Anchored at night big boat approaches-wtd?

[Mike k]

ok its hypothetical but I am planning to anchor in a busy shipping river (Mersey) overnight for fishing- I will be just outside the main bouyed channel but... I have experienced in daylight a vessel that came out of the channel at high tide and looked to be coming my way and I couldnt see the bridge because of a high bow- fortunately it went between me and the wall.I was told that vessels sometimes do this to avoid the 6/7knots pull of the tide and save fuel.

This has made me think how would it be at night if the big vessel 'appeared' to be coming my way- have they seen my nav lights have they picked up my radar reflector?

Although I have a VHF radio licence and DSC on board , my question is how would the panel try to communicate with the vessel by radio bearing in mind you would probably have only a minute or two to spare and its pitch black out there? Ch16?

Cheers

Mike

 

[Ripster]

Sounds like a good AIS application to me - you see it coming and it sees you there. Otherwise - be alert and very well and correctly lit with a good full power Radio.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Sounds like a good AIS application to me - you see it coming and it sees you there. Otherwise - be alert and very well and correctly lit with a good full power Radio.

And a powerful spotlight to shine his way if you think he hasn't seen you.

 

[Mike k]

thanks Ripster good point but unfortunately I dont have AIS so I would like to know how folks would use the radio in these circumstances- channels etc

Cheers

Mike

 

[gravygraham]

. . . have they seen my nav lights have they picked up my radar reflector? . . .

When you say nav lights I take it you mean anchor light? If your nav lights are on you're technically under way (or is it making way? I always forget) and thus liable to get out of matey boy's way.

 

[Mike k]

yes Graham sorry I meant anchor light.

 

[estarzinger]

I would like to know how folks would use the radio in these circumstances- channels etc

I agree with the AIS and big flashlight thoughts. And you can consider a white flare if you get really nervous.

But purely on the radio . . . . you don't have many options. Without AIS you probably don't know the ship's name or and surely not its MMSI. So, you are back to the 'big ship going south in the Mersey river, this is the sailboat XYZ anchored to port of the channel'. In the USA I would try on 16 and 13 . . . but there might be a specific pilot working channel for the river (I have seen 10, 12 and 14 been used in various different places)?

The scenario you mention you don't have all that much time and the process is sometimes slow by vhf if you don;t have their name etc.. Making sure the bridge seems me with bright lights would be my personal priority.

By the way, even if you don;t have AIS, if you do have an internet connection (WIFI or cell phone) there are websites that show AIS maps you could use for this sort of inshore situation.

 

[Robg71]

who says he has AIS switched on for small boats....

 

[Mike k]

I agree with the AIS and big flashlight thoughts. And you can consider a white flare if you get really nervous.

But purely on the radio . . . . you don't have many options. Without AIS you probably don't know the ship's name or and surely not its MMSI. So, you are back to the 'big ship going south in the Mersey river, this is the sailboat XYZ anchored to port of the channel'. In the USA I would try on 16 and 13 . . . but there might be a specific pilot working channel for the river (I have seen 10, 12 and 14 been used in various different places)?

The scenario you mention you don't have all that much time and the process is sometimes slow by vhf if you don;t have their name etc.. Making sure the bridge seems me with bright lights would be my personal priority.

By the way, even if you don;t have AIS, if you do have an internet connection (WIFI or cell phone) there are websites that show AIS maps you could use for this sort of inshore situation.

thanks thats helpful - i was wondering if its ok to ask on Ch16 if the ship has seen me if or would i need to suggest another channel;-i just kinda feel that a Ch16 broadcast may get immediate attention and quicker response??

 

[alant]

ok its hypothetical but I am planning to anchor in a busy shipping river (Mersey) overnight for fishing- I will be just outside the main bouyed channel but... I have experienced in daylight a grain tanker that came out of the channel at high tide and looked to be coming my way and I couldnt see the bridge because of a high bow- fortunately it went between me and the wall.I was told that vessels sometimes do this to avoid the 6/7knots pull of the tide and save fuel.

This has made me think how would it be at night if the big vessel 'appeared' to be coming my way- have they seen my nav lights have they picked up my radar reflector?

Although I have a VHF radio licence and DSC on board , my question is how would the panel try to communicate with the vessel by radio bearing in mind you would probably have only a minute or two to spare and its pitch black out there? Ch16?

Cheers

Mike

Why not anchor in shallower water , big boats/ships don't like that stuff, so you should be safe.

 

[VicS]

thanks thats helpful - i was wondering if its ok to ask on Ch16 if the ship has seen me if or would i need to suggest another channel;-i just kinda feel that a Ch16 broadcast may get immediate attention and quicker response??

Contact on Ch 16 anyway.

Its the called vessels job to nominate a working channel but for such a brief exchange you'd probably stick to Ch 16.

We once called a ferry heading for us in mid (English) channel when when became hooked on some fishing gear.
We stayed on Ch 16.

 

[PaulGooch]

who says he has AIS switched on for small boats....

That's not how AIS works. Big ships have to broadcast AIS data (speed, heading, name, MMSI, call sign etc) and if you have an AIS receiver, you get that data. You will see him on the chart plotter and see where he is heading and at what speed, you could then call him up on the radio.

That said, calling big ships up on the radio is very risky, best to just get out of the way.

 

[PaulGooch]

thanks Ripster good point but unfortunately I dont have AIS so I would like to know how folks would use the radio in these circumstances- channels etc

Cheers

Mike

AIS is very cheap, if you plan to do this type of fishing it would be a very good investment.

 

[PaulGooch]

By the way, even if you don;t have AIS, if you do have an internet connection (WIFI or cell phone) there are websites that show AIS maps you could use for this sort of inshore situation.

You can't rely on internet sites for up to date and accurate AIS data.

 

[rubberduck]

I'm with Paul, big yip coming, pull up the anchor & run away.

 

[pathfinderstu]

do all the mentioned before, but i would also have the engine ready to start at a moments notice, also have your anchor bouyed of ready to slip and if you feel uncomfortable about an impending situation . get T.F. out of it.

 

[Kawasaki]

Yew are techincally 'Under Way'
Cos yew have left your Berth/Harbour/Marina etc
But yews goin nowhere else yew'd be 'Makin Way' if yew was a movin innit

I had a problem whilst under way last week in Liverpool
With lights

'Anchored' in Tescos near Derby Lane, Old Swan area.
Left me lights on whilst swmbo had her doc's appointment

Luckily, I had a spare battery an a set of jump leads in me boot (as yer do) and managed to 'make way' agin

'Phew' said swmbo
'Yew aint well'

'Charmin' says I , 'Twas yew the Quack saw innit'!

On my first venture into the Mersey in the dark some years ago
As I pootled outa Coburg dock in a 44ft C Kip nervously a Big Bugger radioed Me on Ch 16 (whilst blastin me 5 times the multi taskin git) an I retorted'go 13 innit' as yer do
I was so nervous an lookin forward etc
I had not seen the Big Bugger as I turned to starboard out the dock
Later into the trip to the Menai, I wondered how the feck did the Big Bugger know the boat I was a steerin know the boats name
Cos the call went like this on Ch16
'Dear Me, Dear Me Dear Me (boat im a steerin) This is Big Bugger Big Bugger Big Bugger'
'Big Bugger go 13' I replies
'Dear Me, this is Big Bugger, can yew bugger off outa me way etc etc etc

Fortunately the Big Bugger had heard me squawkin to the Docmeister in Coburg afore I was underway fer im ter open the lock gate etc
Twernt my boat
Twas the early 80's, biggest thing I ever steered at the time
Twas the first time I had been in the Mersey
Twas me first night passage!
Twasn't my boat!
Twas me Mates!
Twas lucky
Cos He was pi%%ed in the aft cabin!


'

 

[mjf]

When you say nav lights I take it you mean anchor light? If your nav lights are on you're technically under way (or is it making way? I always forget) and thus liable to get out of matey boy's way.

Its under way

 

[DAKA]

ok its hypothetical but I am planning to anchor in a busy shipping river (Mersey) overnight for fishing- I will be just outside the main bouyed channel but... I have experienced in daylight a grain tanker that came out of the channel at high tide and looked to be coming my way and I couldnt see the bridge because of a high bow- fortunately it went between me and the wall.I was told that vessels sometimes do this to avoid the 6/7knots pull of the tide and save fuel.

This has made me think how would it be at night if the big vessel 'appeared' to be coming my way- have they seen my nav lights have they picked up my radar reflector?

Although I have a VHF radio licence and DSC on board , my question is how would the panel try to communicate with the vessel by radio bearing in mind you would probably have only a minute or two to spare and its pitch black out there? Ch16?

Cheers

Mike

You should drop your anchor on a sand bank close to the channel.

Let loads of scope out using rope attached to the end.

The current will take you towards the deep water/channel where the fish are.

when you sight the ship heading your way , you simply pull yourself over the sand bank where you are totally safe.
once he has gone let the scope out again.

 

[bigwow]

Just tell Mesey VTS on Ch12 that you are there. They will inform ALL traffic of your position. No commercial traffic is allowed to move on the Mersey without contacting them first.