Thursday 24 August 2017

The correct use of navigation lights…


Blessed Rangers put in a rare late night appearance at Oulton Broad last night to keep a watchful eye on those enjoying the annual sailing regatta.

For safety’s sake, the ranger was checking for the correct use of navigation lights by tenders driven at night and giving warnings to anyone not showing the right lights. But, oh deary me, it turned out that the ranger was masquerading as a sailing boat rather than a powered vessel!

According to the Blessed Navigation Byelaws, a powered vessel must display side lights, a stern light and a masthead light. But the Blessed Vessel wasn't wearing a masthead light - making it look like a sailing boat in the dark!

One of our researchers put in a call to the Blessed Authority to check the rules, but nobody knew the answer. While on hold, staff were heard arguing about whether the red port had to be passed left or right, with Dr Pikeman muttering in the background about why people needed powered boats at all and couldn’t they just use canoes.

Eventually an official reply came through from Yeurgh House, which simply read “Masters of vessels must do as we say, not as we do.”

12 comments:

  1. Oh, deary me. It looks like your researcher should have checked their facts better. A power-driven vessel less than than 12 metres (39 feet 4 inches) in length only needs to exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights. All the ranger vessels are less than 12 metres in length, so would never have to exhibit a masthead light.

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  2. Yes an all-round light can be used as a substitute for a masthead light - but they didn't. Only a stern light was on display, and that means it's a sailing boat. Byelaw 36 - http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/399230/Navigation_Byelaws_1995-1.pdf -

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  3. If the vessel is less than 7m loa it doesn't need lights at all!

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    Replies
    1. I do believe it still needs an all-round light if under 7m, but no side lights.

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  4. Take a look at the photo on WOBYC page on Facebook where you will find a phot of 2 BA launches on the night in question. Both are clearly displaying a forward facing riding light(mast head)and side lights plus a stern light as required by BA bylaws and international colregs.
    The original poster doesn't seem to know the International; Collision Regulations or the BA bylaws! (Just like the numerous boats that were spoken to by the rangers).

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  5. It's nice to have the photographic evidence that the ranger vessels were displaying the correct lights. Perhaps there will now be a public apology to the BA in general, and the rangers in particular. A box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers would be nice, too. This doesn't do the blogger's reputation any good. It seems like a very cheap shot.

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  6. I think that author of the post either needs to visit Specsavers or learn the definition of a masthead light and why it is different to an all round light.

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  7. I think that anonymous needs to read the previous reply which acknowledges the difference and provides a link to the byelaws. 12m and over - masthead light. Under 12m - all round light. Under 7m - no side lights required.

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  8. Bylaw 35 (1): - requires Mast head, side and stern lights. Bylaw 36 (22 a):-that power vessels under 12 metres MAY (not SHALL or MUST)exhibit all round in Lieu lights prescribed in bylaw 35 paragraph 1.

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  9. The BA Byelaws mean that International Collision Regs do not apply. Why I cannot imagine, the Bylaws are poorly written and in some parts deliberately confusing (the author said he 'fudged' parts. Probably best to bin the Byelaws and rely on Coll Regs that the rest of the world uses.

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    ReplyDelete