PORT CONTROL

 

Customs and Immigration

Masters of all vessels arriving in Guernsey must complete (immediately upon arrival, before any crew member goes ashore), the Customs and Immigration declaration given to them by Port Control staff. Completed forms must be placed in one of the yellow Customs boxes or returned to a duty Customs official afloat. In addition, vessels arriving from any port outside the Bailiwick of Guernsey must display a Q flag on entry. All persons on board vessels arriving from places other than the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland must be in possession of a valid travel document.

Arrival

Visiting craft will be met on arrival by a member of the Marina staff, who will issue mooring directions. Formal entry may be made at the Marina Office for logging. All visiting vessels must clear inwards at the main harbour of St Peter Port, regardless of whichever marina they moor in. Mooring in the QEII Marina is by prior arrangement only.

Port Entry and Exit Signals

Commercial vessels are severely constrained by their draught whilst manoeuvring within the Harbour and the approaches and small craft are to be kept well clear. A red light at the pierhead and on the south end of the jetty and Inter-Island Quay indicates that large vessels are under way and prohibits entry and exit of other vessels except small boats of 15m or less under power, which may proceed keeping well clear.

Speed Limits

Speed limits from four to six knots, as shown on the plan of the Pool and Marinas, are in force in St Peter Port Harbour. A speed limit of six knots is in force in most of the bays around the coast of Guernsey and in the approaches to Herm and Jethou. There is also a speed limit of six knots off most of the bathing beaches in Herm and at Rosaire anchorage.

Moorings for Visiting Yachts

(a) In the Victoria Marina: Moorings alongside pontoons are available for boats up to a maximum of 42ft (12.8m) LOA and a maximum draught of 6ft (1.8m). The sill height is 4.2m above chart datum, with access to the marina approximately 2.5 hours either side of high water. Entry is controlled by the marina staff. Control lights are positioned on both pierheads at the entrance to the Victoria Marina.

(b) In the Pool: If the moorings within the Marinas are full or the craft is unsuitable, yachts may be directed to moor on pontoons laid east of the Marina Entrance. When the tide is low, a waiting pontoon is provided adjacent to the entrance. Dinghy landing pontoons (for the use of those visiting yachts moored on the pontoons) are at the end of the Victoria Pier and adjacent to the Marina Office.

Fuel

(a) It is strictly forbidden to refuel in the Marina or anywhere else in the harbour except at a designated fuelling berth.

(b) Store all petrol in metal containers.

(c) Place adequate fire-fighting equipment in position to deal with engine and cooking appliance fires.

(d) The use of barbecues is strictly forbidden in the Marina and in the Pool area.

(e) Fuel (diesel, LRP, ULMS) is available from the Boatworks+ Fuel Berth at the Castle Emplacement (accessible approximately half tide up to half tide down dependent upon draught) and the QEII Marina.

In addition LPG is available solely at the QEII Fuel Berth. Should congestion occur at the Fuel Berth in the Pool at the Castle Emplacement, boatowners are advised that the QEII Fuel Berth is available for use.

PLEASE DO NOT leave yacht tenders on any steps as they may seriously impede local boatowners and commercial traffic and may be removed by the Harbour staff. Also visiting yachtsmen found navigating dinghies in an un-seamanlike manner or travelling at excessive speed within the Harbour/Marina may have the dinghies impounded for the duration of their stay in port. In the interest of safety, dinghies must not be used in the Marina.

PLEASE DO NOT lay alongside piers, jetties or ships, moor up on private moorings or moor on your own anchor without the prior permission of the Harbour Authorities.

PLEASE DO NOT leave your vessel unattended for more than 24 hours except by prior arrangement with the Duty Dockmaster, Marina Office.

Swimming and diving in any part of the Harbour, including the Marina, are prohibited.

Yachtsmen are requested not to play audio equipment at a level that disturbs other Marina-users. Audio equipment may not be used after 2300. Batteries may be charged by engines only between 0800 and 1200.

Water is available on the pontoons but not for the purpose of washing down boats as consumption in the island in the summer months is very high.

PLEASE DO NOT use on-board toilets when moored in the Marina, in the Harbour or in Havelet Bay. Lavatories and showers are available on the Quay.

Refuse Disposal and Pump-Out Facility

Refuse skips are provided.

PLEASE DO NOT throw rubbish into the Harbour or leave it on the pontoons, as well as being unpleasant it is also an offence in law. Boatowners requiring a pump-out facility are requested to contact the Marina staff.

Duration of Stay

Visiting yachts intending to say longer than 14 days should obtain the prior permission of the Harbour Authorities.

Animals On Board

Because of Rabies, all vessels arriving in the Harbour with animals on board will be subject to controlled mooring.

The landing of animals from vessels arriving in Guernsey directly or indirectly from elsewhere other than the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey or the other islands of the Bailiwick is strictly prohibited. Any animal on board any such vessel in harbour in the Bailiwick or at anchor or moored in the territorial waters adjacent thereto must remain securely confined with an enclosed part of the vessel from which it cannot escape. Any such animal found ashore or not confined on the vessel will be detained and may be subject to six months' quarantine or destroyed and the Master of the vessel prosecuted. Unless express permission is granted by a Customs Officer, no vessel with an animal on board may moor alongside a pontoon or quay. Under no circumstances will any vessel irrespective of its last port of call be permitted to enter the marinas with any animal aboard.

Insurance

All vessels must hold a minimum third party insurance indemnity of £1,000,000.

Radio Facilities

St Peter Port Radio provides emergency cover when required and maintains a 24-hours watch on VHF Channel 16. VHF D/F bearings can also be provided on VHF Channels 16 or 67 (after initial call on Channel 16). The aerial position for D/F purposes is 049 26.27'N 002 35.77'W. Normal working frequencies of St Peter Port Radio is VHF Channel 20 (direct calling). The telephone number of St Peter Port Radio is 01481 720085. Port Control's working channel is VHF 12; this channel should be monitored by mariners entering/exiting St Peter Port to be aware of any impending commercial movements and is not to be used for berthing information and general inquiries. Berthing instructions will be given verbally by the Marina staff when meeting yachts on arrival. Channel M (37A) and Channel M2 (80) are manned during normal office hours Monday to Friday, call sign St Peter Port Marina.

Public Correspondence Service

St Peter Port Radio accepts link calls to and from ships at sea. The service operates on VHF Channel 62 and vessels are requested to call in the first instance direct on this frequency if not in use. The charges are in line with other Coast Stations operating public correspondence on VHF. Payment by YTD billing is not acceptable; therefore vessels are requested to use their accounting authority. Information with regards to link calls can be found in The Radio Operator's Handbook which should be carried on all licensed vessels. The telephone number for making link calls from land via St Peter Port Radio is 01481 710277. Regular weather bulletins will be posted at the Marina Office; teletext information is also available. Mail may be sent to the Harbour Master's Office from where it will be forwarded on to the Marina Facilities.

Radio Beacon - St Peter Port

(a) A radio beacon in position (South) Breakwater Lighthouse, St Peter Port (049 27.37 N 002 31.37'W) is continuous on a frequency of 304.5 KHz, identification signal "GY", range 10 miles. The radio beacon is synchronised with the fog-horn for distance finding. A blast begins simultaneously with 27-second long dash after GY identification signals. The number of seconds from the start of the long dash until the blast is heard (x0.18) is the distance from the horn.

(b) An aeronautical Radio Beacon in position 049 26.2 N 002 38.3 W is continuous on a frequency of 361 KHz, identification "GRB", range 25 miles.

Racon Beacon

Platte Fougère Lighthouse (position 049 30.88 N 002 29.1 W), identification signal "P".