KEY POINTS:
A speed limit of 10 knots has been proposed for the inner Waitemata Harbour to avoid collisions and reduce wake coming from power boats.
Auckland Harbourmaster John Lee-Richards said yesterday he had regular calls of concern about the speed of large power boats in a congested harbour.
There had been close-quarters situations and collisions - a launch and a kayak had collided near Wynyard Wharf in September.
Small boat sailors also complained about the danger of wake from speeding vessels.
"So we want to slow everybody down in the congested area between North Head and the Harbour Bridge."
A "fast lane" would be provided on the south side of the harbour coming from sea as far up as the container terminal. This would be used by ferries as well as pleasure craft.
Mr Lee-Richards said he proposed to bring in the speed limit as a harbourmaster's direction, instead of through a new bylaw. This had the advantage of being readily modified to improve the system as time went on.
It did not carry the power to hand out infringement fines, like a speeding ticket to road users, but boaties who consistently flouted the direction could be prosecuted.
Mr Lee-Richards said he wanted public comments on the draft direction.
The direction is a speed limit of 10 knots applying at all times, with the exception of special events such as power boat racing.
The speed limit would apply to all vessels with the exception of:
* Passenger ferries displaying an orange light.
* Sailing vessels in an organised yacht race.
* Police and harbourmaster vessels where their enforcement duties require them to exceed 10 knots.
* Police or an authorised search and rescue vessel on an authorised search and rescue mission.
Auckland Yachting and Boating Association secretary Sue Jenness welcomed the move because it applied to a narrow part of the harbour that had much traffic from marinas at Westhaven and elsewhere in the upper harbour.
"I'd be pleased to see it from a sailing boat view, because coming back on Sunday some of the power boats are pretty quick and put up huge wakes.
"There is a regular harbour 5 knots speed rule for when passing 200m from the shore or within 50m of another boat.
"But a lot pass you at more than that and we've seen near-accidents.
"Until you need a licence to drive a power boat we are always going to have these problems and a 10-knot speed limit is sensible."
Te Atatu Boating Club vice-commodore Steve Ball said power boat users would resist the change.
"If the ferries are not doing 10 knots too it will be like sitting in a washing machine."
Mr Ball said power boats needed to do about 12 knots to get their hulls to plane.
