Limited Visibility Limited Visibility NavigationNavigation

Program TopicsProgram Topics

• USCG Navigation RulesUSCG Navigation Rules• Navigation Rules (International - Inland), COMDTINST Navigation Rules (International - Inland), COMDTINST

M16672.2D M16672.2D

• Dealing with Limited Visibility SituationsDealing with Limited Visibility Situations

• What to have onboardWhat to have onboard

• Discussion: “Been there…Done that?”Discussion: “Been there…Done that?”

““Just when you think it is Just when you think it is safe.”safe.”

“ “No matter how much pre-No matter how much pre-planning, weather checking, or planning, weather checking, or speed you can run, there will be speed you can run, there will be sometime, someplace, you will sometime, someplace, you will have to deal with a limited have to deal with a limited visibility situation.”visibility situation.”

When we are least expecting When we are least expecting it…it…

• Engine/sail problemsEngine/sail problems

• Out of FuelOut of Fuel

• Other break downsOther break downs

• Poor planning ( weather, time Poor planning ( weather, time distance, sundown)distance, sundown)

• Other?Other?

USCG Navigation RulesUSCG Navigation RulesNavigation Rules (International - Inland), COMDTINST Navigation Rules (International - Inland), COMDTINST

M16672.2DM16672.2D Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate

any vessel, or the owner, master, or any vessel, or the owner, master, or crew thereof, from the consequences crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case. the special circumstances of the case.

USCG Navigation RulesUSCG Navigation RulesPart A - General Part A - General • Rule 1Rule 1 - Application - Application ((InternationalInternational / / InlandInland))

Rule 2Rule 2 - Responsibility - ResponsibilityRule 3Rule 3 - General Definitions - General Definitions

Part B - Steering and Sailing RulesPart B - Steering and Sailing Rules• Section/Subpart I - Conduct of Vessels in Section/Subpart I - Conduct of Vessels in

Any Condition of VisibilityAny Condition of Visibility..• Rule 4 - ApplicationRule 4 - Application

Rule 5 - Look-OutRule 5 - Look-OutRule 6 - Safe SpeedRule 6 - Safe SpeedRule 7 - Risk of CollisionRule 7 - Risk of CollisionRule 8 - Action to Avoid CollisionRule 8 - Action to Avoid CollisionRule 9 - Narrow ChannelsRule 9 - Narrow ChannelsRule 10 - Traffic Separation Schemes/Vessel Rule 10 - Traffic Separation Schemes/Vessel Traffic ServicesTraffic Services

Rule 3 - General DefinitionsRule 3 - General Definitions

• ““The term The term "restricted visibility""restricted visibility" means any condition in which means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar sandstorms or any other similar causes.”causes.”

• Night OperationsNight Operations

• Heavy OvercastHeavy Overcast

• FogFog

• SmokeSmoke

• Combinations of the aboveCombinations of the above

What are some limited visibility situations?What are some limited visibility situations?

Night OperationsNight Operations

• Running/Steaming LightsRunning/Steaming Lights

• ““Slow Down.”Slow Down.”

• ATON recognitionATON recognition

• Chart InformationChart Information

• On-Board lightingOn-Board lighting

• Posting a watchPosting a watch

• Over the water lightsOver the water lights

FogFog

• Avection FogAvection Fog– Sea fogSea fog– Common in coastal watersCommon in coastal waters– Warm moist air over cooler land or Warm moist air over cooler land or

waterwater– Needs light winds- up to 15MPHNeeds light winds- up to 15MPH– Long lastingLong lasting– Can clear and reoccur rapidlyCan clear and reoccur rapidly– Occurs mostly in cooler seasonsOccurs mostly in cooler seasons

SmokeSmoke

• Common in NC Common in NC

• Can occur with fogCan occur with fog

• Same visibility conditions as fogSame visibility conditions as fog

• But fog doesn’t burn your eyes!But fog doesn’t burn your eyes!

Limited Visibility Limited Visibility PrecautionsPrecautions• Mark position: GPS AND Paper Charts prior to Mark position: GPS AND Paper Charts prior to

entering situationentering situation

• Turn on operational lighting Turn on operational lighting (running/steaming)(running/steaming)

• Reduce SpeedReduce Speed

• Assign lookouts to look and listenAssign lookouts to look and listen

• Consider anchoring if out of shipping lanesConsider anchoring if out of shipping lanes

• Be prepared to give appropriate sound signalsBe prepared to give appropriate sound signals

• Keep VHF Channel 16, 13Keep VHF Channel 16, 13

Equipment Equipment

• Charts, rules, pencilsCharts, rules, pencils• Boat Hook (s)Boat Hook (s)• Bearing CompassBearing Compass• Binoculars (7x50) Binoculars (7x50) • Life jacket (s)Life jacket (s)• Harness when single-handingHarness when single-handing• Spotlight/Flashlights (spare batteries)Spotlight/Flashlights (spare batteries)• Sound producing device (s)Sound producing device (s)• MOB procedures for crewMOB procedures for crew• Other?Other?

Sound Signals Sound Signals

• Any vessel Any vessel less than 39.4 feet/12 metersless than 39.4 feet/12 meters in length may in length may carry a whistle or horn, or some other means to make carry a whistle or horn, or some other means to make an efficient sound signal to signal your intentions and an efficient sound signal to signal your intentions and to signal your position in periods of reduced visibility. to signal your position in periods of reduced visibility.

• When operating on Inland Waters of the United States, When operating on Inland Waters of the United States, vessels vessels 39.4 feet/12 meters or more in length39.4 feet/12 meters or more in length are are required to carry on board a whistle or horn, and a required to carry on board a whistle or horn, and a bell.bell.

• Note: The requirement to carry a bell on board no Note: The requirement to carry a bell on board no longer applies to vessels operating on International longer applies to vessels operating on International Waters.Waters.

Sound SignalsSound Signals1 Short Blasts (1 sec.)

Sound SignalsSound Signals2 Short Blasts (1 sec, each)

Lighting On Board Your Lighting On Board Your VesselVessel

MapMap

Reading Light ConfigurationsReading Light Configurations

•Multiple configurations: See: Multiple configurations: See: USCG USCG Navigation Rules Navigation Rules

•Tugs/Barges are common on the ICWTugs/Barges are common on the ICW

•Vertical (masthead) lighting indicates Vertical (masthead) lighting indicates towing, pulling, pushing, or along side.towing, pulling, pushing, or along side.

•Two-Three Masthead White Lights: Two-Three Masthead White Lights: “Towing Astern”“Towing Astern”

•Restricted maneuverability Restricted maneuverability

•Example: tow is exceeds 200 metersExample: tow is exceeds 200 meters

ATON Lights on ChartsATON Lights on Charts

• G FL 4 sec G FL 4 sec • F FlF Fl• E Int 4 secE Int 4 sec• Qk Fl Qk Fl • Gp Fl (3) 10 secGp Fl (3) 10 sec• Gp Occ (2) 8 secGp Occ (2) 8 sec• Fl (2+1) G 6 sec 15ft 3m “RS” Fl (2+1) G 6 sec 15ft 3m “RS” (Newport (Newport

River, ICW) North of BeaufortRiver, ICW) North of Beaufort

US Chart Book Number 1US Chart Book Number 1

Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations Nautical Chart Symbols, Abbreviations

and Termsand Terms Free Online:Free Online:

• http://http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/chartno1.htm#tocchartno1.htm#toc

““Gremlins” : Confusion of the SensesGremlins” : Confusion of the Senses

• Floating or semi-submerged objectsFloating or semi-submerged objects

• Night vision (night eyes)Night vision (night eyes)

• Falling asleep at the helmFalling asleep at the helm

• ““Trance state”Trance state”

• Illusions or other cheap psychological Illusions or other cheap psychological trickstricks

• Hope Murphy or his pal Finagle don’t show Hope Murphy or his pal Finagle don’t show upup

Finagle's Law of Dynamic NegativesFinagle's Law of Dynamic Negatives

Anything that can go Anything that can go wrong, will—at the worst wrong, will—at the worst

possible momentpossible moment ! !

Famous Last WordsFamous Last Words

• ““GPS? Charts? None of this makes any sense.”GPS? Charts? None of this makes any sense.”• “ “ I know that green 3 can is around here I know that green 3 can is around here

somewhere.” somewhere.” BONG!!BONG!!• ““What hand signal do I use to tell you I’ve What hand signal do I use to tell you I’ve

dropped the spotlight overboard.” dropped the spotlight overboard.” • “ “ Just aim right at the light, dear.”Just aim right at the light, dear.”• “ “ Is he coming toward us or moving away?”Is he coming toward us or moving away?”• “ “ Don’t worry, he’s got RADAR.”Don’t worry, he’s got RADAR.”• ““That was #1. There is red 6. What happened to That was #1. There is red 6. What happened to

2 & 4?”2 & 4?”• “ “ I don’t know why you brought me out here.”I don’t know why you brought me out here.”

On Line Nav Rules:On Line Nav Rules: Free!! Free!!

• http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/download.htmnavrules/download.htm

Free: Free: United States Coast Pilot®United States Coast Pilot®

• http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/cpdownload.htmnsd/cpdownload.htm

2008 (40th)Edition