Lights on a pier question

[callistov42]

The condo association next door to my house has a pier that extends about 400' into Galveston Bay. Recently they put a red and a green light at the end of the pier. From the water, in the dark, it looks like a vessel underway coming towards you. Is it legal to put what looks a lot like navigation lights on a fixed pier structure?

[sailormed]

Report it to the USCG, they will tell you.

[Shrew]

No, they should not be lighting their dock to look like a vessel underway. There are specific light signals for fixed objects and specific light signals for vessels underway.

Fixed objects typically blink in patterns. Vessels underway typically use constant lights. I've seen flashing red and or green lights on docks. I spent a number of years at a Marina that had a solid red light on the clubhouse roof. It was way to high and too far on shore to be mistaken for anything else. It was to locate the marina. I thought it should have been green and flashing.

In this case, placing a flashing red on the Left side of the dock (as your coming in from sea) and a flashing green on the right side would actually make sense. Pass with the flashing red to Stbd or flashing green to port and you miss the dock.

[John_Trusty]

The condo association probably has no clue what any light means, and they probably got poor advice from a contractor. Without being a busy-body, you might send a note to the association board telling them about your concern and that they are opening themselves to some liability if a boater hits their dock. Even if the boater was drunk, they would share in the liability because someone would surely mention the meaning of the lights. The low-cost solution is to make those lights flash. At 400 feet out, that shouldn't bother anyone on shore.

[carlheintz]

I have a waterfront condo. The prior owner mounted marine red and green lights on the porch so it appeared, from the lake, that a boat was coming right at you if it was a dark night and nobody else was home.

[FionaJC]

I have done some quick research as all my colregs with IALA for my yachtmaster qualifications were to do with collision regulations of moving boats. I cant find anything helpful. Our port has two "hammerheads" and they are marked with a single red light at each end of the head.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by sailormed

Report it to the USCG, they will tell you.

This is the correct answer. Hopefully, if it's against the rules, the USCG will take care of it.

[buzzstar]

If your association is like almost all, they will have a concern about regs, but not do anything, UNLESS you remind them the association and maybe the board members themselves could have liability if a vessel mistook the lights and something bad happened. Still the USCG is the best start. Somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind is a thought about yellow lighting and signage being proper to mark piers and jetties, but do not rely on this.

[svHyLyte]

The lighting on a fixed obstruction--which I would think would include a pier project 400 feet into the Bay--would be governed by 33CFR67, "Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands and Fixed Structures". Given the description I believe Subpart 67.30--Class "C" (Structures) Requirements would apply.

Based upon the foregoing it would appear that only white and or red lighting would be permitted. Note that as stipulated, Private Aid(s) to Navigation "PATON" on navigable waters regulated by the federal government require a Coast Guard permit. For more see (click on) PATON

[Scorpius]

I agree folks. The lights should be flashing and the right colours should be on the right ends. However, think about it. If they appear from the seaward side as a vessel coming straight at you, why would anyone taking them as that run into the dock?

[Scorpius]

And better they have some light to show it is there than nothing.

[jmschmidt]

The bar at my yacht club has red and green lights on the entrance that can be seen from the parking lot. They indicate that the bar is open. Maybe they were just advertising their bar.

[boatman61]

Could give some rookie sailor a shock when he tries to enter an assumed 'Channel' on a dark night..

[Maka]

If it is legal lighting it will appear on the chart for that area.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Could give some rookie sailor a shock when he tries to enter an assumed 'Channel' on a dark night..

Or worse yet, if a vessel operator, who, for some reason was uncertain about his/her position, saw the lights and did take them as another vessel, massive and even dangerous confusion could result. Not good.