The aim of the Port of Tyne Authority is to allow people to view the assembled fleet from the water as well as from the land but as safely as possible. The fleet will start to arrive from Friday 22nd July and the best days to view the assembled fleet are likely to be up to and including Tuesday 26th July.
There will be times and occasions when Navigation will have to be controlled, restricted or prohibited. Definitive Navigation Notices will be issued in due course, but they will be consistent with the following:-

During the event all race & control craft will with the possible exception of marked Harbour & Police Launches, display a yellow & black chequered flag.

In the berthing area in Newcastle all craft should (where possible) maintain a listening watch on VHF CH11, and be prepared to follow the instructions given by control craft.

If there is congestion in the berthing area restrictions may be placed on the number of vessels allowed.

In the interests of crowd safety Millennium bridge swings will be strictly limited.

From 1600 on Tuesday 26th July pontoons will be placed from the swing bridge to St Peters to hold the fireworks for the eve of sail celebrations, craft should be aware of their presence and the need for caution during installation.

From 1530 on Wednesday 27th July when fireworks are being rigged, all craft other than control and associated craft will be excluded from the area immediately upstream of St Peters Marina up to and including the Swing Bridge. This closure will last at least until 2359 and Navigation will be prohibited. For this reason boat owners are advised that views of the fireworks from any accessible stretches of the river are likely to be extremely  limited.

On Thursday 28th July all craft wishing to watch the Parade of Sail from the river should be in the designated spectator areas 30mins before the fleet arrives. The attached document gives further details but the fleet will leave Newcastle from 0800-100 arriving at the piers 1000-1200.

Berths in the centre of NewcastleGateshead will be limited to: The Tall Ships Race entrants; a small number of essential associated craft; other vessels with existing berthing agreements. Similar restrictions on boarding and landing will be in place.

Any craft wishing to carry passengers during this or any other period to view the fleet should contact the MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency) in order that appropriate regulations may be complied with. Such craft should also register with the Port of Tyne Authority.

Harbour and Police launches will be in attendance throughout to ensure compliance with the necessary restrictions, the River Bylaws, and the directions of the Harbour Master


MILLENIUM BRIDGE OPENINGS ¡V TALL SHIPS WEEK JULY 2005
Day Date Times Duration
(minutes) Remarks
Friday 22nd 1300 1700 - 15 m 2-Way Traffic
Saturday 23rd 1100 1500 1800 15  m 2-Way Traffic
Sunday 24th 1100 1500 1830 15  m 2-Way Traffic
Monday 25th 0600 1100 1500 15 m 2-Way Traffic     (* Arrivals Only)
Tuesday 26th 1100 1500 - 15 m 2-Way Traffic
Wednesday 27th 1130 1500 - 15 m Dependent on Eve of Sail Celebrations & Preparations
Thursday 28th 0800 Till# 1000 Continuous Tall Ships only, outward only.

Further Information is available on Tall Ships Website www.tallships2005.com

Navigation Notices and other useful information is available on the Port of Tyne Website www.portoftyne.co.uk  where you can register for updates and alerts.

Michael Nicholson Harbour Master 2 June 2005