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—