Harbour regulations

Section 1

In addition to laws and decrees and the regulations and ordinances issued pursuant to them, these harbour regulations and the regulations issued by the harbour authority pursuant to them must be complied with in the harbours and harbour areas of the City of Lahti.

Section 2

The harbours and harbour areas referred to in these harbour regulations are the following:

• Niemi harbour
• Teivaa harbour
• Vesijärvi harbour
• Enonsaari pier area
• Isoranta-Naumi pier area
• Mukkula pier area
• rowing boat mooring areas

The borders of the Niemi, Vesijärvi and Teivaa harbour areas are marked on the maps attached to these harbour regulations. The harbour regulations apply to the aforementioned harbour areas insofar as the areas are owned by the City or otherwise in public use. The harbour regulations are also followed on other water areas owned by the City.

The borders of the land areas included in the harbour areas are also determined in the city plan or by a decision of the City Board if necessary.

Section 3

The harbour areas are managed by the Technical and Environmental Board under the supervision of the City Board, under which the harbour areas are managed and compliance with the harbour regulations is supervised in the Urban Environment service area by the harbour authority and the harbour authority office.

The harbour authority is the harbour manager of the City of Lahti or, in their absence, a separately appointed official.

Section 4

The master or agent of a vessel or other carrier must provide all information necessary to charge the fees levied by the harbour and to promote harbour and traffic safety.

Section 5

Companies operating in the harbour must comply with the instructions and safety regulations issued by the harbour authority.

Section 6

Everyone is obliged to provide the harbour authority with all information that may have an impact on harbour safety.

Section 7

Unauthorised access is prohibited in restricted harbour areas or parts thereof, as indicated by fencing or signs.

Unauthorised access is also prohibited in parts of marina areas marked as segregated by fencing or signs. The police or a security company authorised by the harbour authority have the right to order the removal of unauthorised persons from such areas or the harbour area in general.

Section 8

Fire-fighting, rescue and first-aid equipment in harbour areas may only be used for their intended purpose.

Section 9

Companies operating in the harbour must take into account the environmental permits in force at the time and adapt their operations to their regulations. In addition to this, companies must comply with the separate regulations issued on the basis of these permits.

Companies must provide the harbour authority free of charge with all information necessary to comply with the permit conditions and participate in the environmental assessments required by the permit conditions, insofar as they relate to the company’s activities in the harbour area.

Section 10

The master of a vessel is obliged to ensure that no oil, other pollutants or waste are spilled, thrown or pumped into the water or environment of the harbour area. They must also ensure that the waste generated on board is delivered to the waste containers provided by the harbour authority office, appropriately sorted and in such a way that special waste can be disposed of as required by the Waste Act and the regulations issued pursuant to it. The vessel must also not release steam, soot, etc. that could pose any danger or harm to other harbour users or harbour equipment. Toilet waste must not be pumped into the harbour area from any vessel.

Section 11

Any repair and maintenance of vessels that may cause dirtiness, shallowing, risk of fire or undue noise may only be carried out with the permission of the harbour authority and in a separately specified place. If the work causes harm to the operation of the harbour, it must be discontinued at the request of the harbour authority.

Washing or other maintenance of a vehicle in the harbour area is prohibited.

Section 12

The master of the vessel must immediately notify the harbour authority of any cargo fallen in the water and any oil, chemicals or other pollutants discharged into the water or elsewhere in the harbour area and undertake measures for their removal.

Section 13

The timetables of passenger vessels and any changes to them must be reported to the harbour authority in good time.

Traffic operations may not commence until the timetable has been approved by the harbour authority.

Section 14

The operation of a tug, water bus, fishing trawler or other similar commercial vessel operating in and from the harbour must be agreed upon with the harbour authority prior to the commencement of operations.

A notification does not have to be made for a vessel owned by the state of Finland or the City of Lahti, except when it is used for merchant shipping. The same also applies to boats used for recreational purposes. Such a boat does not need to be notified in advance but may not be moored or anchored without permission.

Section 15

If, during the voyage, a person has fallen ill with a disease that is generally hazardous, suspected of being contagious or unknown, the harbour authority must be notified and their instructions awaited before entering the harbour.

If an animal has died or become seriously ill during the voyage, the harbour authority must be notified in order to obtain the instructions of the veterinary authority.

Section 16

The maximum permitted speed and other possible restrictions are indicated by waterway traffic signs. Vessel speed must be adjusted according to the conditions, location and structure of the vessel so as not to cause damage, inconvenience or danger to other harbour users, the harbour or its equipment or structures or to the vessel itself. Special care must be taken and causing waves avoided when passing by narrow fairways, piers and vessels moored to buoys.

Section 17

A vessel must be moored at the location indicated by the harbour authority and in a manner approved by them. The owner or holder of the vessel must ensure that the vessel’s mooring equipment is in good condition at all times. The master of the vessel must be aware of the current water depth at the vessel’s location.

Section 18

Appropriate care must be taken when mooring or unmooring a vessel and while at berth to avoid damage to the pier and harbour equipment. If necessary, the vessel must be moved and anchored.

The use of anchors alongside piers is prohibited. While the vessel is at berth, a sufficient number of fenders must be used.

Gangways and boarding ladders must be equipped with handrails and, if necessary, safety netting. They must be lighted during hours of darkness.

Equipment protruding outside the vessel must not interfere with or damage harbour equipment. The vessel’s waste water and other lines must be covered before coming to the berth and while in the harbour to prevent water and dirt from getting on the pier.

The propeller of a vessel moored at a berth may only be used as a test run at low speed when the vessel is preparing for departure unless otherwise agreed upon with the harbour authority.

The removal of snow and ice from the vessel onto the pier is prohibited.

Section 19

A vessel must be relocated if the harbour authority so requires. This relocation is done at the expense and responsibility of the owner.

Section 20

Berthing a stripped vessel or other floating structure requires the permission of the harbour authority.

Vessels, floating equipment, etc. moored without permission may be removed by the harbour authority office at the owner’s expense and responsibility.

Section 21

The storage of goods in the harbour area requires the permission of the harbour authority.

Goods may not be stored on piers, traffic lanes or their safety zones, corridors, on top of fire hydrants, in front of rescue equipment or anywhere else where they can impede traffic or the use of these equipment.

Section 22

The principles of the Road Traffic Act apply to traffic in the harbour area. Vehicle parking spaces and other traffic arrangements are indicated by traffic control devices.

Parking in harbour areas is indicated by parking signs, and parking is only allowed in these areas. In other cases, the owner or holder of the vehicle is liable in the event of damage.

Section 23

Driving a motor vehicle on ice-covered waters is subject to separate regulations.

Section 24

The City of Lahti shall not be held responsible for any damage to vehicles.

Section 25

The crews of vessels in the harbours must, to the best of their ability, take part in rescue operations and the relocation of vessels from hazardous locations in accordance with instructions given by the authorities and the harbour authority office.

Section 26

By paying the berth fee, the renter undertakes to comply with the harbour regulations and the harbour’s marina instructions.

When renting a berth, the owner of the boat must submit the information on the boat or the goods to be stored on the electronic reservation service or to the harbour authority office. If a vessel, boat or some goods are placed without permission or otherwise in violation of the harbour regulations or in a way that interferes with traffic, and the master, operator, owner or holder fails to relocate it, the vessel, boat or goods may be relocated by the harbour authority office at the expense of the party concerned.

Section 27

A boat or vessel used for recreational purposes does not have to report its arrival in the harbour, unless separately required by the harbour. These boats may only be moored in places reserved for them or indicated by the harbour authority office.

Recreational vessels must avoid moving unnecessarily within the harbour area and always give way to passenger vessels.

Section 28

Vessels, boats and goods taken over by the harbour authority office, the owner of which is unknown or has not claimed them within three months, shall be treated in accordance with the Lost Property Act.

Section 29

No piers may be built and no bridges, chests, buoys or obstructions to traffic may be placed in the harbour area without permission from the harbour authority.

Section 30

Fishing in the closed-off harbour area is prohibited in fairways, on bridges, in the harbour basin, on piers and other comparable locations. Swimming in harbour basins and fairways is prohibited. Opening a passage outside the public fairway is only permitted with the permission of the harbour authority.

The permission to stay overnight in motorhomes or trailers is indicated by appropriate traffic signs where permitted. Camping in the harbour area is prohibited.

Events and competitions held in the harbour areas always require the permission of the harbour authority.

Section 31

If a vessel or a boat has run aground, become submerged or sunk in the harbour area, the owner or holder must remove it as soon as possible.

Section 32

Shallowing the water area is prohibited. If the water area in the harbour is shallowed as a result of an accident or some other reason, the harbour authority office and maritime authority must be notified immediately. The damaging party shall bear the cost of dredging the harbour area.

Section 33

If a sunken vessel or other object in the water poses a danger or obstruction to traffic, the owner or holder must equip it with warning markers. If this is not done, the harbour authority will place the signs at the owner’s or holder’s expense. The sunken vessel or object may be lifted by the harbour authority office at the expense and responsibility of the owner if the owner does not do it themselves. The harbour authority has the right to take measures to remove the vessel or object without delay.

Section 34

If a harbour user causes damage to the pier, other harbour equipment or a harbour building, the harbour authority must be notified without delay. The harbour authority will organise a meeting to assess the damage to which the damaging party or their representative will be invited.

Section 35

If a vessel, boat or some goods are placed without permission or in violation of the harbour regulations or in a way that interferes with traffic, and the master, operator, owner or holder fails to relocate it, the vessel, boat or goods may be relocated by the harbour authority office at the expense of the party concerned.

Section 36

If a vessel, boat, object, machine or vehicle has been placed in the harbour area in a way that is contrary to regulations or obstructs traffic, and the master, operator, owner or holder does not remove it, the harbour authority office may see to the removal at the expense of the party concerned.

Section 37

The harbour authority may deny access to the harbour area to anyone who violates these harbour regulations. In addition to this, the violating party shall be liable for any damage and expenses caused by them.

Any violation of laws or regulations are punishable as provided by law.

Section 38

Any complaints or claims against the City of Lahti harbour authority office must be presented without undue delay.

If a complaint is presented later than 30 days after the injured party discovered the problem, the injured party loses their right to bring an action in cases where the injured party is a trader.

An action against the City of Lahti must be brought within one year of the damage occurring or the injured party becoming aware of the damage. The action will be brought before the Päijät-Häme District Court, unless otherwise agreed upon.

These harbour regulations of the City of Lahti, which repeal the City’s harbour regulations confirmed on 1 June 2009, enter into force on 1 April 2019 and are valid until further notice.