History of the Maritime Authority

The Maritime Authority of the Velocity Interoperability Network is a young institution. The milestones below record the circumstances of its establishment and will be extended as the Register is confirmed and the Authority's Regulations come into everyday use.

1. Before September 2026

   Harbours and vessels managed by member organisations

   Before the Authority existed, each member organisation of the Network kept its own list of vessels and applied its own rules in the harbour or landing it controlled. There was no common register, no single set of navigation rules for the waters between the sites, and no one body responsible for the lights and marks. The Eastfield Shoal beacon, extinguished in May 2026, remained unlit for four months because no organisation accepted responsibility for it.

2. 10 August to 5 September 2026

   The transition period

   In the four weeks before establishment, member organisations transferred their vessel lists, harbour records and aids to navigation to the new Authority. The harbour office at Southbank was staffed under interim arrangements from 10 August, 1,284 vessels were carried onto a provisional register, 46 surveys were carried out and every aid to navigation was inspected. The Eastfield Shoal beacon was relit on 4 September.

3. 6 September 2026

   Authority established

   The Maritime Authority of the Velocity Interoperability Network was formally established, with responsibility for navigation safety, Notices to Mariners, aids to navigation, the Vessel Register and the survey and inspection of vessels in the waters of the Network.

4. 6 September 2026

   Official website launched

   The Authority launched maritime.gov.vin, carrying press releases, the Navigation Safety Regulations 2026, the Notices to Mariners in force, the register of aids to navigation and guidance on registering a vessel and arranging a survey.

5. 6 September 2026

   The Register, the Regulations and the first statistical release

   On the day of its establishment the Authority announced that the Vessel Register would open on 7 September 2026, made the Navigation Safety Regulations 2026 to come into force the same day, issued its first six Notices to Mariners and published its first statistical release, covering the transition period.

6. 7 September 2026

   Register opens and Regulations in force

   The Vessel Register opens for applications and the Navigation Safety Regulations come into force at 00:00, replacing the harbour rules previously applied by member organisations. The one-way traffic scheme in the Northgate Channel begins with the first northbound period.

7. Forthcoming

   Harbour byelaws, the small craft safety scheme and quarterly reporting

   Byelaws for Southbank Harbour, a safety scheme for small craft, and the Authority's first full quarterly statistical report, covering the quarter ending 30 September 2026, will be announced in the Newsroom. Provisional entries on the Register must be confirmed by 30 November 2026.

Announcements are published in the Newsroom. For the Authority's present responsibilities, see About the Maritime Authority; for its reporting on the fleet, aids to navigation and activity, see Statistics.