Masthead flashing red light

damo

damo

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Anyone seen this before, or know what it means?

I am watching a large vessel, with 3 vert reds and a masthead white steaming light, with an additional all-round quick flashing red behind the steaming light.
 
Local harbour regulations ( e.g. the Solent ) often have a single flashing red to mean "hazardous / explosive cargo on board".

So 3 reds is "constrained by draught" plus a single flashing red means heavily laden gas / oil tanker ?

Check your local regs.

Where did you see it ?
 
It's odd isn't it.

A red flashing light is commonly used as a night signal for "dangerous cargo" yet you hardly ever find mention of it.

I suppose for a yachtmans it really doesn't matter what cargo a vessel is carrying /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The red flashing light is a actually requirement for vessels carrying dangerous cargos in Japan. This light is fitted to most ships in case they trade or visit Japan. Unfortunately some people like to put this light on rather than the correct all round red light.
 
[ QUOTE ]
It's odd isn't it.

A red flashing light is commonly used as a night signal for "dangerous cargo" yet you hardly ever find mention of it.

I suppose for a yachtmans it really doesn't matter what cargo a vessel is carrying /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The reason is that it's not in Colregs, it's in the harbour byelaws (or other site-specific rules). There are enough problems in teaching Colregs, without trying to teach all the different rules in harbours.
 
It was a hazardous cargo vessel entering Royal Portbury early this morning. I called VTS who said it wasn't a harbour rule, but was down to the vessel's skipper.

So if the big boys can have a flashing light if they want, I think I'll go ahead and fit a masthead strobe..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I think the red light at the top of extremely tall superyacht masts is to prevent a hazard to low flying aircraft.
 
I had a boat with a red flashing light keep staion on me for an hour or more when I was going up the German coast to the Elbe in 2000. I found it worrying (collision risk). I suspect it was a German patrol boat trying to frighten me into the separation zone so he could prosecute.
I should of course have phoned up th ecoastguard to report this non standard light.
 
stephenh said:
Local harbour regulations ( e.g. the Solent ) often have a single flashing red to mean "hazardous / explosive cargo on board".

So 3 reds is "constrained by draught" plus a single flashing red means heavily laden gas / oil tanker ?

Check your local regs.

Where did you see it ?
Click to expand...


Well those are some good guesses!
however Constrained by Draught is an international rule and does not apply in a US. Port! 2. No rule in the book "Rules of the Road" based on USCG Law talks about a Red Flashing light Red lights yes but Not Flashing Red lights! Reason for this is that it is not a Maritime Rule.. Its is a rule but its an FAR Federal Aviation Regulation simply put if a large ship is in a glide slope of an airport runway, is higher than 200 feet above the runway elevation, or in a direct line with lights that are used for an ILS approach the Ship must show a Red flashing light in a location as high as possible without interfering with any normal maritime Nav lights! and FYI Red over Red is a vessel not in command not Constrained by draft!
check FAR 77 for the FAA stuff!
and the USCG "Rules of the road" and or the CFR 46 for Nav lights on Merchant ships and all other floating vessels
 
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