REQUIRED SIGNALING EQUIPMENT

Rule 33, equipment for sound signals, specify three devices used for sound signalling.
A compressed air 'Air horn' is vital to the safety of a vessel
Photo: Courtesy of Lauzas

These are a gong, a bell and a whistle that need to comply with the technical details for
sound signal appliances set out in Annex III of the COLREGs:

 • A vessel of 12 metres or more in length shall be provided with a whistle

 • A vessel of 20 metres or more in length shall, in addition, be provided with a bell

 • A vessel of 100 metres or more in length shall, in addition, be provided with a gong

The rules do not oblige a vessel of less than 12 metres in length to carry a specially
prescribed sound-signalling appliance. It states that it must have the means to produce
some type of sound.

The prudent mariner should subscribe to the rules and carry an appropriate horn, even if it's
only a portable air horn priced under £10.

SIGNAL TYPE

In a little more detail, marine regulations specify that a vessel of twelve metres or more in
length must have sound signalling capabilities. A vessel of less than twelve metres is not
obliged to carry sound signalling equipment as long as they are enabled with some other
means of signalling.

Sound signals are of two kinds, a short blast or a prolonged blast:

 A short blast = a blast of about one second's duration.

 A prolonged blast = a blast of from four to six seconds' duration.

These are used to define the type of manoeuvre summarised in the image below which
would be good to have printed and to hand when in busy waterways.

SOUND SIGNALS COMMUNICATING A CHANGE IN DIRECTION

The following sound signals are used when vessels are in sight of one another and meeting
or crossing within half a mile of each other:

 One short blast = "I intend to leave you on my port side"

 Two short blasts = "I intend to leave you on my starboard side"

 Three short blasts = "I am operating astern propulsion"

 Five short and rapid blasts = "Danger signal, I do not understand your intentions"

 Four short blasts, a short interval and one short blast = "I intend to turn about
to Starboard (turn vessel through more than 135°)"

 Four short blasts, a short interval and two short blasts = "I intend to turn
about to Port (turn vessel through more than 135°)".

It is important to observe that the operating astern signal refers to the shaft and propeller,
not to the actual motion of the vessel which can be either forward or astern.
 POWER DRIVEN VESSELS IN A NARROW CHANNEL

The following sound signals are used when vessels are in sight of one another in a narrow
channel or fairway:

Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast = “I intend to overtake you
on your starboard side”

 Two prolonged blasts followed by two short blasts = “I intend to overtake you
on your
port side”

If in agreement with these manoeuvres you should acknowledge by the following signal:

 One prolonged, one short, one prolonged, and one short blast, in that order.

Conversely, if the vessel being overtaken is in doubt about the safety of the proposed
manoeuvre, or you doubt whether sufficient action is being taken to avoid a collision, you
should signal the above five short and rapid blasts of the danger signal to indicate that their
intentions are unclear.

Lights have the same sequence with the duration of each flash at about one second. The
light should be an all-round white or yellow that is visible for about two miles synchronized
with a sound signal.

The other times that a vessel is likely to use a sound signal is when they are nearing a bend
or an area of a channel or fairway where other vessels may be obscured from their view. At
these times they sound a single prolonged blast. This signal should be answered with a
prolonged blast to indicate your presence. When a power-driven vessel is leaving a dock or
berth they also sound one prolonged blast.

 One prolonged blast = "I am making vessels aware of my presence"

SOUND SIGNALS IN RESTRICTED VISIBILITY

Sounds on the water are many and varied. Bells, gongs, fog horns, boat whistles all
combine to produce a confusing cacophony. The above Rule 33 objective, the different types
and variety of devices used by the various classes of vessel, is to enable mariners to detect
the scale of the vessel by the sound it makes when heard through the dark of a foggy
night.

A vessel underway must give one prolonged foghorn horn blast every two minutes. If
motoring, you may have to turn off the engine at regular intervals to listen to hear the
echo. You should also be listening for the sound signal of other vessels or navigation aids.

Sound signals are either prolonged, four to six seconds; or short, one second. A bell can be
sounded as a single ring or as a rapid ringing for five seconds, and a gong is rung rapidly.
The meaning of the signals for boating are as follows:

 • Under sail (and some other vessels): One prolonged foghorn horn blast and
two short blasts every two minutes

 • Making way under power: One prolonged blast every two minutes.

 • Under way but stopped: Two long blasts with an interval of about 2 seconds
between them at two-minute intervals.

 • Aground - under 100m (328ft): Three bells, rapid ringing, three bells, at one-
minute intervals.

 • Aground - over 100m (328ft): Three bells, rapid ringing, three bells, a gong
sounded aft, every minute.

 • At anchor - under 100m (328ft): Rapid ringing of bell in the forepart of the boat
for 5 seconds, at one-minute intervals.

 • At anchor - over 100m (328ft): Rapid ringing of bell in the forepart of the boat
for 5 seconds, at one-minute intervals 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.
  • Pilot boat on duty: Four short blasts (after underway or making way) every two
minutes.

Navigational aids, such as buoys and lighthouses, are also fitted with maritime sound signal
apparatus so that they can be identified.