Evening star., 1940-04-28
New Set Of Rarbor
Regulations Approved
By Commissioners
Greater Protection and
Rivers RecreotionuI
Advantages Emphasized

NiVeI NeCIeotI0noI
Advantages Emphasized
A new set of harbor regulations
for the District. designed to pro-
vide more adequate protection to
life and property and promote the
recreational advantages OF the Po-
tomac River, was approved by the
Commissioners yesterday. i.
The regulations, prepared by a
special committee Of municipal and
Federal officials in accordance with
a bill adopted by Congress in 1884,
already had been approved by the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, the National Park
Service and the Secretary Of War.
The speed of all boats is restricted
to a limit of 6 statute miles per
hour in the Potomac River up
stream from the Arlington Memorial
Bridge: in the Washington Channel
upstream from the P street chan
mel marker, and within and border
ing established anchorage zones.
Restrictions in Wharf Area.
The regulations also restrict the
speed of all boats passing the wharf
area Of Alexandria to 10 statute
miles per hour, except in emer-
gencies. No restrictions on speed are
provided elsewhere so long as boats
are not operated recklessly.
Another section Of the new regu-
lations provides for registration with
the harbor master of all boats or
vessels 26 feet or more in length
when such craft remains in the
harbor for more than "a hours.
Boats and vessels which have regu-
larly assigned berths are required
to register only once year.
A regulation dealing with the sale,
handling and transportation of gaso-
line prohibits vessels that are not
self-propelled from dispensing gaso-
line, fuel oil or other f1ammable
oils without a permit approved by
the fire marshal and the harbor
master. This is intended to provide
better control over gasoline barges
and regulate their places of busi-
ness.
Another section prohibits pollution
of the waters of the harbor 1t pro-
vides that no vessel shall discharge
or deposit in the harbor any crude
petroleum, gasoline, or other SINH
lar volatile inflammable oils
nor pump OF empty in the harbor
bilge water"
Reckless Navigation Penalties.
Penalties for reckless navigation
and operation of watercraft by in
toxicated persons also are pro-
vided. The regulations state that
mo vessel can be operated reck-
lessly or III such a manner as to
result in danger to persons or dam
age to property"
Operation of vessel in a man.
ner that impedes the progress of
another vessel turning, docking or
getting under way also is prohibited.
AS further protection, the regula-
tions prohibit swimming or diving
from a vessel coming into or get
ting away from an anchorage or
wharf, as we'll as in the marked
channels of the harbor and near
the wharves or piers. Swimming
within 100 feet of steamboat while
1t is loading or discharging passen-
gers also is against the rules.
Another section requires the spe-
cif1c approval of the Commissioners
and the superintendent of the Ma
tional Capital Parks before any
showboat. floating restaurant or
night club may tie up or operate in
the harbor.
Unnecessary and prolonged noises,
operation of boats without ade-
quate mufflers and unwarranted use
OF whistles, horns, or sirens not re-
quired for purposes of navigation
also are prohibited. These require
ments would not apply, however.
during regattas and water pageants.
Other Provisions.
Other sections provide:
Regulation of the use Of Wash
1ngton Channel by amphibian air
craft or seaplanes.
Regulation of advertising signs
on boats, restriction as to Size and
subJect-matter advertised
Prohibition against vessels tying
up to a seawall bridge or buoy.
Specifications for types of moor
tngs in the five anchorage zones.
Since the act of Congress author
1zing enactment of the new regula-
tions contained no authority to i'm
pose penalties, the Commissioners
ordered that the harbor regulations
be made a part of the police regula-
tion so that the District could take
advantage of the general penalty
provisions of the police regulations
Committee Headed by Brennan.
The provisions of the police regu-
lations dealing with speed and
recklessness in navigation, tying up
to bridges and hiring of boats by
minors were ordered repealed since
the new harbor regulations will
supersede them.
Roland M. Brennan, the Districts
purchasing officer, headed the
committee which prepared the regu-
lations. Other members were Cliff
ford R. Whyte, engineer of bridges;
Guy w. Pearson, chairman of the
Wharf Committee; Edward w.
Thomas, assistant corporation coun-
sci; Edward A. Schmitt. senior civil
engineer of the United States Engi-
neer's Office; Frank T. Gartside,
assistant superintendent of the Ma
tional Capital Parks; Thomas S.
Settle, secretary of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. and Sergt. C. C. Humphries
OF the harbor precinct.
Mottson Case Figure