REEDS
LIGHTS, SHAPES AND BUOYAGE HANDBOOK
For Sail and Power
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REEDS Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP, UK BLOOMSBURY, REEDS, and the Reeds logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published in Great Britain 2019 This electronic edition published in 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Copyright Š Simon Jollands, 2019 Simon Jollands has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication data has been applied for. ISBN: PB: 978-1-4729-6509-7; ePub: 978-1-4729-6508-0; ePDF: 978-1-4729-6507-3
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REEDS
LIGHTS, SHAPES AND BUOYAGE HANDBOOK For Sail and Power SIMON JOLLANDS
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CONTENTS
Contents Introduction
6
Avoiding collisions at sea Who gives way to whom? Keeping a lookout Safe speed Risk of collision Narrow channels Overtaking
8 9 11 13 14 15
Give-way vessel Stand-on vessel The give-way hierarchy Sailing boat hierarchy Power boat hierarchy Shipping lanes Restricted visibility
Navigation lights Understanding the basics Light definitions Vessels under oars Powered vessels Sailing vessels under sail only Fishing vessels Vessel trawling Towing and towed vessels Vessels not under command
27 27 29 32 33 41 45 46 47
Vessels with restricted manoeuvrability Vessels carrying out underwater work Vessels minesweeping Vessels constrained by draught Pilot vessel on duty Vessels at anchor Vessels aground Hovercraft WIG craft
50 51 52 53 54 55 56 56 57
49
58
Day shapes Day shape types Sailing boats Vessels at anchor Vessels aground Vessels not under command
8 17 18 19 20 22 23 25
58 59 59 60 60
Vessels with restricted manoeuvrability Vessels constrained by draught Dredger Vessels minesweeping
61 61 62 62
4
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Contents 63 63
Pilot vessels Dive boats
Sound and light signals Sound and light signals 65 Manoeuvring and warning signals 66
Restricted visibility
Buoyage The signposts of the sea IALA buoyage systems Types of navigation mark Lateral marks – region A Preferred channel marks – region A Lateral marks – region B
64 64
65 72
CONTENTS
Towing and towed vessels Fishing vessels
77 77 78 79 81
Preferred channel marks – region B Cardinal marks Safe water mark Isolated danger mark Special marks New danger mark Leading marks
87 89 92 92 93 93 94
83 85
95
Lights 96 Light characteristics Sector lights 100 Directional lights 102 Leading lights 103 Nominal and luminous range 104
Rising and dipping distances International Port Traffic Signals Morse Code
105 107 108
Test yourself
109
Index
126
5
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INTRODUCTION
Introduction Finding your way at sea has certain similarities to finding your way on land. On land, road users have signs to show them the way and warn them of hazards they are approaching. They avoid collisions with others by following the road rules. They use light and sound signals to indicate what their intentions are. Broadly speaking, all this happens at sea too. There are navigation marks which act like road signs, there are road rules to prevent collisions and there are sound and light signals to tell others of a vessel’s intentions. In addition there are some extra factors to get to grips with: ◆ As there are no roads on the water, boats tend to move around in all directions. ◆ There are more diverse shapes and sizes of vessels on the water than there are vehicles on land. ◆ There is a give way hierarchy between the types of vessel, which needs to be followed by all boat users. ◆ Vessels display lights at night to tell others which direction they are moving in and what type and size of vessel they are. ◆ Vessels display shapes during the day to tell others what type of vessel they are and indicate certain activities which they may be involved in. ◆ There are navigation marks which identify safe water channels and hazards to be avoided. ◆ There are light beacons which guide vessels safely towards land and into harbour at night.
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Introduction
◆ Avoiding collisions at sea ◆ Navigation lights ◆ Day shapes ◆ Sound and light signals ◆ Buoyage ◆ Lights
INTRODUCTION
To try to help clarify all of this, there are six sections in this book as follows:
There are also six multiple choice quizzes at the end of the book to test your knowledge. I have tried to keep the words and technical terms to a minimum. I hope that the illustrations help to make sense of all the rules and regulations that apply internationally and help us stay safe at sea. Finally, although the book is designed to help people find their way at sea and to identify other vessels day or night, there is barely any mention of the art of navigation itself, which is another story.
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AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA
Who gives way to whom?
Whatever their size or type, all boats have a responsibility to avoid collisions with others at sea.
If you are in charge of a boat you need to know what to do in a potentially dangerous close quarters situation and act accordingly. It is important to know the ‘who gives way to whom’ hierarchy and this should be learnt by all boat operators (see page 19).
◆ Be alert for other vessels which could be out of control or at risk of going aground. ◆ If another vessel of any size is out of control it is up to you to get out of its way, even if you have right of way. ◆ Always be prepared to take avoiding action before it is too late.
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Keeping a lookout
Keep a proper lookout at all times, whether inside a harbour or out at sea.
AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA
Boats have many blind spots, including the headsails of sailing boats.
◆ Check all around you, not just ahead. Monitor all vessels in your vicinity. ◆ Check the bearings of boats that could be on a collision course with you. ◆ Use sight, hearing and instruments. ◆ Listen for sound signals and engine noise, especially in poor visibility. ◆ Checks for lobster pots, channel markers and natural obstacles.
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AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA
Keeping a lookout
Keeping a lookout includes monitoring radar. AIS and GPS chart plotters should also be checked regularly.
Look out for lobster pots and other floating obstacles.
10
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Safe speed
Keeping to a safe speed will help reduce the risk of colliding with others, but what exactly is meant by a safe speed? With so many types and sizes of vessel out on the water, a safe speed will vary according to the design and capabilities of a particular boat and the specific conditions and circumstances it finds itself in.
AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA
Fast boats should respect other water users and check their wash is not disturbing others.
Caution ✹ Remember that a safe speed can often be less than a harbour speed limit. ✹ A yacht entering a crowded harbour under full sail is most likely sailing too fast.
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AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA
Safe speed A safe speed can be affected by the following: ◆ State of visibility – slow down in fog, rain, mist or excessive glare from the sun. ◆ Traffic density – take particular note of fishing vessels and when navigating in narrow channels. ◆ Manoeuvrability – travel at a speed that will allow you to either manoeuvre out of the way or stop in order to avoid a potential collision. ◆ At night – slow down if background light from the shore or from your own lights interferes with your night vision. ◆ Sea state – reduce speed in rough conditions, especially those caused by wind against tide.
Slow down in poor visibility, even if you have radar on.
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Risk of collision
AVOIDING COLLISIONS AT SEA
The risk of collision can be determined by taking a series of compass bearings of an approaching vessel. If the bearing of the approaching vessel does not change then the two vessels are on a collision course.
◆ Remember your heading is the course you are steering. A bearing is the compass direction between you and another object. ◆ Take bearings every minute or so and make a note of them. ◆ When at close range risk of collision can still exist with a very large vessel, even if the bearing is changing.
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This pocket-sized guide is a quick reference for all seafarers to the essential navigational lights, shapes, and seamarks which abound off the coastline all over the world.
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