Pontoon Rules

Terms of use for DHSC Pontoon (updated 1st May 2020)

The following guidelines were prepared to ensure safe and fair usage of the pontoon for all the members and visitors.

1. Access to the Pontoon

• The DHSC pontoon is a facility made available for use of members of DHSC and visiting leisure craft. The pontoon is designed to be used as a mooring pontoon for punts and tenders and for short term stays for larger craft; it is not available for long term berthing, either with or without crew. Visiting craft are defined as vessels not owned or controlled by members of DHSC. The pontoon has CCTV for monitoring and security.
• Access to the pontoon is controlled by security locks. Members should not loan fobs to non members.
• The Committee of DHSC reserve the right to refuse permission to use the pontoon or instruct an owner to remove their craft if anti-social behaviour is evident, for security or safety reasons or if fees are not paid.
• The Committee will implement a Fair Usage policy which will be agreed by the members.

2. Landing Berth

• A landing berth is identified on the pontoon; boats, which must remain crewed, are permitted to lie at the landing berth for not longer than twenty minutes. The berth must be vacated immediately when requested to do so by Pontoon Staff. Craft left unattended on this berth may be removed without notice.

3. Safety

• The Committee strongly recommends that lifejackets be worn by all pontoon users. Children under the age of twelve, while on the pontoon, should be under the supervision of a responsible adult at all times.
• Swimming / Fishing from the pontoon is not permitted.
• Barbecues are not permitted on the pontoon.
• Lifesaving equipment is located at defined positions.

4. Facilities

• Water and a 220V power supply are available on the pontoon. Cards for the use of electricity are available. Potable water must not be wasted. Ensure constant supervision when filling tanks.
• A general waste bin and a recycling bin are available nearby in the town. Please take all waste materials away and never discard items on the pontoon deck or ramp.

5. Punts and tenders

• Tenders and punts are to be moored on the designated area of the pontoon, bow on.
• Tenders and punts moored on the pontoon must not exceed 16ft in length.
• A rope painter of appropriate length should be used. Chain or wire should not be used, and the locking of tenders to the pontoon is not permitted. No boats with masts may moor on the inside of the pontoon.

6. Visitors Charges

• Visitors should report their arrival at the pontoon according to the instructions posted at the entrance gate.
• The charge for visiting craft is €15 per night (2015). The maximum length of stay is six nights. Any extension to this must be approved by the Committee. Any craft remaining on the pontoon without permission may be removed without notice, at the sole risk of the owner.
• A charge of €5 may be made on non-member craft using the pontoon for embarkation/disembarkation.

7. Member’s Charges

• A charge of €5 per night will apply to members craft for the first 2 nights and € 10 for subsequent nights. The maximum stay is six nights. When a boat is absent from the pontoon for at least 48 hours and returns the charges starts again at €5 as above.
• To minimise administration please pay your fees at the end of the week in the clubhouse or to the volunteer Pontoon Manager.
• DHSC accepts no liability whatsoever for any injury suffered by any person using the pontoon or any damage caused to any craft or equipment thereon. Persons using the pontoon do so at their own risk.

8. General

• The person in charge of any craft using the pontoon is responsible for ensuring that their craft is adequately secured by suitable warps and protected by suitable fenders.
• Berth holders shall always, respect the privacy of others and shall keep noise pollution to a minimum.
• The pontoon may not be used to berth disabled craft.
• Inflatable and other tenders belonging to boats on the pontoon must not obstruct other vessels or other berth users and are not permitted to be placed or stowed on the pontoon.
• DHSC accepts no liability for damage to first- or third-party craft caused by inadequate mooring or fendering.
• DHSC accepts no liability for any damage to persons, or their belongings, using the pontoon. Persons using the pontoon do so at their own risk.
• Boat users should ensure that vessels adequate insurance to cover third party risks.
• Where common cleats are used, the person in charge must ensure that any third-party warp which may have to be released is remade in a secure and seamanlike manner.
• Warps shall be tied off so as not to cause an obstruction or danger to persons walking on the pontoon.
• Boats may not be scraped, painted or stored on the pontoon walkways. Bicycles may not be stored on the pontoon or chained to the gate. The pontoon walkways may not be used as a work area for boat maintenance.
• Boats or other equipment must not be left unattended on the pontoon.
• Pontoon walkways must always be kept clear for safety reasons.

9. Commercial Use

• Commercial operators must apply to the Committee for permission to use the pontoon.

10. Agreement to terms of use

• Members may be required to sign a document agreeing with, and agreeing to abide by, the terms of use of the pontoon.

11. Amendments

• DHSC Committee reserves the right to review and amend terms of use, as and when required.
• The committee will appoint a pontoon sub-committee to organise and supervise the pontoon on a day to day basis, these will be volunteers so please co-operate with them.
• The Pontoon is not to be used in times of Crisis or National emergencies. Access is restricted to emergency services and to members only to service punts tied to the pontoon. No boat maybe tied to pontoon without express permission from the committee. The Pontoon gate maybe locked if required.
• Appropriated PPE is always to be used and any social distancing or other issued guidelines adhered to.
• As of 1 May 2020, boats overstaying maximum period as laid out in the rules, shall be charged €50 per day. If a boat must have unplanned maintenance, this fee maybe reduced to the standard fee for an additional 7 day but there after the fee will be charged at €50 per day subject to agreement with the committee.
• Boats greater than 10m other than sailboats should raft up if using the pontoon, to allow fair access for member boats to the pontoon. Boats maybe asked to move to their mooring to facilitate same. Failure to comply with the pontoon team and the member fob will be deactivated
• Boats maybe asked to move to a raft up position if space is deemed a premium on the pontoon. Boats maybe also asked to move or raft up to allow boats constrained by draft or keel type berth.
• Use of inner side nearest to the quay wall the following applies-
• The top end of the pontoon nearest to Devonshire bridge is to only be used for tender boats. The other end opposite the set down area is to be kept for club boats only. These boats maybe used for club or rescue activities and must not be blocked in any way. If a boat or punt is deemed to do so it will be moved and tied up elsewhere.
• Max punt length – 15 feet – permitted to be tied to the Pontoon.
• Any other boat, used by members, is to be tied between the club boat end and the walkway. If a member wants to use a boat regularly then is should be placed on a mooring and a punt used.
• No punt is to be tied to the pontoon fore and aft at any time. The pontoon team may untie any aft lines on punts or boats that are deemed to be preventing others accessing cleats
• It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure their punt mooring rope is at least 1.0 metre free line after it is secured to the pontoon to allow others to tie to a cleat.
• Punts should be tied aft to the aft of the next punt to keep in line. Best practice would be to keep similar type and size together. Care must be taken so as not to interfere with other boats or punt outboards.
• Damaged or sunk punts to be removed once noted.
• All punt to have an annual membership sticker.
• Boats not used by members as tenders must display annual membership stickers and can be asked to be removed from the pontoon in the event of the pontoon being over-crowded and cannot return.
• Any punt or boat not displaying annual membership must be removed forthwith.
• No punt is to be tied up to the outside of the pontoon or on the outside of a boat unless that boat is tying up or leaving immediately, so as not to prevent boats tying up or rafting up.
• To comply with health and safety members must clean as they go when using the pontoon. Anything on the pontoon must not interfere with safe use of the pontoon. All rubbish should be removed and disposed of by the members. Any chemical spills must be cleaned up safely so as not to cause any damage to the pontoon or the environment.
• Any boats receiving bulk fuel deliveries cannot do so while tied to the pontoon. The boat should be moved to the quay wall. This is to minimize the risk of fuel spills that can make the walkways slippery and dangerous to users. Failure to comply will result in fob being deactivated on health and safety and environment grounds
• At no time should the pontoon access gate be tied open. The access gate maybe held open by a member to facilitate equipment on or off the pontoon, but there should be a gatekeeper present at the gate to ensure no unauthorized access and to prevent a member of public wandering on to the pontoon. Failure to comply will result in the member fob being deactivated as this is a health and safety breach.
• Failure to comply with the pontoon rules and access to the pontoon will be terminated.
• The pontoon is a floating structure and is subject to tides and weather. All members should wear PFD and children must always wear PFD.
• All Fobs will be turned off on the 1st April annually and only paid up members granted access. Members who facilitate other to access the pontoon without permission from the committee will have fobs deactivated
• It is the boat owner’s responsibility to ensure all fees are paid in a timely manner
• Boat owners are to provide the Club with the name of their boat and a contact number. They should also include details of their punt.
• Any suggestions or helpful comments for the efficient use of the pontoon are welcome.