What do single handlers do at night?

[Lepke]

A lot of 3rd world ships don't always have someone on the bridge. They have a watch, but walk away to do something else. Also fishing trawlers. The captain is often watching the back deck and the net coming aboard. It was particularly bad on the coasts when we had Soviet trawlers in our waters. Once they learned a safe section of bottom, they wouldn't turn for anybody. Although if you shoot out some of their windows, they turn.

[Kelkara]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

If that was in response to me, it would be an as well as, not an instead of.

Like I said, ferries in Australia run them so I am thinking it cant be illegal to run extra lighting that makes you even MORE visible.

If I see your normal lights with the addition of a flashing yellow light, I'm going to be disappointed if I don't see a hovercraft. But I'll certainly stay clear of you.

[mark_morwood]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

If that was in response to me, it would be an as well as, not an instead of.

Like I said, ferries in Australia run them so I am thinking it cant be illegal to run extra lighting that makes you even MORE visible.

Flashing yellow lights have very specific meanings in different locals. Colregs prescribes them for Hovercraft, and various local jurisdictions tend to use them for other specific applications, e.g. in Queensland, Australia, high speed river ferries and rescue vessels.

So showing a flashing yellow light is at a minimum misleading for other vessels if you do not fit one of the prescribed categories. It depends on local laws and regulation as to whether it is "illegal". Queensland for example is pretty clear that rescue vessels should only operate a flashing yellow light while actively participating in a rescue.

Mark.