Mar. 30.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 777

Notice to Mariners No. 17 of 1939.

Marine Department,
Wellington, N.Z., 24th March, 1939.

REPRINT OF ADMIRALTY NOTICE No. 1 of 1939.

Caution when approaching British Ports.

PART I.—CLOSING OF PORTS.

Former Notice: No. 1 of 1938; hereby cancelled.

(1) My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, having taken into consideration the fact that it may be necessary to forbid all entrance to certain ports of the Empire, this is to give notice that on approaching the shores of the British Isles, or any of the ports or localities of the British Empire, a sharp look-out should be kept for the signals described in the following paragraph, and for the vessels mentioned in paragraph (5), Part II, of this notice, and the distinguishing and other signals made by them. In the event of such signals being displayed, the port or locality should be approached with great caution, as it may be apprehended that obstructions may exist.

(2) If entrance to a port is prohibited, three red lights vertically disposed by night, or three red balls vertically disposed by day, will be exhibited in some conspicuous position, in or near to its approach, which signals will also be shown by the vessels indicated in paragraph (5), Part II, of this notice. If these signals are displayed, vessels must approach the port with the greatest caution and implicitly obey all orders or signals given them by the examination vessel or signal station.

(3) At some ports or localities at home or abroad, searchlights are occasionally exhibited for exercise. Instructions have been given to avoid directing movable searchlights during practice on to vessels under way, but mariners are warned that great care should be taken to keep a sharp look-out for the signals indicated in paragraph (2) above, when searchlights are observed to be working.

PART II.—EXAMINATION SERVICE.

(4) In certain circumstances it is also necessary to take special measures to examine vessels desiring to enter ports or localities at home or abroad.

(5) In such case, vessels carrying the distinguishing flags or lights mentioned in paragraph (7) will be charged with the duty of examining ships which desire to enter the port and of allotting positions in which they shall anchor. If Government vessels, or vessels belonging to the local port authority, are found patrolling in the offing, merchant vessels are advised to communicate with such vessels with a view to obtaining information as to the course on which they should approach the port. Such communication will not be necessary in cases where the pilot on board has already received this information from the local authorities.

(6) As the institution of the examination service will probably be unknown to vessels desiring to enter the port, special care should be taken in approaching the ports, by day or night, to keep a sharp look-out for any vessel carrying the flags or lights mentioned in paragraph (7), and to be ready to “bring to” at once when hailed by her or warned by the firing of a gun or sound rocket.

In approaching by night any port in the British Empire, serious delay and risk will be avoided if four efficient all round lanterns, two red and two white, are kept available for use.

(7) By day the distinguishing flag of the examination steamer will be a special flag (white and red horizontal surrounded by a blue border). Also, three red balls vertically disposed if entrance is prohibited.

Special Flag Three Red Balls

[Diagram: Flag with white and red horizontal stripes, bordered blue] [Diagram: Three red balls on a pole]

Red
Blue