Vessel Requiring a Pilot

[Barnacle Bill]

I have just received a question from someone in India, and I wonder if someone can answer it - I've said I'll get back to him.

Here's the question:

i have a doubt which i am sure you would be able to clear and which is..."what signal (day and night) is displayed by a vessel which REQUIRE a pilot"..as much as i know during day time INTERCO flag "G" which means " i require a pilot" would be displayed but how to substitute this signal at night using lights OR what lights should be displayed by a vessel requiring a pilot" i am desperatly looking for the answer of this question and i request you to kindly help me.​

Is there a light signal to indicate that a vessel requires a pilot? I can find no mention of it in the COLREG, but might it be in another convention?

 

[Sgeir]

Seems to be covered by a differed convention, the International Code of Signals - Chapter 2.

 

[Bilgediver]

Seems to be covered by a differed convention, the International Code of Signals - Chapter 2.

I think it is a stripey "G" Flag..... Have to ask a sea captain about the lights on the xmas tree.

See Below for a selection of flags.


http://www.maineharbors.com/flag.htm

 

[shmoo]

Wouldn't periodically flashing "G", either with the anchor light or perhaps better a search light in the general direction of the port, do the trick?

 

[AndrewF]

There is no specific night time signal for i require a pilot. Infact now adays most times and places the G Flag isn't used either. As pilots are now ordered by VHF.

 

[ferrymaniom]

Wouldn't periodically flashing "G", either with the anchor light or perhaps better a search light in the general direction of the port, do the trick?

That's what I would use, although as has been mentioned this is really obsolete as all vessels requiring a pilot would be equipped with VHF and would use that to contact the pilot station.

I have only seen a ship use an aldis lamp to contact a pilot boat once and that was back in 1977.

 

[john_morris_uk]

In practice, the pilotage requirements are often e-mailed through days in advance and the VHF is used to co-ordinate things as the ship approaches. We used to fax the details through, but e-mail has taken over.

 

[shmoo]

Looking back at the OP I rather doubt they expect the end result of the waving/flashing to be a smartly turned out Nelson 42 powering over the horizon; probably more like a fishing boat who knows the way in so I don't suppose the less modern or formal methods will be too out of place.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Thanks everyone - I've just sent a reply to Vijay Singh in India.

I'm a bit worried by "i am desperatly looking for the answer of this question " -
I just hope he isn't anchored off some remote port with a his VHF u/s. (Although, on balance, the more mundane explanation is that he is revising for an exam.)