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Harbour Regulations and Enforcement

All vessels and persons using the harbour are obliged to follow the General Directions as made by the Littlehampton Harbour Board.  A person who fails to comply with a General Direction, or who intentionally obstructs or threatens an officer of the Board, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (up to £2,500).

Recent prosecutions:

  • The owner of a Jet Ski was fined £1,000 and must pay £100 victim surcharge and £780 costs after being found guilty of transiting “the narrows” at the harbour entrance at speeds exceeding 50 knots on Sunday 1st August 2021
  • The owners of two Jet Skis berthed within Littlehampton Harbour were each fined £200 and must each pay £30 victim surcharge and £500 costs after being found guilty of exceeding the speed limit on the River Arun between Littlehampton and Ford on 15th September 2019.
  • The owner of a 25ft motorboat berthed within Litltehampton Harbour was fined £1,000 and must pay £50 victim surcharge and £1,690 costs after being found guilty of not listening to the port’s designated VHF radio channel, failing to comply with verbal directions from harbour staff and subsequently impeding the passage of a large commercial vessel on 3rd August 2019.
  • The skipper of a 21ft sailing yacht berthed within Littlehampton Harbour was fined £300 and must pay £30 victim surcharge and £500 costs after being found guilty of not listening to the port’s designated VHF radio channel and subsequently impeding the passage of a large commercial vessel on 3rd August 2019

Click Here for a handy Pocket Guide summarising the Littlehampton Harbour General Directions

Click Here for the full Littlehampton Harbour General Directions document containing the full regulations.

Click Here for the Enforcement Policy followed by the Harbour Master and his patrol staff. 

MCA Guidance and applicable UK regulations for pleasure vessels

International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at sea – two page summary

External regulations for leisure vessels – further advice for leisure vessels and some detail on what external regulations apply can be found in this document which covers the following topics:

  • Definition of ‘passenger ship’
  • Safety equipment requirements
  • SOLAS V for pleasure craft
  • Passage planning
  • Radar Reflectors
  • Life Saving Signals
  • Assistance to Other Craft
  • Misuse of Distress Signals
  • Navigation light requirements
  • Pollution and waste

More specific information can be obtained by researching the individually mentioned regulations or by contacting the MCA.