anchor light when on a courtesy mooring?

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sirgallivant said..
Unless he can quote the legislation, it is a court case for me, sure!
Nobody could fine me without retribution just because 'it is written in the boating handbook'.
That is just not good enough.

Both NSW and Qld legislation defers to the COLREGS, for Qld it is the all aspects of the legislation. The COLREGS do not seem to make a distinction between anchored and moored, they only mention underway, anchored or aground. For most of us Rule 30(b) would apply: A vessel of less than 50 metres 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. So it is up to interpretation whether anchoring is the same as mooring, in court the Qld Government could argue that the intent of the COLREGS indicates that it is. For me I think it would be simpler and safer to keep my light on. The relevant sections of the COLREGS and Qld Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 are copied below.

The NSW Marine Safety Regulation 2016 makes modifications to the COLREGS on some aspects:
Schedule 4 Modifications to Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Clause 5)
Rule 1 of the International Regulations is modified by including the following NSW special Rule:
(3) An unoccupied vessel is exempt from the provisions of these Rules if it is:
(a) secured under the authority of, and in accordance with the conditions, attached to an occupation licence issued under the Management of Waters and Waterside Lands Regulations-N.S.W., or
(b)lawfully occupying any navigable waters by direction of, or with the permission of, the Crown or any other person or body lawfully entitled to give such a direction or permission.
The relevant sections of the Marine Safety Regulation 2016 are copied below. I am not an expert in legislation but to me that would suggest that you don't have to have an anchor light on in approved moorings in NSW.

COLREGS:
International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea - International Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 -
Rule 1
Application
(a). These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.
(b). Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing vessels. Such special rules shall conform as closely as possible to these Rules.
(c). Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the Government of any State with respect to additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals for ships of war and vessels proceeding under convoy, or with respect to additional station or signal lights or shapes for fishing vessels engaged in fishing as a fleet. These additional station or signal lights, shapes or whistle signals shall, so far as possible, be such that they cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these Rules.
(d). Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules.
(e). Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regard to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her Government shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect of that vessel.

Rule 30 Anchored vessels and vessels aground
Anchored vessels and vessels aground
(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 metres 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.
(c). A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 metres and more in length, shall also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.
(d). A vessel aground shall exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule and in addition, where they can best be seen:
(i). two all-round red lights in a vertical line;
(ii). three balls in a vertical line.
(e). A vessel of less than 7 metres in length, when at anchor, not in or near a narrow channel, fairway or anchorage, or
where other vessels normally navigate, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shape prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule.
(f). A vessel of less than 12 metres in length, when aground, shall not be required to exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in subparagraphs (d)(i) and (ii) of this Rule.

Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 QLD
Chapter 5 Ship operations
Part 2 Prevention of collisions
79 Application of collision regulations
(1) The collision regulations have effect as if they were part of this regulation.
(2) A person involved with the operation of a ship (including the ship's owner, master, pilot or deck watchkeeper) must comply
with the collision regulations.
(3) Subsection (2) is a regulation to which section 211(2) of the Act applies.
Note-
Section 211(2) of the Act provides for a penalty of 500 penalty units or imprisonment for 1 year for a contravention of a regulation declared to be a regulation to which the subsection applies.

Marine Safety Regulation 2016 [NSW] Published LW 10 June 2016 (2016 No 308)
Part 2 Safety of navigation
Division 1 Regulations for prevention of collisions at sea or in other navigable waters
5 Adoption of international regulations
(1) For the purposes of section 10 (2) of the Act, the Prevention of Collisions Convention is adopted with the modifications set out in Schedule 4.
(2) In this clause:
Prevention of Collisions Convention means the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, done at London on 20 October 1972, as amended and in force for Australia from time to time.
Note. The text of the Convention is set out in Australian Treaty Series 1980 No. 5 ([1980] ATS 5) and is also accessible through the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website (www.austlii.edu.au).

Schedule 4 Modifications to Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Clause 5)
Rule 1 of the International Regulations is modified by including the following NSW special Rule:
(1) Despite Rule 1 (a), these Rules extend to vessels in all navigable waters.
(2) These Rules do not apply to vessels taking part in an aquatic activity if the aquatic licence that authorises the activity provides for a different set of rules to be applied. However, these Rules do apply if there is a risk of collision between a vessel taking part in the aquatic activity and a vessel that is not taking part in the aquatic activity.
(3) An unoccupied vessel is exempt from the provisions of these Rules if it is:
(a) secured under the authority of, and in accordance with the conditions, attached to an occupation licence issued under the Management of Waters and Waterside Lands Regulations-N.S.W., or
(b)lawfully occupying any navigable waters by direction of, or with the permission of, the Crown or any other person or body lawfully entitled to give such a direction or permission.
(4) Subrule (3) of this special rule does not apply to a vessel secured to a shipping mooring.

Isn't it just common sense to have an anchor light on whether moored or anchored?

Wander66 doesn't have an anchor light. It is a frigging beacon.

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slammin said..
I'm with you Cisco.
I don't really understand how this made 3 pages. I guess I could understand if the discussion was "I actually got fined for no light at a mooring." Or "I got fined for having the light on when at a mooring."
I'm certainly no expert but isn't colregs all about collision minimisation? So you should have an anchor light on if the mooring spot is potentially in an area at danger of receiving a collision?

It has made 3 pages because people keep posting their opinions. just like you and Cisco have done.

at the end of the day, it is night, on a boat, probably asleep...i would rather know at the least i have some way of letting other boaters know i am there....turn it on if you have it...simple

Oh just put a f....g light on ! Because you never know when an unwieldy 12 ton steel boat with a 8ft bow sprit mite be arriving late

Dear Woko , you are reading about it for 'p'ages' but you still don't get it?
It is not about what l do or don't. It is the principle and the written word, the law, oif you will.

Manitulak, if l light up my boat like that, l would need a power station to run it on a regular basis.
I got run into quite a few times on my mooring, the marks prove it, l wear it, never got a card or sorry message, thou.
The gutless animals!

Jode, that comment was rather uncalled for. I thought on this forum we keep conversation civil.
I hope you are going to reconsider and apologize.

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southace said..
I put my anchorlight on when the sun goes down any time when I leave a marina berth. If your up a creek on a mooring not so bad but too sleep tight show a white light!

thread should be closed on that alone!

The problem i have is if all of the boats on moorings had lights on it would stuff up my Aurora photo's

Regards Don

Qld rule re "vessels anchored or moored" , regulation states "all vessels AT ANCHOR" MUST DISPLAY etc...
Re moorings, the specific mooring authority form will state whether a light is required. The MSQ mariners handbook for licences states "vessels operating in a registered mooring area (SCM) should operate at a safe speed as moored vessels and moorings are not required to display a light".
Anthony Little. Master5. AMSA Invigilator, MSQ certified commercial maritime trainer.

L'attitudes you are quite right. I just checked my mooring conditions and it does state that I need to display an all-round white light and now that I have seen I do recall reading it previously. I wonder if that is a condition of all Qld moorings or are those that are in well lit areas given an exemption?

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Chris 249 said..
If the Colregs don't differentiate between being moored and being anchored, doesn't that mean that a moored vessel must maintain a watch just like an anchored vessel must?

Does that mean that no one can ever leave their moored vessel? Hmmmm....

Not entirely sure that the colregs do require a watch when anchored but feel free to prove me wrong

www.bunnings.com.au/our-range

I have one of these I use when prawning in my canoe.
I'm just goint to use it for now till I upgrade my electrics.

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Wander66 said..
Hi Don I wasn't even aware of how amazing the southern aurora was until seeing it the ABC program stargazing live last week, Tassie must be the best place to live in Australia, if it wasn't so dreadfully cold.

Hi Wanderer

I grew up in Cairns and before settling in Tassie we travelled around Australia for 10 years in our van (working) and this place is pretty special

I can be a bit cool in winter but if you dress to suit the conditions it is ok

I sail all year round and enjoy the cold weather although summer is the pick of the seasons with day light until around 9.30 at night so we can go for a sail after work

Regards Don

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sirgallivant said..
Just a few words before someone calls me an inconsiderate animal again, this thread is about lights on boats on courtesy moorings.
Nothing more nothing less.

Last night on a courtesy mooring l, as an inconsiderate animal, did not display my anchor light!
Nobody else in the vicinity did.

I always flick the switch when on our patch of overnighter moorings (and of course when it is busier and all courtesy moorings are taken and i am on the pick) , on Saturday night just past we had ours on, the 5 Riviera's out did not, it is a dead end but still feel safer knowing i got something that some late nighter out (drinking or other) can at least spot and steer clear of especially on a dark / cloudy and secluded spot, we go during the week, sans Riviera's :) it is super peaceful / pitch black when off moon cycle or cloudy and even more reason to put the light on...