The Department of Marine and Ports is reminding boat owners that registration for the 2012/2013 period for their boats and moorings is now required.This also requires all boats and moorings to have the correct decals attached to them and boat owners must have official registration numbers clearly displayed on both the port and starboard bow.Not doing so is punishable by ticketing or a court appearance. According to the department, it will begin to remove and dispose of moorings and buoys that are not properly registered or do not have a current decal attached to the mooring buoy.Boaters are also being reminded not to approach ships berthed in port too closely, as it is unsafe. Boats underway in the vicinity of the Hamilton Cargo Docks are required by law to keep a minimum of 20 metres clear of that dock face at all times, while boats transiting past ships berthed alongside are required under local and international security rules to keep a minimum of 50 metres distance. If these regulations are violated, boaters may find themselves before the court.Tour boats needing to enter the 50-metre exclusion zone around a cruise ship that may be berthed in port should apply to the Director of Marine and Ports for an exemption.