Fishing vessels and permanent dayshapes

[finestgreen]

As there was a discussion about colregs in another thread and nobody got really mad, I thought I'd have a go

It seems common practice for fishing boats to have their "fishing" dayshape permanently installed.

Am I right in thinking that's unambiguously illegal?

And if so... why are they allowed to get away with it?

 

[Goldie]

Like dive boats at 25kts….

 

[Wansworth]

On a coaster we broke down but bythe time we found the NUC lamps we were underway again……..fishing boats usually have shapes welded to the mast

 

[wonkywinch]

In the Solent I guess only 1 in 10 or 20 yachts display a motoring cone when motor sailing and slightly better only about 1 in 4 or 5 use anchor balls.

 

[Wansworth]

In the Solent I guess only 1 in 10 or 20 yachts display a motoring cone when motor sailing and slightly better only about 1 in 4 or 5 use anchor balls.

Lack of respect for the traditions of the sea and maintaining stuff that needs to be maintained

 

[Gsailor]

It is a good question. Being commercial I would have thought they would be worried that authorities would want a word and it would cost them fishing time at least.

 

[fisherman]

It seems common practice for fishing boats to have their "fishing" dayshape permanently installed.

Am I right in thinking that's unambiguously illegal?

And if so... why are they allowed to get away with it?

I can only say that I had to have mine on a hoist for the MCA. That was pre-2018. They now roam the pontoons in Newlyn doing random checks and impounding boats for lesser infringements.

 

[LittleSister]

It seems common practice for fishing boats to have their "fishing" dayshape permanently installed.

Am I right in thinking that's unambiguously illegal?

And if so... why are they allowed to get away with it?

Yes, it is unambiguously contrary to the Colregs.

'Rule 26
Fishing Vessels

. . . 5. (e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.'

I guess they are allowed to get away with it because it is no one's responsibility (or no one considers it their responsibility) to enforce it.

As there was a discussion about colregs in another thread and nobody got really mad, I thought I'd have a go

Would you feel better if I told you I was 'really mad', rather than just pretending?

 

[fisherman]

Btw, my first post on these fora in 2005 was to complain about the lack of motoring cones......that went down well. The general thrust of the replies was 'eff off, you with your permanent fishing signal'.

 

[MoodySabre]

They often aren’t keeping a lookout either. Treat them with caution.

 

[finestgreen]

Btw, my first post on these fora in 2005 was to complain about the lack of motoring cones......that went down well. The general thrust of the replies was 'eff off, you with your permanent fishing signal'.

We never make the required sound signals when turning either

 

[finestgreen]

I guess they are allowed to get away with it because it is no one's responsibility (or no one considers it their responsibility) to enforce it.

I would have thought harbourmasters would have a legitimate interest and embrace the opportunity to add a few fines to their operating budgets .

 

[capnsensible]

I reckon it's a practice unlikely to change. Remember the basket? Same same. Going on for at least the 50 years I can remember....

 

[PeterV]

I failed the initial coastal navigation exam when I joined the navy. The question was what lights do fishing vessels display at night? I answered big bright white deck lights. When I was told the answer should be red over white or green over white if trawling I answered that I’d been backwards and forwards through hundreds of fishing vessels in the Bay of Biscay on yacht delivery during the previous 6 months and never seen such lights.
They were then even more determined that I should learn navigation!

 

[PetiteFleur]

They often aren’t keeping a lookout either. Treat them with caution.

Or wear lifejackets - as seen on Saving lives at Sea last night...

 

[Sandy]

As there was a discussion about colregs in another thread and nobody got really mad, I thought I'd have a go

It seems common practice for fishing boats to have their "fishing" dayshape permanently installed.

Am I right in thinking that's unambiguously illegal?

And if so... why are they allowed to get away with it?

Just keep out of their way, it's not that difficult and the sea is quite big, and chill.

I was rather gobsmacked when a fishing vessel stopped for us just off the Eddystone lighthouse.

 

[fisherman]

There are folk on all sides who behave badly. I have been forced on several occasions to stop, to deviate from my course while shooting gear, even to stop shooting and haul in again, by leisure craft ignoring my presence. Before the inevitable reposte, no, just because fishing signals are often wrongly present, doesn't mean you can ignore them. Any more than I could ignore the vessel under sail which interrupted my operation, even though I was pretty sure he was motoring (he was). You have to react to what you see, correctly.

 

[fisherman]

They often aren’t keeping a lookout either.

How do you know? Even with no one in the wheelhouse, I have two or three people on deck within reach of a duplicate set of controls, I often spent hours not entering the wheelhouse at all.

 

[Daydream believer]

How do you know? Even with no one in the wheelhouse, I have two or three people on deck within reach of a duplicate set of controls, I often spent hours not entering the wheelhouse at all.

I have been close to being run down a couple of times, by fishing boats, with their booms down displaying the fishing cones & doing circa 10 kts, but obviously not fishing. They have clearly not been maintaining a proper lookout. No one on the working deck either.
Once by the fishing vessel overtaking me & once by a vessel on a converging course in the Black Deep.