Netherlands Sound Signal Confusion

[unbusted67]

I am lucky enough to be over here in Amsterdam and even luckier to have had the opportunity to rent a boat on the canals.

This evening while approaching a very torturous blind section of the canal I heard one prolonged blast from one of the long tour boats which was presently out of site around the bend. I stopped my little rental boat way off to the right hand side of the canal to let him get by. As he hove into site he gave me two short blasts. ****. I've been on US waterways too long! What did this sound signal mean? It meant I am altering my course to Port. Correct? Or did it mean I intend to leave you on my starboard side? I am a loser. I should totally know this. When in Europe you use International Rules right?


two short blasts to mean "I am altering my course to port";

[unbusted67]

Really no one?

[HappyMdRSailor]

Maybe just confirming the international "stand on vessel tonnage rule"...

[Steel sails]

We just finished a charter on the French canals.According to the captains handbook produced by the charter company
1 long is caution
2 short I am altering my course to port

Regards
Paul

[HappyMdRSailor]

See???

A smartassery bump will get you a good answer every time!

[Csory]

Was it limited visibility (i.e. fog)? If yes and the cruise boat had radar (I assume it had...) then one long means "single vessel going upstream".

If there was no limited visibility and the cruise boat did not see you it was only an "attention" signal (more or less "here I come").

The two short is to signal that she can see you, she's moving upstream and she proposes you to pass by on her starboard. Your answer could have been:

a.) I agree: two shorts
b.) I disagree, pass by on port: one short

On which she could answer:I agree - one short (no answer means no I guess )

(EU-HU inland water regulations 6.04)

...just checked in a 2011 book

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Csory

Was it limited visibility (i.e. fog)? If yes and the cruise boat had radar (I assume it had...) then one long means "single vessel going upstream".

The OP said it was a tortuous blind section and the other vessel was out of sight round a bend. That qualifies as limited visibility in my book

[FamilyVan]

You have rule 34(e) here, he's nearing a blind turn in a river one long.

And a 34(a) I am altering course to port.

Nothing you did wrong, there was likely an unseen (to you) circumstance that had him favour his port side of the channel, maybe a shoal, current traffic etc.

I've learned to avoid these types of colregs questions because the sea lawyers eat you alive, but I think that's what happened.

Sent from my XP7700 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[ggray]

I'm on the edge of my seat...what happened?

Did he mean by 2 short toots that be wanted you to move to the other side (even though you were stopped) so you would be starboard to starboard?

[carstenb]

I'm no expert on the european inland waterways (should be I live here). But one blast when approaching a blind corner means "Here I come". Two blasts should mean I'm turning to port

[Lodesman]

I think you should look up CEVNI rules - annex 6 has the sound signals. 1 long is a caution and 2 short indicates either a turn to port or wanting to meet green to green (pretty much the same thing).

[unbusted67]

Well regardless it sounds like I mucked it all up. Haha. I should have passed him on his starboard side and I wasn't carrying a sound signalling device, not that I would have known what to do with it.

The Amsterdam Canals are deceiving they feel very safe but man are there a lot of blind turns and thick traffic. Better luck next time. I will study up!