Safety Campaigns
Interaction between Leisure and Commercial in the Solent and Southampton Water
Leisure craft and large commercial ships share the same busy waters in the Solent and Southampton Water.
To keep everyone safe, all water users must understand their responsibilities and how to operate safely around large vessels.
MPZ - Moving Prohibited Zone
The master of a small vessel shall ensure that the vessel does not enter a Moving Prohibited Zone (MPZ).
A MPZ is an exclusion zone 1000 meters ahead and 100 meters either side of any vessel over 150 meters in length.
This can be determined by constrained by draught lights and shapes.
Vessels will display a black cylinder by day or 3 vertical red lights by night.
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs)
The MPZ rule is based upon existing provisions within the COLREGs. See the applicable items below:
Rule 9
A vessel proceeding along the course of a narrow channel or fairway is obliged to keep "as near to the outer limit of the channel or fairway which lies on her starboard side as is safe and practicable.
A vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel not to impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.
A give way vessel should take early action to allow sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the stand on vessel.
Rule 18
Vessels other than (Not Under Command or Restricted in their Ability to Manoeuvre) must avoid impeding the safe passage of a vessel constrained by her draft.
A vessel constrained by her draft will display a black cylinder by day or 3 vertical red lights by night.
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