Shipping channels
No anchoring in the Tauranga harbour
To protect everyone on the water in the Tauranga harbour, no vessel can moor or anchor in the Tauranga shipping channel including No 1 Reach, No2 Reach and Cutter Channel.
It is still possible to fish in the channel by drift fishing or using a trolling motor.
Keep clear of big ships
Be aware a ship’s blind spot can extend for hundreds of metres.
If the pilot vessel or patrol boat asks you to move from the shipping channels, you must move promptly.
Remember that large ships need plenty of room and will be travelling a lot faster than you think, as they enter our harbours. This also means they cannot stop quickly.
Do not cross the bow of a large ship, they cannot see you. Keep your distance.
When fishing in the main Tauranga Harbour channel, allow plenty of time to move out of the way.
Why is that ship honking its horn?
Manoeuvring signals, or horns, are used by ships to indicate what they are about to do.
One short blast
'I am turning to starboard.'
Two short blasts
'I am turning to port'
Three short blasts
'My engines are operating astern' - this does not necessarily mean my craft is going backwards.
Five or more short blasts
'I don't understand your intentions' - better known as 'what on earth are you doing?