Article 2 Interpretation

In this Order unless the context otherwise requires—

• “the Act” means the Dockyard Ports Regulation Act 1865;

• “approach channel” means the dredged limits of the approach channel to the Harbour from and including the Harbour entrance to Outer Spit Buoy, marked by buoys shown for the time being on Admiralty chart BA2625, and within the entrance to the Harbour the channel as bounded on both sides by the limits of the dredged channel as shown for the time being on Admiralty chart BA2629;

• “auxiliary” means any government vessel operating in support of naval or military forces;

• “Collision Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996^f1;

• “Crown Establishment” means any land or property which is for the time being owned or occupied by the Crown;

• “Dockyard Port” means the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth as it is described in Article 3;

• “Harbour” means Portsmouth Harbour, bounded on the south by a line joining the easternmost point of Fort Blockhouse and Round Tower (Old Portsmouth);

• “line of mean low-water springs” means the continuous line of mean low-water springs contiguous to the mainland and the continuous line of mean low-water springs contiguous to the Isle of Wight;

• “main navigable channels” means all the waters of the Harbour south of a line joining the north end of Shell Pier head (Priddy’s Hard) and the south west tip of Whale Island and south of Whale Island Bridge but excluding the waters above Haslar Bridge and Forton Bridge;

• “Master” means the person for the time being having command or charge of a vessel;

• “Naval Base” means the land in the vicinity of the Harbour occupied by the Secretary of State or his operator lessees and known as HM Nelson, HM Naval Base Portsmouth (including the buildings from time to time erected thereon, the basins, quays and docks therein);

• “parascending” means an activity whereby a parachute is towed by cable in such a manner as to make it airborne;

• “power-driven” in relation to a vessel means a vessel propelled by machinery;

• “Queen’s Harbour Master” means the person for the time being appointed under the Act to be Queen’s Harbour Master for the Dockyard Port and any person having authority to act as Queen’s harbour master;

• “small boat” means a vessel of an overall length of less than 20 metres;

• “Small Boat Channel” means the channel within the approach channel shown on Admiralty charts whose northern extremity is at the Ballast and southern extremity is at No 4 Bar Buoy;

• “underway” in relation to a vessel means that such vessel is not at anchor, made fast to the shore or aground;

• “VHF” in relation to radiotelephony equipment or radio channels, means very high frequency.