Safety and Regulations

Staying safe on the Beaulieu River

The Beaulieu River team work hard to ensure all visitors and vessels remain safe when using the river. Please help us to achieve this by observing the following safety rules.

Obligations

• wear lifejackets
• keep your speed below the maximum of 5 knots and ensure minimum wash for the entire length of the river.
• keep to the starboard side of Fairway.
• wear kill cords where fitted.
• ensure dogs are kept on leads at all times

Not permitted

• swimming, jet-skiing, water-skiing or board sailing.
• securing dogs or children to canoes or kayaks.
• mooring onto navigation buoys, beacons or marks.
• underwater diving activities without permission from the Harbour Master.
• operating your vehicle while intoxicated.
• the flying of drones at Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour and over the Beaulieu River which are part of the Beaulieu Estate within the New Forest National Park.  The flying of drones without permission is prohibited on the Beaulieu Estate, in accordance with the New Forest National Park’s guidance, available here https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/visiting/visitor-information/flying-drones-in-the-new-forest-national-park/.

When arriving

• you must complete a passenger locater form at www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-detailsbefore-travel-uk.
• If you have animals on board, you must have the correct paperwork from an authorised port of entry before entering the UK.
• all commercial vessels, vessels over 20m, and vessels not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, or towing another vessel or structure, are requested to give notice of their movements by calling Beaulieu River Radio on VHF channel 68.

International visitors 

Pleasure Craft – UK/EU Entry & Exit Formalities 

Mariners are advised that from the 1st January 2022 the UK Government (HMRC) have updated their guidance for owners of recreational pleasure craft (non-commercial) who sail their craft to and from the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands) must notify the UK border authorities upon their first arrival into a UK port.

Before leaving the UK (which includes going to the Channel Islands) on a pleasure boat of any kind, you must advise the Border Force of your intentions by completing the digital form up to 24 hours before you depart.

‘Q’ Flag

Both non-UK flagged vessels and UK flagged vessels returning from a trip outside of UK territorial waters (12 miles from shore) must fly the ‘Q’ flag where it can be readily seen as soon as UK waters are entered. The flag must not be taken down until you have finished reporting to the customs authorities. Failure to comply will make you liable to a penalty.

Arriving in the UK

When arriving direct from outside the UK you must phone the National Yachtline on 0300 123 2012. You will need to inform the Yachtline if any of the following apply:
• UK VAT has not been paid on the vessel
• you have on board goods which are to be treated as surplus stores as per Notice 69A
• you have any prohibited or restricted goods
• there is any notifiable illness on board
• there are any people on board who need immigration clearance
• any repairs or modifications, other than running repairs, have been carried out since the vessel last left the UK
• you have any goods for personal use on which you need to declare and pay UK tax or duty and cannot do so via the online service.

For further information, please view the Government Notice 8. Please contact us prior to arriving.

Man overboard

• in a ‘man overboard’ situation, call for help and then try to assist but without putting yourself in danger. There are emergency ladders on all marina and river pontoons. Call channel 68.

Pontoon

• take care on the pontoons when wet, frosty or icy.

Notices

Please also refer to our notices section for active notices.

Boatyard safety

If you are using the boatyard, please follow our boatyard safety guidelines.

• Vessels with mast (s) in place are more at risk in severe weather conditions. All Sails on head stays and dodgers must be removed from vessels prior to being lifted out. On lift out, if sails etc. are still fitted, a removal charge will be made and may delay the lift out.
• It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure the vessel is watertight prior to launch.
• Beaulieu Enterprise Ltd will not be held responsible for any damage caused to logs & skin fittings when lifting. Blanks should be fitted as best practice. Boats should be marked along the deck edge for location of lift strops, or owners to be on hand to advise.
• Whilst boats are ashore, no person is allowed to climb the mast or be hoisted aloft.
• Engines must not be started whilst the boats are ashore unless agreed in advance with the harbour office, and only for essential works.
• All rubbish, including discarded paint and solvent tins must be disposed of in the correct bins provided. The area around your boat must be kept clean.
• Do not contaminate the general waste or recycling bins with hazardous items. This will result in extra charges.
• Do not pour waste liquids down the drains or into the river.
• Be considerate to neighbours when using machinery especially in later hours of the day. Noise should be kept to a minimum.
• No welding, work with naked flames, grit/sand/water blasting or spray painting may take place in the boatyard without prior agreement.
• No smoking in the buildings.
• Boat shores are NOT to be moved by anyone other than Harbour Staff.
• No use of sea toilets, sinks, showers or other through hull exits.
• No living / sleeping onboard boats ashore
• Noise levels to be kept to minimum after 20.00 hours
• Contractors must be adequately insured and report to the Harbour Office on arrival and departure. Contractors are to provide Beaulieu Harbour staff with a copy of their third party liability insurance policy for a minimum of £3 million cover. Contractors should follow the supplied Guidelines for working on site that covers HSE rules compliance.
• It is assumed that your vessel is in a launchable condition, however if you have had any skin fittings changed please let us know in writing prior to launch and we will check these at the time of launching or an engineer can be booked at owners request and cost.
• LOA is length overall of the boat including davits, bowsprits, boarding ladders, sterndrives, tenders, outboards, rudders, anchors, pulpits, pushpits and any other extensions fore and aft of the boat.
• The customer and any other person entering any part of our premises and/or facilities for whatever purpose and whether by invitation or otherwise do so at their own risk.
• No unaccompanied or unsupervised children are allowed within the Yacht Harbour site and dogs must be kept on leads at all times.
• Owners of vessels must provide their own forms of suitable access onto their vessels once ashore.
• Ladders or Staging that are not of a suitable nature will be removed on Health & Safety grounds. The equipment must be of an accepted industry standard.
• All vessels must be kept in a satisfactory condition while being stored ashore
• Any vessels that are to be tented must have prior approval from the hoist operations manager or Harbour Master. Owners are advised that Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd reserves the right, in extreme circumstances, to request the tent to be removed at the owner’s cost in order that the vessel can be re-sited within the yard.

Slipway safety

• Pre-book your launch here
• check weather and tidal conditions. We advise against launching and recovering in the hours of darkness unless you are familiar with the slipway
• the slipway should not be used 2 hours either side of low water due to steep drop-off (other than for SUPs/kayaks).
• do not block access; rig your boat away from the slipway.
• be aware of pedestrians and other users of the slipway.
• attach a safety line to your trailer
• never stand behind a boat whilst it is being launched or recovered.
• If you are going to leave your car attached to the trailer whilst launching, switch off the engine, leave in gear, and make sure the handbrake is fully applied.
• when parking a boat and trailer in the dinghy park, check that both are secure.
• pontoons are only to be used for the launching and recovery of vessels.
• Check your car is in good working condition, particularly the handbrake.
• If you are going to leave your car attached to the trailer whilst launching, switch off the engine, leave in gear, and make sure the handbrake is fully applied.
• Check weather & tidal conditions. We advise against launching and recovering in the hours of darkness unless you are familiar with the slipway.
• Do not block access; rig your boat away from the slipway.
• Assess the area for risks such as slips, trips and falls.
• Be aware of pedestrians and other users of the slipway.
• Attach a safety line to your trailer.
• Check any bungs are in place.
• Never stand behind a boat whilst it is being launched or recovered.
• When parking a boat and trailer in the dinghy park, check that both are secure.

Protecting the river and its inhabitants

The Beaulieu River is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and we request that there should be no discharge of pollutants into the harbour.

When in the river, crew of moored craft without holding tanks should use the shoreside facilities provided. For boats with holding tanks, a sewage pump-out facility is available, free of charge, on the visitor pontoon. There should be no discharging of holding tanks whilst in the harbour.

Further information can be found here.

Port Marine Safety Code

We are committed to the safety of all users and comply with the requirements of the Port Marine Safety Code.

Hampshire Constabulary Marine Support Unit

The Solent – Harbour Authority Regulations

Any concerns?

The marina is manned from 08:00 – 20:30 in the summer and 08:00 – 16:30 in winter, with security outside these hours.

Please report any incidents or concerns to the Harbour Master’s Office via VHF channel 68 Beaulieu River Radio or by calling 01590 616200. Out of hours please call 999.