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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 8

Notice to Mariners No. 1 of 1915.

Marine Department,
Wellington, 13th January, 1915.

THE following Notices to Mariners, received from the Board of Trade, London; the Hydrographic Office, Washington, D.C.; the Hydrographic Office, London; and the Department of Communications, Tokyo, are published for general information.

GEORGE ALLPORT,
Secretary.

ENGLAND, EAST COAST.

RIVER THAMES.—SPECIAL REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO TRAFFIC.—All traffic into and out of the River Thames must pass through the Edinburgh Channels, or through the Black Deep south of the Knock John and Knob light-buoys, and through the Oaze Deep, until further notice.

No vessels are to remain under way in the above-mentioned channels inside the Sunk Head light-buoy, or within a line joining the South Long Sand and East Shingles buoys, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Vessels at anchor within these limits must not exhibit any lights between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

All other channels are closed to navigation.

THAMES ENTRANCE.—CLOSING OF CERTAIN CHANNELS AND SPECIAL REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO NAVIGATION.—For the purposes of national defence it is considered necessary that certain channels in the approaches to the Thames should be closed.

All incoming vessels flying foreign flags and all British vessels from all foreign and colonial ports must call at the new pilot-station now established in the vicinity of the Tongue Light-vessel, or at one of the established pilot-stations—viz., the Sunk Light-vessel, Margate, Deal, and Dover, and be conducted to their destination by a licensed pilot.

All outgoing vessels of the same description must before sailing obtain the services of a licensed pilot to conduct them to sea.

All incoming vessels not included in the above, before leaving their port of departure for the Thames, and all similar outgoing vessels, must obtain instructions from the nearest Customs authorities as to the channels to be used.

These arrangements are to take effect from noon, Monday, the 14th September.

NORTH SEA AND ENGLISH CHANNEL.

ALTERATIONS IN POSITIONS OR WITHDRAWAL OF LIGHT-VESSELS AND BUOYS.—EXTINCTION OF LIGHTS AND LIGHTS OF LIGHT-BUOYS, AND ALTERATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF FOG-SIGNALS.—After sunrise on the 10th December, 1914, in the English Channel and the Downs eastward of a line joining Selsea Bill and Cape Barfleur and to the southward of the parallel of 51° 20′ north latitude, all light-vessels and buoys are liable to withdrawal or alteration in position, the lights and lights of light-buoys to be extinguished, and the fog-signals to be altered or discontinued, without further notice.

Trinity House pilot-stations will be established by sunrise on the 10th December, 1914, at the undermentioned places, and merchant vessels are very strongly advised to take pilots, as navigation in the area in question will be exceedingly dangerous without their aid:—

(1.) St. Helens, Isle of Wight—where ships proceeding up channel can obtain pilots capable of piloting as far as Great Yarmouth.

(2.) Great Yarmouth—where ships from the North Sea bound for the English Channel can obtain pilots capable of piloting as far as the Isle of Wight.

(3.) Dover—where ships from French Channel ports, but no others, can obtain pilots for the North Sea.

(4.) The Sunk Light-vessel—where ships crossing the North Sea between the parallels of 51° 40′ and 51° 54′ north latitude, but no others, can obtain pilots for the English Channel.

(5.) Pilots can also be obtained at London for the English Channel or North Sea. Dec.

UNITED KINGDOM.

NEW PILOTAGE STATIONS TO BE ESTABLISHED AT CERTAIN PORTS ON ACCOUNT OF DEFENSIVE MINEFIELDS.—Former Notice No. 1752 of 1914 is hereby cancelled. In view of the extension of the system of mine defence, notice is hereby given that on and after the 27th instant pilotage will be compulsory at the following ports for all vessels (including fishing-vessels) which have a draught of over 8 ft., and that it will be highly dangerous for any vessel to enter or leave such ports without a pilot. Fishing and other small vessels having a draught of over 8 ft. should assemble at the pilotage stations, and will be conducted into and out of port in groups.

(1.) River Humber.—All incoming vessels must call for a pilot at a station which is to be established seven miles E.S.E. (magnetic) from Spurn Point. Outgoing vessels are to discharge their pilots at the same station.

(2.) River Tyne.—All incoming vessels from the northward must call for a pilot off Blyth, and those from the southward off the River Wear. Outgoing vessels are to discharge their pilots off one or the other of these places.

(3.) Firth of Forth.—All incoming vessels must call for a pilot at a station to be established on the Isle of May. Outgoing vessels are to discharge their pilots at the same station. It will be dangerous for any vessel to be under way to the westward of the Isle of May without a pilot.

(4.) Moray Firth.—All vessels bound to Cromarty or Inverness must call for a pilot at Wick or Burghead. Outgoing vessels are to discharge their pilots at one or the other of these places. It will be dangerous for any vessel to be under way to the south-westward of a line joining Findhorn and Tarbetness without a pilot.

(5.) Scapa Flow.—All entrances are dangerous. Examination services have been established in the entrances to Hoza and Hoy Sounds; vessels wishing to enter must communicate with the examination vessel and follow the instructions received from her very carefully. The only vessels permitted to enter Hoy Sound from the westward are those bound for Stromness; vessels cannot enter Scapa Flow from Stromness.

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA.

CAUTION WITH REGARD TO EXTINCTION OF LIGHTS.—CAUTION.—Mariners are hereby warned that it may be necessary to extinguish lights on the coasts of the Union of South Africa without further notice.

SWEDEN.

Former Notice No. 1691 of 1914 is hereby cancelled.

(1.) SOUTH-EAST AND SOUTH COASTS.—MINES AND OBSTRUCTIONS.—CAUTION.—Information has been received that mines and obstructions have been laid at the following places:—

(a.) Coast of Stockholm, Södermanland and Blekinge.

(b.) Entrance to Södertelje.

(c.) Approaches to Stockholm and passage through the Vaxholm and Oscar Frederiksborg defences.

(d.) Farö sund entrance.

(e.) Karlskrona harbour.

EXTINCTION OF LIGHTS.—CAUTION.—All lights, and lights shown from light-vessels and light-buoys, on the south-east and south coast of Sweden, southward of and including Öland south point light, are extinguished, with the following exceptions:—

Terno light.

Ortholm light and all lights at Karlshamn.

All lights at Sölvesborg and in entrance channel to Sölvesborg.

Simrishamn leading-lights.

All lights at Trelleborg and the light-vessel and light-buoys in entrance channel to Trelleborg.

(2.) WEST COAST.—MINES.—CAUTION.—Mines have been laid at the following places:—

(a.) Göteborg.

(b.) In Ellelos fiord, Stig fiord, Hake fiord, and in the entrance to Uddevalla, inside a line drawn from Essvik on Bokenäs, through Islandsberg light, Eckerö light south-east of Mollö sund, Graen light south of Kladeshholm, and inner Lekskar beacon to Korshamn.

(c.) In the entrance to Kungsbacka fiord, inside a line drawn in a 90° (S. 81° E. mag.) direction from the south point of Onsala peninsula (Hallsunds point).

(d.) Information has further been received that mines will be laid on the west coast of Sweden without further notice.

Note.—Men-of-war belonging to the belligerent nations are prohibited from entering the areas described in (b) and (c). Variation.—9° W.

EXTINCTION OF LIGHTS.—CAUTION.—All lights, and lights shown from light-vessels and light-buoys on the west coast of Sweden, southward of and including Tistlarne light, are extinguished, with the following exceptions:—

Varberg harbour light.

All lights at Falkenberg.

Grasrännan light.

All lights at Helsingborg.

Landskrona leading-lights.

All lights at Malmö, and light-buoys in entrance channel to Malmö.