Law of Gross Tonnage

[alavarre]

Absolutely delighted by the October 2012 YM article "How to enter a busy port safely."

Just completed a late summer/early fall cruise from Chichester to Gosport, Cowes, and back in those very same waters, fully understand the precautionary area northeast of Cowes.

Excellent article, and excellent advice:

"I'll simply keep out of the way of all ships, rather than standing on."

Clever lad.

The corollary is the Law of Too Many Lights. You can't sort them out, so just go in another direction.

Cheers, Andy

 

[Koeketiene]

Big boat has right of way.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Absolutely delighted by the October 2012 YM article "How to enter a busy port safely."

Just completed a late summer/early fall cruise from Chichester to Gosport, Cowes, and back in those very same waters, fully understand the precautionary area northeast of Cowes.

Excellent article, and excellent advice:

"I'll simply keep out of the way of all ships, rather than standing on."

Clever lad.

The corollary is the Law of Too Many Lights. You can't sort them out, so just go in another direction.

Cheers, Andy

So long as you apply that rather over generalisation in the confined waters you are referring to and not in open waters as well...

 

[l'escargot]

...The corollary is the Law of Too Many Lights. You can't sort them out, so just go in another direction.

Cheers, Andy

Bit awkward if the lights are where you want to go...

 

[prv]

Bit awkward if the lights are where you want to go...

I guess if you're following that law then you heave to and wait until the over-illuminated vessel has gone by.

It's a fair point though, and why I'm distinctly hazy on the "advanced" lights once you get much past pilots, trawlers and fishing boats. Most of the time with all the deck lights you can't pick out the "special" navigation lights until you've figured out what they are and what they're doing and know what to look for anyway.

I will always remember the day shapes for "restricted in ability to manoeuvre" though, ever since someone told me "you'd find it difficult to manoeuvre too, if you had a diamond between your balls"

Pete