Flags on the Police Pier

[MiskinDriver]

OK, I'm sure I should know this, and I have looked and can't find it anywhere......

why are the marine signal flags for R and Y (yellow cross on red ground and yellow/red diagonal stripes) flown from the police maintenance pier at Wapping?

(And while I'm seeking answers ...... where has the police pontoon gone? Where are they keeping the boats at present? Have they moved them to where they can better police the speed limit?)

 

[charliespan]

RY -"pass my vessel or works at slow speed"

Its an indication to reduce your speed (and wash)
when passing. Usually with the river police it is because
they have divers down clearing a prop, are lifting a police
boat with their hoist, or they are examining a stiff
on their pontoon and don't want to be bounced around.

 

[Athene V30]

[ QUOTE ]
Usually with the river police it is because
they have divers down

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree your answer for RY but if a diver was down they would have flag A up as well

 

[MiskinDriver]

Ah, thank you. I had always slowed down anyway - working on the simple assumption that (a) it was good manners and (b) I can never comfortably overtake police cars or boats, even when I know I'm within any speed limit.

Just out of interest, where is this written down? I looked at all my usual sources and couldn't find it.

 

[Athene V30]

[ QUOTE ]
where is this written down?

[/ QUOTE ]
I know it from RN signals manuals but not many carry those! I expect it is in almanacs too.

 

[shmoo]

Its written down here:

http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime/?epi_menuItemID=923e01c531c0a3825b2a7fbd3227a759

International code of signal. Download Chaper Two. See page 80.
(By the way a few pages on is SN - you wouldn't want to see that in real life)

 

[MiskinDriver]

Thank you for that - not a source I'm used to consulting.

 

[rr_123]

[ QUOTE ]

(By the way a few pages on is SN - you wouldn't want to see that in real life)

[/ QUOTE ]

...couldn't find the equivalent "please go slowly past my mooring, otherwise ... "

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[charliespan]

Its on here too:
PLA website

Under "Signals used frequently on the tidal Thames".

Flipper agree about the Alpha flag but its usually on a workboat/safety boat
and not on the pontoon or workshops, which the question was about.I have seen
them down without the "A" flag for a quick job but they did inform London VTS
and ask for an ease down first.

 

[RestlessL]

RY is also flown by most RN ships alongside in Portsmouth Harbour, (sometimes under Ans to indicate that it is an ICOS signal, not an RN or NATO one)

I understand that the intention is to remind vessels of the exclusion zone around Naval vessels, but the actual meaning of RY is as stated earlier - "You should proceed at slow speed when passing me"

John