Anchor lights - risks of not showing correct lights

[Anonymous]

Out here along the southern Spanish Med coast and in Ibiza, I have noticed that fewer than 20% of boats have an anchor light when at anchor (as opposed to being on a mooring buoy). Several people of different nationalities have said that it is no longer the custom to show a light when anchored in an anchorage. That's news to me but in any case I consider it to be a dangerous practice.

Quite aside from the obvious risk of being hit by another vessel, who would be deemed responsible if someone hit a boat at anchor, that was not showing the correct lights?

I rather suspect that if you don't carry the correct lights - i.e. the designated power and visibility - then you might be liable for all the costs should another vessel hit you. Would your insurer pay out if it was shown (which it would be) that you were lying to anchor without the correct lights?

Something to bear in mind when substituting LED arrays and other means of lighting in preference to whatever the boat builder installed.

Have others come across this attitude? Most people in the UK and Channel seem to be quite good about lighting-up at anchor, or is that changing too? Plenty of yachts cross the Channel with nav lights off until they see another boat (duh!!) but at least they seem to burn an oil lamp at anchor, if nothing else.

 

[Stemar]

nav lights off until they see another boat

Could be interesting if two of them meet on a dark night...

 

[Salty John]

Technically, boats under 20m don't require an anchor light if in a designated anchorage, but I agree it is risky. I have always used an anchor light even in a designated anchorage because I want boats coming into the anchorage at night to see me. From an insurance point of view, however, you would be in the clear, I suspect. Other than a designated anchorage, however, you must show an anchor light with 2nm visability.
An anchor light in the foretriangle is a better bet than a masthead light because a masthead light can get lost in stars and be less obvious to boats manoeuvering at close quarters.

 

[Anonymous]

Not according to the version of Rule 30 I am looking at...

Rule 30 (e) A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.

In other words, the exemption is for vessels under 7m (not 20m) and there is NO exemption for being in an anchorage - indeed, in an anchorage it is specifically required for vessels of all sizes. It seems that there is considerable misunderstanding about this...who is correct?

 

[Salty John]

I don't have the full regs in front of me, but I believe that a vessel under 7m when at anchor not in a narrow channel, fairway etc, is exempt, and a vessel under 20m in a designated anchorage, or "special anchorage area", is exempt. This was the case when I was cruising in the USA and Caribbean. I'm sure it is an International regulation. I expect someone will come in and correct me if not.

 

[Anonymous]

This is a Canadian website and they publish the fulll colregs...

Colregs here

I can't see the part you are referring to...looks to me as though all vessels must display the proscribed light at night in an anchorage, regardless of size.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Look at http://www.triton-marine.co.uk/Colreg.html for guidance.

I would imagine not having an anchor light when at anchor anywhere during dark hours would give an insurance company the excuse it needs for not paying out for any claims.

regards

 

[Krusty]

Some years ago I was anchored in Loch Moidart, west Scotland: it has a tricky rock-bound entrance, shallow outer loch and a tortuous entry to the inner loch. At dusk I was about to hang up our riding light as a chap in a small boat motored close by. He warned of the absolute necessity of showing an anchor light: He told me that a year before, another yacht was anchored on the same spot without a light, and had been run down in the dark by a small trawler... '' What! fishing inside here, at night?!'' ...''Yep, sank the yacht; total loss; And he had to pay for the damage to the trawler!''
On one arrival at Village Bay, St Kilda, on a very dark night, and creeping in right on the leading lights, my bowman shouted that we had a yacht dead ahead. He was anchored bang on the line, unlit!
There is evidently no limit to the 'Oh, it will be alright here without a light' idiocy!

 

[VicS]

Rule 30 paragraph e as far as the under 7ms are concerned perhaps.

 

[Anonymous]

I posted Rule 30 e earlier - it exempts the under 7m class unless they are in an anchorage and other designated places. So under 7ms require an anchor light when at anchor in an anchorage.

Sadly rule 30 e has two negatives which is difficult for some to understand. This is not something that should not be changed for clarity /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Salty John]

It appears in the US version of the Colregs. The US version is almost, but not quite, verbatim other versions. The following statement is added to rule 30: g) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Secretary, shall not be required to exhibit the anchor lights and shapes required by this Rule.
So, it an exemption in US waters. Whew! I thought I was suffering memory loss.

 

[landaftaf]

here are the untouched international rules for preventing collisions at sea

or the colregs

 

[Anonymous]

OK, so this is peculiar to US territorial waters and does not apply to us here in the UK or Europe,

Here in Europe all vessels, regardless of size, are required to show an all round white anchor light of defined brightness, from the masthead, when in an anchorage at night.

 

[Salty John]

Nearly, but not quite. Vessels over 50m show two lights, one in the forward part and a lower one in the aft part of the vessel. Vessels under this size can show a single all round light where it can best be seen. There is no reference to masthead. Many feel that a light in the foretriangle is more easily seen than a masthead light, and this is also my own opinion.
Interesting also that if you are aground you need to show, in addition, two red lights in a vertical line, and the exemption for this is below only 12m. I wonder how many boats carry such lights?

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
OK, so this is peculiar to US territorial waters and does not apply to us here in the UK or Europe,

Here in Europe all vessels, regardless of size, are required to show an all round white anchor light of defined brightness, from the masthead, when in an anchorage at night.

[/ QUOTE ]

Rule 30

Anchored Vessels and Vessels Aground

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;

(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 meters and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.

(d) A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen;

(i) two all-round red lights in a vertical line;

(ii) three balls in a vertical line.

(e) A vessel of less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.

(f) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) of this Rule.


Nowhere does it say the anchor light shall be on the masthead, indeed the mast head can in many circumstances be the worst place to put one as it gets lost amongst shore lights or occasionally the stars.
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

 

[Tisme]

You're right. However I've been in situations where I've felt that because the shore lights were low and distant it was better to use the masthead light. Normally I prefer to use a light in the rigging simply because mine has a photocell and I don't need to get up early to switch off!

 

[Anonymous]

Firstly, I don't understand why you want to widen this discussion to ships greater than 50m - it is irrelevant to this forum. We could also extend the discussion to the rules for ships greater than 100m - but leave me out!

[ QUOTE ]
Vessels under this size can show a single all round light where it can best be seen. There is no reference to masthead.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, not so. You need to read all of the colregs as the lights are defined in other rules.

Rule 22 - 'Visibility of Lights'

The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specifies in section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:

(a) In vessels of 50 metres or more in length:

- a masthead light, 6 miles;
- a sidelight, 3 miles;
- a sternlight, 3 miles;
- a towing light, 3 miles;
- a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 3 miles.

(b) In vessels of 12 metres or more in length but less than 50 metres in length:

- a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 metres, 3 miles;
- a sidelight, 2 miles;
- a sternlight, 2 miles;
- a towing light, 2 miles;
- a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.

(c) In vessels of less than 12 metres in length:

- a masthead light, 2 miles;
- a sidelight, 1 mile;
- a sternlight, 2 miles;
- a towing light, 2 miles;
- a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles

[ QUOTE ]
Many feel that a light in the foretriangle is more easily seen than a masthead light, and this is also my own opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]I don't agree. I find that lights at low level are much harder to see as you confuse them with shore lights and the living lights of other vessels. Masthead lights really are clearer, even close up. But what the heck?....the rules require a masthead light with a visibility of 2nm (up to 20m). The statement that "A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:.." refers to ships and in any case is qualified further on in the rule.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Actually, an all round light (of which an anchor light is one) only has to be visible over a 354 degree arc. Furthermore, if the all round light is an anchor light it can be more obscured than this if it would otherwise mean showing it at an unreasonable height.

In one of the Annexes - forgotten which one.

{Edit - to save others a bother I have checked - tis in Annex I, Horizontal Sectors which sets out the legal requirements for lights. But wording is actually "impractical" height, not "unreasonable" height as I recalled}

John

 

[Tisme]

Without wading through the Col Regs I am wondering if there is some confusion here between a steaming light and an anchor light which is mounted at the masthead?

I've always understood that a foretriangle light was the "correct" one. (I've put "correct" in quotes because I can't help but think that the correct one really is the one which is most visible, wherever it is!)

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
Without wading through the Col Regs I am wondering if there is some confusion here between a steaming light and an anchor light which is mounted at the masthead?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, I think you're right about that, here is the actual rule 21...

(a) "Masthead light" means a white light placed over the fore and aft centreline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 225 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel.

(b) "Sidelights" means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side. In a vessel of less than 20 metres in length the sidelights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centreline of the vessel.

(c) "Sternlight" means a white light placed as nearly as practicable at the stern showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 135 degree and so fixed as to show the light 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side of the vessel.

(d) "Towing light" means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the "sternlight" defined in paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(e) "All-round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees.

(f) "Flashing light" means a light flashing at regular intervals at a frequencies of 120 flashes or more per minute.

There is no doubt that the all-round white arc is allowed to be broken when it is not practicable to do otherwise, but what is more practicable that a light at the top of the mast - which is not surprisingly where the boat builders put them on sailing boats.