S.I. No. 387/1992:

MERCHANT SHIPPING (JET SKIS AND FAST POWER BOATS) REGULATIONS, 1992.

MERCHANT SHIPPING (JET SKIS AND FAST POWER BOATS) REGULATIONS, 1992.

I, MICHAEL WOODS, Minister for the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 20 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1992 (No. 2 of 1992) hereby make the following Regulations.

1.--(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Jet Skis and Fast Power Boats) Regulations, 1992 and shall come into operation on the 1st day of April, 1993.

(2) In these Regulations:

"foreshore" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Foreshore Act, 1933 ;

"jet ski" means a power operated pleasure craft propelled by water jet, normally capable of carrying one or two persons at high speeds, which may constitute a danger to persons on or in the water in any area or a danger to surface craft in any area. A jet ski may also be referred to as a personal water craft (PWC);

"fast power boat" means a power operated pleasure craft other than a jet ski, whether engaged in towing other appliances or not, capable of speeds which may constitute a danger to persons on or in the water in any area or a danger to surface craft in any area;

"Minister" means the Minister for the Marine.

2.--(1) Each of the following may make proposals to the Minister for the Marine to designate areas as being unsuitable, in the interests of safety of pleasure craft and their occupants, for the operation of jet skis and fast power boats:

a local authority,

a regional fisheries board within the meaning of section 10 of the Fisheries Act, 1980 ,

Iarnród Éireann -- Irish Rail,

the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland,

a harbour authority.

(2) A local authority may make proposals to designate any area within the boundaries of its jurisdiction or any area of foreshore which adjoins its boundaries.

(3) A regional fisheries board may make proposals to designate any area within the boundaries of its jurisdiction or any area of foreshore which adjoins its boundaries.

(4) Iarnród Éireann may make proposals to designate any area at Rosslare Harbour.

(5) The Commissioners of Public Works may make proposals to designate any area vested in them.

(6) A harbour authority may make proposals to designate any area of the harbour for which it has responsibility.

3. Any proposals made under Regulation 2 of these Regulations shall be in the form of a written report setting out the reasons for the proposed designation and shall be accompanied by a clear description of the area and an ordnance survey map showing the area to be designated.

4. Upon receipt of a proposal under Regulation 2 made in accordance with Regulation 3, the Minister may designate the area or part of the area, the subject of the proposal, as unsuitable for the operation of jet skis and fast power boats.

5. The Minister may designate any area at a harbour vested in the Minister as unsuitable, in the interests of the safety of pleasure craft and their occupants, for the operation of jet skis or fast power boats.

6. No person shall operate or attempt to operate a jet ski or power boat in any area, designated under Regulation 4 or 5 of these Regulations, as being unsuitable for the operation of jet skis or fast power boats.

7. The following are empowered to enforce these Regulations--

any authorised officer,

the Minister,

the Commissioners of Public Works,

a local authority,

a regional fisheries board.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 10th day of December, 1992.

MICHAEL WOODS,

Minister for the Marine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations allow local authorities, regional fisheries boards, Iarnród Éireann, the Commissioners of Public Works, and harbour authorities to propose to the Minister for the Marine that certain areas be designated as unsuitable for the operation of jet skis and fast power boats.