Sound Signals when at Anchor in Restricted Visibility

[steve77]

Okay, I asked a question on the COLREGS a while back and got some good info in the responses. So let's try another one...

Rule 35 covers Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility. Paragraph (g) is where I am confused. the Rule states "A vessel aground shall give the bell signal and if required the gong signal prescribed in paragraph (f) of this Rule and shall, in addition, give three separate and distinct strokes of the bell immediately before and after the rapid ringing of the bell. A vessel aground may in addition sound an appropriate whistle signal."

It is this last sentence that I don't understand. What is "an appropriate whistle signal" that should be given for a vessel aground?

Any thoughts? My wife and I sit for our OUPV and Masters exams the day after tomorrow, so any input would be welcome. Thanks!

Steve

[Snowpetrel]

Of the top of my head, I would be thinking of

Lima, stop.
Uniform, you are running into danger.
Zulu, I require a tug... Could be confused with I intend to overtake on your port side in a narrow channel

Maybe though just 5 short would be best. Good question and well spotted. Good luck with the exam, sounds like you are on top of it.

[StuM]

35(h) says the bell/gong signals as per 35(g)
35(g) says "may in addition sound three blasts.....to give warning of her position..."

So I would assume the 35(h) "appropriate" would be the same as 35(g) i.e. Short-Long-short.

[delmarrey]

It is this last sentence that I don't understand. What is "an appropriate whistle signal" that should be given for a vessel aground?

Do not different size and type of vessels have separate regulations on appropriate bells and whistles? https://www.usps.org/national/vsc/fo...USCGMinReq.pdf

[StuM]

Incidentally, you appear to be using an old version of ColRegs if you are referring to 35(f) and (g).

There is now a new rule
[(d) A vessel engaged in fishing, when at anchor, and a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when carrying out her work at anchor, shall instead of the signals prescribed in paragraph (g) of this Rule sound the signal prescribed in paragraph (c) of this Rule.]

Old paragraphs (d) onwards have been renamed as "e" onwards, so the relevant paragraphs are 35(g) and 35(h)

However, checking to make sure about the above and that my ColRegs were current, I came across this:

Rule 35 - Sound signals in restricted visibility - OTEN Maritime Studies - Maritime Training for GPH, Coxswain, Master, Deck Watchkeeper and Marine Engine Driver (MED) qualifications

which differs from my suggestion of Short-Long-Short.

That page says:

"[FONT='Trebuchet MS', sans-serif]May also sound an ‘appropriate’ whistle signal such as the signal for U. Short-short-long is Morse Code for the letter ‘U’. Whistle signals often correspond to the single-letter flag signals which you will meet in the Section 9. Signal letter ‘U’ means ‘You are running into danger’, whether it be signalled by flag, sound or light."[/FONT]

So - looks like it's Short-Short-Long

[carstenb]

I believe Stu i s correct in his interprtation. The correct whistle is "U" or short-short-long

[nigel1]

Stu and Carsten are correct.
At the IMO Conference for the 1972 Colregs, the conference could not decide on what would be an appropriate signal.
The Morse signal "U" has generally been accepted as an appropriate signal.

This info has been taken from the A.N. Cockcroft and J.N.F. Lameijer guide to the Colregs

[delmarrey]

What I'd like to know is if one can get the gong sound on the Standard Horizon radio's?

[Pelagic]

My AIS has it

[steve77]

Thanks, gentlemen. Really appreciate this! This is exactly what I needed.

This is like the bad dream where you wake up one morning and realize you have an exam you didn't study for. In my case, I have been studying the wrong book!

So, there is a later version of the COLREGS that I should be looking at. I found several sites with the COLREGS available in pdf, but none that had revision bars or other way of noting changes from the previous edition. Does anyone have a suggestion of a site I can look at to see just updates and changes? Going through the current edition page by page looking for differences would be tedious.

Thanks again!

[nigel1]

Does not answer your question, but if you have one of those android things, this is a useful app for the Colregs
IMO Collision Regulations | AppBrain Android Market

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

Of the top of my head, I would be thinking of

Lima, stop.
Uniform, you are running into danger.
Zulu, I require a tug... Could be confused with I intend to overtake on your port side in a narrow channel

Maybe though just 5 short would be best. Good question and well spotted. Good luck with the exam, sounds like you are on top of it.

edit: Don't use 5 short unless you can see them.. duh and then "U" .._ would be better except not many would know what the hell your signalling!

Thanks Nigel for the official verdict. Got get a copy of A.N. Cockcroft and J.N.F. Lameijer guide to the Colregs. An excellent book.

[steve77]

Originally Posted by nigel1

Does not answer your question, but if you have one of those android things, this is a useful app for the Colregs
IMO Collision Regulations | AppBrain Android Market

Well, I have an Apple thingy instead of an Android thingy. However, this clarifies why cell phones are not allowed in the exam area!

Thanks for the note - I had not thought of looking for an app on the COLREGS.

Cheers!

Steve

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Snowpetrel

edit: Don't use 5 short unless you can see them.. duh and then "U" .._ would be better except not many would know what the hell your signalling!

.

Sadly. very few boaters understand the sound signals anymore. The same goes for flags - all anyone uses them for these days is to bend them over the top for a party.

Sound signals are extremely useful in poor visibility

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by steve77

Well, I have an Apple thingy instead of an Android thingy. However, this clarifies why cell phones are not allowed in the exam area!

Thanks for the note - I had not thought of looking for an app on the COLREGS.

Cheers!

Steve

I believe this app has an explanation against each of the sailing and steering rules (very similar to the A.N. Cockcroft and J.N.F. Lameijer guide to the Colregs)