All watercraft and vessels entering or in the Tacoma Harbor shall comply with the applicable public health laws and regulations of the United States, the State of Washington, and its political subdivisions.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
Except as otherwise specified in this title, vessels or watercraft shall be subject to the “International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972” (72 COLREGS), 33 CFR 81, as the same were made applicable to Puget Sound and its tributaries pursuant to 33 CFR 82.1395 effective December 24, 1981, which rules, as existing on January 1, 1983, and copies of which are on file in the office of the City Clerk, are by this reference incorporated herein as though fully set forth at this point. Such rules shall apply to all vessels or watercraft within Tacoma Harbor except to the extent certain vessels or watercraft may be exempt from compliance with certain provisions of the rules as provided pursuant to 33 CFR 81.20 and Appendix B to 33 CFR 82, and except to the extent strict compliance with any particular provision of the rules has been waived by a Certificate for Alternate Compliance by the U.S. Coast Guard pursuant to 33 CFR 81. From and after January 1, 1984, any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any provision of the said rules as herein adopted shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined in a sum not exceeding $500.00.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
All watercraft or vessels shall carry the equipment required by any applicable United States laws or the laws of the State of Washington or the City of Tacoma as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, and shall be numbered or designated in accordance with any applicable United States laws as now or hereafter amended.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
No person shall operate any watercraft or vessel on the water in a manner which shall unreasonably or unnecessarily interfere with other watercraft or vessels on the water or with the free and proper navigation of the waterways of the City. Anchoring or mooring under bridges or in heavily traveled channels shall constitute such interference if unreasonable under the prevailing circumstances, or if otherwise prohibited under this title or other applicable law, ordinance, regulations, rule, or order of the Harbor Master.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
Whenever a vessel or other watercraft is wrecked or out of control within the Tacoma Harbor area so that it obstructs other navigation or endangers the same, it shall be the duty of the owner or operator thereof to immediately notify the Harbor Master, giving the location of such obstruction and the cause. The owner or operator shall immediately place and maintain an adequate buoy or marker over such obstruction and display warning devices, markers, and lights as required by law. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of said obstruction to commence diligent removal of the same, and each day that the same shall remain shall constitute a separate violation hereof. Failure to so diligently remove such obstruction shall constitute an abandonment of such craft, and the Harbor Master may summarily remove the same at the cost of the owner thereof.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
All vessels and watercraft moored in the Tacoma Harbor shall be moored or anchored securely in accordance with all applicable provisions of law and generally recognized maritime customs, practices, and procedures.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
Hawser and rope by which ocean-going vessels are made fast shall be equipped with one metal disk or rat guard. This disk shall be affixed at such distance from the pier as may be necessary to prevent rats from climbing the same.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vessel or watercraft in Tacoma Harbor at a speed in excess of five miles per hour within 100 yards of any diver’s flag, restricted area, pier, or shore installation, or within 100 yards of any shoreline, except for those shorelines lying westerly of a point on the western end of Owens Beach, which point is located approximately at the intersection of longitude 122º21'27" west and latitude 47º18'50" north. It shall further be unlawful to operate any vessel or watercraft at a speed greater than five miles per hour within any part of the following designated waterways, to wit: Middle Waterway, St. Paul Waterway, Puyallup Waterway, Sitcum Waterway, Blair Waterway, or Hylebos Waterway. It shall further be unlawful to operate any vessel or watercraft at a speed greater than that which is necessary to maintain steerage within any part of the following designated no-wake zones, to wit: Thea Foss Waterway, Wheeler Osgood Waterway, or within 1,000 feet of any marine fueling dock. Such speed limits may be exceeded, where necessary, for safe navigation, accident avoidance, or in an emergency where the exceeding of such speed limit is necessary in the protection of life or property. Notwithstanding the speed limits set forth herein, it shall be unlawful for any vessel or watercraft to be operated any place within the Tacoma Harbor at such a speed as to cause damage to persons or property because of the wake of said vessel or watercraft.
The first or second violation of this section, within 365 days, is a civil infraction. A third or subsequent violation of this section, within 365 days, shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07; Ord. 27361 § 2, 2005-05-24; Ord. 28142 Ex. A, 2013-03-26)
(Operating while under influence of liquor or drugs. Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07; repealed by Ord. 27361 § 2, 2005-05-24)
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any vessel or watercraft or any person having such in charge or in control to authorize or knowingly permit same to be operated by any person who, by reason of physical or mental disability, is incapable of operating such a vessel or watercraft under the prevailing circumstances.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
In the interests of safe navigation, life, safety, and protection of property, the Harbor Master may designate certain restricted areas and the purposes for which same shall be used. No person shall operate a vessel or watercraft within said restricted area, provided that this section shall not apply to vessels or watercraft engaged in or accompanying the activity to which the area is restricted, or to patrol or rescue craft, or in the case of emergency.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to the operation of any and all vessels or watercraft in Tacoma Harbor, except that they shall not apply to any authorized emergency vessel or watercraft actually responding to an emergency call or in immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law within the purpose for which such emergency vessel or watercraft has been authorized.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
In obeying and construing these rules, due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision, and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)
A. 
No watercraft shall be loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity, nor carry passengers in an unsafe manner, taking into consideration weather and other existing operating conditions.
B. 
Whenever it appears reasonably certain to any harbor or police officer that any person is operating a watercraft loaded beyond its safe capacity or specified load limit, said officer may take reasonable measures to prevent any such person from so operating the craft, and may require that such watercraft be taken and left at the nearest place of safety or storage until such unsafe condition be corrected or remedied.
(Ord. 22868 § 1, 1983-06-07)