Marina safety
Boaters are usually attracted to the waterways to avoid road traffic, however this is only going to be avoidable if the waterways are kept safe and everyone abides to the rules. You will need to understand sound signals, buoys and the driving rules to avoid any collisions.
When two boats meet head on, it is traditional for them to pass port to port by altering to starboard, the right of the driver, to avoid any collisions. In some cases you may need to use your horn signals to advise other boat users as to where you are going.One short blast – I am turning starboard side and will leave you to port side
- Two short blasts – I am turning port side and will leave you to starboard side
- Three short blasts – I am reversing my engines
- One long blast – I am now getting underway
- One long blast followed by one short blast – Open the drawbridge please
- Five short blasts – danger, please move out of the way, or, don’t do what your signal indicates you are about to do.
If the boat user has understood the sound blast they will repeat the message, if they do not they obviously haven’t heard or do not understand, therefore it should be repeated.
Buoys are used like road signals but directing water users rather than vehicles, around a safe course, to avoid rocks, shoals and wrecks that are unseen through the water.
Non-motorised craft such as dinghies and yachts have the right of way over powerboats, as they might have a much harder time changing course abruptly. Larger vessels passing these water craft, as a matter of politeness, should pass at a slow speed to avoid upsetting them with a strong wake. On the other hand ships have a right of way over all water craft because of their slow manoeuvrability.
