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VOLTA RIVER DEVELOPMENT (LAKE TRAFFIC) REGULATIONS, 1974

(LI 862).

IN exercise of the powers conferred on the Volta River Authority (hereinafter referred to as "the Authority") by section 33 of the Volta River Development Act, 1961 (Act 46) these Regulations are made this 17th day of December, 1973.

PART I—GENERAL

Regulation 1—Application.

(1) These Regulations shall apply to water-borne traffic on the Volta Lake and the lakeside area and any other waterway, watercourse or river forming part thereof and owned or administered by the Volta River Authority under any enactment for the time being in force.

(2) These Regulations shall not apply to the use of the lake for the drawing of water therefrom for domestic use or for use for animals or plants.

Regulation 2—Administering Authority.

The Authority shall be the administering authority in respect of all matters connected with transportation on the lake and, unless otherwise provided for by these Regulations, every consent, permit, exemption, licence or authorisation required by these Regulations shall be obtained from the Authority or person duly authorised to act on behalf of the Authority and if not so obtained shall be void for the purposes of these Regulations.

Regulation 3—Persons Authorised to Act for Authority.

(1) Any act or function required to be done by or on behalf of the Authority under these Regulations shall be deemed to be properly done or performed for the purposes of these Regulations if it is done by the Chief Executive or any person, whether an employee of the Authority or not authorised by the Chief Executive to do such act or function.

(2) The Chief Executive may at any time assign to any person the performance of any function for the purposes of these Regulations.

(3) The Chief Executive may in writing delegate all or any of his functions under these Regulations to any person specified in such writing and such delegation may at any time be revoked, altered or suspended by the Chief Executive.

Regulation 4—Unauthorised Persons.

(1) Any person who, without authority performs any function under these Regulations or holds himself out as having been authorised to perform such function shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who knowingly obtains or attempts to obtain any consent, permit, exemption, licence or authorisation from a person other than a person authorised to grant such consent, permit, exemption, licence or authorisation under these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

PART II—REGISTRATION OF VESSELS

Regulation 5—Registration of Vessels.

(1) Every vessel used in connection with transportation on the lake shall be registered with the Authority before such use and no vessel shall be so used unless registered under this Part.

(2) Every vessel, unless exempted by the Authority shall, before such registration, be surveyed by a person appointed or approved by the Authority, and certified as to her fitness for navigation on the lake, considering her construction and the life-saving and fire appliances carried.

(3) For the purpose of registration under this Part, vessels shall be classified, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the classifications set out in the First Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 6—Form of Application.

Any person desiring to register a vessel under this Part may complete and submit to the Chief Executive an application in the form set out in the Second Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 7—Certificate of Registration.

(1) Upon the registration of a vessel under this Part a Certificate in the form set out in the Third Schedule to these Regulations shall be issued to the applicant in respect of the vessel on payment by him of the appropriate fee prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to these Regulations.

(2) A certificate issued under this Part may contain such particulars relating to the vessel such as maximum weight of cargo or number of passengers or minimum crew or equipment as may be considered by the Chief Executive to be safe or necessary and every operator shall comply with such requirements.

Regulation 8—Markings.

The owner or operator of every vessel in respect of which a certificate is issued under this Part shall—

(a) mark the name and the registration number allocated to it permanently and conspicuously on the bows;

(b) paint at the bow and stern of the vessel, where it is licensed for the carriage of passengers, the appropriate draught marks;

(c) paint draught marks fore and aft on both sides in the case of a cargo-carrying vessel of eighty tons and above, and in the case of a pontoon-type vessel, draw load-lines amidships, on both sides.

Regulation 9—Inspection of Vessels.

The Chief Executive or any person acting on his behalf or upon his instructions may at any reasonable time enter upon any vessel registered under this Part for the purpose of inspecting the same or examining anything thereon for the purpose of ensuring compliance with any part of these Regulations.

Regulation 10—Obstruction of Officers.

Any person who wilfully or knowingly obstructs the Chief Executive or any person acting on his behalf or upon his instructions in the performance of his functions under regulation 9 of these Regulations or prevents him from entering upon a vessel or any part thereof or conceals from him any person or thing in order to avoid detection thereof by him, shall be guilty of an offence.

Regulation 11—Equipment of Vessels.

Every vessel used for or in connection with transportation on the lake shall be supplied or fitted with such documents and equipment, listed in the Fourth Schedule to these Regulations, as shall be specified in the service licence issued for the vessel.

Regulation 12—Directions by Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive may from time to time give such directions or instructions with regard to the maintenance, repairs or equipment of any vessel used for or in connection with transportation on the lake and the owner or operator of the vessel in respect of which such directions or instructions are given shall be obliged to comply therewith.

Regulation 13—Insurance of Vessels.

(1) Every vessel used for or in connection with transportation on the lake shall be insured with a registered insurer against death or injury to persons or damage to or loss of property occasioned or caused in the course of the use thereof.

(2) The Chief Executive may decline to register a vessel under this Part unless and until it is insured according to this regulation and a valid policy or certificate of insurance produced in respect thereof.

PART III—LICENCES

Regulation 14—Service Licence.

No person shall run or operate a transport service on the lake except in pursuance of and in accordance with a licence granted to him by the Authority.

Regulation 15—Application for Licence.

Any person desiring to obtain a licence under this Part may complete and submit to the Chef Executive an application in the form set out in the Fifth Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 16—Issue of Licence.

(1) The Chief Executive may issue to the applicant a licence under this Part if he is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to run or operate transport service on the lake and that having regard to all the circumstances, including the volume of traffic already on the lake, it is proper for the applicant to run and operate transport service on the lake.

(2) A licence under this Part shall be in the form set out in the Sixth Schedule to these Regulations and may be issued in respect of the lake generally or specified ports or landing places or any specified part or portion of the lake.

(3) The fee prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to these Regulations shall be paid by the applicant before or upon the issue to him of a licence under this Part.

Regulation 17—Renewal of Service Licence.

(1) Every licence issued under this Part shall expire on the 31st day of December of the year in which it is issued and shall be renewable from time to time for a further period expiring on the 31st day of December in the year for which it is renewed.

(2) The Chief Executive may, before renewing a licence, request the applicant to furnish him with such particulars or further particulars as the Chief Executive may specify.

(3) The appropriate fee prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to these Regulations shall be paid by the applicant before or upon the renewal of a service licence.

Regulation 18—Change in Particulars.

Any change in the particulars furnished to the Chief Executive . in an application for the issue or renewal of a licence under this Part occurring after the issue or renewal of the licence shall forthwith be notified in writing to the Chief Executive.

Regulation 19—Revocation of Service Licence.

The Chief Executive may at any time revoke or suspend a licence issued by him under this Part if he is satisfied upon evidence available to him that—

(a) the holder has since the issue or renewal of the licence to him ceased to be a fit and proper person to operate transport on the lake;

(b) the holder is operating transport on the lake in such manner as constitutes a danger or hazard to other users of the lake;

(c) the vessel employed by the holder in the transport service is unsafe or unsuitable and the holder has not replaced or improved it when requested by the Authority to do so;

(d) the holder has become bankrupt or executes an assignment for the benefit of or compounds with his creditors or an execution is levied against him or, being a company, the holder goes into liquidation whether voluntary or compulsory; or

(e) the holder fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Regulations or any safety directions or instructions given thereunder.

PART IV—OPERATION OF SERVICE

Regulation 20—Personnel Certificate.

No person shall act or be permitted to act as navigator, operator or in any other capacity connected with the running of any vessel on the lake unless he is in possession of a certificate issued or recognized by the Chief Executive and is of such age, fitness and character as makes him suitable to act in that capacity.

Regulation 21—Conduct of Personnel.

No person shall act or be permitted to act as navigator, operator or in any other capacity connected with the running of a vessel on the lake while he is under the influence of drink or drug or while he is otherwise physically or mentally unfit to do so.

Regulation 22—Overloading.

No vessel shall carry persons, freight or goods in excess of the maximum number or weight prescribed therefor.

Regulation 23—Animals.

No vessel shall carry animals in such number or in such manner as to constitute a danger to the life or health of such animals or as to constitute cruelty to such animals or as to cause such animals to be unduly harrassed or frightened.

Regulation 24—Passengers.

No vessel shall carry for reward persons in a number in excess of the maximum number prescribed for that vessel or in such conditions or manner as to constitute a danger or hazard to the life or health of the persons so carried.

Regulation 25—Facilities.

Every vessel carrying passengers along any of the main routes of the lake shall provide reasonable facilities for the crew and passengers including male and female toilets and fresh drinking water.

Regulation 26—Control of Traffic.

No craft or vessel shall be operated or run or positioned on the lake, port or landing place in such manner as to constitute a danger or inconvenience to other users of the lake.

Regulation 27—Discharge of Oil.

No oil, petroleum or similar product may be discharged from a vessel into the lake or upon the shores of the lake except in a case of emergency or in order to save life.

Regulation 28—Explosives.

No vessel shall carry any explosives or inflammable or combustible substance other than engine fuel except under a special licence and in compliance with the requirements of the International Dangerous Goods Code.

PART V—NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION

Regulation 29—Safety Directions.

The Chief Executive may from time to time give directions or instructions with regard to the use or observation of safety devices on the lake and every navigator or operator of any vessel shall comply therewith.

Regulation 30—Navigational Aids.

(1) The Authority shall provide and maintain a uniform buoyage system and other navigational aids required for safe navigation.

(2) Except with the approval of the Authority, no other person may provide navigational aids on the lake.

Regulation 31—International Regulations.

(1) The Regulations annexed to the International Convention for the prevention of Collisions at Sea, 1972 shall apply, as nearly as may be, to transportation on the lake in respect of lighting at night, audible signals and rights of way.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing sub-regulation, cross-channel ferries shall have right of way and subject thereto craft of over eighty tons shall have right of way.

(3) A navigator or operator of a vessel shall reduce the speed thereof when passing fishing craft working nets or heavily loaded small craft and in all other cases where it is necessary to do so for the safety of life or property.

Regulation 32—Radio Service.

The Authority shall establish for use in connection with transportation on the lake a marine master radio station which shall be manned by suitably qualified staff and which shall be in continuous operation whenever vessels are plying on the lake.

Regulation 33—Searches.

(1) Whenever necessary or required the Authority shall cause searches and rescue operations to be conducted on the lake and shall be entitled to charge therefor reasonable fees which shall be payable by the person in whose interest or at whose request the services are rendered.

(2) Every vessel of sixty feet or more in length shall always have on board a position report chart.

PART VI—FISHING

Regulation 34—Fishing Nets.

(1) No person shall lay a fishing net in the channel unless the top of the net is not less than seven feet below the surface.

(2) No person shall lay a fishing net in any part of the channel where the top of the net cannot be seven feet or more below the surface.

Regulation 35—Floaters.

A fishing net laid in the channel shall be fitted with distinctive floaters of such size as shall not constitute a danger or hazard to navigation.

Regulation 36—Navigation Markers.

No person shall carry on or do any act, such as attaching fishing nets or fishing lines to a buoy or mooring a vessel to a buoy, which shall interfere with navigation markers on the lake.

PART VII—MISCELLANEOUS

Regulation 37—Special Conditions.

(1) The law applicable to the liability of carriers by sea shall apply to any carrier operating on the lake.

(2) Any carrier operating on the lake may by notice printed on tickets or otherwise lay down reasonable terms or conditions of carriage.

Regulation 38—Fares.

No carrier operating on the lake shall charge, demand or collect any fares unless the rates of such fares are approved by the Authority.

Regulation 39—Fees.

The fees payable for any licences, certificates and other matters provided for under these Regulations shall be as prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to these Regulations.

Regulation 40—Penalty.

(1) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction thereof be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred cedis or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(2) In addition to the penalties prescribed in sub-regulation (1) of this regulation any person guilty of a continuous offence under these Regulations shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten cedis for each day during which the offence continues.

Regulation 41—Interpretation.

In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires:

" channel " means the width of water stretching from the line of port or starboard buoys to a parallel line five hundred feet therefrom;

" Chief Executive " means the Chief Executive of the Authority and includes any person for the time being acting in the place of the Chief Executive in his absence or incapacity;

" the lake " means the area referred to in regulation 1 of these Regulations;

" vessel " includes a craft or tug.

Regulation 42—Commencement.

These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of April, 1974.

SCHEDULES

FIRST SCHEDULE

CLASSIFICATION OF VESSELS

(Regulation 5)

Class Description of Vessel

1 Passenger vessel

2 Passenger/Cargo vessel

3 Cargo vessel

4 Tanker or liquid cargo carrying vessel

5 Other bulk carrier

6 Fishing vessel

7 Sailing vessel

8 Pleasure vessel

9 Special vessel

SECOND SCHEDULE

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF VESSEL

(Regulation 6)

1. Particulars of Applicant

Name ........................................................................

Address ........................................................... Telephone ............................................

Registered Office (of limited company)........................................................................

Particulars of members of governing body of enterprise:

Name Nationality Occupation

............................... ................................ ..............................

Any additional information:……..........................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

2. Particulars of Vessel

Type.......................................................................................................................................

Tonnage..................................................................................................................................

Proposed name................................................................................................

Year built .....................................................................................................................

Where built.........................................................................................................................

Dimensions:

Length....................................................................................................................................

Width......................................................................................................................................

Draught (loaded) ...................................................................................................................

Draught (unloaded)..............................................................................................................

Height (unloaded) ................................................................................................................

System of propulsion ...........................................................................................................

Insurers....................................................................................................................................

Any additional information:

................................................................................................................................................

Date......................................................................................

Signature......................................................................

(Applicant)

Witness .......................................................................

(Signature)

Name ...........................................................................

.....................................................................................

Address.........................................................................

.....................................................................................

Occupation....................................................................

THIRD SCHEDULE

CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION

(Regulation 7)

FEE ¢

This certificate is issued under the Volta River Development (Lake Traffic) Regulations, 1973, to

Name ................................................................................................................................

Address.............................................Telephone.....................................................................

in respect of the vessel:

Name...................................................................................................................................... Type ....................................................................................................................................

Tonnage ...............................................................................................................................

Year built .............................................................................................................

Where built.........................................................................................................................

Maximum weight of cargo................................................................................................

Maximum number of passengers......................................................................................

Minimum crew................................................................................

Dimensions:

length......................................................................................................................................

width .................................................................................................................................

draught (loaded).................................................................................................................

draught (unloaded) ..............................................................................................................

height (unloaded) ..............................................................................................................

System of propulsion ........................................................................................................

Insurers...............................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

Any additional information:

The following marks shall be made on the vessel

Date..............................................

..............................................................

Chief Executive, Volta River Authority

FOURTH SCHEDULE

DOCUMENT AND EQUIPMENT

(Regulation 11)

Documents

Valid Service Licence

Certificate of Registration

Special licence, where applicable, for carriage of any explosives or inflammable or combustible material as required under regulation 28.

Equipment

Sufficient life-saving equipment, fire appliances and first aid kit.

Adequate toilet facilities for vessels carrying passengers.

Sufficient fresh drinking water.

Appropriate radio installation or distress signal equipment.

Position report chart for vessels of sixty feet or more in length.

Sufficient facilities generally for passengers and crew.

FIFTH SCHEDULE

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR SERVICE LICENCE

(Regulation 15)

1. Particulars of Applicant

Name ....................................................................................................................................

Address ..............................................................................................................................

Registered office (of limited company) ..............................................................................

Particulars of members of governing body of enterprise:

Name Nationality Occupation

............................... ................................ .............................

2. Particulars of Service

Starting point of service........................................................................................

Terminal point of service ....................................................................................

Particulars of places of loading and unloading. (Please attach map or sketch showing crossings or routes)..............................................................................................

3. Operation Schedule: Please attach time table or schedule of proposed service, including intermediate landings for loading and unloading and arrival and departure times.

4. Proposed date of commencement of service...................................................................

5. Particulars of Vessel

Name ...................................................................................................................

Type ...................................................................................................................

Registration No. .................................................................................................

Tonnage .............................................................................................................

Maximum weight of cargo....................................................................................

Maximum number of passengers ......................................................................

Minimum crew....................................................................................................

Year built ............................................................................................................

Where built...........................................................................................................

System of propulsion.............................................................................................

6. Period for which licence required ...................................................................................

7. Will service be operated in conjunction or collaboration with any other person or enterprise? If so, give particulars........................................................................................

8. Any additional information.............................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

Signature............................................................................................................

(Applicant)

Witness..............................................................................................................

(Signature)

Name ................................................................................................................

Address................................................................................................................

Occupation ........................................................................................................

SIXTH SCHEDULE

SERVICE LICENCE

(Regulation 16)

FEE ¢

This Licence is granted under the Volta River Development (Lake Traffic) Regulations, 1974 to:

Name ..........................................................................................................................

Address ........................................................................................................................

Telephone .....................................

to operate a transport service on the Volta Lake as follows:—

1. Nature or type of Service .....................................................................................

................................................................................................................................................

2. Extent of Service ....................................................................................................

3. Date of commencement of Service ........................................................................

4. Duration of Licence................................................................................................

5. Conditions .............................................................................................................

6. Particulars of Vessel:

Name ............................................................................................................

Type ............................................................................................

Registration No. ................................................................................................................

Tonnage ...............................................................................................................................

Maximum weight of cargo....................................................................................................

Maximum number of passengers ......................................................................................

Minimum crew...............................................................................................................

System of propulsion..........................................................................................................

Year built…...........................................................................

Where built...........................................................................................................................

7. Documents and Equipment to be carried on board the vessel:

................................................................................................................................................

Date .........................................................

.................................................................

Chief Executive, Volta River Authority

SEVENTH SCHEDULE

FEES

(Regulation 39)

Registration fees ¢

All commercial or transport boats of gross

tonnage not exceeding 50 tons .. .. .. 50.00

Exceeding 50 tons but not exceeding 100 tons .. .. .. 100.00

Exceeding 100 tons but not exceeding 250 tons .. .. .. 500.00

Exceeding 250 tons .. .. .. .. .. 1,000.00

All pleasure boats including special boats .. .. .. 50.00

Motorised fishing boats, excluding canoes .. .. .. 50.00

Annual Licencing Fees

Volta Lake Transport Company will pay licensing fees in accordance with Article 7 (i) of the V.L.T.C. Agreement.

All other transport and commercial boats shall pay annual licensing fees at the following rates:—

Not exceeding 50 tons gross .. .. .. .. .. 50.00

Exceeding 50 tons gross but not exceeding 250

tons gross .. .. .. .. .. .. 500.00

Exceeding 250 tons gross .. .. .. .. .. 1,000.00

Pleasure boats .. .. .. .. .. .. 50.00

Motorised Fishing boats, excluding canoes .. .. .. .. 50.00

Ports and Navigation Dues

Five per cent of the total turnover of any vessel doing transport business on the lake, or, where evidence of such turnover is not available, five (5) times the registration fee applicable to the vessel.

E. L. QUARTEY

Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority

Date of Gazette Notification: 1st February, 1974