Red lights & flashing red lights

[jimmie]

I was out in my pleasure craft at the weekend entertaining some new friends when I noticed some large vessels making way with a red light above their masthead. Upon scouring the Collision Regulations this seemed to indicate a fishing vessel. I however was in a bit of doubt as to whether the large gas tanker was actually fishing but I gave her a bit of room anyway to keep clear of any fishing gear. I scoured the regs again and could only see that a vessel loading or unloading a dangerous cargo may display a red light (hence why houses of ill repute so display) and I would have thought it unlikely that the gas tanker was unloading or loading as it steamed at full speed down the water.
Am I missing something else?

 

[graham]

Allround red indicates dangerous cargo.Some vessels have it flashing which apparently is required in some ports in the far east.

I dont think it relieves them of any responsibilities re right of way,its a bit academic from a yacht or motorboat point of view weather its carrying semtex or rolls of loo paper we still get obliterated in a collision.

 

[jimmie]

I had thought that the all round red was only for use when discharging or loading the aforesaid dangerous cargo and not when underway?

 

[peterb]

Byelaws

It depends on local harbour byelaws. Some harbours require a red light at night as an equivalent to flag Bravo during the day. As you may remember (though it's no longer in the RYA syllabus) flag Bravo is a red swallowtail meaning "I am taking in, or discharging, or carrying dangerous goods". Since the meaning includes "carrying", the red light will be on at night while the ship is in the harbour area.

In practice, many ships carrying dangerous cargo will turn their red light on when they start loading, and leave it on (day and night) until the cargo is discharged.

 

[snowleopard]

north sea

half the ships seen in the north sea seem to have the red lights on at all times. i've even seen them with two, configured like steaming lights, and no 'normal' nav lights

 

[snowleopard]

north sea

half the ships seen in the north sea seem to have the red lights on at all times. i've even seen them with two, configured like steaming lights, and no 'normal' nav lights

 

[brianrunyard]

If it's a near miss, that loo paper would be a lot more useful!!!

Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard

 

[duncan]

I prefer (for what it's worth!) the fixed element - if it's fixed it's either land based or ship based and if it's flasing it's probably a navigation mark (or a speed camera on a nearby road!!!)

 

[jimi]

See you Tinkicker, beat this!

 

[dslittle]

Flashing red lights

I prefer (for what it's worth!) the fixed element - if it's fixed it's either land based or ship based and if it's flasing it's probably a navigation mark (or a speed camera on a nearby road!!!)

En route from the Solent to Plymouth one night earlier this year we spied a flashing red light off to our starboard. We had similar discussions as above, checked the AIS and couldn't work out what it was. Suddenly it went East at about 100 knots (a guess). Sometime later it returned at about the same speed and then stopped. After a few trips (and consideration that we were watching some alien craft) a number of VERY BIG GREY VESSELS turned all of their lights on in the distance...

 

[loosnmined]

Flashing red light on speeding vessel.

I was trying to find out what a ship would be doing speeding with a flashing red light . I was up on a hill possibly 2 - 3 miles from a boat which appeared to be going at a high rate of speed. At first i thought it was a plane because of how fast it was going but there were other boats near by. the light had a slow blink to it and the boat seemed to be moving about two inches in perspective every time the light blinked. Again it was much like watching a plane move slowly although you know its going at a high rate of speed. I read the previous posts but don't think it was taking on or dropping cargo. if anyone has an idea id be happy to hear it. I'm located in hawaii if that makes a difference , personally i think it was an unidentified floating object.

 

[prv]

A double thread resurrection?

I think this must be one of the oldest I've ever seen, over a decade on the original part!

Pete

 

[FistralG]

See you Tinkicker, beat this!

 

[Tidewaiter2]

En route from the Solent to Plymouth one night earlier this year we spied a flashing red light off to our starboard. We had similar discussions as above, checked the AIS and couldn't work out what it was. Suddenly it went East at about 100 knots (a guess). Sometime later it returned at about the same speed and then stopped. After a few trips (and consideration that we were watching some alien craft) a number of VERY BIG GREY VESSELS turned all of their lights on in the distance...

Absolutely normal anywhere between Pompey & Plymers area on a late Wed night/early Thursday am esp. orf the Bill- RN 'Wargames Thursday'

Worse when they come past you all blacked out, visual and ECM, at 'lots of knots' off the Bill, when there's other traffic to dodge too- v good for constipation we found last May

 

[binch]

Truculent

Failure to understand what the red mast-head light indicated led to the collisuon and sinking of HMS Truculent in 1950, with heavy loss of life.
The PLA introduced the red light signal for vessels carrying dangerous cargo, but forgot to tell the Admiralty. Thus the signal was not known to HM Ships which are exempt from all pilotage regulations.
The submarine's captain was not being very careful nor prudent; he was struck on the starboard side by the Swediish tanker "Divina" in the Princes Channel.
Truculent was on her commissioning trials with an unworked up crew. In any event, submarines of that vintage were difficult to navigate on the surface at night, the bridge being about as wet as the cockpit of a small yacht.
U.S.N. warships usually have red mast-head lights. RN in my day used them only when operating helicopters and/or aircraft.

 

[Greenheart]

Suddenly it went East at about 100 knots (a guess). Sometime later it returned at about the same speed and then stopped. After a few trips a number of VERY BIG GREY VESSELS turned all of their lights on in the distance...

Umm...sorry to be so slow...but what was this phenomenon?

 

[Tidewaiter2]

Wake up at the back, today we have 'naming of parts'...

Umm...sorry to be so slow...but what was this phenomenon?

...DC,we are talking warships moving 'blacked out' visually and for ECM purposes, bar the red 'working air' light, off certain sections of the South and SW Coast-vide last few posts!

 

[Greenheart]

I was wondering what the thing moving at 100 knots, was?

 

[Tidewaiter2]

I was wondering what the thing moving at 100 knots, was?

'the red 'working air' light'-and the 'AIR' wears one too; prob a Lynx or that training old Seaking that wanders round the Solent from time to time 'dipping' an a/s probe, if they still do that tech, and changing location.

You need to get out of the Hbr more-it's fun with lights and shapes out there

 

[Woodlouse]

I was wondering what the thing moving at 100 knots, was?

Helicopter.