Pilotage Mark Powell Mole Valley Sub Aqua Club SAA - 101

Pilotage & Lights Objectives At the end of this lesson you should know:  the purpose of pilotage  Many of the “signposts” used in pilotage  how to obtain pilotage information from charts

Pilotage & Lights Outline Pilotage and charts Buoys and markers Lights Leading lines and lights Natural pilotage features

Pilotage & Lights What is Pilotage? Use of visible, physical features as guides Pilotage is needed :  Close to shore or in confined waters  In shallow or dangerous water Types of pilotage features …  Lights and man made marks placed at key spots  Identifiable natural features

Pilotage & Lights Pilotage and Charts Charts show many pilotage symbols Chart is a source of detailed local knowledge Can use charts both ways …  Find nearby chart symbols and then look for them at sea  Measure direction of feature observed at sea and plot it on a chart

Pilotage & Lights Lights and Markers Markers: buoys and posts used in pilotage Have shape, colour, topmark and meaning Markers may have lights for use at night Lights identified by their flashes and colours

Pilotage & Lights Lateral Markers Mark the edges of channels …  Port marks the left bank on rising tide  Starboard marks the right bank on rising tide  Colour and shape: red cans and green cones Port markers Starboard markers

Pilotage & Lights Direction of Lateral Buoyage Keep Red to left and Green to right in direction rising tide Example: On which side do you pass the lateral buoys? Going in direction of rising tide Going in direction of falling tide

Pilotage & Lights Direction of Rising Tide Some places are confusing : Split Estuaries: Solent East coast estuaries Direction of Buoyage symbol highlights the direction

Pilotage & Lights Cardinal Markers Point to safe water Top mark : like 4 points of compass Colours : 3 bands of yellow or black top marks point to black Often named on charts Light flashes : like hours on clock 9 quick flashes every 15 sec. Or 9 v. quick flashes every 10 sec. “Safe water to the west”

Pilotage & Lights All four Cardinal Markers Danger N S W E White, VQ or Q Q (3) ev. 10 sec. or, VQ (3) ev. 5 sec. Q (6) + long fl. ev. 15s., VQ (6) + long fl. ev. 10s. Q(9) ev. 15 sec. or, VQ (9) ev. 10 sec.

Pilotage & Lights Safe Water Marker Indicate start of deep water Round top mark Red and white colour May have a white Isophase or Occulting light

Pilotage & Lights Isolated Danger Marker Indicate a hazard Two round top marks Red and black colour May have a White, Group Flashing 2 light

Pilotage & Lights Special Markers Show boundary of administrative area Speed limit, swimming, anchoring May have a cross top mark Yellow colour May have a yellow light

Pilotage & Lights Light symbols & characteristics Visible for 10 Miles MHWS Sea level Every 10 seconds Group occulting 3 15m above MHWS Gp Oc(3).10s 15m 10M Sample Characteristic Sample Symbol

Pilotage & Lights Light characteristics Chart AbbreviationDescriptionCharacteristic Alt. R.W.G. F. Alternating Fixed Flashing Group flashing Fl. Gp F.(2) Occulting Group Occulting Occ. Gp Occ(3) Quick flashing Very quick flashing Qk.Fl. V.Qk.Fl. Isophase Morse Iso. Mo.(letter)

Pilotage & Lights Chart symbols for buoys and lights Major light, minor light, light, light house Oc.R.4s 10M Lt Lt Ho G.Fl(2) Fl.Y Iso Fl.R Fl.G Lateral buoys and marks Cardinal buoys and marks Safe water buoys and marks Isolated danger buoys and marks Special buoys and marks VQ(6)+L.Fl10sVQ(3)5s

Pilotage & Lights Leading lines and lights Line indicates a safe course near hidden dangers Often guide boats up inlets into harbour Leading line formed by two markers – day use Leading lights formed by two lights – night use Lines shown on charts Compass bearing of line shown on chart

Pilotage & Lights Leading lines 084 o 080 o 100 o 090 o 070 o

Pilotage & Lights Leading lights 356 o 350 o 010 o 000 o 340 o

Pilotage & Lights Natural features for pilotage Fixed points …  Individual rocks – often difficult to see and identify, can be dangerous  Shoreline – difficult to positively identify, can be misleading  Headlands and bays - can be misleading Directions and lines …  Transits and compass bearings General areas …  Depth – need to calculate tidal height, uncharted depth changes

Pilotage & Lights Summary Pilotage and charts Buoys and markers Lights Leading lines and lights Natural pilotage features

Pilotage & Lights Self Check What is the purpose of pilotage? When is it used? Name some man-made & natural pilotage features Describe all 5 types of buoy (shape, colour, lights and meaning)? What is the “direction of buoyage”? Its symbol? What do these chart symbols indicate? Iso Occ F. Gp.Fl What do these chart symbols indicate? F Alt R.W.G 8MFl W 15s 30m 10M 235 o