steve_cronin
N/A
I stood on the forecourt/terrace of the Trafalgar Tavern in Grenwich on saturday evening looking out across and up both arms of the river visible from the bend there.
I was about 12ft above sea level and so I probably had the same view of the scene as that of the coxwains of the various (nay numerous) pleasure boats of all sizes and speeds darting all over the river and not appearing to follow any particular traffic protocol.
Quite apart from the varying qualities of navigation lights exhibited, most of which were obscured by each vessel's array of disco and domestic lighting, the back-drop of the Isle of dogs and Canary Wharf's Corporate light-walls made it almost impossible to make out the size and direction of at least three quarters of the boats. Even with one hand looking intently at the radar and another keeping a sharp lookout we wondered how they coped.
Our party, all of whom are experienced seafarers came to the conclusion that we were looking at a floating pinball table with several balls in play at once but trying NOt to hit one-another. Put a bridge pier in the way and it isn't difficult to imagine how a smaller vessel got overlooked on that dreadful night.
Surely these vessels need some sort of distinctive light of recognition like, say, an amber beacon ( there aren't too many hovercraft on the Thames so there shouldn't be any confusion).
As to being out at night amongst them in a low powered yacht - no way!
if you havn't seen this sight you may not appreciate the situation but we, and that includes two young men with very sharp faculties, couldn't agree as to how many vessels were in view at any one time and on more than one occassion we all missed a number of vessels completely.
Steve Cronin
<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
I was about 12ft above sea level and so I probably had the same view of the scene as that of the coxwains of the various (nay numerous) pleasure boats of all sizes and speeds darting all over the river and not appearing to follow any particular traffic protocol.
Quite apart from the varying qualities of navigation lights exhibited, most of which were obscured by each vessel's array of disco and domestic lighting, the back-drop of the Isle of dogs and Canary Wharf's Corporate light-walls made it almost impossible to make out the size and direction of at least three quarters of the boats. Even with one hand looking intently at the radar and another keeping a sharp lookout we wondered how they coped.
Our party, all of whom are experienced seafarers came to the conclusion that we were looking at a floating pinball table with several balls in play at once but trying NOt to hit one-another. Put a bridge pier in the way and it isn't difficult to imagine how a smaller vessel got overlooked on that dreadful night.
Surely these vessels need some sort of distinctive light of recognition like, say, an amber beacon ( there aren't too many hovercraft on the Thames so there shouldn't be any confusion).
As to being out at night amongst them in a low powered yacht - no way!
if you havn't seen this sight you may not appreciate the situation but we, and that includes two young men with very sharp faculties, couldn't agree as to how many vessels were in view at any one time and on more than one occassion we all missed a number of vessels completely.
Steve Cronin
<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion
