ABL-9 Able Navigation Rules Instructors: George Crowl Course Outline a. Demonstrate a working knowledge of Navigation Rules, International and Inland. b. Explain vessel lights for the following: towing (astern, alongside, pushing ahead, and cannot deviate), fishing, trawling, restricted maneuverability, underwater operations, constrained by draft, and aground. Course Outline e. Read in detail a National Ocean Service (NOS) chart, preferably for the area normally cruised by your ship, identifying all marks on it. f. Explain the use of tide tables, current tables, light lists, and how to update a chart using the Notice to Mariners. ABL-9a a. Demonstrate a working knowledge of Navigation Rules, International and Inland. Rules of the Road Like traffic rules on our highways Inland and International Rules are very similar, in one document on-line “Demonstrate” means “do it” on the water In addition, show knowledge of what to do in less likely circumstances ABL-9b b. Explain vessel lights for the following: towing (astern, alongside, pushing ahead, and cannot deviate), fishing, trawling, restricted maneuverability, underwater operations, constrained by draft, and aground. ABL-9c c. Describe special lights and day shapes deployed on the following vessels: not under command, restricted by ability to maneuver, constrained by draft, fishing (trawling), and sailing vessels under power. Dayshapes Seen during day Serve same functions as lights at night Hoisted vertically in rigging Diamond (white light) Ball (usually red light) Cone (green or red light) Cylinder (3 red lights) Review – Navigation Lights Red, green and white Green – bow to 112.5° starboard Red – bow to 112.5° port White – relative bearing 112.5° to 247.5° Lights on Towed Vessel Normally, towed and sternlight. vessel displays standard sidelights Lights Towing Astern <200M Normal power lights + One masthead light (= two total) + One yellow stern light “Yellow over white, my towline is tight” Lights Towing Astern >200M Three masthead lights (Also a diamond day shape) Towing Alongside Towed vessel has standard lighting Two masthead lights, side lights International – one white sternlight Inland – two yellow towing lights “Yellow over yellow, a pushing or hip towing fellow.” Lights Pushing Ahead Pushed vessel has sidelights (+ flashing Inland) Pushing vessel has two mastlights and sidelights International – Pushing vessel white sternlight Inland – Pushing vessel two yellow towing lights Towing Cannot Deviate Towing vessel shows both towing lights and restricted maneuverability lights Two / three towing lights on top Red / white / red lights below them Ball / diamond / ball dayshape Sailing Vessel Under Power Sails may be up Dayshape – cone, apex down, on front of boat Normal sidelights and sternlight One 225° mast light, usually about 2/3 way up the mast Colloquially called “steaming” light Sailing Vessel Under Sail Any of the light combinations below Red over green, sailing machine Fishing Vessel Applies only to fishing that restricts maneuverability (mostly commercial) Must be actively engaged in fishing “Red over white, fishing tonight” Dayshape – cones, apex to apex Trawling Vessel Applies only to trawling that restricts maneuverability (mostly commericial) Must be actively engaged in trawling Green over white, trawling tonight Dayshape – two cones, apex to apex, same as fishing Restricted Ability to Maneuver Red over white over red Ball / diamond / ball dayshapes White mast top light shows it is also anchored Single ball dayshape shows anchored Underwater Operations Dredging, diving, other underwater operations Red, White, Red on vessel center Two red on obstruction side Two green on passing side Ball / diamond / ball, with diamonds and balls Constrained by Draft (Intl) Too deep to leave the channel Three red lights in vertical row International Rules only Dayshape – cylinder “Three reds in a row, no room below” Vessel Aground Two vertical red lights One all around white light Dayshapes – three balls Not Under Command Two vertical red lights Sidelights, sternlight, no masthead light Two ball dayshapes “Red over red, the captain's dead.” Vessel Priority Airplanes / WIGs / etc. Power vessel Tow boats (power vessel) Sailboat under power (power vessel) Fishing / trawling Restricted in ability to maneuver Constrained by draft Aground / not under command Identify Type Boat N Questions? Questions first? Vessel Priority in Rules of the Road (ORD-9) Shown you lights and dayshapes that identify a vessel in the vessel priority Know your place in the vessel priority (pretty low!) Be prepared to take appropriate action Come back and show us you know this material and can apply it. ABL-9d d. Understand the system of aids to navigation employed in your area. Include buoys, lights, and daymarks, and their significance and corresponding chart symbols. Aids to Navigation (ATON) ATONs are like street signs on a road Nautical chart displays their locations and what they are Symbols identified in Chart 1 (available on-line) Three main ATONs Daybeacons (poles) Buoys Lights (both poles and buoys) Several lesser kinds of ATONs Lateral System Establishes channels and marks to guide vessels to stay within those channels Two main colors Red on the Right Returning from the sea, triangular shape Green on the left returning from the sea, square shape Channel limits marked by red and green lights, buoys, and daybeacons Daybeacons Used in shallow water Mounted on a pole, numbered Red daybeacons triangular shape On right-hand side of channel going inbound to dock Green daybeacons square shape On left-hand side of channel going inbound to dock Buoys Floating aids, anchored to bottom, numbered Can move a little, tide, current Red, triangular top, “nun” Green, square top, “can” Lights Lights on buoys and on poles Basic buoy or daybeacon Light mounted on top Light has pattern to flash for identification Junctions Junctions are where two channels meet Color on top is for the primary channel Lower color is for the secondary channel Junctions are lettered, not numbered Ranges Ranges are two sets of panels or lights in a line that show the proper channel Panels / lights connected by dashes on chart to channel Regulatory / Information Marks White buoy, red Four main letters types Information, Regulation, Prohibit, Danger ABL-9e e. Read in detail a National Ocean Service (NOS) chart, preferably for the area normally cruised by your ship, identifying all marks on it. Chart 1 Chart 1 available in hard copy and on the internet. Google Chart 1. Chart 1 has everything! A Sea Scout should not memorize Chart 1. Common chart symbols are somewhat intuitive Numbers in the middle of the water are depths Little green squares and red triangles are daybeacons Lights have a purple “beam” coming from them ABL-9f f. Explain the use of tide tables, current tables, light lists, and how to update a chart using the Notice to Mariners. Tide Tables Apply to coastal areas only, not to inland waters Tide tables give the time and height of high and low tides at specific locations Based on astronomical data (the Sun and Moon) Tides also vary according to the weather, strong northerly winds will push water out of a bay that has a southern entrance. Weather effect is not predicted in tide tables. http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.ht ml Two Tables Current Tables Tides cause currents, especially in restricted waterways Think: Under the Golden Gate Bridge Out Bolivar Roads next to Galveston Minimum flow: near high and low tide times Maximum flow: midway between high / low times Not always true, but a good start Varying depths, varying speeds. Sea Scouts use 6 feet or so, shallower draft. Two Different Currents 6 foot depth, Red Fish Island, Morgans Point, both on Houston Ship Channel, 40' deep channel Current will not apply in 7' water depth 100 yards west of HSC Redfish Flood 0.7K 341° Ebb 0.7K 154° Morgan Pt Flood 0.5K 336° Ebb 0.7K 163° Calculating Speed Maximum speed is displayed in table Determine time for maximum speed Determine time for slack water At 1/3 of the time from max to slack, speed will be 90% of maximum At 2/3 of the time from max to slack, speed will be 50% of maximum Interpolate as needed Light Lists USCG publishes electronically. Google “Light List,” click on your local area Lists each navigational aid (ATON) that the USCG and private parties maintain. Unique identifier, lat / long, full description Coordinates in DDD-MM-SS.SSS You can put them into your GPS in MM-SS, then switch your base to MM.MMM, the GPS will do the conversion automatically for you Sample Light List L Notice to Mariners Published weekly by USCG Identifies changes to Light List, charts, other nautical publications. Publishes coming changes and activities that affect the water, such as dredging, etc. Available online, Google “Notice to Mariners” Local Notice to Mariners Downloadable from USCG Typical Discrepancy Page Lt # Description Discrepancy Chart St Dt To Make Corrections Look at the chart number in each list Annotate your chart if needed For instance, if a light has been destroyed, mark it DEST or some way you understand If a light is back in service, mark OK on chart Summary Navigation Rules Lights Day Shapes ATONs Chart Symbols Publications Practical Knowledge Go out and demonstrate the practical knowledge you must display to pass this requirement Questions?