Anchor light position

[wonkywinch]

I was once told (by an RYA qualified instructor) that it wasn't necessary to show an anchor light if you were anchored in an anchorage shown on a chart. Similarly, also believe no need for an anchor light when on a buoy but I see mooring fields lit up like Christmas trees in the UK and around the world.

 

[Minerva]

I was once told (by an RYA qualified instructor) that it wasn't necessary to show an anchor light if you were anchored in an anchorage shown on a chart. Similarly, also believe no need for an anchor light when on a buoy but I see mooring fields lit up like Christmas trees in the UK and around the world.

No need for anchor light whilst on a mooring I agree with, but no need when anchored..?! That is a questionable stance to take.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I was once told (by an RYA qualified instructor) that it wasn't necessary to show an anchor light if you were anchored in an anchorage shown on a chart. Similarly, also believe no need for an anchor light when on a buoy but I see mooring fields lit up like Christmas trees in the UK and around the world.

In either case it's a sensible precaution to guard against someone carelessly running into your boat.

 

[Cerebus]

A permanently mounted anchor light on pushpit as Vyv shows seems ideal.

If bright enough, can be seen from whatever attitude by incoming vessels (it will scatter across mast etc).

It does not need tying up at night and taking down.

It will illuminate the structure of the boat as well as acting as a standalone light.

I have been convinced!

 

[ylop]

I was once told (by an RYA qualified instructor) that it wasn't necessary to show an anchor light if you were anchored in an anchorage shown on a chart.

They misinformed you or you misunderstood, boats <7m don't have to display it when out of everyone else's way - but in an anchorage they do!

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I've tried the masthead anchor light and, alternatively, the deck flood light. Both are LED.
I have to say the deck floodlight is by far and away the least ambiguous when approaching my boat at night from a dinghy. Yes, the light iteself is obscured from dead astern, but that is more than compensated for by the light glinting off the pulpit and stanchions, and the general illumination of the topsides. Rule c applies when using deck flood light.

 

[LittleSister]

I've tried the masthead anchor light and, alternatively, the deck flood light. Both are LED.
I have to say the deck floodlight is by far and away the least ambiguous when approaching my boat at night from a dinghy. Yes, the light iteself is obscured from dead astern, but that is more than compensated for by the light glinting off the pulpit and stanchions, and the general illumination of the topsides. Rule c applies when using deck flood light.

Just to be clear, deck flood light is only compliant as additional to, not a substitute for, an all round white.

I agree illuminating deck/cabin top is good, especially if the all round white is at the masthead.

 

[Cerebus]

Just to be clear, deck flood light is only compliant as additional to, not a substitute for, an all round white.

I agree illuminating deck/cabin top is good, especially if the all round white is at the masthead.

You say a masthead light can illuminate the deck?

 

[LittleSister]

You say a masthead light can illuminate the deck?

No, I say that because a masthead all round white usually doesn't illuminate the deck, and may be high above the water/approaching boat eye level, it is good to have the deck/cabin top also illuminated.

 

[Cerebus]

No, I say that because a masthead all round white usually doesn't illuminate the deck, and may be high above the water/approaching boat eye level, it is good to have the deck/cabin top also illuminated.

Got it. Agreed.

 

[requiem]

I was once told (by an RYA qualified instructor) that it wasn't necessary to show an anchor light if you were anchored in an anchorage shown on a chart. Similarly, also believe no need for an anchor light when on a buoy but I see mooring fields lit up like Christmas trees in the UK and around the world.

If one subscribes to the view that a vessel on a charted mooring is not obliged to display an anchor light, then it would be inconsistent to argue that a similar exemption wouldn't apply to a vessel anchored in a charted anchorage.

I do think this is more of local custom derived from the impracticality of lighting a vessel on a long-term mooring, and I wouldn't assume that other countries subscribe to the same thinking.

For example, on the US side, the local rule is: "A vessel of less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Coast Guard, shall not be required to exhibit the anchor lights and shapes required by this Rule." (Such special anchorages are quite limited in number, and certainly not the only ones depicted on charts, and the wording supports the implication that the international Rule has no such exceptions.) Additionally, the local regulations include interpretive rules to limit uncertainty, in this case: "A vessel at anchor includes a vessel made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar device attached to the ocean floor."

 

[finestgreen]

If one subscribes to the view that a vessel on a charted mooring is not obliged to display an anchor light, then it would be inconsistent to argue that a similar exemption wouldn't apply to a vessel anchored in a charted anchorage.

I do think this is more of local custom derived from the impracticality of lighting a vessel on a long-term mooring, and I wouldn't assume that other countries subscribe to the same thinking.

For example, on the US side, the local rule is: "A vessel of less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Coast Guard, shall not be required to exhibit the anchor lights and shapes required by this Rule." (Such special anchorages are quite limited in number, and certainly not the only ones depicted on charts, and the wording supports the implication that the international Rule has no such exceptions.) Additionally, the local regulations include interpretive rules to limit uncertainty, in this case: "A vessel at anchor includes a vessel made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar device attached to the ocean floor."

Farewell says "Although the definition does not address the status of a vessel moored to a buoy, the definition [of "at anchor"] should plainly include such vessels" and refers to this court decision;

https://www.marinelink.com/news/mooring-vessel-comply306987

 

[oldbloke]

When we go to Salcombe we usually overnight up by the Saltstone. It is surprisingly annoying to sit in the cockpit with someone's megabright mega white LED masthead light glaring in your eyes. A nice glimmering paraffin lamp would be much nicer.
A busy anchorage with street lights etc is a different matter

 

[Cerebus]

When we go to Salcombe we usually overnight up by the Saltstone. It is surprisingly annoying to sit in the cockpit with someone's megabright mega white LED masthead light glaring in your eyes. A nice glimmering paraffin lamp would be much nicer.
A busy anchorage with street lights etc is a different matter

I suppose it is difficult to balance safety of the vessel and occupants and not blinding an anchorage with modern ultra bright LEDs.

Safety will prevail in my h. o.

Do you notice lower hung anchor lights reflecting off deck and water less intrusive?

 

[LittleSister]

When we go to Salcombe we usually overnight up by the Saltstone. It is surprisingly annoying to sit in the cockpit with someone's megabright mega white LED masthead light glaring in your eyes. A nice glimmering paraffin lamp would be much nicer.
. . .

Never mind oil lamps, the yellowish glow of incandescent electric lights would do me. It's definitely not the same atmosphere in an anchorage when it's festooned with blueish-white LED lamps.

I think there should be an Arts Council subsidy for incandescent (or oil) anchor lights.

 

[Sea Change]

Never mind oil lamps, the yellowish glow of incandescent electric lights would do me. It's definitely not the same atmosphere in an anchorage when it's festooned with blueish-white LED lamps.

I think there should be an Arts Council subsidy for incandescent (or oil) anchor lights.

I set my LED garden lights to 'warm' to help distinguish my boat from the others.
Where do I apply for my grant?

 

[thinwater]

I was once told (by an RYA qualified instructor) that it wasn't necessary to show an anchor light if you were anchored in an anchorage shown on a chart. Similarly, also believe no need for an anchor light when on a buoy but I see mooring fields lit up like Christmas trees in the UK and around the world.

I don't know about the UK, but in the US ...

No light is required in a designated "special anchorage." These are listed by the USCG and are designated in law.

A light is required in many common anchoring areas, often designated with an anchor on charts, but NOT listed as special anchorages. The presence of buoys has no bearing on whether a light is required; in COLREGS, being on a buoy and being anchored are the same thing. It is common for boats in mooring fields not to show lights, but that is just a local custom and is a violation. There are some exemptions in COLREGS for small boats, less that 7 meters.

§ 109.10 Special anchorage areas.
An Act of Congress of April 22, 1940, provides for the designation of special anchorage areas wherein vessels not more than sixty-five feet in length, when at anchor, will not be required to carry or exhibit anchorage lights. Such designation is to be made after investigation, by rule, regulation, or order, the procedure for which will be similar to that followed for anchorage grounds under section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 4, 1915, as referred to in § 109.05. The areas so designated should be well removed from the fairways and located where general navigation will not endanger or be endangered by unlighted vessels. The authority to designate special anchorage areas was transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Homeland Security by section 902(j) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-241, 120 Stat 516), and delegated to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard in Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. The Commandant redelegated the authority to establish anchorage grounds to each Coast Guard District Commander as provided in 33 CFR 1.05-1(e)(1)(i).
[USCG-2007-27887, 72 FR 45902, Aug. 16, 2007]

If there is such an exemption in the UK, please post a link. I'm sure many will be interested. It will be in UK law, not in COLREGS.

---

Now I see requiem posted pretty much that same information. But maybe it bears repeating. IS there a UK equivalent or not? Since no one has posted it and I could not find it, I'm guessing maybe not.

 

[LittleSister]

I set my LED garden lights to 'warm' to help distinguish my boat from the others.
Where do I apply for my grant?

I have a couple of those portable plug-in little anchor lights than turn themselves off at dawn (which throw a little light downwards so is good for illuminating either the cockpit, if I want that, or the foredeck etc.).

I deploy the old 'warm coloured' incandescent bulb one if I'm feeling generous/have enough puff left in the battery, and the newer 'whiter than white' LED one otherwise.

On arrival, if after dark, it's the masthead all round white light (now LED, I'm afraid) until I'm sorted and settled (and the rain stops!).

 

[simonfraser]

Either way seems careless to me to leave your valued craft in the dark now we have solar / LED etc

 

[LittleSister]

. . .The presence of buoys has no bearing on whether a light is required; in COLREGS, being on a buoy and being anchored are the same thing. It is common for boats in mooring fields not to show lights, but that is just a local custom and is a violation. There are some exemptions in COLREGS for small boats, less that 7 meters.

. . .

I am sceptical as to whether that is the case. The ColRegs do not define 'at anchor' (nor 'moored').

There may well be some case law on the matter, but what that is, the degree to which it creates any precedent, and whether it applies only in the country of jurisdiction or internationally, I have no idea.

The reality in the UK is that, apart from a few rare souls, boats on moorings in the UK (and everywhere else I've been, as far as I recall) do not display anchor lights or make the sound signals for an anchored vessel. (I'm imagining the cacophony if they did in areas/towns where there are extensive trots and other moorings!) I doubt whether 'a violation', as you have it, would be so widespread.

Given that there have been occasional accidents where ships have wandered out of the defined channel, or lost control, and damaged or sunk yachts moored outside of it, I would imagine the issue of any need for anchor lights would have been litigated in the process of sorting out responsibility for the costs of the damage, and discussed in the yachting press, but I can't recall any such issue being mentioned.

I'm also seeing a fairly clear distinction between a vessel temporarily held in a position by its own gear, and one where it is attached long term to gear permanently installed on the seabed/ground (and in that case is there a difference between a buoy and a pontoon, or between chains and piles, between ground below the waterline and above?).

I don't know about the UK, but in the US ...

No light is required in a designated "special anchorage." These are listed by the USCG and are designated in law.
. . .

§ 109.10 Special anchorage areas.
An Act of Congress of April 22, 1940, provides for the designation of special anchorage areas wherein vessels not more than sixty-five feet in length, when at anchor, will not be required to carry or exhibit anchorage lights. . .

If there is such an exemption in the UK, please post a link. I'm sure many will be interested. It will be in UK law, not in COLREGS.

I am not aware of any such law in the UK.