Prevention of Collision at Sea – Cleaning Up “Lights and Shapes”

By Vincent Pica

Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Let’s finish up on the Lights and Shapes section of the Rules and be armed with the knowledge of what the merchant sea captain is saying to us…

What Does Rule 28 Say?

Rule 28 is about the Shapes and Lights that a vessel “constrained by her draft” uses to proclaim that she is drawing pretty much all the water there is – so don’t even think about her moving out of the channel for you. The Shape is a cylinder (think “beer can”) and her Light, in addition to running lights consistent with her length, is three all-around red lights in a vertical row. And guess where there are no rights to proclaim you are “constrained by draft?” In the Inland waters, where generally the shallowest waters are…go figure!

What Does Rule 29 Say?

Rule 29 is about the Shapes and Lights that a vessel carrying a “pilot” uses to proclaim that she is involved in “pilotage.” First, there is no Shape. Her Light, in addition to running lights consistent with her length, is two lights in a vertical line near or at the masthead – white over red (the opposite of the Fishing Light “red over white, we be fishing tonight.”). Her Sound, by the way, is four short blasts on the whistle – “Pilot aboard. Stand well clear.”

What Does Rule 30 Say?

Rule 30 is about the Shapes and Lights that a vessel “at anchor” or “hard aground” uses to say “I’m staying right here…” With respect to a vessel hard aground, she really is “staying right here” because, unlike a vessel at anchor, she will not swing downwind when the wind shifts.

A vessel of 50 meters or greater and at anchor must display two white all-around lights – one in the forepart of the vessel and high enough so that is well above the second all-around white light at the stern. In lieu of the fore light, she may display one “ball” as her Shape. If she is 100 meters or greater, she must also use her working lights to illuminate her decks between the anchor lights or shape and anchor light. Vessels less than 50 meters (that would be us…) need only use the one all-around light at the stern. Hence, our stern poles with the white all-around light…

If she is hard aground, in addition to the anchor lights prescribed above, she must display two red lights in a vertical line (thus declaring herself a “NUC – Red over Red, the Captain is Dead!” or three balls in a line (“Balls! Balls! Balls! I’m stuck!”). The vessel less than 12 meters is not required to display her ignominy.

By the way, when is a vessel at anchor NOT required to display and Shape or Light in that regard? When she is in a special anchorage “designated by the Secretary.” Why? Everybody is at anchor!

What Does Rule 31 Say?

Rule 31 is about the Shapes and Lights for a vessel that is in reality a seaplane (but afloat). These “vessels” get a “pass” to a certain extent because they also have light requirements associated with their primary purpose – an aeronautical craft. So, she “shall exhibit Lights and Shapes as closely similar in characteristics and position as is possible.” Is it very hard to figure out that a seaplane is indeed a seaplane and not a boat…? I hope not…“WIGs” or hydrofoils are also subject to Rule 31.

Summary

Well, we’re closing in on the last of the Rules. I hope these columns have made them easier to understand, and to understand the “why’s and wherefore’s” too!

If you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux@aol.com or go directly to the D1SR Human Resources Department, which is in charge of new members matters, at http://join.cgaux.org/ or, for NY/CT/North NJ/western VT, go direct to DSO-HR and we will help you “get in this thing . . . ■

The Captain of the Port and Sector Commander for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound is Captain Eva Van Camp Schang. CAPT Van Camp Schang is responsible for all active-duty, reservist and auxiliary Coast Guard personnel within the Sector. As a Commodore of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary First District, Southern Region, Vin Pica works closely with CAPT Van Camp Schang and her staff to promote boating safety in the waters between Connecticut, Long Island and 200 nautical miles offshore. Sector Long Island Sound Command Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 203-468-4401.

Editor’s note: Weekly updates for the waters from Eastport, ME to Shrewsbury, NJ including discrepancies in Aids to Navigation, chart corrections and waterway projects are listed in the USCG Local Notice to Mariners. Log onto navcen.uscg.gov, scroll to “Current Operational/Safety Information,” click on “Local Notice to Mariners” then “LNMs by CG District,” and click on “First District.”