Seaward G3278-1000 User Manual download pdf (Page 22)

XVI

LIGHTSHIPS, SUPERBUOYS, AND OFFSHORE LIGHT STATIONS

Courses should be set to pass all floating aids to naviga-

tion with sufficient clearance to avoid the possibility of

collision from any cause. Experience shows that floating

aids to navigation cannot be safely used as leading marks

to be passed close aboard, but should always be left broad

off the course, whenever searoom permits.

When approaching a lightship, superbuoy, or a station

on a submarine site on radio bearings, the risk of collision

will be avoided by insuring that the radio bearing does not

remain constant.

Most lightships and large buoys are anchored with a

very long scope of chain and, as a result, the radius of their

swinging circle is considerable. The charted position is the

location of the anchor. Furthermore, under certain condi-

tions of wind and current, they are subject to sudden and

unexpected sheers which are certain to hazard a vessel

attempting to pass close aboard.

During extremely heavy weather and due to their

exposed locations, lightships may be carried off station.

The mariner should, therefore, not implicitly rely on a

lightship maintaining its precisely charted position during

and immediately following severe storms. A lightship

known to be off station will secure her light, fog signal,

and radiobeacon and fly the International Code signal

“LO” signifying “I am not in my correct position.”

Major light stations of Canada, which exhibit the main

light 24 hours per day, are being equipped with an emer-

gency light which is brought into service automatically

throughout the hours of darkness in the event of failure of

the main light. This emergency light has a standard char-

acteristic of Group Flashing (6) White 15 sec., i.e. six

flashes of 1/2 second duration followed by a period of

darkness (eclipse) of 7 seconds. It will normally (on a dark

night with a clear atmosphere) be visible at 2 nautical

miles. The presence of such emergency lights is shown in

column (8) of the List of Lights and Fog Signals.

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Seaward G3278-1000 User Manual Page 22