Revised Marine Bye-Laws Marine
The revised Bye-Laws have come into effect and members should be aware of how the revised Bye-Laws will affect them. The Marine Bye-Laws have not been altered since 2012. The Marine Office has found that some of the Bye-Laws have been circumvented, some require updating, some no longer have relevance and some new ones are required after receiving complaints and suggestions from members. The revision of the Bye-Laws has taken the best part of two years of discussion in the Marine Sub-Committee and the Sailing Committee. The mooring, hard standing and marina agreements have also been updated and many of the conditions moved into the Bye-Laws to make the new agreement shorter and simpler. The revised Bye-Laws can be found on the Club website, in the members area, under Documents/Membership/Bye-Laws. We will though give a brief explanation of how the new Bye-Laws affect members, and the reasons for the changes, below. The HKSAR Marine Department are vigorously checking on moorings and the boats that are on them. Demerit points can now be awarded to the Club for infringements of the MarDep mooring regulations. If a mooring is given enough demerit points then the mooring will be terminated by MarDep and taken away from the Club. This has led to the Bye-Laws being tightened up with regards to unauthorised use of moorings, multiple boats tying up to each other on a mooring, unlicensed boats being on a mooring and an overlength boat being on a mooring to mention a few. Marine Department have conducted regular checks of the boats on our moorings and have found boats that are unlicensed on the mooring. The Bye-Laws have therefore been altered as follows.
space for them to moor alongside is tight. Therefore, any non-class boat that is alongside taking up space will be penalized as above.
• Members may not sublet or permit any other vessel to use or occupy any Marine Facility allocated to them without prior permission from the Marine Office.
The boatyard pontoon at Kellett Island, as shown on the Club website under marine/usage of pontoons, is for use for boatyard related work only. The exception to this rules if when there is a major regatta and a class is instructed to use the area. These are the new Bye-lays regarding the boatyard pontoon.
• Members owning a Vessel occupying any of the Club’s Marine Facilities are obliged to submit copies of valid HKSAR Marine Department licence (if required) and insurance documentation within one week of the date of the licence or insurance renewal. • Members with a Vessel occupying any of the Club’s Marine Facilities whose new HKSAR Marine Department licence (if required) or insurance policy has not been shown to the Marine Office within one month of the expiry of the old certificate shall be charged an additional administration fee as determined from time to time by the General Committee. This is presently set at $500 per day. • Failure to produce valid insurance or licencing documentation for a Vessel occupying any of the Club’s Marine Facilities within two months of the renewal date may result in the termination of the Marine Facilities Agreement. • The Club will not launch any Vessel stored on any Club hardstanding unless the Marine Office has been provided with a valid insurance policy and, if required, a HKSAR Marine Department licence. • Members with a Vessel on a Club mooring will not moor any other vessel alongside except a HKSAR Marine Department approved tender or a small manually propelled craft required for the purpose of transporting the Member or his crew ashore. • Any vessel occupying a Club mooring, pontoon or marina berth without the permission of the Marine Manager will be charged an unauthorised usage charge as determined from time to time by the General Committee. The Marine Office, without giving notice to owner, can remove the vessel from the mooring, pontoon or marina berth to any appropriate location, at the cost and risk of the owner. This is presently set at $500 per day.
The pontoons at Shelter Cove, Kellett Island and Middle Island may be used by members non class boats during the week or when there is no class racing. With Class racing attracting more boats than previously,
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| JANUARY 2022 AHOY!
• Pontoons at Shelter Cove (with the exception of Shelter Cove Marina), Middle Island and Causeway Bay are provided primarily to accommodate the launching and mooring of Class boats for racing. From 0900 hours on the day preceding a day when Class racing is scheduled at a particular location to 0900 hours on the day following the scheduled race day, no vessel other than Club operated boats and Class racing yachts may lay alongside the pontoon(s) unless with the express permission of the Marine Office. • The restricted areas of each of the pontoons is shown on the Club’s website.
• The boatyard pontoon may only be used with the permission of the Boatyard Manager. • The use of the boatyard pontoon by any vessel is limited to 30 days. Any extension of stay beyond 30 days can only be granted by the Marine Sub-Committee. • Any vessel using the boatyard pontoon will be charged a daily rate as determined from time to time by the General Committee. At present the fee is $ 500.
At Middle Island, where the pontoons are constructed of plastic, so that they can survive typhoons better, the revised Bye-Laws are: • Subject to the following exceptions, vessels longer than 40 feet shall not tie up or lie alongside the pontoon: a. Any vessel assigned to any aspect of race management; including but not limited to committee boats, umpire boats, mark laying boats and safety boats; b. Class boats which are based at Middle Island, either on a permanent basis or on a temporary basis in accordance with the sailing calendar; c. Any vessel coming alongside in the designated zone for up to an hour to collect passengers, pick up provisions or fill up with water; and, d. Any vessel whose owner has obtained the express approval of the Marine Manager to tie up or lie alongside the pontoon. • Members who infringe the rules as stated above will be subject to an unauthorised usage charge as determined from time to time by the General Committee. At present the fee is $500 per infringement.
