These are defined in the Marine and Safety (Pilotage and Navigation) Regulations 2017 and relate to which navigational spans certain vessels can use and the movement of vessels in the vicinity of these bridges.
General requirements are:
- No vessel should be navigated in the vicinity of the bridges in a manner that is likely to obstruct or interfere with the navigation of any other vessel transiting these bridges
- No vessel should be made fast to the bridges, or anchor or drift in the vicinity of the bridges
Bridgewater Bridge
The Bridgewater Bridge is managed by The Department of State Growth (Transport) To arrange the opening of the Bridgewater Bridge, ring 6263 7235. The Bridge can be opened between 9.15am and 4.00pm – 7 days per week but will not open if the breeze is more than 25 knots. Please note, two hours notice is required.
Clearance when Bridge is down:
- Low tide: 2.9m
- Medium tide: 2.5m
- High tide: 2.1m
Bowen Bridge
- A recreational vessel passing under the bridge during daylight hours must use a span other than the main navigational span wherever practicable
- Any other vessel passing under the bridge must use the navigational span wherever practicable
Tasman Bridge
There are special rules for going through the Tasman Bridge. These are defined in the Marine and Safety (Pilotage and Navigation) Regulations 2017 and relate to which navigational spans certain vessels can use.
- Vessels over 25 metres in length, or tugs, may use the main navigation span and only after permission is granted from Tasports. No other vessels are to pass through the main navigation span;
a. Where a vessel intends to pass under the main span, a long, 10 second, horn blast will notify the vessel’s intention - Vessels between 15 -25 metres in length should pass through the designated secondary span;
a. If the vessel is proceeding upstream the designated span is the aperture under the secondary navigation span immediately eastward of the aperture of the main navigation span.
b. If the vessel is proceeding downstream the designated span is the aperture under the secondary navigation span immediately westward of the aperture of the main navigation span. - Vessels not exceeding 15 metres in length and recreational vessels must not cause or allow the vessel to pass under the bridge through the main navigation span, or the secondary navigation spans either side of the main navigation span, unless otherwise authorised to do so by MAST. Boaters should be aware of expected shipping movements before going out on the water. These are published in daily newspapers and can be found on the Tasports website.