51Passing near or through opening bridges

#### 51 Passing near or through opening bridges 51 Passing near or through opening bridges > > (1) The master of a vessel who does not intend to pass through an opening bridge must keep the vessel a safe distance from the bridge (or, if TfNSW has determined a minimum distance that must be kept between a vessel and a particular bridge, that minimum distance). > > > > Maximum penalty—10 penalty units. > > > (2) The master of a vessel who intends to pass through an opening bridge may give the bridge operator notice of that intention by— > > > > > (a) giving the **request bridge open** signal, or > > > > > (b) communicating directly to the bridge operator by telephone or 2-way radio, or > > > > > (c) giving written notice in accordance with subclause (7). > > > (3) The master of the vessel must keep the vessel a safe distance from the opening bridge (or, if TfNSW has determined a minimum distance that must be kept between a vessel and a particular bridge, that minimum distance) until the bridge operator has— > > > > > (a) given the **bridge open** signal, or > > > > > (b) communicated directly with the master by telephone or 2-way radio that the bridge is open. > > > > Maximum penalty—10 penalty units. > > > (4) After a bridge has been opened to allow a vessel to pass through, the master of the vessel— > > > > > (a) must— > > > > > > > (i) give the bridge operator the **ready to pass through** signal, or > > > > > > > (ii) communicate directly to the bridge operator by telephone or 2-way radio that the vessel is ready to pass through the open bridge, and > > > > > (b) after doing so, must take the vessel through the bridge without delay. > > > > Maximum penalty—10 penalty units. > > > (5) The master of the vessel must not cause or allow the vessel to pass through or under an opening bridge except under power or on tow. > > > > Maximum penalty—10 penalty units. > > > (6) If the vessel is not ready to pass through the bridge within 5 minutes after the bridge is opened, the bridge operator— > > > > > (a) may— > > > > > > > (i) replace the **bridge open** signal with the **request acknowledged** signal, or > > > > > > > (ii) communicate directly to the master of the vessel by telephone or 2-way radio that the bridge operator intends to close the bridge, and > > > > > (b) after doing so, may close the bridge. > > > (7) A written notice referred to in subclause (2) (c)— > > > > > (a) must be given to the bridge operator at least 15 minutes (or, if TfNSW has determined a longer period for a particular bridge, that longer period) before the vessel is ready to pass through, and > > > > > (b) must state the approximate time when the bridge is required to be opened. > > > (8) This clause does not apply in relation to a vessel that, because of its size, does not require the bridge to be opened in order to pass through the bridge.