- …
Port regulations and their main principles
As a general rule, the reference document begins by identifying the various players: the port authority, the port manager and the port users, whether professionals or pleasure boaters. The text then details the powers, rights and obligations of the various users, to ensure that the port is used in the best possible conditions.
It can set out the penalties and sanctions that will be applied in the event of non-compliance: a fine, a temporary mooring ban, or even a breach of contract accompanied by expulsion from the port.
Finally, the Port Regulations are a text prepared and drafted by the competent authorities on a given date, which appears on the document. Taking into account the needs of all port users and the evolution of usage, they are regularly revised.
Some port safety rules
The Port Police Regulations contain a number of safety rules designed to avoid the risk of accidents. They specify the conditions of access to the various port facilities – parking lots, premises, sheds, lifting and careening areas, pontoons, etc. – as well as any restrictions.
In marinas, appropriate signage reminds all users of the regulations.
Port navigation regulations
The document also describes navigation regulations. During a stopover, for example, an arriving boater must report to the port authorities by VHF or telephone before entering the harbour, and then follow the instructions given.
In some cases, a reception pontoon allows you to park your boat for a few minutes, while you complete entry formalities at the harbour master’s office.
In the entrance channel and in the harbour, for safety reasons and for the comfort of all, sailing speed is limited. Sailing is generally prohibited.
The harbour regulations may detail priority rules, the proper use of light or sound signals – day and/or night, and any areas dedicated to boat maneuvering. In some cases, the document may also specify that specific boats are not allowed to circulate.
Instructions for port storage
Whether you choose to park your boat afloat or afloat, for a short or long time, you can only stay in the space designated by marina staff. In some cases, owners with mooring contracts are asked to announce their departures and returns to the marina in advance.
In some marinas, pulverulent boats must also be moored in a certain way: in the Mediterranean, for example, hanging mooring is compulsory.
When ports offer shore parking, boaters are asked not to park any objects under the bowsers: in case of need – particularly in the event of a bad weather forecast or fire – the port authorities must be able to move the boats as quickly as possible!
Rules for using port services
In ports and marinas, the use of facilities is also subject to compliance with port regulations by all users. For example, water supply and electricity connections are subject to access conditions, of which boaters are informed.
The use of any port infrastructure is subject to specific regulations. Passing through a harbour service station, for example, generally requires the boater to comply with certain safety procedures. The use of a slipway, too, may be prohibited at certain times or for specific boats.
Port rules to protect the environment
In the Port Police Regulations, boaters will also find a number of rules to be respected in terms of wastesorting and management. They are asked to sort their waste before depositing it at the appropriate collection points. These are available in all Port Adhoc Group ports!
It is forbidden to discharge wastewater and hydrocarbons into the sea under any circumstances.
When it comes to work carried out within the Group’s harbours, there are a few common-sense rules to be observed. To protect the environment, boat cleaning and careening, for example, can only take place in dedicated areas.
➡️ Read also:
How to manage waste on board? Our advice
Behaviour guidelines
The behavior expected of boaters, as often specified in the various documents, is primarily aimed at facilitating cohabitation between users.
A few simple rules will enable everyone to enjoy the harbour comfortably, without suffering nuisance or material damage caused, often unintentionally, by other boaters.
For example, we are often asked not to make noise after a certain hour or, in dry ports in particular, not to carry out powdery work (sanding, spray-painting, using a grinder, etc.) in the vicinity of other boats.
What to do in an emergency
Depending on the marina concerned, the Port Police Regulations may set out procedures to be followed in the event of an evacuation. The instructions to be followed in the event of fire, for example, often complement the signage already present in the various areas of the marina.
Finally, the document can also specify the conduct to be adopted by boaters in the event of an extreme weather event – for example, particularly strong winds associated with high tidal coefficients.
You now know all the important points contained in the regulations of a port or marina. Don’t forget: wherever Port Adhoc welcomes boaters, whether afloat or afloat, the regulations are available from the harbour master’s office. Don’t hesitate to contact our teams on site to consult them!
