At a meeting with representatives of Whitby Harbour Users, held at Whitby Yacht Club on the 29 April 2002, the following acts of normal and best practice were agreed to be applicable within Whitby Harbour.
If all harbour users apply the following examples of good and proper practice then the existing safe situation should be preserved within the harbour.
The Safety of Navigation within Whitby Harbour
All vessels should proceed at moderate speed. Maximum speeds of 8 Knots between the entrance and Scotch Head and 5 Knots in all other areas will shortly be set by Byelaw. The skippers of all craft should be aware that they are responsible for the wake caused by the passage of their vessel and should proceed at such a speed as to minimise any effects.
When transiting the bridge, craft upstream should give way to vessels proceeding from seawards. Precedence should be given to the larger trawlers and no vessel should attempt to transit the bridge when a cargo vessel, under pilotage, is entering or leaving. Both leaves will be opened to smaller craft at busy periods and they will be expected to proceed through simultaneously upstream and downstream in an orderly line keeping to the starboard side of the channel.
All craft equipped with VHF should maintain a listening watch on Channel 11 when approaching and within Whitby Harbour.
Sailing vessels should not proceed under sail alone in the outer harbour if this involves tacking across the navigation channel. The practice of leaving the helm to adjust, raise or lower sails should only be carried out outside of the navigation channel and when no obstruction will be caused to other vessels under way.
Harbour Watchkeepers will give information on tidal height, tidal flows, navigation marks, sea conditions and existing weather conditions but will not make judgements. They can be contacted on Channel 11 VHF.
When cargo vessels are moving within the port, under pilotage, all other craft must give way and when directed should hold their position or remain alongside until such vessel has passed.
Vessels waiting to transit the swing bridge may remain on the fish quay as long as they remain manned and do not cause obstruction to the fishing industry.
Small passenger-carrying vessels should not deviate from the proper side of the channel or swing across the navigation channel until they are absolutely sure that their actions will not conflict with the safe passage of all other vessels.
The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea apply within Whitby Harbour and the operators of all vessels are expected to have a thorough knowledge of them.
It is expected that new Byelaws will shortly be introduced to assist in the control of navigation within Whitby Harbour. These will cover such areas as operating vessels under the influence of drink or drugs, proceeding at a safe speed, the movement and operation of large vessels, proper mooring within the harbour and other safety-related issues.