So ships still use fog horns!
Discussion
I'm waking up in a holiday cottage in Anglesey overlooking the Irish sea. All week there has been four ships at anchor a few miles out, one is a 250m long tanker, I know this having found a website that identifies ships at sea in near real time.
Anyway this morning there's a lovely blue sky but a thick bank of fog over the sea and one of the ships sounds a deep booming fog horn every minute, it sounds great
.
I didn't think fog horns were necessary any more given the good radar systems they have nowadays.
Anyway this morning there's a lovely blue sky but a thick bank of fog over the sea and one of the ships sounds a deep booming fog horn every minute, it sounds great
. I didn't think fog horns were necessary any more given the good radar systems they have nowadays.
The captain of one of our ships a few years ago showed us how the foghorn was useful if you had no radar. With no ships about, he blew it, and you get that deep, BWAAAAAH, and when one of our other ships was near, did it again, and you got BWAAAAH...bwaaah... Just like sonar, or radar. Could see it being useful.
RegMolehusband said:
I didn't think fog horns were necessary any more given the good radar systems they have nowadays.
Definitely still a requirement. Radar, whilst bloody marvellous, is not infallible.Neither is GPS for that matter, and far too many sea-goers can't navigate without it. Scary really.
garyhun said:
I live around Poole harbour and hear them regularly. Would miss them if they were not used as I've got used to the noise an find it quite comforting.
Great, aren't they. I live near Southampton water and love the sound of fog horns as ships sail in and out of port. My SMS tone is a big booming Norwegian Fog Horn.
Fog horns sound great unless you're at sea...
Cyder said:
I was watching a documentary the other day about HMS Ark Royal, it showed them rigging the bell to use along with Fog Horn when they were sat anchored in a pea souper.
That's so you know it's at anchor and not trying to run you over! There's international rules on their use along with bells. Even the sound of fog horns vary with the type of vessel. If anyone is interested:
Rule 35 of Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea said:
Sound Signals in restricted Visibility
In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the signals prescribed in this Rule shall be
used as follows:
(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes
one prolonged blast.
(b) A power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at
intervals of not more than 2 minutes two prolonged blasts in succession with an interval of about 2 seconds
between them.
(c) A vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, a vessel constrained by her
draught, a sailing vessel, a vessel engaged in fishing and a vessel engaged in towing or pushing another
vessel shall, instead of the signals prescribed in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Rule sound at intervals of not
more than 2 minutes three blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by two short blasts.
(d) A vessel engaged in fishing, when at anchor, and a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when
carrying out her work at anchor, shall instead of the signals prescribed in paragraph (g) of this Rule sound the
signal prescribed in paragraph (c) of this Rule.
(e) A vessel towed or if more than one vessel is towed the last vessel of the tow, if manned, shall at intervals
of not more than 2 minutes sound four blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by three short
blasts. When practicable, this signal shall be made immediately after the signal made by the towing vessel.
(f) When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit they
shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel and shall give the signals prescribed in paragraphs (a) or (b) of
this Rule.
(g) A vessel at anchor shall at intervals of not more than one minute ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds.
In a vessel of 100 metres or more in length the bell shall be sounded in the forepart of the vessel and
immediately after the ringing of the bell the gong shall be sounded rapidly for about 5 seconds in the after part
of the vessel. A vessel at anchor may in addition sound three blasts in succession, namely one short, one
prolonged and one short blast, to give warning of her position and of the possibility of collision to an
approaching vessel.
(h) A vessel aground shall give the bell signal and if required the gone signal prescribed in paragraph (g) of
this Rule and shall, in addition, give three separate and distinct strokes on the bell immediately before and
after the rapid ringing of the bell. A vessel aground may in addition sound an appropriate whistle signal.
(i) A vessel of 12 metres or more but less than 20 metres in length shall not be obliged to give the bell signals
prescribed in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this Rule. However, if she does not, she shall make some other
efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
(j) A vessel of less than 12 metres in length shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals but, if
she does not, shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
(k) A pilot vessel when engaged on pilotage duty may in addition to the signals prescribed in paragraphs (a),
(b) or (g) of this Rule sound an identity signal consisting of four short blasts.
In or near an area of restricted visibility, whether by day or night, the signals prescribed in this Rule shall be
used as follows:
(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes
one prolonged blast.
(b) A power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at
intervals of not more than 2 minutes two prolonged blasts in succession with an interval of about 2 seconds
between them.
(c) A vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, a vessel constrained by her
draught, a sailing vessel, a vessel engaged in fishing and a vessel engaged in towing or pushing another
vessel shall, instead of the signals prescribed in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Rule sound at intervals of not
more than 2 minutes three blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by two short blasts.
(d) A vessel engaged in fishing, when at anchor, and a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre when
carrying out her work at anchor, shall instead of the signals prescribed in paragraph (g) of this Rule sound the
signal prescribed in paragraph (c) of this Rule.
(e) A vessel towed or if more than one vessel is towed the last vessel of the tow, if manned, shall at intervals
of not more than 2 minutes sound four blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by three short
blasts. When practicable, this signal shall be made immediately after the signal made by the towing vessel.
(f) When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit they
shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel and shall give the signals prescribed in paragraphs (a) or (b) of
this Rule.
(g) A vessel at anchor shall at intervals of not more than one minute ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds.
In a vessel of 100 metres or more in length the bell shall be sounded in the forepart of the vessel and
immediately after the ringing of the bell the gong shall be sounded rapidly for about 5 seconds in the after part
of the vessel. A vessel at anchor may in addition sound three blasts in succession, namely one short, one
prolonged and one short blast, to give warning of her position and of the possibility of collision to an
approaching vessel.
(h) A vessel aground shall give the bell signal and if required the gone signal prescribed in paragraph (g) of
this Rule and shall, in addition, give three separate and distinct strokes on the bell immediately before and
after the rapid ringing of the bell. A vessel aground may in addition sound an appropriate whistle signal.
(i) A vessel of 12 metres or more but less than 20 metres in length shall not be obliged to give the bell signals
prescribed in paragraphs (g) and (h) of this Rule. However, if she does not, she shall make some other
efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
(j) A vessel of less than 12 metres in length shall not be obliged to give the above-mentioned signals but, if
she does not, shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
(k) A pilot vessel when engaged on pilotage duty may in addition to the signals prescribed in paragraphs (a),
(b) or (g) of this Rule sound an identity signal consisting of four short blasts.
Legmaster said:
Fog horns sound great unless you're at sea...
I hate being in fog, especially on a small boat near shipping lanes. It's different to being on land where there are still things you can recognise close by. Being on lookout in fog is very tiring as you peer into the grey curtain trying to discern whether the shadow you just saw was a vessel looming or a trick of the mind. It's very tiring.I find it surprising the number of people who charge about very fast as though they still had perfect visibility, putting their faith in the gps and autopilot. A year or two off the Devon coast we got caught in thick fog, and some moron in a large motorboat came charging out of the fog at about 20 knots and passing much too close for comfort. He had an open radar scanner that was not turning...
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