Unusual noise from bulk carrier

[Spyro]

On my recent trip across the North Channel we were on a converging course with a large carrier, about a mile off I made my intentions clear by altering course and indicating we were going to pass astern of him. almost at the same time we heard what we assumed to be a warning horn but it was a very deep low frequency rumble almost like thunder. I think it was 5 blasts (may have missed one or two), I know what that means but I'd never heard any noise like it before. Anyone know what sort of horn it was and is this normal on large ships?

 

[philip_stevens]

On the ships I sailed on, the main horn (above the bridge on aft accom ships) was an air horn, and the foremast horn was electric.

It sounds (no pun intended) as though it was the electric horn not working at full speed - the faster the motor, the higher the note.

Just a thought.

 

[Bilgediver]

On my recent trip across the North Channel we were on a converging course with a large carrier, about a mile off I made my intentions clear by altering course and indicating we were going to pass astern of him. almost at the same time we heard what we assumed to be a warning horn but it was a very deep low frequency rumble almost like thunder. I think it was 5 blasts (may have missed one or two), I know what that means but I'd never heard any noise like it before. Anyone know what sort of horn it was and is this normal on large ships?

Sounds like it was a large Super Typhon Air horn. The smallest was on american trains and mid sized on smaller ships and ferries as here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjo94HTQO34

The larger were on big passenger ships and some very large ones used on the coast as fog horns.

 

[Spyro]

Sounds like it was a large Super Typhon Air horn. The smallest was on american trains and mid sized on smaller ships and ferries as here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjo94HTQO34

The larger were on big passenger ships and some very large ones used on the coast as fog horns.

No it didn't sound like that. It didn't even sound like a fog horn, much deeper and you almost felt it rather than heard it. Like distant thunder. Maybe as suggested something not working properly.

 

[RobbieW]

Perhaps it was 3 blasts and the rumble was the ship engaging astern ??

 

[RichardS]

Why would he give 5 blasts unless you were the stand on vessel?

Richard

 

[Spyro]

Why would he give 5 blasts unless you were the stand on vessel?

Richard

My question was about the horn.

 

[lenseman]

. . . . Anyone know what sort of horn it was and is this normal on large ships?

It was possibly the new LRAD anti-piracy device now being fitted to shipping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Acoustic_Device

 

[Richard10002]

On my recent trip across the North Channel we were on a converging course with a large carrier, about a mile off I made my intentions clear by altering course and indicating we were going to pass astern of him. almost at the same time we heard what we assumed to be a warning horn but it was a very deep low frequency rumble almost like thunder. I think it was 5 blasts (may have missed one or two), I know what that means but I'd never heard any noise like it before. Anyone know what sort of horn it was and is this normal on large ships?

Given what probably happened, I wouldn't have asked the question

 

[Spyro]

It was possibly the new LRAD anti-piracy device now being fitted to shipping.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Acoustic_Device

Possibly, it was quite a frightening sound.

 

[lenseman]

Possibly, it was quite a frightening sound.

Mind you, if it was, and they are using it for general shipping movements, it would piss me off to be 'attacked' in that way just because they can!