nathanlee
Well-Known Member
The anchoring vs mooring thread made me think... what is the correct thing to do on a mooring buoy, anchor light, or not? Does it depend if the mooring area is charted or not?
Achor light on a mooring buoy
- Thread starter nathanlee
- Start date
shmoo
Well-Known Member
The recommendation on the Orwell is for moored boats with people aboard to show an anchor light. Can't find the reference just now, but recall it from somewhere. There are occasional instances of commercial shipping hitting moored craft on the Orwell. I guess they will try harder not to if there is an anchor light.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
Sorry to open up another old favourite thread here; but this surely is very basic colregs? If you are anchored or on a mooring buoy and there is a risk that other boats passing might not see you in the dark; you need an anchor light. Does not really matter how you are attached to the bottom, does it?
nathanlee
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
but this surely is very basic colregs?
[/ QUOTE ]
It's not covered in the RYA Day Skipper course. I think if I was on the outer line of buoys, or indeed in a place where I felt at risk, I would flick the light on, I was just curious what the official line was.
but this surely is very basic colregs?
[/ QUOTE ]
It's not covered in the RYA Day Skipper course. I think if I was on the outer line of buoys, or indeed in a place where I felt at risk, I would flick the light on, I was just curious what the official line was.
RAI
Well-Known Member
Better safe than sorry, I would show an anchor light if in doubt. If it's rows of boats on a trot, that might not be necessary.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I was just curious what the official line was.
[/ QUOTE ]The essence of the colregs are: 'make your utmost to avoid an accident'. Don't expect the rules to detail all 'official' descriptions of how to do that, although it does include some examples for clarity. It is not intended to be conclusive. You are the skipper and you have to use your judgement to avoid an accident. If you are hanging on a mooring buoy or your anchor and other boats can hit you: you should show an anchor light.
I was just curious what the official line was.
[/ QUOTE ]The essence of the colregs are: 'make your utmost to avoid an accident'. Don't expect the rules to detail all 'official' descriptions of how to do that, although it does include some examples for clarity. It is not intended to be conclusive. You are the skipper and you have to use your judgement to avoid an accident. If you are hanging on a mooring buoy or your anchor and other boats can hit you: you should show an anchor light.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light, but if you are on board and you want to show one there is nothing to stop you.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light
[/ QUOTE ]I am not sure where you find that rule in the colregs? Please show me as I have must have missed that one. Secondly, the concept of a 'charted mooring' is a very limited subject used for some rivers in the UK. It is otherwise a concept only used for gale shelters for large shipping in most of the rest of the world; a very unusual situation and not applicable to yachting (and you can be very sure that those big ships will absolutely show an anchor light while in that 'charted mooring'). There are no 'charted moorings' in the Med that can be used by yachts.
If in doubt; show an anchor light. Anything else is contrary to colregs.
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light
[/ QUOTE ]I am not sure where you find that rule in the colregs? Please show me as I have must have missed that one. Secondly, the concept of a 'charted mooring' is a very limited subject used for some rivers in the UK. It is otherwise a concept only used for gale shelters for large shipping in most of the rest of the world; a very unusual situation and not applicable to yachting (and you can be very sure that those big ships will absolutely show an anchor light while in that 'charted mooring'). There are no 'charted moorings' in the Med that can be used by yachts.
If in doubt; show an anchor light. Anything else is contrary to colregs.
alec
Well-Known Member
An interesting point !
No idea of the official view.
I have know boats get whacked when they are the first or last in a line of moorings. No doubt visitors at night.
I got hit a few times with my mooring having just six or seven boats. Never happened with long runs except for the dinghy stuff etc.
I would be very tempted to show a light. The only downside would be for the other boats in the trot thinking you are a loner and getting hit.
No idea of the official view.
I have know boats get whacked when they are the first or last in a line of moorings. No doubt visitors at night.
I got hit a few times with my mooring having just six or seven boats. Never happened with long runs except for the dinghy stuff etc.
I would be very tempted to show a light. The only downside would be for the other boats in the trot thinking you are a loner and getting hit.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light
[/ QUOTE ]I am not sure where you find that rule in the colregs? Please show me as I have must have missed that one. Secondly, the concept of a 'charted mooring' is a very limited subject used for some rivers in the UK. It is otherwise a concept only used for gale shelters for large shipping in most of the rest of the world; a very unusual situation and not applicable to yachting (and you can be very sure that those big ships will absolutely show an anchor light while in that 'charted mooring'). There are no 'charted moorings' in the Med that can be used by yachts.
If in doubt; show an anchor light. Anything else is contrary to colregs.
[/ QUOTE ]
You are wrong. There is no colreg that says a boat on a mooring has to display an anchor light, otherwise there are thousands of boats moored in the UK (and probably across the whole of Europe) contrary to colregs, they are not.
If there are no charted moorings in the Med, then the question doesn't arise as boats can't be moored they must be anchored, so must show an anchor light to comply with colregs.
[ QUOTE ]
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light
[/ QUOTE ]I am not sure where you find that rule in the colregs? Please show me as I have must have missed that one. Secondly, the concept of a 'charted mooring' is a very limited subject used for some rivers in the UK. It is otherwise a concept only used for gale shelters for large shipping in most of the rest of the world; a very unusual situation and not applicable to yachting (and you can be very sure that those big ships will absolutely show an anchor light while in that 'charted mooring'). There are no 'charted moorings' in the Med that can be used by yachts.
If in doubt; show an anchor light. Anything else is contrary to colregs.
[/ QUOTE ]
You are wrong. There is no colreg that says a boat on a mooring has to display an anchor light, otherwise there are thousands of boats moored in the UK (and probably across the whole of Europe) contrary to colregs, they are not.
If there are no charted moorings in the Med, then the question doesn't arise as boats can't be moored they must be anchored, so must show an anchor light to comply with colregs.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light
[/ QUOTE ]I am not sure where you find that rule in the colregs? Please show me as I have must have missed that one. Secondly, the concept of a 'charted mooring' is a very limited subject used for some rivers in the UK. It is otherwise a concept only used for gale shelters for large shipping in most of the rest of the world; a very unusual situation and not applicable to yachting (and you can be very sure that those big ships will absolutely show an anchor light while in that 'charted mooring'). There are no 'charted moorings' in the Med that can be used by yachts.
If in doubt; show an anchor light. Anything else is contrary to colregs.
[/ QUOTE ]
L'Escargot is right ... just ask the question - WHY should you show a light because you are on board and at a mooring ? Even if you are NOT on board - the boat presents same hazard to another that may be navigating that channel ?
I've never heard such poppycock ...
Thousands of boats are moored day, night, day etc, without lights on recognised moorings. Charts usually are marked to indicate small-boat moorings.
You are only required to show an anchor light / lights when anchored.
What about ships lieing to mooring buoys in Portsmouth for years ... other hbrs ... note you will see many more as ships are laid up in many hbrs over next months or so - do they show lights ?
[ QUOTE ]
There is no requirement for a boat on a charted mooring to show an anchor light
[/ QUOTE ]I am not sure where you find that rule in the colregs? Please show me as I have must have missed that one. Secondly, the concept of a 'charted mooring' is a very limited subject used for some rivers in the UK. It is otherwise a concept only used for gale shelters for large shipping in most of the rest of the world; a very unusual situation and not applicable to yachting (and you can be very sure that those big ships will absolutely show an anchor light while in that 'charted mooring'). There are no 'charted moorings' in the Med that can be used by yachts.
If in doubt; show an anchor light. Anything else is contrary to colregs.
[/ QUOTE ]
L'Escargot is right ... just ask the question - WHY should you show a light because you are on board and at a mooring ? Even if you are NOT on board - the boat presents same hazard to another that may be navigating that channel ?
I've never heard such poppycock ...
Thousands of boats are moored day, night, day etc, without lights on recognised moorings. Charts usually are marked to indicate small-boat moorings.
You are only required to show an anchor light / lights when anchored.
What about ships lieing to mooring buoys in Portsmouth for years ... other hbrs ... note you will see many more as ships are laid up in many hbrs over next months or so - do they show lights ?
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
...What about ships lieing to mooring buoys in Portsmouth for years ... other hbrs ... note you will see many more as ships are laid up in many hbrs over next months or so - do they show lights ?
[/ QUOTE ]
That was going to be my next post:
No requirement for any of the moored boats - ships or yachts - in this picture to show an anchor light.
As you say - poppycock. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
...What about ships lieing to mooring buoys in Portsmouth for years ... other hbrs ... note you will see many more as ships are laid up in many hbrs over next months or so - do they show lights ?
[/ QUOTE ]
That was going to be my next post:
No requirement for any of the moored boats - ships or yachts - in this picture to show an anchor light.
As you say - poppycock. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Leighb
Well-Known Member
I believe you are correct. However on every occasion when a ship has hit one or more moored yachts - and there have been several incidents over the years /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif - the ship has always "Had a steering failure" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
If true the skipper could not have made any extra effort not to hit an occupied yacht.
If true the skipper could not have made any extra effort not to hit an occupied yacht.
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
I also remember that on the Orwell, if you are on board overnight, it is recommended that you show an anchor light when on a mooring. From memory this follows an incident when a freighter took out a couple of boats near Pinmill one night, and the recommendation followed - but not sure wether this is still current advice.
RestlessL
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
... There is no colreg that says a boat on a mooring has to display an anchor light, otherwise there are thousands of boats moored in the UK (and probably across the whole of Europe) contrary to colregs ...
[/ QUOTE ]
You might find that local byelaws permit vessels to moor without lights - for example the byelaws for Chichester Harbour:
"10. The Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
now in force, or as amended from time to time, made by
Orders in Council in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping
Act 1894 shall apply to the harbour and to the vessels
navigating and being therein, with the exception that
vessels secured to permanent moorings in the harbour
shall not be required to display lights."
John
... There is no colreg that says a boat on a mooring has to display an anchor light, otherwise there are thousands of boats moored in the UK (and probably across the whole of Europe) contrary to colregs ...
[/ QUOTE ]
You might find that local byelaws permit vessels to moor without lights - for example the byelaws for Chichester Harbour:
"10. The Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
now in force, or as amended from time to time, made by
Orders in Council in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping
Act 1894 shall apply to the harbour and to the vessels
navigating and being therein, with the exception that
vessels secured to permanent moorings in the harbour
shall not be required to display lights."
John
jwgl
New Member
anchor light for anchoring? self explanatory? i thought it was because we sometimes anchor where other boats might not expect to meet another boat at night. moorings are mostly charted.
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[L'Escargot is right ... just ask the question - WHY should you show a light because you are on board and at a mooring ? Even if you are NOT on board - the boat presents same hazard to another that may be navigating that channel ? I've never heard such poppycock ..
[/ QUOTE ]We might have a serious disconnect here on the essence of colregs; No, you should not show an anchor light just because you are aboard your vessel; you should show a light if you think you are a hazard to navigation. I must admit I fail to see your problem with this particular part of the colregs. I do understand that the mooring rules and lights have taken a very liberal reading on some rivers in the UK; that notwithstanding, the basic colreg rules very reasonably calls for making sure you must be seen, even in the dark, when anchored or on a mooring buoy. Just picking up a mooring buoy in a UK river is no excuse for not adhering to basic seamanship rules.
[L'Escargot is right ... just ask the question - WHY should you show a light because you are on board and at a mooring ? Even if you are NOT on board - the boat presents same hazard to another that may be navigating that channel ? I've never heard such poppycock ..
[/ QUOTE ]We might have a serious disconnect here on the essence of colregs; No, you should not show an anchor light just because you are aboard your vessel; you should show a light if you think you are a hazard to navigation. I must admit I fail to see your problem with this particular part of the colregs. I do understand that the mooring rules and lights have taken a very liberal reading on some rivers in the UK; that notwithstanding, the basic colreg rules very reasonably calls for making sure you must be seen, even in the dark, when anchored or on a mooring buoy. Just picking up a mooring buoy in a UK river is no excuse for not adhering to basic seamanship rules.
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[L'Escargot is right ... just ask the question - WHY should you show a light because you are on board and at a mooring ? Even if you are NOT on board - the boat presents same hazard to another that may be navigating that channel ? I've never heard such poppycock ..
[/ QUOTE ]We might have a serious disconnect here on the essence of colregs; No, you should not show an anchor light just because you are aboard your vessel; you should show a light if you think you are a hazard to navigation. I must admit I fail to see your problem with this particular part of the colregs. I do understand that the mooring rules and lights have taken a very liberal reading on some rivers in the UK; that notwithstanding, the basic colreg rules very reasonably calls for making sure you must be seen, even in the dark, when anchored or on a mooring buoy. Just picking up a mooring buoy in a UK river is no excuse for not adhering to basic seamanship rules.
[/ QUOTE ]
Can you point me in the direction of the colreg that says a boat on a mooring buoy must display an anchor light?
[ QUOTE ]
[L'Escargot is right ... just ask the question - WHY should you show a light because you are on board and at a mooring ? Even if you are NOT on board - the boat presents same hazard to another that may be navigating that channel ? I've never heard such poppycock ..
[/ QUOTE ]We might have a serious disconnect here on the essence of colregs; No, you should not show an anchor light just because you are aboard your vessel; you should show a light if you think you are a hazard to navigation. I must admit I fail to see your problem with this particular part of the colregs. I do understand that the mooring rules and lights have taken a very liberal reading on some rivers in the UK; that notwithstanding, the basic colreg rules very reasonably calls for making sure you must be seen, even in the dark, when anchored or on a mooring buoy. Just picking up a mooring buoy in a UK river is no excuse for not adhering to basic seamanship rules.
[/ QUOTE ]
Can you point me in the direction of the colreg that says a boat on a mooring buoy must display an anchor light?
LadyJessie
Well-Known Member
lescargot; I maybe did not express myself well: I never claimed that 'EVERY' boat on a mooring should display an anchor light. Following normal seamanship and colreg rules, boats that are a danger to navigation must display a light. That is a very different situation than your supposition of 'everybody' in Portsmouth harbour.
Great picture though!
Great picture though!
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Oh good, I was starting to worry that they should all be showing an anchor ball during the day as well. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Pic from Google earth.
Pic from Google earth.
