Yealm
Well-Known Member
Just passing Dodman Point and noticed 3 yellow ‘special purpose’ buoys.
What is their purpose?
What is their purpose?
Yellow buoys
- Thread starter Yealm
- Start date
awol
Well-Known Member
Try reading the NtM - almost certain to be there.
Yealm
Well-Known Member
sailaboutvic
Well-Known Member
Notice to you
Yealm
Well-Known Member
I feel like you’re all in a secretive club I’m not a member of!
Could anyone help please?
Praxinoscope
Well-Known Member
Hi Yealm
NtH refers to the issue of Notice to Mariners which provides info on aspects of navigation such as change of buoys, temporary dangers etc.
I sometimes wonder why some members can’t just give a straight answer to a question rather than make snide comments to anyone just asking a simple question?
NtH refers to the issue of Notice to Mariners which provides info on aspects of navigation such as change of buoys, temporary dangers etc.
I sometimes wonder why some members can’t just give a straight answer to a question rather than make snide comments to anyone just asking a simple question?
Praxinoscope
Well-Known Member
Whoops typo, should have typed NtM not NtH, hope my sailing and nav’ is better than my typing.
Giblets
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure they are to do with the Firing Range that they surround. I have heard them referred to as 'Radar Buoys'.
Yealm
Well-Known Member
many thnaks.
Where do you find them? I’ve googled notice to mariners and yellow buoy Dodman without success.
Neither Navionics nor Garmin charts seem to give info.
DJE
Well-Known Member
Are they within the jurisdiction of a harbour authority? Possibly try these:
https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/notices-to-mariners
https://www.falmouthhaven.co.uk/notice-mariners/
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/plymouth/local-notices
Yealm
Well-Known Member
mmm...
I was hoping there would be a quick and easy way to find out what the yellow buoys are for. It seems like there isn’t.
I’d have thought it would be quite easy/useful/interesting to put in the electronic charts.
awol
Well-Known Member
Wasn't meant to be a snide comment but my bad for not expanding the initials NtM and then looking up which chart Dodman Point is on followed by a perusal of the UKHO, oops, sorry, UK Hydrographic Office website for the relevant notices. https://www.ukho.gov.uk/nmwebsearch/NMsByChartNumber.aspx? is a good place to start.
KevinT1
Well-Known Member
Recommend you sign up for email notification from QHM Plymouth as you are based in the Yealm
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/plymouth/local-notices
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/plymouth/local-notices
Yealm
Well-Known Member
So am I correct in thinking that there is no easy way to find out what yellow buoys are for?
Not on electronic charts, paper charts nor Reeds?
Or have I missed something. I don’t want to be scouring online PDFs et whilst sailing.
Not on electronic charts, paper charts nor Reeds?
Or have I missed something. I don’t want to be scouring online PDFs et whilst sailing.
awol
Well-Known Member
The idea is that you update your navigation information prior to the voyage, not on the hoof. While rocks do not move, there are continuing changes to navigation aids. A merchant navy ship used to have a 4th officer almost continually updating a ship's charts with weekly NtMs, but that is now covered by weekly uploads to their ECDIS*. There is a reason why leisure charting systems have a disclaimer at the start and by their nature they are always out of date.
* Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a geographic information system used for nautical navigation that complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations as an alternative to paper nautical charts.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Thge quick and easy way is to get regular updates of NtM, although this has been largely replaced by electronic updates as awol says for commercial users.
The problem with changes like this is that it can take a long time to appear on published charts/almanacs etc whether paper or electronic. Yellow buoys are marking something specific which might be temporary so often will never appear on published charts.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
A few years ago the CG announced firing off Dodman point 'within 5 miles of the shore'. This seemed strange so I called them and asked if this meant 'offshore to within 5 miles' or 'from shore up to 5 miles'. The CG didn't actually know and referred me to the warship in question. It was clearly 'from 5 miles out' but that wasn't what was transmitted.
Yealm
Well-Known Member
I’m sorry but those explanations are not really valid!
My electronic correctly charts display the yellow buoys, they just don’t give their purpose. I don’t think it’s anything to do with updates - just an information deficiency.
It’s not a big deal but it would be interesting to know why random buoys have been placed.
My electronic correctly charts display the yellow buoys, they just don’t give their purpose. I don’t think it’s anything to do with updates - just an information deficiency.
It’s not a big deal but it would be interesting to know why random buoys have been placed.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
If they have been there for long enough to get onto electronic charts they are marking something specific that is not a danger. Could be (like one off Poole) marking an underwater archeological site or (as off Lulworth) the outer limits of a firing range. I expect the description is on the relevant large scale Admiralty chart but your electronic compiler has not picked it up at the level of detail it is displaying. That is one of the downsides of electronic charts - not displaying every detail even though the data will be on the chip.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
In France they relate to the 300m limit within which one is not allowed to go because of beach activities.
