ENTERING THE HARBOUR

The following rules apply:

• Small Boats must enter and leave the harbour through the Small Boat Channel.
• All craft fitted with engines, when navigating in the Approach Channel to Portsmouth Harbour, are to proceed under power between No 4 Bar Buoy and the Ballast Beacon. Vessels greater than 20 metres in length may only use the Small Boat Channel with the express permission of KHM on VHF Channel 11. Permission will only be granted if traffic levels are sufficiently low to allow safe passage for all vessels using the Small Boat Channel.
• The Small Boat Channel may only be entered or exited by vessels approaching from the east at its northern or southern extremities.
• A traffic pattern is established around Ballast Beacon; Small Boats entering the harbour are to pass close to the east of Ballast Beacon and those exiting close to the west.
• Small Boats crossing the harbour entrance may only do so to the north of Ballast Beacon or to the south of No 4 Bar Buoy.
• Small Boats, save those listed below, are not to loiter in the Small Boat Channel.
• Small Boats should remain on the Starboard side of the Small Boat Channel and should adjust their speed to remain within the Small Boat Channel rather than overtake and be forced into the main channel.
• All vessels using the Small Boat Channel are to leave 4 Bar Buoy to port, whether heading inbound or outbound.
• In vicinity of BC Outer (red beacon), all vessels are to pass to the east of the beacon except those joining or leaving the Small Boat Channel at the Inner Swashway who are to leave it to port. This area can become extremely busy, particularly during the summer months, and mariners joining here should converge with caution and avoid forcing others out in to the middle of the harbour entrance. Similarly, all mariners should be alert to strong cross currents in this area which can sweep vessels in to the main channel.