Pursuant to section 200A(1) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, and on the application from the Environment Canterbury Regional Council, I declare the Lyttelton SailGP to be an event to which section 200B of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 applies for:

• Monday 13 March 2023 to Sunday 19 March 2023 inclusive

Designated Area

General Designated Area

The area of tidal waters inside a line drawn from the Western end of Magazine Bay to the easternmost point of Ōtamahua / Quail Island; then by a straight line to Pauaohinekotau Head; then by a straight line to the northern headland of Stoddart Point; then by a straight line to the northernmost point of Ripapa Island; then by a straight line to the western headland of Te Pōhue / Camp Bay; then by a straight line to the point on the southern shore of the harbour intersected by longitude 172o 48.0’; then northwards along longitude 172o 48.0’ until meeting the northern shore of the harbour in Mechanics Bay; then in a westerly direction around the water’s edge, including the Lyttelton Inner Harbour, returning back to the Western end of Magazine Bay.

Conditions and Requirements

Within the designated area defined above, the following conditions and requirements apply.

1. The racecourse to be used on any given day will be publicly announced by 1200 hours on the day of the race by public broadcasting, on the event website and by marine communication channels. Buoyed transit lanes, as may be required, will allow transiting vessels to navigate outside the course.
2. On race days, only power-driven vessels may use the transit lanes or restricted areas. No sails may be hoisted while in transit lanes or restricted areas. Vessels must be able to maintain a proper speed of 5 knots during transit and must not stop, turn around or anchor within a transit lane.
3. Charts showing the location of the racecourses and transit lanes will be widely promulgated prior to the event period as part of the event’s overall public education programme.
4. Once a racecourse is designated, the perimeter of the course, and designated areas will be conspicuously marked with buoys and stake boats, as appropriate, by the event organiser, F50 League NZ Limited.
5. Once the racecourse is designated and marked, only competing yachts, vessels used by the race committee, umpires, marshals, emergency vessels, Lyttelton Port Company and vessels accredited by the event organiser and Harbourmaster’s Office may navigate within the marked perimeter until the Harbourmaster’s Office, or delegate, has announced on VHF Ch16 that the day’s races have been concluded.
6. The Harbourmaster’s Office may vary conditions for the day-to-day management and conduct of activities within the designated areas (as per section 200A(2)(e) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994) as required for the proper management and conduct of vessels and activities within the designated areas or for the purposes of maritime safety. This includes the ability to set speed limits, reduced wake zones and restricted access areas.
7. Except where expressly authorised by the Harbourmaster’s Office, all vessels must be navigated in accordance with Maritime Rules Part 22: Collision Prevention.
8. All vessels are to remain in compliance with the Canterbury Regional Council Navigation Safety Bylaw 2016 and Controls as well as Harbourmaster’s Directions.
9. No vessel over 40m length overall may navigate within the designated area on race days from one hour before the initial estimated race start time (as estimated at the start of the day by the race officials) to when racing has concluded without prior written approval of the Harbourmaster’s Office. The Harbourmaster’s Office will closely coordinate commercial shipping movements with Lyttelton Port Company.
10. No vessel over 40m length overall may anchor or hold position within the designated area during the applicable period without prior written approval of the Harbourmaster’s Office.
11. The Harbourmaster’s Office may introduce restrictions on vessels or classes of vessels including those operating without motorised propulsion during the applicable period. Notification of these restrictions will be promulgated on the day of the race by public broadcasting, on the event website and by marine communication channels.
12. From one hour before the initial estimated race start time (as estimated at the start of the day by the race officials) to when racing has concluded, and if determined by the Harbourmaster, no vessel may enter into or exit from the Inner Harbour without calling Harbour Radio on VHF Ch12 and obtaining their permission to enter into or exit from the Inner Harbour. The Harbourmaster’s Office may restrict access to the Inner Harbour area or introduce restrictions on vessels or classes of vessels, including those operating without motorised propulsion, within the area.
13. The Harbourmaster’s Office may order the suspension or abandonment of racing operations if, in the opinion of the Harbourmaster’s Office or having received advice from Police, adequate levels of public safety cannot be guaranteed or for any other Harbour emergency/situation that may occur. This power will be exercised in consultation between the New Zealand Police, Harbourmaster’s Office, the event organiser and Lyttelton Port Company.

Hours of Operation

The declaration will apply in all areas from 1000 to 2100 hours (subject to changes determined on a daily basis by the Harbourmaster’s Office). The specific hours of operation will be announced by public broadcasting, event website and marine communication channels on a daily basis.

Means of Enforcement

Compliance with the above conditions and requirements will be enforced by appointed enforcement officers, as defined in section 200B(6) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994:

1. All constables; and all police employees who are not constables authorised for the purpose by the Commissioner of Police.
2. All members of the New Zealand Defence Force authorised for the purpose by the Chief of Defence Force.
3. Harbourmasters employed or engaged by any harbour controlling authority.
4. Such other persons as may for the time being be authorised for the purpose by the regional council within whose region the event or occasion is being held, including the event marshals, who will be employed or engaged by F50 League NZ Ltd and appointed by Environment Canterbury Regional Council.
5. The event organiser is responsible for the management of the race courses and on-water spectator areas. It is also responsible for all movement of team boats, media, spectators and other event related vessels, including to and from the race courses (for competition and training), the on-water media areas and the on-water spectator areas.
6. Under section 200B(5) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, any person in charge of a ship, craft or seaplane who contravenes this notice commits an infringement offence and is liable to the relevant penalty prescribed in the Maritime Transport (Infringement Fees for Offences Relating to Major Maritime Events) Regulations 1999.

Application to Enforcement Officers

Enforcement officers are exempt from the rules or conditions contained in this notice where necessary to execute their duties, but must at all times navigate in accordance with Maritime Rule Part 22: Collision Prevention.

I make this declaration in accordance with the requirements set out in section 200A(3) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

Dated at Wellington this 27th day of February 2023.

Hon KIRITAPU ALLAN, Associate Minister of Transport.

Appendix 1 – Map of Designated Area