Anchor Question Result

[paulk]

Would like to see the actual wording of the decision; were you told you were in the wrong, or did they put it in writing? The written decision should point out specifically which section of the law they use to back up their claim that the dinghy needs its own anchor light. It seems to me I''ve seen plenty of moored/anchored barges at night with a light only on the first one, and I wouldn''t think the USCG would let people get away with that for long if each of them were required to be lit.

[pirateofcapeann]

So, just because my mooring area is not designated as a special anchorage by anyone’s standards except for the city’s waterways committee, does this mean that I should show an anchor light when I’m on my mooring?

You know, the more I look up the laws about this thing, the more I run into a crap load of legal mumbo-jumbo that lets the landsharks put the screws to whoever they want!

[fer@fer]

I wonder which lights should an anchored towing vessel with a towed vessel show .

I guess both should show their anchor lights.

Summary Rule 24

All possible measures shall be taken to indicate the nature of the relationship between the towing vessel and the vessel being towed as authorized by Rule 36, in particular by illuminating the towline.

Colreg state that:
Rule 7

Risk of Collision

(a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist.
(If the collision existed, then there is no doubt that was deemed to exist)

...
Rule 21
(d) "Towing light" means a yellow light having the same characteristics as the "stemlight" defined in paragraph (c) of this Rule
...
(iv) a towing light in a vertical line above the stemlight;
...

The vessel being towed
(e) A vessel or object being towed, other than those mentioned in paragraph (g) of this Rule, shall exhibit

(I) sidelights;

(ii) a stemlight;

(iii) when the length of the tow exceeds 200 metres, a diamond shape where it can best be seen.
...

When not posible

(i) Where from any sufficient cause it is impracticable for a vessel not normally engaged in towing operations to display the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (c) of this Rule, such vessel shall not be required to exhibit those lights when engaged in towing another vessel in distress or otherwise in need of assistance. All possible measures shall be taken to indicate the nature of the relationship between the towing vessel and the vessel being towed as authorized by Rule 36, in particular by illuminating the towline.

[paulk]

Don''t believe rules 24 or 21 pertain, as issue involved vessels at anchor, not under tow.

[Irwin32]

How many lawyer jokes are there?



Only 3 - the rest are true stories.

[fourknots]

If I remember right, a vessel under 23'' does not need an anchor light.

[Jeff_H]

Rule 30 of COLREGS require that

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;

(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

But a vessel of less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or where other vessels
normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.

Jeff

[robw_fl]

Citing this portion: "But a vessel of less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or where other vessels
normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule."

I could only discern that were your dinghy at anchor, tethered to your boat or not, it would not have to show any lights. Yet their argument was that it was required to show lights? Very interesting. So there is NO rule saying it HAD to, and ANOTHER rule clearly saying that it did NOT have to.

Unless that''s a 7 meter dinghy, I''m still anxious to hear the lawyer''s true explanation.

Rob.

[DuaneIsing]

robw_fl,

The exception to the cited rule mentioned "shape." It did not mention "lights."

FWIW, I think the offender should be found 100% at fault, and not the owner of the dink.

[robw_fl]

Ahhh yes indeed... thanks for pointing that out.