Sound Signals in Fog

Fascadale

Fascadale

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After a lengthy post about correct and incorrect lights in fog here is the follow on question

Are there many boaters out there who use the sound signals as proscribed by the COLREGS when in fog and whether under way, making way or at anchor?

I have a rather smart compressed air foghorn, as yet unused. Fortunately I have not been boating in conditions which would require the use of sound signals.

How effective would an air horn be?

What is the likelihood of the horn being heard on the bridge of a ship?
 
...Are there many boaters out there who use the sound signals as proscribed by the COLREGS when in fog...

Yes; a couple of times whilst underway, but never seriously whilst at anchor.

How effective would an air horn be?

Probably better than either the lung powered trumpet or the asthmatic electrical squawk box which I have aboard.

What is the likelihood of the horn being heard on the bridge of a ship?

Slightly (though not by much) higher than Feck-All.

The only reason that I actually bothered, was that in both instances I had a crew member onboard who was crapping themself at the situation (one of them was right to be worried) my asking them to make the requisite sound-signal gave them something constructive to do and was instrumental in easing their fears and calming them down. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Done it when hit by fog off Guernsey, not so much for Saga Rose which was frightening me as I didn't think they'd hear it, but the other yachts which were around.

Wretched pressure can expired after about the third go leading to desperate pumping to get some pressure back.

SWMBO recalled her father remarking once he'd have done better with just a baked bean for lunch. Since then I've pressured the thing up at a petrol station's air pump, which I hope will be good for a few blasts.

However, although I've not experienced it, there is a school of thought that says in real thick fog the reed used to help make the sound freezes so the whole thing is useless anyway.

I think I'll just sink where I am, thank you.
 
Horns that run on compressed gas do tend to freeze up, but their biggest disdvantage is that when it runs out it doesn't work at all. Have also found that a spare canister stored for a long time had rusted and leaked its contents.

We recently bought a compressed air one, which comes with as small pump like that for a bicycle. Has to be pumped about every third signal, we found. (Yet another example of something that, for the sake of being just a fraction more expensive (in this case larger) could have been many times more useful.) The time/effort/distraction/noise involved in pumping it up is a disadvantage when short handed in fog. It's handy, though, to have to hand for urgent (incl. non-fog) situations. We'll be getting a horn to attach to the inflatable pump next, to supplement the pumped air one, and I would like to fit a 12v car type air-horn, if only I could think of where/how to mount, or store and deploy it, on a small yacht.

Chances of any of these being heard on a ship's bridge is, I would have thought, negligible. That's why I go to some lengths to avoid ever being where ships could be in fog, but you can always be caught out. I'd be interested to know whether ship's watch officers (or fishermen) ever venture out from the bridge, or post a look-out (listen-out?) to listen for horns, but very much doubt it.

We use them when under way in fog, but whether we do so at anchor depends on the situation.
 
[ QUOTE ]


I have a rather smart compressed air foghorn, as yet unused. Fortunately I have not been boating in conditions which would require the use of sound signals.

How effective would an air horn be?

What is the likelihood of the horn being heard on the bridge of a ship?

[/ QUOTE ]

Use common sense. If there are likely to be other small craft about, the sound signal may help. It won't be heard on a ship's bridge.

In fog, if you can, head out of the shipping lanes and into an area that is either shallow or unfrequented (or both) Bear in mind that other small craft may be doing the same thing.

A platelayer's horn has much to recommend it when the airhorn refuses its duty.
 
Last time I was caught in fog - 20m visibility - there was total silence all around. I made the first fog signal and within half a minute 5 or 6 more were heard from all around. Clearly I had nudged other people's consciences.

The type where you blow into the side of a plastic tube make a hell of a noise but on one occasion the business end blew off at the first blast and went straight over the side!
 
I can't vouch for fishermen or merch ships but the RN insists on:
sounding fog signals iaw IRPCS
reduction of speed iaw prevailing circumstances and conditions
bridge doors open
3 x fog lookouts: one on each bridge wing + 1 fwd, all equipped with peak-limiting ear defenders. These actively filter out the noise of the ship's siren, but turn off afterwards, leaving your hearing clear for more distant noises.
Full radar watch closed up.
Sometimes frigates and destroyers will also close up sonar watch as you can detect small craft engines on passive sonar at longer ranges than navigation radar can detect the GRP hull.

Hope this reassures you about some of the big ships out there.
 
Those air horns are hopeless, rechargable or not.

But a platelayer's horn-Plastimo do one, or a hunting horn/bugle/ brass car horn(used em all) gaffa taped onto the dinghy pump gives the helm something to do with their free hand/foot, and is a pyschological prop for the other half glued into the radar screen as sound signals no use against most commercial traffic, only some of the other small stuff around.

Trouble is everyone is usually motoring, without RN grade ear muffs. Got caught in two big bands of fog in May, but just the French side of the main lanes; enough contacts to give us a very tense two hours, then the wind got up and the fog went /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Footpump wheeze stops you having a heart attack from all that puffing!

Just missed another big band actually in the TSS going over at end July- zero slow down on our radar by the big stuff back in it . /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Hate the stuff
 
[ QUOTE ]


I have a rather smart compressed air foghorn, as yet unused. Fortunately I have not been boating in conditions which would require the use of sound signals.

How effective would an air horn be?

What is the likelihood of the horn being heard on the bridge of a ship?

[/ QUOTE ]

The best type of "air horn" I have come across is the Plastimo Trump

Plastimo_Cono_Da_Nebbia_Trump_Plastimo7603.jpg


Makes a hell of a noise and is far better than those silly little airhorns that look like a kids trumpet. The problem with gas airhorns is that they run out of gas, so unless you have got a plentiful supply they run out fast!
 
It is a bit of a lottery as to whether sound signals from small craft (less than 12m in length) will be heard by anybody other than other small craft and it is doubtful if any will have the equipment to be really effective. However, craft above 12m are required by Colregs to fitted with a "whistle", a "bell" and a "gong" and I just wonder how many are.
When I served on the sail training ship Tectona we had all three and the whistle was a Maserati twin tone air horn which was very effective. When the button was pressed an air compressor supplied the necessary to the horns. It required a 12v DC supply which most vessels have. This was mounted on the deck house roof, but could be on a board to make it portable and did not take up a lot of room. Specifications for these items can be found in Annex III to Colregs.
I recall a very uncomfortable hour or so at anchor in fog in Plymouth Sound rapidly ringing the bell on the forward side of the mainmast at intervals of 1 minute. We were acting as committee boat for the International Skiffs Championships when the fog descended. The Brittany Ferry left Millbay Docks and passed close but safely by as we were anchored just out of the channel..
 
My lung powered trumpet may not be that loud but does it set the dogs off! I do wonder what other nearby mariners make of all the barking
 
I was out today with 50 yds vis max,No sound signals at all !!!

so will not go in shite like that again

cheers Joe
 
[ QUOTE ]

3 x fog lookouts: one on each bridge wing + 1 fwd, all equipped with peak-limiting ear defenders. These actively filter out the noise of the ship's siren, but turn off afterwards, leaving your hearing clear for more distant noises.
Full radar watch closed up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry to say so few RN ships out there that there is little chance of being hit by one. Can't remember a bridge wing on my last 2 ships though - Ark Royal & Illustrious! If put anyone on bridge roof seem to remember had to turn the radar off so thats not much help either.
 
My system is very like that, but with a length of 16mm hoze between the footpump and trumpet. This lets me tie the trumpet to the pulpit, pointing forward, so that the helm gets less of a blast. The problem is that if suddenly caught in fog I'm reluctant to take the time to rig up the gadget, so end up blowing manually.

As others have said, using it has on occasions prompted toots from other small craft. As for big commercial stuff...
 
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