Navigation Bylaw

The Navigation Safety Bylaw has been made by the Council to regulate and control activities and prevent nuisances arising.

For recreational boats the key points in the Bylaw are:

Personal Flotation Devices

All persons on vessels 6m or less in length are required to wear a personal flotation device.
All vessels are required to have sufficient personal flotation devices of the right size for each person board.
Speed
When within 200m from shore, structure or a vessel flying a dive flag, your speed should be 5 knots or less.
When within 50m of another vessel, raft or person in the water, your speed should be 5 knots or less.

High risk area Video

Speed

When within 200m from shore, structure or a vessel flying a dive flag, your speed should be 5 knots or less.
When within 50m of another vessel, raft or person in the water, your speed should be 5 knots or less.
Add link to video: https://cruiseguide.co.nz/marlborough-sounds/boating-and-navigation/high-risk-areas
Vessel Identification
All vessels in Marlborough are to display identification.
- Acceptable forms of identification include:
  - Trailer registration
  - Vessel Callsign
  - Approved sporting body
  - MNZ numbers
  - A name or number distinct to the boat (in water boats)
- It does not include the make, brand or model of the boat.
- For more information on vessel identification, please contact the Harbour Office.
  Communications
Vessels are to have 2 forms of communication.
- Vessels operating near Tory Channel Entrance or French Pass are to have VHF radios.
- Non-powered vessels operating within 200m of shore only need 1 form of waterproof communication.
  Add link to video: https://cruiseguide.co.nz/marlborough-sounds/boating-and-navigation/communication
  Moving Prohibited Zone.
Vessel less than 500 GT are to keep clear or vessels over 500 GT by at least 500m ahead of the large ship, and 50m either side or astern of the ship.
Insert link to video here on page. https://cruiseguide.co.nz/marlborough-sounds/boating-and-navigation/ferries-and-ships
Restricted Area and Anchoring in Picton Harbour
There is a restricted area in Picton Harbour to keep recreational vessels clear of the main port working area. Recreational vessels should only enter this area when going to or coming from a marine service provider in the Port area.

Ski and Swim Lanes Water Skiing

Recognising the wide enjoyment of water skiing, Marlborough District Council has set aside specific areas where this activity can legally take place from beaches.

Areas set aside are shown in the list below. The five knot speed limit does not apply in these marked areas. Direction of travel is anticlockwise except at Kumutoto Bay where the direction of travel is clockwise.

The designated access lanes are:

Ngakuta Bay, Grove Arm
Umungata (Davies) Bay, Grove Arm
Bottle Bay, Grove Arm
Kaipakirikiri Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui
Kumutoto Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui
Double Beach, Kenepuru Sound
Te Mahia Bay, Kenepuru Sound
Worlds End, Tennyson Inlet
Okiwi Bay, Outer Sounds

Note: In Kumutoto Bay only, the ski lane runs contrary to convention and is different to the other ski lanes found in the Marlborough Sounds. This is due to the topography of the shoreline.

Water skiing video

Swimming Areas

The areas are defined by yellow buoys and are reserved for swimming only between Labour Weekend and Easter of the following year. There are swimming rafts associated with the Waikawa Bay and Picton Foreshore areas.

The swimming areas are located at:

Picton Foreshore

Shelley Beach

Waikawa Bay

Havelock Channel

The Havelock Channel has been speed uplifted to 8 knots under the Bylaw. This is to enable vessels to maintain better steerage and control in the Channel. See a link to a video about how to navigate in the Havelock Channel.

Havelock Channel video