Preffered Channel buoy

[graham]

This preferred channel buoy has caused confusion to visitors and locals of Cardiff.

You come across it approaching the entrance harbour of the Cardiff Barrage from seaward.

While most people would identify it as a "preffered channel to stbd " what isnt obvious is that the channel into the barrage is the non preffered one so you leave the buoy to stbd on the way in.(The preffered channel is the one into Cardiff Docks as used by the ships)

If you leave it to port close to low water on your way to the barrage you will find the mud.

 

[Cornishman]

Who put it there?

 

[graham]

Im not sure if it belongs to the Cardiff Harbour Authority or Trinity House.

Even though it is technically correct in that the deepwater channel to the Commercial Dock is off to Stbd,It is extremely confusing to people coming into the smaller channel leading to the barrage locks.

Especially as a mud spit has built up behind it waiting to catch anyone who gets it wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[VicS]

They confuse me any way!

It shows the importance of having an upto date chart.

 

[graham]

"It shows the importance of having an upto date chart."

That would take all the fun out of it ..... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[gandy]

I've always wondered why the shapes have to be so ambiguous. Why can't a stb be clearly conical, and a port clearly not conical? On this one even the top mark shape is unclear.

Tony S

 

[Benbow]

[ QUOTE ]
I've always wondered why the shapes have to be so ambiguous.

[/ QUOTE ]

it is perfectly logical. This is mostly a normal port hand buoy, just happens to have a green stripe, so you mostly leave it to port, but you could leave it to stbd.
(except in this case apparently)

 

[gandy]

"it is perfectly logical. This is mostly a normal port hand buoy, just happens to have a green stripe, so you mostly leave it to port, but you could leave it to stbd."

What I meant was the shapes of lateral buoys in general, rather that preferred channel marks in particular. A tapered can (like this) or a truncated cone often look pretty similar in shape. Of course the colour(s) make it clear, but you can't always see the colours. Why couldn't port marks be truly parallel sided? In the case shown the top mark also appears ambiguous - in fact in the picture it looks more conical than not.

Tony S

 

[Benbow]

Ahh apologies, that's me jumping to conclusions again.

I agree, often easiest at night.

 

[peterb]

[quoteIn the case shown the top mark also appears ambiguous - in fact in the picture it looks more conical than not.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's because it's not a top-mark, it's the light.

To me this one looks perfectly OK. It's when you see them complete with radar reflector, solar cell array, light and the obligatory cormorant that they start to look ambiguous.