One for the 'lights' experts - which lights for a dive boat operating at night?

[Neeves]

We have an annexe of HMAS Penguin nearby where they train navy divers (in diverse skills).

Part of the training involves work underwater at night, I have no idea what they might do - but in daytime they do a lot of endurance underwater work, swimming long distances (underwater). They are accompanied by a, approx, 40' motor boat and black inflatables. The divers work in pairs.

During daytime they use a conventional Blue/white flag.

At night they are using red over 2 whites in a vertical line with normal port and starboard. One of the whites could be a motoring white. I've only looked at them bow on.

I had a look at the regulations and unsurprisingly I did not find anything for diving at night.

Any comments.

Just an academic question.

Jonathan

 

[duncan99210]

Rule 27 (d). A vessel engaged in underwater operations shall exhibit the same lights as a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre (regulation wording paraphrased). I take underwater operations to mean a vessel with divers down.

 

[[163233]]

Thought about this before as it does seem an omission. I think I'd go for the underwater operations set, so restricted ability to manouevre with two reds on both sides.

But it'd be a lot to carry on a rib.

 

[capnsensible]

Rule 27 (d). A vessel engaged in underwater operations shall exhibit the same lights as a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre (regulation wording paraphrased). I take underwater operations to mean a vessel with divers down.

Correct.

 

[VicS]

Rule 27 (d). A vessel engaged in underwater operations shall exhibit the same lights as a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre (regulation wording paraphrased). I take underwater operations to mean a vessel with divers down.

Thought about this before as it does seem an omission. I think I'd go for the underwater operations set, so restricted ability to manouevre with two reds on both sides.

But it'd be a lot to carry on a rib.

If the size of the vessel make the lights and shapes prescribed by 27(d) impracticable 27(e) (i) & (ii) may be applied

 

[Neeves]

Thanks all,

To add a bit more detail - the ribs carry a simple all round light.

The mother ship (mobo) and the ribs are moving - at the speed of the swimmers. The MoBo usually leads and the rib is astern with the 2 swimmers underwater in between. The swimmers mark themselves with a small buoy on a bit of rope. The men (underwater) never surface until they reach the pier at the base. They swim for miles, literally. It seems to be an endurance exercise - I had wondered if it was also a navigation exercise (The MoBO is not leading it follows where the divers are going (if that makes sense).

They have other exercises but we have only seen them in daylight - recovering munitions and floating them back to base. Once they arranged a parachute drop - most entertaining.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

I note, looking at the detail that a vessel under 40' can work under a 'reduced requirement' whatever that means?

They seem to be missing the lower red in the vertical string of lights as they have red over 2 whites and one of the whites must be the steaming light.

I can only assume - they don't have any more lights

Thanks all,

Jonathan

 

[prv]

They seem to be missing the lower red in the vertical string of lights as they have red over 2 whites and one of the whites must be the steaming light.

Claiming to be fishing, then

Pete

 

[Neeves]

Pete, Exactly what I thought (great minds think alike.....) - and it was that 'identification' that made me ask the question. I confess I had not looked at (and did not know) the lighting for underwater operations - not exactly common. We make long passages and sail a lot at night - but traffic is so light we seldom see other vessels (at all). Its a very charmed life down here

Jonathan