@@eleventeenmachine5991 OMG. I don't know why, but I always thought you guys were more proper. We old dirty, foul-mouthed sailors are expected to say things like that. But now I have an entirely new respect for EMS workers! Cheers!
@@TimBatSea I'm no longer active in the Emergency services but yes, we're alike in many ways. After a while you get numb to the excitement and devastation that you see. And you become a sinical, sarcastic person. You could roll up to an industrial plant for a hand amputation and offer to give the patient a hand without thinking of it. Or be singing with the dementia patient to cheer them up. That's just the way things are. We all really do care about people. But we also know some are destined for their demise by their own choices, and nothing we can do will stop them. Life is a bitch, we move on.
Retired from 45 years at the helm of tugs, and other large vessels. I would recommend this video to all newbies, and even many not so new. Setting here reminiscing, and remembered a ditty I learned 50 years ago. "Green to green, red to red, all is well so go ahead. If in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout" Supposedly educated yachtie/pleasure boat types have made me pull out more hair than just about anything else.
Welcome to the channel Cap. I love having other guys from my side participate in the conversation. Please consider Subscribing if you haven't already. I try to post new content every Tuesday.
Thank you! I like to think every once in a while, something comes out of my mouth that isn't completely stupid. Lol. Thank you so much for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Great topic! A good friend is a Ches. Bay pilot and the area from just south of Annapolis to Baltimore is choked with sailboats and powerboats most weekends during warm months. His biggest fear is to inadvertently run someone over despite his horns and hails on VHF. It's surprising how little knowledge many "skippers" have, especially around big commercial ships.
Yes Sir. The ocean is the last place on earth any a-hole with some money can buy a boat, and with no testing or licensing, go right out to sea. But on a brighter side, I do think that as a rule, the masses of pleasure boaters are becoming better prepared and less drunk than they were 20 or so years ago. Thank you for watching and stay safe.
"Let's fire up those mains, and get things underway" Here I'm thinking it's a metaphor to get the video started then he literally starts the boat engines lol.
I am a recreational sailor, and no better advice can be given to my fellow pleasure boaters than what is contained in this video. I'd like to shoot this knowledge right into their puny brains. Ships and tugs are ACTUALLY WORKING, so get the heck out of their way! I myself would often like to give the same advice to the many powerboaters and jet skis in new York Harbor and Raritan Bay who clog channels, drift with fishing rigs, and buzz around the mooring field. Thank you Tim, for these wonderful videos - I've been sailing this area since 1973, but I never appreciated all the hard work going on around me until I started watching your videos.
Thank you for watching and subscribing! I really appreciate it. The ocean is one of the last places anyone with a credit card or a checkbook can buy a boat and get out over their head with no training, licensing or testing. (Not everywhere, but most of the US) Thank you again for watching out for us. And be sure to check out my other channel, SV Paquita. CUOTO
Thank you for this - as another Tugboat wheelhouse guy who also occasionally enjoys sailing it pains me to say that sailboats are the WORST offenders out on the water … and it’s not even close. The things I have seen people in sailboats do would boggle your mind.
Here lies the body of Michael O' Day Who died maintaining his Right of Way. He was right, dead right, as he sailed along, But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong! Classic Qoute from the Charlie Wing Book, One Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road that I studied while obtaining my Captains License.
Great Vid!! Shame mate!, me old Dad was a locomotive driver here in NZ🇳🇿.. his 2 saying from moving heavy freight trains... were “everything’s ok while it’s ok” and “you can be right and you can be dead right” and lol there was always a quick reminder to his two sons that “the steel does care”..🌹 shame he had seen blood a steel together on the railways/ railroads.. some were his mates. Two lucky boys grew up around & driving North American steel in those GE and GM EMD products🌹
@@tigertiger1699 Wow. Very cool! Your dad sounds like he was quite a character. Love those old 2 stroke EMDs. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
TimBatSea Cheers mate👍 he was!!, started in the days of steam..., big tough gentle faint “tea totaller”😂, we always thought he was.. but also just “our dad” (owned by us kids🙄😂), was till later when he was in the rest homes.. the a big names n old boys of NZ rail start coming to visit him... shame mate his kids got to understand/ we’re told.. by them.., that he was a legend of NZ railroads.., shame I think because he was as you sound..🤔 humble & respectful..👍 lol esp respect of machinery and that tonnage..😂😬. Just watching your re solar.. I’ll be watching that again I bet🤔
Great Video ! I am a Licences FG Master Unlimited Tonnage,... Every summer my brother-inlaw who owns a 40' sailboat loves to tell me about what he know of the Canadian Co-Regs (Rules of the Road), and tells me about "problems he has with commercial traffic. I hope he and other "dudes" like him watch videos like this one and can someday put themselves in the shoes of Captains and Pilots who safely navigate these ships everyday and appreciate the difficulty and skill it takes.
Thank you! I really appreciate it. Been fighting with a few on here all morning. Take care and be safe my brother. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Being mindful of each other’s inertia is probably the best mindset. Shame there are recreational and commercial bridge crews without that mindset and think it is the America’s cup out there.
We did the ColRegs in our powerboat training. What it boiled down to is that if you're in a powerboat you are bottom of the food chain, so get out of the way of everything else. But it is also important to know the waters if you want to operate out of channel. On the South Coast of the UK, between the mainland and the Isle of Wight there is a very deep beach by the town of Ryde. On high water it mostly floods but there is not that much water under your keel. Many a time has an unaware powerboat Cap turned his boat into a plough in this area. Sadly, in UK waters, you don't legally need any training to jump in a boat and kick up a wake. A couple of years ago there was a collision between a Ro-Ro ferry and a pleasure craft. The pleasure craft Cap had zero knowledge of the ColRegs. So we have the additional challenge that you can't expect the other guy to know what he's doing.
Thank you for watching Dave. If you are new to the channel, welcome. Yes, we too over here require little to no training or certification to go out and buy a boat. Please consider Subscribing as I try to post new content every Tuesday. #CUOTO
Right on the money! I'm sailing NY Harbor and I'm staying out of everybody's way, especially fellow sailors... It does not matter if I'm the stand-on or give-way vessel. I'm responsible for my beauty.
To change course for another similar sized vessel when you have the right if way and others are close is dangerous. It confuses the cooperation and risks collisions.
Some great points of common sense, Capt. Tim .. and what you are saying can be construed under Rule#2, Responsibility, as the Rule of Good Seamanship and "necessary to avoid immediate danger" .. nothing wrong with "two shorts" or a call on the Radio. Another fine video .. love your channel.
Yes sir! You wouldn't believe the "push back" I got from this video from the armchair yachties. One of the commenters said in defense of me "the rules are intended to prevent a collision not cause one".
Tim, I started sailing and learning seamanship at my father’s knee, in the ‘60s. He served in the Royal Navy from 1934 to 1945. We had a stock of Royal Navy, Canadian Navy, and even a few US Navy manuals of seamanship and navigation in the house. He emphasized prudence, anticipation, and safety. Your perspective very much matches what father taught me. He passed away nearly 30 years ago-your videos are an echo of his wisdom. I have in 50 years of sailing more than a few times encountered the ColReg adhérent who quotes line and verse but overlooks the fundamental rule (which is actually part of ColRegs and which I have used to rebut these by-the-book but not with common sense types) that a master of a stand-on vessel who-by asserting his rights where other options are readily available-increases the hazard for a give-way vessel, they are at fault. I have subscribed.
Thank you! I think that may be the nicest comment I have ever received on here. Thank you so much for watching and subscribing. I think only %3.9 of viewers are woman, so I'm happy you are helping me get to at least %4. Lol. Thank you again.
TimBatSea As a teen, I imagined that I would become a sea captain but there wasn’t much of a Canadian Merchant Navy beyond being a Great Lakes freighter captain, and at the time, there was no opportunity for a girl.
@@annteve Times have changed and I am proud to say that our industry as a hole has been very receptive to female mariners. One of my very dear friends worked here on deck, then as a mate, then as a captain before moving into the office as one of the management people.
daysailor here.wee sailboat n skiff. i know the rules. however i always gave way to larger vessels. thanks to your views on this, i realize i was properly prudent and not overly cautious. enjoy your info. THANKS.
Very clear explanation from the perspective of the "bigger" boat. I'm always in the smaller watercraft so I make every effort to stay out of the way of the bigger guy, and I'm sure they appreciate the fact that I'm not trying to cut across their bows at the last second. When encountering ships in the open ocean where my compass reading say that I'm on a collision course, I simply start aiming at their stern as they get closer. I probably lose a few minutes doing this, but my heart rate stays low and I'm always assured of a safe crossing.
That's great. But don't do that for a tug and tow! You would not believe me if told you about the people that try to cut between the tug and tow. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Nice video. It's interesting to see that very early on the ColRegs support what you are saying with "(b). In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger. "including the limitations of the vessels involved" is the part many people seem to read and then ignore. Around Sydney Harbour you will hear many calls of "Green to green" over the radio to confirm a two whistle pass with an oncoming vessel.
100% agree Tim, I ran a commercial fishing boat for most of my working life and we could work in really close proximity to other fishing vessels without getting into grief, you became really aware of how the the other guys were manovering and a quick shout on the VHF if you need to let them know your intentions.
what a thoughtful and level-headed approach to sharing the road. i sure which everyone had such an approach whether on water or land. life would be so much more pleasant and enjoyable. thanks for showing us the best of what it means to be a professional mariner.
Oh Barry. It's a cold wet and foggy morning here on boat as I go up the Hudson to Kingston NY, and reading your comment warms my soul more than the coffee I am throwing into me. Thank you so much. Believe it or not, not all the people that comment have nice things to say. Lol. But thank you so much!
Cap, love your videos. I work on traditional rigged sailboats, the recent sinking of Elbe No.5 raised an online debate between the rules and the plain and simple law of tonnage. Tonnage won both in the real experience and the conclusion of the debate.
We weren't there, but from the video one might ask why they didn't just go for two whistles? (Starboard to starboard pass). And when they finally did react, other than blowing the danger signal and not altering course or reducing sail/sleep, it sounded like they were saying to hard to Port, but turned to starboard...???? Tragic to say the least. Thank you for sharing that.
Love the channel. In emergency medicine, we call it street smart vs. book smart. I'll take a street smart partner that is gonna help get me home in the AM vs. a book worm that is hard to work with any day. I've been off ambulance for 12 years (I'm a emergency medicine physician assistant in ND in a small hospital) and all the "street smart" guys I worked with are also either PAs, docs, etc. Those are the people that miss most, and would gladly have done anything for. Sure, it helps to have knowledge. But ultimately, not being an asshole is what makes the world go round. Again, love the channel. So does my kid. Future mariner? We will see.
Tim, I'm a pleasure boater myself. I think EVERY skipper, pleasure and commercial - jet ski to ULCV - should have to watch this video! Thanks a million! And keep 'em coming!
Love that common sense perspective. People read the books, but there's so much of boat handling that is common sense. I would be considered a recreational boater, but that doesn't mean I can't practice that common sense and respect for those I share the water with. If you're bigger then I am, or have restricted maneuverability of draft, then I am in a position to move away and just make things easier for all. And I would second Ch 13. Communication can make all the difference. Thanks for making these!
Thank you for watching John. If you are new to the channel, welcome. Please consider Subscribing if you haven't already. I try to post new content every Tuesday. CUOTO
I'm sorry, but it is regulation that the phrase "I can't change the laws of physics" _MUST_ be said in Scottish accent. Please expect a call from the office of nerdy references.
Excellent advise. I have always found that if the other boat doesn't appear to know which way to go, I make a definite change in direction to signal to the which way I intend to cross/pass etc. That way you can make a 5 fingered wave and all is good. Might of way is very hard to argue with.
Oh yes? I need to get to Rotterdam and shoot how you guys do it. Unlike many if my countrymen, I have traveled enough to see that other countries do things differently and some times in a much better way than we do here. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
You are a commercial vessel restricted by draft, people trying to push the boundaries with rights on sailboats is not a smart move. I learned the lesson of gross tonnage wins all arguments from my dad when we started racing sailboats. Respect is key. I remember one day a guy decided to anchor up on a marker that was going to be the windward mark for a relatively large regatta. While they had the right to be there, Race committee reminded them they were going to have 30-40+ ft sailboats coming at them all day, probably interrupting their fishing. They took the hint and choose a different spot. Thanks for the tip about 13, i was unaware of that requirement.
When I was a kid we had a 25 ft sailboat at the Long Beach Naval station when the battleships USS Missouri and New Jersey were docked there along with the odd submarine. Wide doesn't begin to describe what a low deck wide cross section ship looks like in person. They went out to sea a few times why we were sailing. The law of tonnage is VERY apparent right there and then and should be common sense for all boaters with ships larger than they are. Unfortunately common sense is not very common.
Something i listened to as a USN Midshipman, "Here lies the body of Michael O'Day. He died maintaining his right of way. He was dead right, but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong ..."
I hear you, Captain. During my 20 years of driving a big truck, I had the same problems. You were Tug vs pleasure craft and I was truck vs car. You are so more diplomatic than me.
"Red-to-Red, Green-to-Green, When in doubt, go in-between!" "Tonnage Rules, cap!" I've actually used that exact phrase to ease the mind of the captain as he was going off-shift and his happy-go-lucky mate asked if I (a mere technician) wanted to drive for a while. Cap stopped in mid-step as he was headed down to his bunk. I could tell he was (justifiably) uneasy with his mate's offer. Cap looked out on the horizon and saw a large cargo container vessel heading out to sea as we were heading inward. She was a good 5 miles distant. Cap asked, "Son, you see that large cargo ship off to our port?" "Yes, sir." was my reply. "What are the rules of the road in this situation?" "Tonnage rules, cap." "... Good enough. Wake me when we hit the sea-buoy." Mental high-five...as I fish-tailed through the cut for the next 2 nm. Good times.
If, to your STARBOARD, RED appear It is your duty to keep clear; To act as judgement says is proper, To starboard - or port - back - or stop her. But when, upon your PORT, is seen A steamer's starboard light of GREEN, There's not so much for you to do, For Green to Port keeps clear of you. If to your starboard Red appear It is your duty to keep clear. Green to Green or Red to Red In perfect safety go ahead. But when both lights you see ahead "Port your helm" (or starboard your wheel) [alt] Your duty is to show your Red. And show your Red. A close-hauled ship you’ll never see, Give way to one that’s running free. It’s easier running free to steer And that’s the reason she keeps clear. Learned all of these and a few more as a kid. My father taught them to me from an Admiralty Basic Seamanship Handbook (c 1935).
Thank you for this video. I know everyone’s different but good to know that a call from a smaller vessel can be appreciated. I tend to just get names off the AIS early as I can and have the vhf at the ready and err on the side of not distracting you guys with a call unless, in my judgement, it seems helpful or necessary.
Awesome videos Tim! I just discovered your channel and it's great to hear first hand tips from a tug Captain. Keep it up!! I'm taking my bridge watch rating to work as a deckhand on tugs in western Canada, and have no experience working on any ships yet. Your tips and footage are just making me more excited to get underway! :)
Captain, A great review of boating etiquette and some very practical advice for all boaters. Thanks! I think I always understood the "Unwritten law of Tonnage", just never had it presented in such a thoughtful manner! CUOTO
Well most of them are big and being armed, I'm thinking they wouldn't get an argument out of me. Lol. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
@@TimBatSea I remember leaving San Diego bay on the USS Momsen DDG-92 , past the sub base but not to 1SD when the CO (Cdr. Kelly) got perturbed with a 50 to 100 ft yacht that was doing under 10 knots. I can't remember exactly what he said, but we rang up a flank bell and went around him rather quickly!
And here in Norway military ships sail in constricted waters at night, with no lanterns and tracking turned of with ships that is constructed with little radar signature with idiots the helm not keeping proper lookout... Norway just lost a destroyer that way not long ago colliding with a large commercial vessel that even had the right of way.
If I were to become a merchant seamen I would be fourth generation seamen. I'm 43 and thinking about making the move. Something about ships, I just find fascinating. I love tug boats. My father was a engineer for McAllister and Moran. I should have followed in his foot steps. Last name is Papuchis my grandfather was a agent at the union hall here in Norfolk Va
Awesome well stated. Here in the Europa / Netherlands it is a law .. that bigger has the right of way. No questions asked. To add to you comment about staying away give room , pleasure boats divers can monitor the vhf radio and even ask for intentions / instructions. Keep the talks brief and simple. Also if you drive you little boat with the ‘stay free , in open water ‘ you can enjoy all the big ships passing not bothering any or get in danger.
@@TimBatSea Then there's the one about the destroyer and the "sampan". Oh, you haven't heard it? OK, here goes: back during Vietnam the Navy was tasked with patrolling the coast of South Vietnam and doing stop-and-inspect missions to prevent contrband from being smuggled into the South. As it happens, one foggy night a destroyer was tracking a pretty good-sized radar contact off the coast that was proceeding from north to south - perfect profile for a smuggler. But there was no moon and a pretty thick fog, so they couldn't get a visual on it. However, they figured it was big enough to have a radio, so they sent out a call: "Vessel off my starboard bow, this is USS TinCan - heave to for inspection". Nothing. No response. A few minutes later they fire a flare off, and repeat the message: "Vessel off my starboard bow, this is USS TinCan - heave to and stand by for inspection!". Still no response. Hmmm. Destroyer goes to general quarters, everybody gears up for something, and they up the ante a little: "Vessel off my starboard bow, this is USS TInCan: heave to immediately!". STILL no response. OK, by now everybody on the TinCan's bridge is getting a little pissed, so they issue their final ultimatum: "VESSEL OFF MY STARBOARD BOW, THIS IS USS TINCAN: HEAVE TO OR I WILL OPEN FIRE!!". Finally over the radio comes a response: "USS TinCan, this is USS New Jersey. Commence fire, sir". :-)
My dad told me years ago that "leisure veers for bread", i.e. those sailing for recreational should keep out of the way for those who sail for a living. I've kept to that "rule" all through my years of sailing our Swedish waters. Thanks for sharing.
I love that. I hope to sail in your beautiful Sweden one day. I am a follower and patron of the sailing channel "Sailing Ran". I love them. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
@@TimBatSea You've got yourself a new sub! "Sailing Ran" was a new nice acquaintance. Thanks for that. The Baltic sea is a nice place to sail and has tons of interesting places to visit in Sweden as well as Germany, Finland, Estonia etc. Naturally I have to recommend my home waters in the Blekinge archipelago and especially Karlskrona, an old, and still very important, naval city appointed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
A nostalgic surprise to see the Norwegian Gem! I worked on that ship for a year and always loved watching you guys bring in the barges in the morning for bunkering. Thanks for the video :)
Thanks for your video and appreciate the common sense approach towards seamanship. I've tried to explain the 'rule of tonnage' to friends that boat recreationally but I lack your gift of diction. Mainly wanted to say hello from the West coast of Canada and the Fraser River! Next time the salmon are running and we're coming into the river I'll fire up the go pro and you can get a look at the sports fishers hanging on until the last possible second to get out of the way. We tow nearly everything on the wire here, and I think there is a misconception that all we will have to move is the 80' tug and not the 300' barge to evade someone. Thankfully mishaps are uncommon and usually everyone stays out of the cabbage. Looking forward to next week's video!
Very Cool. I haven't worked on the west coast, but the best fishing on the side must be in the center of the channel (because that's where everyone seems to want to fish). I'm trying to put together a video for next week about different make ups. I hope you won't mind me using your story about towing on the wire? I was always a wire guy until a couple of years ago and a contract and boat change. Lost a wire once in buzzard's bay when a sport fishing boat went in between me and the barge. I pulled them back to sink the wire, he went through without a problem, but our wire snagged a rock or something and was all fishhooks and had to be replaced. I always think of that guy.... He's walking around today never knowing had we not sunk the wire, he'd be dead and his Viking would be toast.
I am the same as you but always go by ColRegs Rule 3 (General Definitions), "A vessel constrained by her draught" has right of way to a smaller vessel by which the smaller vessel is more manoeuvrable to the larger, and Rule 18 in the ColRegs. Most recreational vessels just go by their feeling if they will get past or not.. and being an Australian Volunteer Coast Guard skipper for over 10 years I see this very often in Port Phillip. If each person like you say use a bit of CDF (which is not as common these days) we would all get along nicely and safely, but some just have to push their chest and beat their drum for the rules when just a slight change of direction in advance would change it all and make things so much easier and more pleasurable for everyone. Great stuff.
Ive always thought of the Steering and Sailing Rules as meant to help other predict where my vessel will be. Communicating early (as you mention) is a great way to reduce the risk of collision.
Thank you for watching Rick. I think it is important to remember that the rules are intended to prevent a collision and not cause one. Be safe out there and I'll CUOTO
Very informative. Thanks. I'm the weisenheimer that made the "hairy fire hazzard" comment a few weeks ago. I really like this channel. I'm a land sailor but I'm familiar with~ 95+% of all the scenes. Thanks again.
Move drilling rigs on land, same rule on bush, ice, or even high grade road. Why? Cuz a kenworth can hookup to pickup truck & pull him out outta the ditch, but it dont work the other way around.
Hahahah that's a good one. We sometimes say about lil boats that won't get out of the way "I've found that if they don't move horizontally, they will move vertically". Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Once a great captain told me to give way to people who are working on the sea, just out of respect. We were sailing for fun. For them that situation was: earning a living, they had to cross, it was livelyhood, probably stress etc. It was years ago but I am still following that rule be it on water, driving or walking. When I am a tourist/passer by, then I give way to people who are working. Respect.
We always called it "The Bigger Boat Rule". I'll never forget a radio exchange one summer afternoon (hazy, wind SW 10-15, 2-3' chop) in Buzzards Bay waiting for the current to turn East in the Canal. Ch16 "Calling the tug and barge off Wings Neck-this is the sailboat off your right side, I intend to keep going and pass in front of you" 20 seconds of silence, you could almost feel the wheels turning in the wheelhouse of the Bouchard tug with the large gasoline barge all shortened up on the wire- then in a total Brooklyn accent " Well Skipper it's your boat -go ahead if you think you'll make it" No response but 5 minutes later the sailboat came about and headed back towards the Cape.
GREAT video, thanks! As a small-boat sailor my favorite feature of my AIS transponder is that I can see the names of the commercial vessels on my nav software and then call them on 13 to let them know that I'm going to maneuver to stay WAY THE HELL AWAY from them. The captains are always extremely courteous, especially the WA state ferry captains. Recreational boaters should be maintaining a watch on the VTS channel also IMHO, if for no other reason than to hear how the pros communicate on the water.
Thank you for watching. I sure do love when someone makes contact with me on 13. Just know that they see me and what their intentions are puts one's mind at ease.
Hi man , just wanted to say great points you make-,also I found that most rec.craft almost always stay on ch.16 thinking that's the main channel for rec. craft- (M-24/MED-2 cert. in Syd harbour -NSW).
@@kenlee-97 Thank you for watching Kem. Tuesday's video is about VHF and specifically about using channel 13. But yes, channel 16 is the international calling and distress frequency.
This is something I've always applied to the road because it simply makes sense. I'll tripple check those crosswalks because sure as a pedestrian I might have what I call 'theoretical right of way' but those cars and trucks have the real right of way
Great videos! RE: recreational boaters and misjudging distances of ships: I had my Coast Guard Captains license while I boated the 1000 Islands. I taught charting and instrument navigation to boaters at various experience levels. A consistent issue was teaching them to be vigilant for the big ships. They are fast, virtually silent and seemingly invisible against the ever changing shorelines -- and that was during the day! Love your approach and content! You take a virtually unattainable position and subsequent experience and make it applicable for the dude weekending on a 17' Bayliner. You should do a vid on properly deploying an anchor.
The elbow cross ledge in the Delaware Bay used to be an amazing place to fish but in recent years has greatly declined do mostly to dredging in the upper part of the river. My parent's had a place in Fortescue NJ, Just sold it 2yrs ago I was always amazed how big some of those ships were close up navigating that channel because there's only about 15 to 20ft of water on either side of it. The steep drop off is what attracted a lot of fish.
I like the last part of your video, when you're tying up to the Hess fueling station and right next door is Corman imbach Marine, I used to work there when I was just Imbach Marine as a barge crane operator. Brings back a lot of memories. I enjoy your videos keep them up please
The "law of tonnage" harks back to the days of the Greek city-state of Rhodes, which codified one of the first laws of the sea, which was "The larger ship shall have the right of way", or words to that effect. But that was often hard to judge, so modern rules of the road have various categories which replace "the bigger vessel" with "vessel under sail", "vessel constrained by draft", "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver", etc. Perfect example of that: back in 1981 I was conning the ship I was stationed on (USS Niagara Falls AFS-3) out from NAS Alameda, under the Bay Bridge, hang a left at Alcatraz, and out the Golden Gate to the sea. Just after we made our starboard turn from the air station channel onto the northerly track we had to use to go under the Bay Bridge I saw a little sailboat off our starboard bow. I remember it clearly - it was about a 25' long, maroon hull, under sail, close-hauled on a port tack, approaching our bow from starboard to port, and pretty much CBDR (constant bearing, decreasing range - or, in other words, a collision in the making). I eyeballed him through my binoculars and could see this guy was watching us closely, so he knew what was going on. I kind of had the feeling that there might have been some "stick it to the military-industrial complex" thoughts bubbling through his head, but who knows - maybe the guy just liked playing "chicken" in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Whatever. I glanced up at the signal shrouds and was reassured to note that there was a large black cylinder - the day shape for "vessel constrained by draft" - blowing in the breeze for, as I knew, one of the few times that a vessel under power, such as our ship, has right of way over a vessel under sail is when the vessel under power is "constrained by draft" - which is short for "everything outside of the buoyed channel is too shallow for me to stay afloat in, so I get to stay in the channel and you, little sailboat guy, have to get out of my way". So I grabbed the mic and said, "Bosun's mate of the watch - sound three short blasts on the ships whistle". BOOOOMP! BOOOOMP! BOOOOMP! Little sailboat dude tacks to port about 90 degrees and proceeds down my starboard side shaking his fist at us and, if the motions his mouth were making were any indication, hurling invectives in our general direction. Wanted to tell him, "Friend, if we collided you wouldn't do so much as scratch our paint - and due to our inability to maneuver we couldn't even stop - all we could do is call the Coastie's on Yerba Buena Island and ask them to fish your sorry butt out of the bay" but I contented myself with a smile and a friendly wave.
First of all, a big thank you for your service! Thank you also for sharing this story. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already. I really appreciate you taking the time to write this.
Here in Seattle, in the Montlake cut we have rowers by the dozen. As you said, they never realize how much closer we are to them than they are to us. Perspective.
I think this video should be required to be viewed by any and all people before launching a boat, and renewing a registration! I've played on a few boats, from a 14ft row boat to sucking up lobster bedrooms in the channel from miami to key west in a 60ft Bertram in the dark. (there's some other people that need some lessons of how things work) That has to be THE most pleasant and proper way to say "don't be a jacka**" that I have ever heard....Well said!
I'm studying how to sail and I knew part what you said but the other part was really helpful I also thought it was like a road that you had to stay on one side of the river it was the ships pass you on the other thank you and if I see you on the water I make sure I'll stay out of your way
Thank you for watching. It may help to remember that the rules are intended to prevent a collision, not cause one. Be safe out there, and please consider subscribing.
This is all very valuable information.. my story.. many years ago, when I was taking a sailing course out of Weehawken, NJ... at the end of the course, my son and I were sent out in a very small sailboat... (no motor, no radio).. we just needed to sail out into the lower Hudson harbor.. everything going great, having a wonderful time and then.. The wind died... totally.. nothing.. so .. here we are in the middle of a very busy channel going nowhere!!!.. coming down on us, heading out to sea, a very large garbage barge... We immediately started paddling our butts off.. the tug sounding it's horn... us paddling!!! we managed to get out of the way.. but I noticed that with no wind the tide was going out.. drifting towards the open ocean.. Having looked at the charts of the area we were sailing in, i had noticed some very shallow water near the base of the Statue of Liberty... between drifting and paddleing we managed to ground ourselves, lightly.. After about 90 minutes, somebody from the sailing school came looking for us.. scolding us about running aground... I mentioned to them that the choices were, get hit by a barge, drift out to sea, or run aground...
Great video and having spent time on both commercial and recreational vessels. I've found that 99% of the time a simple call on the radio makes life easier and safer for both when maneuvering in tight areas. Now if we could get the super captains that feel their 20-40ft sailboats always have the right of way no matter what while under sail to listen.
I must be one of the few recreational boaters that think the way you do, I was finding myself thinking I would do things before you actually said it. Still learned something from this video so thanks!
Points well made! Recreational boaters have little to no practical on-water experience. They either think they can do anything they please, or they think they only pass port to port and must stay in the channel no matter what. My favorite is that they actually think the helmsman on a 1000 foot ship can see a 15 foot boat dead ahead 100 feet off his bow. I hope one day recreational boaters will have to be licensed similar to commercial mariners. At least in high traffic ports and rivers.
Thank you for watching Bill. Yes, the ocean is the last bastion for any a$$hole with money to put down on a boat and sail away into the sunset with out any training. Be safe out there my friend.
I'm a trucker and we have to account for how much weight we are hauling =how much stopping distance and I was curious how much time and space do you need to stop or turn that big vessel.thank you I love videos and subscribed
Thank you very much for watching Jose. So you quest in not easy to answer. First is that there could be in the future, a liability issue if I ever have to testify, anything I say here could haunt me there. Then there are a ton of veritables, makeup (on the wire, push gear, along side) then things like lite or loaded, and if course wind and tide. So even if I gave you time or distance, it would only be good for the makeup, load and weather and speed at that moment. Lets just say that a loaded barge with a fair current at speed, will take a long long time to stop.
One of my favorite videos. it is one of your older posts. So I saw the different format. Fast forwarded video with voiceover. It was so soothing actually hearing all this wisdom. I love it that a Harbor has rules but captaining also requires good common sense and good judgment and just calling on 13 saying I see you and you see me, say can you move over a little bit?
Absolutely love your videos and your kind demeanor. I love boats of all sizes and watching them and your videos is like a great meditation. Really appreciate your manner of teaching nubes like me. Keep it up and thank you!
As a Seafarer from Australia I cannot agree more. In the ColReg's it is stated that each master of a vessel is responsible in the case of a collision, meaning that all parties are accountable for failing to avoid a collision. This rule should be taken on land!
Thanks, Capt., enjoyed riding along. As a non-mariner, I enjoyed the insight of the law of tonnage. It seems to be a principle one can apply to many areas of life, not just to the sea.
Awesome video~! I guess same rules apply for driving as well, I still remember the time when I tried to keep to my lane after a heavy snowfall, and the instructor say hey don't step on the deep snow just follow everyone else's track! Makes great sense
My father had a saying. You may be in the right, but don't be dead right. I owned a 10m wooden inshore motor yacht, took the Inshore Skippers ticket mainly for insurance purposes, but also to gain experience from an old man of the sea. Talking to other boaters they did not gain the knowledge I did as they had younger less experienced instructors. So in the 15 years I owned the boat I sailed the East coast of UK in many of the busiest shipping waters, the Thames estuary, Felixstowe, the Humber. Crossed the English channel many times to France, Belgium and my favourite boating country Holland, the inland boating and commercial freight system is amazing. Crossing the English channel, the busiest shipping channel in the world is not for the faint hearted. But aiming at the stern of vessels and as you say keeping the radio channel open on in our case Ch16. We have dual sets tuned to the local area Ch and Ch16, we did have a run in once with a Thames pilot who claimed the boat in front made him order a heading change and slow ahead, I was following him and he didn't do any of this, but I did ask why he didn't call. He said he did on a different commercial channel that was not listed in the almanac. My answer to that was why not call on Ch16. He walked away then and never did report the boat. By the way may old boat helped in the rescue at DUNKIRK 1940 and is a member of The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. 50 boats will be making the crossing to Dunkirk from Dover, This May to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Evacuation of Dunkirk. The fleet will be escorted by vessels from the Royal Navy, Lifeboats from The RNLI and volunteer Navy boats. It's great to hear the Navy ship call up a cargo ship and ask for a slight course change, when no change was made the navy called again War Ship calling vessel ________ change course to _____ immediately, The vessel complied and as they passed astern the whole crew were out on deck waving at us, they even dipped their ensign, a great sign of respect. Mind you it did course a flurry for as we had to acknowledge the salute. In the skipper course I was taught about constrained by depth, but the best one to remember is I'm bigger than you. Thanks for the video, I'm now a subscriber.
Wow. So much to unpack here. First of all, I can't tell you the respect I have for anyone taking on the work and expense and responsibility of owning a boat of that age and history! Bravo! I agree with your father's assessment. I wish I could make the trip with you in May. So cool! Be safe and thank you for watching and subscribing!
Happy Birthday Capt. Tim! Thank you for all your informative Videos. And thank you so Much for showing us those Beautiful Caterpillar Mains Air starting. Just Beautiful! Aloha From Hawaii!
Probably the best rule of all, especially when you're a recreational boater interacting with people that are making their living on the water -- be courteous. When I was a kid, it was called the Golden Rule. Treat others as you'd like them to treat you. It's just as important on the water as anywhere else. Especially, it seems, these days.
About 45 years ago, I was domiciled in PR. A doctor friend of mine bought a new sailboat and since I had a fresh "6-Pac" in my pocket he asked me to give him some hints on operating the boat. We were sailing in San Juan Harbor on a tack toward the narrowing opening off of El Morro Fortress. The doc had put up the sails and killed the engine, and up behind us came a cruise ship intent on passing out to the Atlantic. I called out the traffic, but the doc did not move. The ship sounded 5 with the horn with crew members now out on the wings of the bridge and forward looking at us. Again I pleaded for him to tack out of the way immediately or start engine and clear the channel. He replied, "I'm under sail and I have the right of away". We began to argue for control when his 4'9" wife appeared in the companionway and delivered in the best New York Puerto Rican accented Spanglish a dress down that would have made an Admiral blush. The engine started and we tacked immediately. It was a very quiet sail back to the marina, but I knew who in that family had the real command ability.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Thank you very Mike for the fist laugh of the morning. All of us that are in love with a hot blooded Latina have all heard that tone and cadence more than a few times. 😂 Thank you for watching. CUOTO
Some folks who operate personal pleasure craft could learn a great deal from you. I've watched your video(s) regarding maintenance and familiarity of the basic maritime rules of the road. You've probably seen this video of a small boat which broke down and was anchored in the shipping channel near New York/New Jersey ports, completely unaware of an approaching fuel tanker. Of course, the tanker skipper saves the day: "At 1300 when it was apparent the small craft was either unaware of the Horizons approach or disregarding right of way rules, Captain Skolos of the Horizon ordered steerage only speed (3-4kts) and sounded whistle and bells as well as trying to raise pleasure craft on VHF 16 & 9. (not on this video) At 13:14 he ordered course to the extreme starboard side of the channel. The Horizon passed within 20 ft (estimated) of the anchored craft. The U.S.C.G. obtained Towboat U.S. records indicating the captain of the pleasure craft "did not realize" he was anchored mid-channel, and was distracted by trying to get his engine started, he was "unaware" of the fuel tanker ship off his port beam. This incident is the fault of the pleasure boat captain who could have drifted safely out of the busy shipping channel and set his anchor in ample water for a vessel of his size. ruclips.net/video/dW_dk2NCOUU/видео.html
I should have known better than to have clicked on the link...... I am so mad right now!!!!! So many people's lives could have been effected by one person's poor judgment or ignorance. I am so afraid that one day I will be involved with a maritime casualty that may not be my fault, but I will have to live with the knowledge that someone is dead because I couldn't stop or get out of the way. Thank you for watching. CUOTO
Enjoyed this video,should be required by all pleasure boat classes.I live on the Columbia River At Astoria Oregon.During late summer sport fishing season is going.The river and bar pilots have one hard time getting through the channel.The Coast Guard is busy clearing channel for ships and commercial traffic.Thanks
Tim, All of your advice is good to remember and use. However, there have been too many times that commercial ships, with poor collision avoidance equipment and typically poorly-trained crews, have used the excuse of the "Law of Gross Tonnage" to justify why they didn't maneuver to avoid a collision with a sailboat or other small boat that was underway and maneuvering in accordance with COLREGS, whether they could see it or not. I am a retired submariner with 22 years of experience in large ship driving as well as a lifetime of experience sailing. I myself experienced a VERY close call while driving a submarine on the surface, in a heavy fog, at night, in the inbound San Juan de Luca Straights shipping lane, when a 40 foot single-handed sailboat, motoring across the lane (stupid in those conditions), crossed the bow of my 560 foot, 18,000 ton submarine. We were doing everything absolutely right (slowed, fog signals, sub ID beacon, two radars, extra watchstanders and lookouts (including the CO and XO themselves) and absolutely had the right-of-way. Yet, we were vigilant, finally saw him at about 100 yards, when it was almost too late to maneuver, and went Back Emergency and hard right rudder to avoid him - we picked him up with our bow wave and he slid off the port side, narrowly escaping with his life. This is a perfect example of how inadequate RADAR is at picking up small contacts, yet we (large ship drivers) continue to use it for collision avoidance. Most crews don't even know how to use RADAR effectively, because it's not easy. AIS is no better, as a number of vessels don't carry it, regardless of the regulations, and it was never meant for smaller vessels. Too many commercial ships don't ever see small boats because they have poorly-designed equipment and ARE NOT VIGILANT, yet justify their inaction with either the "Law of Gross Tonnage" or "Big Ocean/Small Ship Principle" - NEITHER of these are laws and are no justification for running over a small vessel. Commercial shipping runs with too few crew members with all too little training, who aren't vigilant in their jobs and either don't see smaller contacts or refuse to maneuver when they do. We, as smaller vessel mariners, have looked the other way for far too long - it's time commercial shipping companies are held accountable for providing effective collision-avoidance equipment (which incidentally doesn't exist... yet) and adequate training and standards of watchstanding for their crews. Enigma Marine Electronics is my company, and we are starting to do something about it. We have a system that IS effective at collision avoidance for ALL vessels, especially smaller ones, but it's going to take a LOT of effort to achieve the DHS mandate it needs to BE effective. Time alone will tell whether anyone is really serious about protecting smaller vessels or not. I'm betting they are!
The Rule of Tonnage is pure COMMON SENCE. Everyone of us LEARNED IT on the Playground at RECESS the our first day. Stay Out of the Way of the Bigger Guy. IT IS the way of LIFE. Every Living Animal Functions by It. Nature endows the large with the POWER to dominate and the small with the Agility and Speed to escape. Regardless of the Kingdom of the Animal, Yes, That's What WE Are, Only the Most Fool Hardy take on One which Is Larger. The Option To Give Way always Exists and Most Often Should Be Used. sdh in CT
Hahahaha. True. I sailed with a little grumpy old engineer who used say "being big didn't help the dinosaurs". Lol. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
During Vietnam I was in the Navy. A destroyer turned in front of a carrier on Yankee Station. The destroyer was cut in half. Seventy eight men died. The bow sank. The stern was towed into Subic Bay. 80,000 tons vs 5,000 tons.
Good morning Tim, Thank you for explaining things!! Even on the road you can experience similar problems!!! It’s just that some people are very inconsiderate!!! Anyway you take care and catch you next time 👍😎🇬🇧.
Thank you Wayne. By the way, I was looking at your emojis and thought how odd it is that a Brit is wearing sunglasses. You must be on vacation! Lol. Be safe my brother.
Hi Tim, just trying to be cool!!! There’s not much sun with all the rain we’ve been having!!! Will need a snorkel and goggles Ha Ha!!!! You take care and thank you for video 👍😎🇬🇧.
Cheers mate! , great vid.. I was only ever a marine fitter.. etc. and got to do/ spend a bit of time on working trips.., absolutely loved me time on the water.. it’s such a privilege the planet gives in our oceans n waterway🌹 I’d must see if I can do more of it.. getting old at 54😂 great vid, cheers from 🇳🇿👍
It's never to late. You just hurt more and taking stupid orders from kids gets harder as we age. But I'm sure you can put your mind and back into it. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
TimBatSea Mate smashed sub on the first vid 1/2 hr ago😂, now I’ve got myself all remembering.. those days, best day I ever had was covered in shit n mussel mush working on a guys barge hauling n fixing mooring.... wet n heavy chains etc head to toe in shit.. beautiful day Hauraki gulf.., come n have a look see if it ain’t a most beautiful cruising spot.
We were once on a cruise ship getting underway from the Port of Istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait is open enough at the cruise port that a ship can use thrusters to get off without a tug. We were watching from the bow on the promenade deck as the ship set out across the extremely busy waterway. We headed right at a big clot of 50 or so tiny fishing boats sitting right in the middle of our channel. They were a ways off and one long blast on the horn got them all busy getting out of the way. All but one. We could see the fisherman frantically wrapping his cord and yanking... one time... twice... three... four... five... that's when five horn blasts came. The cruise ship couldn't do much because a course deviation would have run down other boats. Finally the fisherman's motor caught and he pot pot pot potted safely out of the way. Barely. Everyone understood the unwritten law of tonnage that day, but the fisherman got a personal review of the unwritten corollary on keeping your gear in order.
The law of tonnage applies to the neighborhood moms as well.
Hahahah. Best comment ever! Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Also applies to EMS. The first floor 200 pounds. Second floor 300+. Third floor 400+. Fourth floor 600+ to infinity.
@@eleventeenmachine5991 OMG. I don't know why, but I always thought you guys were more proper. We old dirty, foul-mouthed sailors are expected to say things like that. But now I have an entirely new respect for EMS workers! Cheers!
@@TimBatSea I'm no longer active in the Emergency services but yes, we're alike in many ways. After a while you get numb to the excitement and devastation that you see. And you become a sinical, sarcastic person.
You could roll up to an industrial plant for a hand amputation and offer to give the patient a hand without thinking of it. Or be singing with the dementia patient to cheer them up. That's just the way things are. We all really do care about people. But we also know some are destined for their demise by their own choices, and nothing we can do will stop them. Life is a bitch, we move on.
@@eleventeenmachine5991 cool. I appreciate the insight. Take care my friend.
Retired from 45 years at the helm of tugs, and other large vessels. I would recommend this video to all newbies, and even many not so new. Setting here reminiscing, and remembered a ditty I learned 50 years ago.
"Green to green, red to red, all is well so go ahead. If in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout"
Supposedly educated yachtie/pleasure boat types have made me pull out more hair than just about anything else.
Welcome to the channel Cap. I love having other guys from my side participate in the conversation. Please consider Subscribing if you haven't already. I try to post new content every Tuesday.
"don't adhere yourself so much to the rules that you can't make good decisions" - probably applies everywhere in life
Thank you! I like to think every once in a while, something comes out of my mouth that isn't completely stupid. Lol. Thank you so much for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
I'm sorry I didn't know you're stating the obvious
It's good to be right, but you don't have to be dead right. One of my dad's sayings.
@@mattfavaloro350 Stating the obvious means nothing to those who WILL NOT see or hear.
@@TheByard that’s a great dad!!! I’m going to use that with my family.
Great topic! A good friend is a Ches. Bay pilot and the area from just south of Annapolis to Baltimore is choked with sailboats and powerboats most weekends during warm months. His biggest fear is to inadvertently run someone over despite his horns and hails on VHF. It's surprising how little knowledge many "skippers" have, especially around big commercial ships.
Yes Sir. The ocean is the last place on earth any a-hole with some money can buy a boat, and with no testing or licensing, go right out to sea. But on a brighter side, I do think that as a rule, the masses of pleasure boaters are becoming better prepared and less drunk than they were 20 or so years ago. Thank you for watching and stay safe.
"Let's fire up those mains, and get things underway" Here I'm thinking it's a metaphor to get the video started then he literally starts the boat engines lol.
Hahaha. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
I enjoyed seeing that... and hearing it!
And he didn't have to suffer the two-stroke stress of if the bar-steward is going to start this time.
what you are thinking it was at first was a simile
I am a recreational sailor, and no better advice can be given to my fellow pleasure boaters than what is contained in this video. I'd like to shoot this knowledge right into their puny brains. Ships and tugs are ACTUALLY WORKING, so get the heck out of their way! I myself would often like to give the same advice to the many powerboaters and jet skis in new York Harbor and Raritan Bay who clog channels, drift with fishing rigs, and buzz around the mooring field.
Thank you Tim, for these wonderful videos - I've been sailing this area since 1973, but I never appreciated all the hard work going on around me until I started watching your videos.
Thank you for watching and subscribing! I really appreciate it. The ocean is one of the last places anyone with a credit card or a checkbook can buy a boat and get out over their head with no training, licensing or testing. (Not everywhere, but most of the US) Thank you again for watching out for us. And be sure to check out my other channel, SV Paquita. CUOTO
Thank you for this - as another Tugboat wheelhouse guy who also occasionally enjoys sailing it pains me to say that sailboats are the WORST offenders out on the water … and it’s not even close. The things I have seen people in sailboats do would boggle your mind.
Here lies the body of Michael O' Day Who died maintaining his Right of Way. He was right, dead right, as he sailed along, But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong! Classic Qoute from the Charlie Wing Book, One Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road that I studied while obtaining my Captains License.
I love that! Thank you for sharing. Also thank you for watching and if you haven't already, please consider subscribing.
@@TimBatSea yes I subscribed my friend Thanks for having such a great you tube channel.
Great Vid!!
Shame mate!, me old Dad was a locomotive driver here in NZ🇳🇿.. his 2 saying from moving heavy freight trains... were “everything’s ok while it’s ok” and “you can be right and you can be dead right” and lol there was always a quick reminder to his two sons that “the steel does care”..🌹 shame he had seen blood a steel together on the railways/ railroads.. some were his mates.
Two lucky boys grew up around & driving North American steel in those GE and GM EMD products🌹
@@tigertiger1699 Wow. Very cool! Your dad sounds like he was quite a character. Love those old 2 stroke EMDs. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
TimBatSea
Cheers mate👍 he was!!, started in the days of steam..., big tough gentle faint “tea totaller”😂, we always thought he was.. but also just “our dad” (owned by us kids🙄😂), was till later when he was in the rest homes.. the a big names n old boys of NZ rail start coming to visit him... shame mate his kids got to understand/ we’re told.. by them.., that he was a legend of NZ railroads.., shame I think because he was as you sound..🤔 humble & respectful..👍 lol esp respect of machinery and that tonnage..😂😬.
Just watching your re solar.. I’ll be watching that again I bet🤔
Great Video ! I am a Licences FG Master Unlimited Tonnage,... Every summer my brother-inlaw who owns a 40' sailboat loves to tell me about what he know of the Canadian Co-Regs (Rules of the Road), and tells me about "problems he has with commercial traffic. I hope he and other "dudes" like him watch videos like this one and can someday put themselves in the shoes of Captains and Pilots who safely navigate these ships everyday and appreciate the difficulty and skill it takes.
Thank you! I really appreciate it. Been fighting with a few on here all morning. Take care and be safe my brother. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Being mindful of each other’s inertia is probably the best mindset.
Shame there are recreational and commercial bridge crews without that mindset and think it is the America’s cup out there.
Hahahah. True dat!!! On the weekends we have to dodge "Captain Sarsaparilla". Thank you for watching!
We did the ColRegs in our powerboat training. What it boiled down to is that if you're in a powerboat you are bottom of the food chain, so get out of the way of everything else. But it is also important to know the waters if you want to operate out of channel. On the South Coast of the UK, between the mainland and the Isle of Wight there is a very deep beach by the town of Ryde. On high water it mostly floods but there is not that much water under your keel. Many a time has an unaware powerboat Cap turned his boat into a plough in this area. Sadly, in UK waters, you don't legally need any training to jump in a boat and kick up a wake. A couple of years ago there was a collision between a Ro-Ro ferry and a pleasure craft. The pleasure craft Cap had zero knowledge of the ColRegs. So we have the additional challenge that you can't expect the other guy to know what he's doing.
Thank you for watching Dave. If you are new to the channel, welcome. Yes, we too over here require little to no training or certification to go out and buy a boat. Please consider Subscribing as I try to post new content every Tuesday. #CUOTO
Right on the money! I'm sailing NY Harbor and I'm staying out of everybody's way, especially fellow sailors... It does not matter if I'm the stand-on or give-way vessel. I'm responsible for my beauty.
Good thinking Cap. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
To change course for another similar sized vessel when you have the right if way and others are close is dangerous. It confuses the cooperation and risks collisions.
@@abrahamsintram7889 Remember that the rules are intended to prevent a collision not cause one.
Some great points of common sense, Capt. Tim .. and what you are saying can be construed under Rule#2, Responsibility, as the Rule of Good Seamanship and "necessary to avoid immediate danger" .. nothing wrong with "two shorts" or a call on the Radio. Another fine video .. love your channel.
Yes sir! You wouldn't believe the "push back" I got from this video from the armchair yachties. One of the commenters said in defense of me "the rules are intended to prevent a collision not cause one".
Tim, I started sailing and learning seamanship at my father’s knee, in the ‘60s. He served in the Royal Navy from 1934 to 1945. We had a stock of Royal Navy, Canadian Navy, and even a few US Navy manuals of seamanship and navigation in the house. He emphasized prudence, anticipation, and safety. Your perspective very much matches what father taught me. He passed away nearly 30 years ago-your videos are an echo of his wisdom. I have in 50 years of sailing more than a few times encountered the ColReg adhérent who quotes line and verse but overlooks the fundamental rule (which is actually part of ColRegs and which I have used to rebut these by-the-book but not with common sense types) that a master of a stand-on vessel who-by asserting his rights where other options are readily available-increases the hazard for a give-way vessel, they are at fault. I have subscribed.
Thank you! I think that may be the nicest comment I have ever received on here. Thank you so much for watching and subscribing. I think only %3.9 of viewers are woman, so I'm happy you are helping me get to at least %4. Lol. Thank you again.
TimBatSea As a teen, I imagined that I would become a sea captain but there wasn’t much of a Canadian Merchant Navy beyond being a Great Lakes freighter captain, and at the time, there was no opportunity for a girl.
@@annteve Times have changed and I am proud to say that our industry as a hole has been very receptive to female mariners. One of my very dear friends worked here on deck, then as a mate, then as a captain before moving into the office as one of the management people.
daysailor here.wee sailboat n skiff. i know the rules. however i always gave way to larger vessels. thanks to your views on this, i realize i was properly prudent and not overly cautious. enjoy your info. THANKS.
Thank you for watching Jack. It's a big ocean out there and we can find room in it for all of us to be safe. CUOTO
Thank you very much for your channel. As a recreational boater, it's great peace of mind to get your insight and clear explanation.
Thank you. It is "our" ocean. Yours and mine and there is room for us all to enjoy it. Thank you so much for watching.
Very clear explanation from the perspective of the "bigger" boat. I'm always in the smaller watercraft so I make every effort to stay out of the way of the bigger guy, and I'm sure they appreciate the fact that I'm not trying to cut across their bows at the last second. When encountering ships in the open ocean where my compass reading say that I'm on a collision course, I simply start aiming at their stern as they get closer. I probably lose a few minutes doing this, but my heart rate stays low and I'm always assured of a safe crossing.
That's great. But don't do that for a tug and tow! You would not believe me if told you about the people that try to cut between the tug and tow. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Nice video. It's interesting to see that very early on the ColRegs support what you are saying with "(b). In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger. "including the limitations of the vessels involved" is the part many people seem to read and then ignore. Around Sydney Harbour you will hear many calls of "Green to green" over the radio to confirm a two whistle pass with an oncoming vessel.
Exactly and perfectly stated. Thank you for sharing. Please consider subscribing.
100% agree Tim, I ran a commercial fishing boat for most of my working life and we could work in really close proximity to other fishing vessels without getting into grief, you became really aware of how the the other guys were manovering and a quick shout on the VHF if you need to let them know your intentions.
Thank you for watching Roger, and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
what a thoughtful and level-headed approach to sharing the road. i sure which everyone had such an approach whether on water or land. life would be so much more pleasant and enjoyable. thanks for showing us the best of what it means to be a professional mariner.
Oh Barry. It's a cold wet and foggy morning here on boat as I go up the Hudson to Kingston NY, and reading your comment warms my soul more than the coffee I am throwing into me. Thank you so much. Believe it or not, not all the people that comment have nice things to say. Lol. But thank you so much!
Cap, love your videos. I work on traditional rigged sailboats, the recent sinking of Elbe No.5 raised an online debate between the rules and the plain and simple law of tonnage. Tonnage won both in the real experience and the conclusion of the debate.
Wow. Thank you for sharing that. I am unaware of the incident. Thank you for watching.
ruclips.net/video/aXrTvVh4NOs/видео.html
Holly $#!+
We weren't there, but from the video one might ask why they didn't just go for two whistles? (Starboard to starboard pass). And when they finally did react, other than blowing the danger signal and not altering course or reducing sail/sleep, it sounded like they were saying to hard to Port, but turned to starboard...???? Tragic to say the least. Thank you for sharing that.
@@TimBatSea seems to me they were already in trouble before the clip started and threw away their chance to get out of it.
Love the channel. In emergency medicine, we call it street smart vs. book smart. I'll take a street smart partner that is gonna help get me home in the AM vs. a book worm that is hard to work with any day. I've been off ambulance for 12 years (I'm a emergency medicine physician assistant in ND in a small hospital) and all the "street smart" guys I worked with are also either PAs, docs, etc. Those are the people that miss most, and would gladly have done anything for. Sure, it helps to have knowledge. But ultimately, not being an asshole is what makes the world go round.
Again, love the channel. So does my kid. Future mariner? We will see.
Thank you for watching. I really appreciate it.
Tim, I'm a pleasure boater myself. I think EVERY skipper, pleasure and commercial - jet ski to ULCV - should have to watch this video! Thanks a million! And keep 'em coming!
Thank you very much for watching and for your kind words. Please consider subscribing.
Also sort of works for driving on the narrow back roads, the guy in the smallest vehicle backs up first!
Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Love that common sense perspective. People read the books, but there's so much of boat handling that is common sense.
I would be considered a recreational boater, but that doesn't mean I can't practice that common sense and respect for those I share the water with. If you're bigger then I am, or have restricted maneuverability of draft, then I am in a position to move away and just make things easier for all.
And I would second Ch 13. Communication can make all the difference.
Thanks for making these!
Thank you for watching John. If you are new to the channel, welcome. Please consider Subscribing if you haven't already. I try to post new content every Tuesday. CUOTO
I'm sorry, but it is regulation that the phrase "I can't change the laws of physics" _MUST_ be said in Scottish accent. Please expect a call from the office of nerdy references.
Hahahaha. Yo funny. Thank you for watching.
Actually northern irish accent. I'll get my coat.
Elk River's giving it all she's got!
Excellent advise. I have always found that if the other boat doesn't appear to know which way to go, I make a definite change in direction to signal to the which way I intend to cross/pass etc. That way you can make a 5 fingered wave and all is good. Might of way is very hard to argue with.
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As a guy working on a bunker barge in the port of Rotterdam it keeps amaze me how different inland shipping is in America
Oh yes? I need to get to Rotterdam and shoot how you guys do it. Unlike many if my countrymen, I have traveled enough to see that other countries do things differently and some times in a much better way than we do here. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
You are a commercial vessel restricted by draft, people trying to push the boundaries with rights on sailboats is not a smart move.
I learned the lesson of gross tonnage wins all arguments from my dad when we started racing sailboats. Respect is key. I remember one day a guy decided to anchor up on a marker that was going to be the windward mark for a relatively large regatta.
While they had the right to be there, Race committee reminded them they were going to have 30-40+ ft sailboats coming at them all day, probably interrupting their fishing. They took the hint and choose a different spot.
Thanks for the tip about 13, i was unaware of that requirement.
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When I was a kid we had a 25 ft sailboat at the Long Beach Naval station when the battleships USS Missouri and New Jersey were docked there along with the odd submarine. Wide doesn't begin to describe what a low deck wide cross section ship looks like in person. They went out to sea a few times why we were sailing. The law of tonnage is VERY apparent right there and then and should be common sense for all boaters with ships larger than they are. Unfortunately common sense is not very common.
Hahaha. Very true. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Those are the guys I definitely do not want to play chicken with.
Something i listened to as a USN Midshipman, "Here lies the body of Michael O'Day. He died maintaining his right of way. He was dead right, but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong ..."
Thank you for watching. Oh yes. I'm familiar with that one. CUOTO
I'm Subscribed - love the easy mellow fact following reasoning you provide, PLEASE keep these video's coming...
Thank you so much for watching and the kind words. Oh, and for Subscribing!
I hear you, Captain. During my 20 years of driving a big truck, I had the same problems. You were Tug vs pleasure craft and I was truck vs car. You are so more diplomatic than me.
Hahaha..well thank you John. And thank you for watching.
"Red-to-Red, Green-to-Green, When in doubt, go in-between!"
"Tonnage Rules, cap!" I've actually used that exact phrase to ease the mind of the captain as he was going off-shift and his happy-go-lucky mate asked if I (a mere technician) wanted to drive for a while. Cap stopped in mid-step as he was headed down to his bunk. I could tell he was (justifiably) uneasy with his mate's offer. Cap looked out on the horizon and saw a large cargo container vessel heading out to sea as we were heading inward. She was a good 5 miles distant. Cap asked, "Son, you see that large cargo ship off to our port?" "Yes, sir." was my reply. "What are the rules of the road in this situation?" "Tonnage rules, cap." "... Good enough. Wake me when we hit the sea-buoy." Mental high-five...as I fish-tailed through the cut for the next 2 nm. Good times.
Very cool. Thank you for sharing and please consider subscribing.
If, to your STARBOARD, RED appear
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgement says is proper,
To starboard - or port - back - or stop her.
But when, upon your PORT, is seen
A steamer's starboard light of GREEN,
There's not so much for you to do,
For Green to Port keeps clear of you.
If to your starboard Red appear
It is your duty to keep clear.
Green to Green or Red to Red
In perfect safety go ahead.
But when both lights you see ahead
"Port your helm" (or starboard your wheel)
[alt] Your duty is to show your Red.
And show your Red.
A close-hauled ship you’ll never see,
Give way to one that’s running free.
It’s easier running free to steer
And that’s the reason she keeps clear.
Learned all of these and a few more as a kid. My father taught them to me from an Admiralty Basic Seamanship Handbook (c 1935).
Thank you for this video. I know everyone’s different but good to know that a call from a smaller vessel can be appreciated. I tend to just get names off the AIS early as I can and have the vhf at the ready and err on the side of not distracting you guys with a call unless, in my judgement, it seems helpful or necessary.
Thank you for watching. Just remember that when in a VTS area, we are relieved of duty to stand by on 16 as VTS does for us. CUOTO
Awesome videos Tim! I just discovered your channel and it's great to hear first hand tips from a tug Captain. Keep it up!!
I'm taking my bridge watch rating to work as a deckhand on tugs in western Canada, and have no experience working on any ships yet. Your tips and footage are just making me more excited to get underway! :)
That's great! I hope you find the work as rewarding as I have. Thank you for watching! Be safe!
Captain, A great review of boating etiquette and some very practical advice for all boaters. Thanks! I think I always understood the "Unwritten law of Tonnage", just never had it presented in such a thoughtful manner! CUOTO
Thank you Randy. CUOTO
And here in San Diego; military ships have the right of way PERIOD !
Well most of them are big and being armed, I'm thinking they wouldn't get an argument out of me. Lol. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
😂👍 priceless
@@TimBatSea I remember leaving San Diego bay on the USS Momsen DDG-92 , past the sub base but not to 1SD when the CO (Cdr. Kelly) got perturbed with a 50 to 100 ft yacht that was doing under 10 knots. I can't remember exactly what he said, but we rang up a flank bell and went around him rather quickly!
@@dundonrl hahaha. That's great. Thank you for watching.
And here in Norway military ships sail in constricted waters at night, with no lanterns and tracking turned of with ships that is constructed with little radar signature with idiots the helm not keeping proper lookout... Norway just lost a destroyer that way not long ago colliding with a large commercial vessel that even had the right of way.
If I were to become a merchant seamen I would be fourth generation seamen. I'm 43 and thinking about making the move. Something about ships, I just find fascinating. I love tug boats. My father was a engineer for McAllister and Moran. I should have followed in his foot steps. Last name is Papuchis my grandfather was a agent at the union hall here in Norfolk Va
Thank you for watching Danny. You might like to see a video I did a while back called "How to work on a Tugboat". CUOTO
Love the video! You can't argue with the laws of physics, they are absolute!
Absolutely! Thank you for watching.
@@TimBatSea "absolute"ly
👍
Awesome well stated. Here in the Europa / Netherlands it is a law .. that bigger has the right of way. No questions asked.
To add to you comment about staying away give room , pleasure boats divers can monitor the vhf radio and even ask for intentions / instructions.
Keep the talks brief and simple. Also if you drive you little boat with the ‘stay free , in open water ‘ you can enjoy all the big ships passing not bothering any or get in danger.
Agreed. Stay safe. I hope to get over to your area one day in my own boat, God willing. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
USCG retired, Law of Gross Tonnage “ HE WHO IS BIGGER WINS”. Nice E.R.
Thank you so much for watching and please consider subscribing.
Reminds me of the story of the US destroyer vs the lighthouse. Lol.
@@Page5framing i love that one!
@@TimBatSea Then there's the one about the destroyer and the "sampan". Oh, you haven't heard it? OK, here goes: back during Vietnam the Navy was tasked with patrolling the coast of South Vietnam and doing stop-and-inspect missions to prevent contrband from being smuggled into the South. As it happens, one foggy night a destroyer was tracking a pretty good-sized radar contact off the coast that was proceeding from north to south - perfect profile for a smuggler. But there was no moon and a pretty thick fog, so they couldn't get a visual on it. However, they figured it was big enough to have a radio, so they sent out a call: "Vessel off my starboard bow, this is USS TinCan - heave to for inspection". Nothing. No response. A few minutes later they fire a flare off, and repeat the message: "Vessel off my starboard bow, this is USS TinCan - heave to and stand by for inspection!". Still no response. Hmmm. Destroyer goes to general quarters, everybody gears up for something, and they up the ante a little: "Vessel off my starboard bow, this is USS TInCan: heave to immediately!". STILL no response. OK, by now everybody on the TinCan's bridge is getting a little pissed, so they issue their final ultimatum: "VESSEL OFF MY STARBOARD BOW, THIS IS USS TINCAN: HEAVE TO OR I WILL OPEN FIRE!!". Finally over the radio comes a response: "USS TinCan, this is USS New Jersey. Commence fire, sir". :-)
@@jarvisfamily3837 Hahaha. That's great! Thank you for sharing. And thank you for watching too. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
My dad told me years ago that "leisure veers for bread", i.e. those sailing for recreational should keep out of the way for those who sail for a living. I've kept to that "rule" all through my years of sailing our Swedish waters. Thanks for sharing.
I love that. I hope to sail in your beautiful Sweden one day. I am a follower and patron of the sailing channel "Sailing Ran". I love them. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
@@TimBatSea You've got yourself a new sub! "Sailing Ran" was a new nice acquaintance. Thanks for that.
The Baltic sea is a nice place to sail and has tons of interesting places to visit in Sweden as well as Germany, Finland, Estonia etc. Naturally I have to recommend my home waters in the Blekinge archipelago and especially Karlskrona, an old, and still very important, naval city appointed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Good job.
I've had dudes cross my bow cause they just got their ticket and think they have to pass port to port.
It never ceases to amaze me. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Radio, radio, radio! Communication is a wonderful resource! Thank you for mentioning channel 13.
Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Wish people on the road would understand that the amount of people who cut off 18 wheelers in their little Prius is absurd
Wow. I can't even imagine. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Thank you for the view of the Bayone Bridge. You provide excellent advice to anyone willing to listen. Size, indeed, does matter.
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Very good video - gives us all a good insight into the "Law of Tonnage". Keep up the good work @TimBatSea
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A nostalgic surprise to see the Norwegian Gem! I worked on that ship for a year and always loved watching you guys bring in the barges in the morning for bunkering. Thanks for the video :)
Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing. I try to post new content every Tuesday.
The one I like is “constrained by draft”.
Yes, but you can't just claim it. You have to hang day shapes and lights.
Thanks for your video and appreciate the common sense approach towards seamanship. I've tried to explain the 'rule of tonnage' to friends that boat recreationally but I lack your gift of diction.
Mainly wanted to say hello from the West coast of Canada and the Fraser River! Next time the salmon are running and we're coming into the river I'll fire up the go pro and you can get a look at the sports fishers hanging on until the last possible second to get out of the way. We tow nearly everything on the wire here, and I think there is a misconception that all we will have to move is the 80' tug and not the 300' barge to evade someone. Thankfully mishaps are uncommon and usually everyone stays out of the cabbage.
Looking forward to next week's video!
Very Cool. I haven't worked on the west coast, but the best fishing on the side must be in the center of the channel (because that's where everyone seems to want to fish). I'm trying to put together a video for next week about different make ups. I hope you won't mind me using your story about towing on the wire? I was always a wire guy until a couple of years ago and a contract and boat change. Lost a wire once in buzzard's bay when a sport fishing boat went in between me and the barge. I pulled them back to sink the wire, he went through without a problem, but our wire snagged a rock or something and was all fishhooks and had to be replaced. I always think of that guy.... He's walking around today never knowing had we not sunk the wire, he'd be dead and his Viking would be toast.
9:00 pulling into Buckeye Baltimore Md. I load a truck tanker out of there almost every day.
Shhhhhhh... Don't tell. You'll get me in trouble. But good eyes to notice. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Once more again, thank you Capt Tim!
Always informative.
Thank you for watching Charles. CUOTO
I mean,.... if he’s bigger, he’s gonna win
Quite smart to stay out of his way
Absolutely. Thank you for watching.
I am the same as you but always go by ColRegs Rule 3 (General Definitions), "A vessel constrained by her draught" has right of way to a smaller vessel by which the smaller vessel is more manoeuvrable to the larger, and Rule 18 in the ColRegs. Most recreational vessels just go by their feeling if they will get past or not.. and being an Australian Volunteer Coast Guard skipper for over 10 years I see this very often in Port Phillip. If each person like you say use a bit of CDF (which is not as common these days) we would all get along nicely and safely, but some just have to push their chest and beat their drum for the rules when just a slight change of direction in advance would change it all and make things so much easier and more pleasurable for everyone. Great stuff.
Thank you for watching Tim. CUOTO
There’s no replacement for displacement.
That's what the Big Block guys say. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Ive always thought of the Steering and Sailing Rules as meant to help other predict where my vessel will be. Communicating early (as you mention) is a great way to reduce the risk of collision.
Thank you for watching Rick. I think it is important to remember that the rules are intended to prevent a collision and not cause one. Be safe out there and I'll CUOTO
Good stuff people listen
Thank you so much for watching.
Very informative. Thanks. I'm the weisenheimer that made the "hairy fire hazzard" comment a few weeks ago. I really like this channel. I'm a land sailor but I'm familiar with~ 95+% of all the scenes. Thanks again.
Hahahaha. I don't think I saw that, but it's a good one. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Move drilling rigs on land, same rule on bush, ice, or even high grade road. Why? Cuz a kenworth can hookup to pickup truck & pull him out outta the ditch, but it dont work the other way around.
Hahahah that's a good one. We sometimes say about lil boats that won't get out of the way "I've found that if they don't move horizontally, they will move vertically". Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Once a great captain told me to give way to people who are working on the sea, just out of respect. We were sailing for fun. For them that situation was: earning a living, they had to cross, it was livelyhood, probably stress etc. It was years ago but I am still following that rule be it on water, driving or walking. When I am a tourist/passer by, then I give way to people who are working. Respect.
Thank you for watching Rafal. Respect goes a long way! Thank you very much.
We always called it "The Bigger Boat Rule". I'll never forget a radio exchange one summer afternoon (hazy, wind SW 10-15, 2-3' chop) in Buzzards Bay waiting for the current to turn East in the Canal. Ch16 "Calling the tug and barge off Wings Neck-this is the sailboat off your right side, I intend to keep going and pass in front of you" 20 seconds of silence, you could almost feel the wheels turning in the wheelhouse of the Bouchard tug with the large gasoline barge all shortened up on the wire- then in a total Brooklyn accent " Well Skipper it's your boat -go ahead if you think you'll make it" No response but 5 minutes later the sailboat came about and headed back towards the Cape.
Lol. Oh yes. But Ed, please remember to try not to directly name, tugs, companies or customers on here. It gets me in trouble. CUOTO
GREAT video, thanks! As a small-boat sailor my favorite feature of my AIS transponder is that I can see the names of the commercial vessels on my nav software and then call them on 13 to let them know that I'm going to maneuver to stay WAY THE HELL AWAY from them. The captains are always extremely courteous, especially the WA state ferry captains. Recreational boaters should be maintaining a watch on the VTS channel also IMHO, if for no other reason than to hear how the pros communicate on the water.
Thank you for watching. I sure do love when someone makes contact with me on 13. Just know that they see me and what their intentions are puts one's mind at ease.
Hi man , just wanted to say great points you make-,also I found that most rec.craft almost always stay on ch.16 thinking that's the main channel for rec. craft- (M-24/MED-2 cert. in Syd harbour -NSW).
@@kenlee-97 Thank you for watching Kem. Tuesday's video is about VHF and specifically about using channel 13. But yes, channel 16 is the international calling and distress frequency.
This is something I've always applied to the road because it simply makes sense. I'll tripple check those crosswalks because sure as a pedestrian I might have what I call 'theoretical right of way' but those cars and trucks have the real right of way
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Great videos! RE: recreational boaters and misjudging distances of ships: I had my Coast Guard Captains license while I boated the 1000 Islands. I taught charting and instrument navigation to boaters at various experience levels. A consistent issue was teaching them to be vigilant for the big ships. They are fast, virtually silent and seemingly invisible against the ever changing shorelines -- and that was during the day! Love your approach and content! You take a virtually unattainable position and subsequent experience and make it applicable for the dude weekending on a 17' Bayliner. You should do a vid on properly deploying an anchor.
Thank you very much for watching and please consider subscribing. I think that is a great idea. I'm on it!
@@TimBatSea And I subscribed! Looking forward to seeing that video.
The elbow cross ledge in the Delaware Bay used to be an amazing place to fish but in recent years has greatly declined do mostly to dredging in the upper part of the river. My parent's had a place in Fortescue NJ, Just sold it 2yrs ago I was always amazed how big some of those ships were close up navigating that channel because there's only about 15 to 20ft of water on either side of it. The steep drop off is what attracted a lot of fish.
Oh yes. So you were one of the guys fishing in the channel? Lol. Just kidding. Thank you for watching.
I like the last part of your video, when you're tying up to the Hess fueling station and right next door is Corman imbach Marine, I used to work there when I was just Imbach Marine as a barge crane operator. Brings back a lot of memories. I enjoy your videos keep them up please
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The "law of tonnage" harks back to the days of the Greek city-state of Rhodes, which codified one of the first laws of the sea, which was "The larger ship shall have the right of way", or words to that effect. But that was often hard to judge, so modern rules of the road have various categories which replace "the bigger vessel" with "vessel under sail", "vessel constrained by draft", "vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver", etc. Perfect example of that: back in 1981 I was conning the ship I was stationed on (USS Niagara Falls AFS-3) out from NAS Alameda, under the Bay Bridge, hang a left at Alcatraz, and out the Golden Gate to the sea. Just after we made our starboard turn from the air station channel onto the northerly track we had to use to go under the Bay Bridge I saw a little sailboat off our starboard bow. I remember it clearly - it was about a 25' long, maroon hull, under sail, close-hauled on a port tack, approaching our bow from starboard to port, and pretty much CBDR (constant bearing, decreasing range - or, in other words, a collision in the making). I eyeballed him through my binoculars and could see this guy was watching us closely, so he knew what was going on. I kind of had the feeling that there might have been some "stick it to the military-industrial complex" thoughts bubbling through his head, but who knows - maybe the guy just liked playing "chicken" in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Whatever. I glanced up at the signal shrouds and was reassured to note that there was a large black cylinder - the day shape for "vessel constrained by draft" - blowing in the breeze for, as I knew, one of the few times that a vessel under power, such as our ship, has right of way over a vessel under sail is when the vessel under power is "constrained by draft" - which is short for "everything outside of the buoyed channel is too shallow for me to stay afloat in, so I get to stay in the channel and you, little sailboat guy, have to get out of my way". So I grabbed the mic and said, "Bosun's mate of the watch - sound three short blasts on the ships whistle". BOOOOMP! BOOOOMP! BOOOOMP! Little sailboat dude tacks to port about 90 degrees and proceeds down my starboard side shaking his fist at us and, if the motions his mouth were making were any indication, hurling invectives in our general direction. Wanted to tell him, "Friend, if we collided you wouldn't do so much as scratch our paint - and due to our inability to maneuver we couldn't even stop - all we could do is call the Coastie's on Yerba Buena Island and ask them to fish your sorry butt out of the bay" but I contented myself with a smile and a friendly wave.
First of all, a big thank you for your service! Thank you also for sharing this story. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already. I really appreciate you taking the time to write this.
I loved it. I live in philly and go over the bridge everyday!
As a pleasure boater myself.
I go to the to the bay,
to stay out of your way!
Thank you for watching David and welcome to the channel. Please consider Subscribing. I try to post new content every Tuesday.
Great video and you're absolutely right ....boat smarter not harder and get out the way
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Here in Seattle, in the Montlake cut we have rowers by the dozen. As you said, they never realize how much closer we are to them than they are to us. Perspective.
Yes Sir. Thank you.
Excellent explanation. Created in a very professional manner
Thank you so much for watching and please consider subscribing.
I think this video should be required to be viewed by any and all people before launching a boat, and renewing a registration! I've played on a few boats, from a 14ft row boat to sucking up lobster bedrooms in the channel from miami to key west in a 60ft Bertram in the dark. (there's some other people that need some lessons of how things work) That has to be THE most pleasant and proper way to say "don't be a jacka**" that I have ever heard....Well said!
Thank you very much for your kind words Craig! I really appreciate them.
I'm studying how to sail and I knew part what you said but the other part was really helpful I also thought it was like a road that you had to stay on one side of the river it was the ships pass you on the other thank you and if I see you on the water I make sure I'll stay out of your way
Thank you for watching. It may help to remember that the rules are intended to prevent a collision, not cause one. Be safe out there, and please consider subscribing.
This is all very valuable information..
my story..
many years ago, when I was taking a sailing course out of Weehawken, NJ... at the end of the course, my son and I were sent out in a very small sailboat... (no motor, no radio).. we just needed to sail out into the lower Hudson harbor.. everything going great, having a wonderful time
and then..
The wind died... totally.. nothing.. so .. here we are in the middle of a very busy channel going nowhere!!!.. coming down on us, heading out to sea, a very large garbage barge...
We immediately started paddling our butts off.. the tug sounding it's horn... us paddling!!!
we managed to get out of the way.. but I noticed that with no wind the tide was going out.. drifting towards the open ocean..
Having looked at the charts of the area we were sailing in, i had noticed some very shallow water near the base of the Statue of Liberty... between drifting and paddleing we managed to ground ourselves, lightly..
After about 90 minutes, somebody from the sailing school came looking for us.. scolding us about running aground... I mentioned to them that the choices were, get hit by a barge, drift out to sea, or run aground...
Thank you for watching and welcome to the channel Andrew. Wow! That's quite an introduction to sailing! CUOTO
Great video and having spent time on both commercial and recreational vessels. I've found that 99% of the time a simple call on the radio makes life easier and safer for both when maneuvering in tight areas.
Now if we could get the super captains that feel their 20-40ft sailboats always have the right of way no matter what while under sail to listen.
Oh boy...... Yes, it sure can test a man's resolve at times out here. Thank you for watching.
I must be one of the few recreational boaters that think the way you do, I was finding myself thinking I would do things before you actually said it. Still learned something from this video so thanks!
Thank you very much for watching James. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already. I try to post new content every Tuesday.
@@TimBatSea I did I like boat stuff
Points well made! Recreational boaters have little to no practical on-water experience. They either think they can do anything they please, or they think they only pass port to port and must stay in the channel no matter what. My favorite is that they actually think the helmsman on a 1000 foot ship can see a 15 foot boat dead ahead 100 feet off his bow. I hope one day recreational boaters will have to be licensed similar to commercial mariners. At least in high traffic ports and rivers.
Thank you for watching Bill. Yes, the ocean is the last bastion for any a$$hole with money to put down on a boat and sail away into the sunset with out any training. Be safe out there my friend.
I'm a trucker and we have to account for how much weight we are hauling =how much stopping distance and I was curious how much time and space do you need to stop or turn that big vessel.thank you I love videos and subscribed
Thank you very much for watching Jose. So you quest in not easy to answer. First is that there could be in the future, a liability issue if I ever have to testify, anything I say here could haunt me there. Then there are a ton of veritables, makeup (on the wire, push gear, along side) then things like lite or loaded, and if course wind and tide. So even if I gave you time or distance, it would only be good for the makeup, load and weather and speed at that moment. Lets just say that a loaded barge with a fair current at speed, will take a long long time to stop.
One of my favorite videos. it is one of your older posts. So I saw the different format. Fast forwarded video with voiceover. It was so soothing actually hearing all this wisdom. I love it that a Harbor has rules but captaining also requires good common sense and good judgment and just calling on 13 saying I see you and you see me, say can you move over a little bit?
You are correct Bruce. Thank you for watching. CUOTO
Absolutely love your videos and your kind demeanor. I love boats of all sizes and watching them and your videos is like a great meditation. Really appreciate your manner of teaching nubes like me. Keep it up and thank you!
Thank you David. I really appreciate it. Comments like yours are exactly why I enjoy making these videos. CUOTO
As a Seafarer from Australia I cannot agree more. In the ColReg's it is stated that each master of a vessel is responsible in the case of a collision, meaning that all parties are accountable for failing to avoid a collision. This rule should be taken on land!
Hello Sean down under! Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
Thanks, Capt., enjoyed riding along. As a non-mariner, I enjoyed the insight of the law of tonnage. It seems to be a principle one can apply to many areas of life, not just to the sea.
Yes Sir! And thank you for watching. If you haven't already, please consider subscribing.
Thanks again. Look forward to the next one.
Awesome video~!
I guess same rules apply for driving as well, I still remember the time when I tried to keep to my lane after a heavy snowfall, and the instructor say hey don't step on the deep snow just follow everyone else's track! Makes great sense
Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
Love your videos. I have a ton of time on the water myself. All via canoe however. Lol. Fascinating to see you and your crew work. Thank you.
Thank you so much for watching and please consider subscribing.
My father had a saying. You may be in the right, but don't be dead right.
I owned a 10m wooden inshore motor yacht, took the Inshore Skippers ticket mainly for insurance purposes, but also to gain experience from an old man of the sea.
Talking to other boaters they did not gain the knowledge I did as they had younger less experienced instructors.
So in the 15 years I owned the boat I sailed the East coast of UK in many of the busiest shipping waters, the Thames estuary, Felixstowe, the Humber. Crossed the English channel many times to France, Belgium and my favourite boating country Holland, the inland boating and commercial freight system is amazing.
Crossing the English channel, the busiest shipping channel in the world is not for the faint hearted. But aiming at the stern of vessels and as you say keeping the radio channel open on in our case Ch16. We have dual sets tuned to the local area Ch and Ch16, we did have a run in once with a Thames pilot who claimed the boat in front made him order a heading change and slow ahead, I was following him and he didn't do any of this, but I did ask why he didn't call. He said he did on a different commercial channel that was not listed in the almanac. My answer to that was why not call on Ch16. He walked away then and never did report the boat.
By the way may old boat helped in the rescue at DUNKIRK 1940 and is a member of The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. 50 boats will be making the crossing to Dunkirk from Dover, This May to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Evacuation of Dunkirk. The fleet will be escorted by vessels from the Royal Navy, Lifeboats from The RNLI and volunteer Navy boats. It's great to hear the Navy ship call up a cargo ship and ask for a slight course change, when no change was made the navy called again War Ship calling vessel ________ change course to _____ immediately, The vessel complied and as they passed astern the whole crew were out on deck waving at us, they even dipped their ensign, a great sign of respect. Mind you it did course a flurry for as we had to acknowledge the salute.
In the skipper course I was taught about constrained by depth, but the best one to remember is I'm bigger than you.
Thanks for the video, I'm now a subscriber.
Wow. So much to unpack here. First of all, I can't tell you the respect I have for anyone taking on the work and expense and responsibility of owning a boat of that age and history! Bravo!
I agree with your father's assessment. I wish I could make the trip with you in May. So cool! Be safe and thank you for watching and subscribing!
@@TimBatSea Thanks for that, I do ramble on once I get in gear.
Happy Birthday Capt. Tim! Thank you for all your informative Videos. And thank you so Much for showing us those Beautiful Caterpillar Mains Air starting. Just Beautiful! Aloha From Hawaii!
Thank you very much George! CUOTO
This video gave a pretty good bit of input. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for watching.
Great advice and very well put across. Thanks 😊
Thank you for watching. If you are new to the channel, Welcome. Please consider subscribing. I try to post new content every Tuesday. CUOTO
Probably the best rule of all, especially when you're a recreational boater interacting with people that are making their living on the water -- be courteous. When I was a kid, it was called the Golden Rule. Treat others as you'd like them to treat you. It's just as important on the water as anywhere else. Especially, it seems, these days.
Thank you for watching Tom. Please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
About 45 years ago, I was domiciled in PR. A doctor friend of mine bought a new sailboat and since I had a fresh "6-Pac" in my pocket he asked me to give him some hints on operating the boat. We were sailing in San Juan Harbor on a tack toward the narrowing opening off of El Morro Fortress. The doc had put up the sails and killed the engine, and up behind us came a cruise ship intent on passing out to the Atlantic. I called out the traffic, but the doc did not move. The ship sounded 5 with the horn with crew members now out on the wings of the bridge and forward looking at us. Again I pleaded for him to tack out of the way immediately or start engine and clear the channel. He replied, "I'm under sail and I have the right of away". We began to argue for control when his 4'9" wife appeared in the companionway and delivered in the best New York Puerto Rican accented Spanglish a dress down that would have made an Admiral blush. The engine started and we tacked immediately. It was a very quiet sail back to the marina, but I knew who in that family had the real command ability.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Thank you very Mike for the fist laugh of the morning. All of us that are in love with a hot blooded Latina have all heard that tone and cadence more than a few times. 😂 Thank you for watching. CUOTO
Some folks who operate personal pleasure craft could learn a great deal from you. I've watched your video(s) regarding maintenance and familiarity of the basic maritime rules of the road. You've probably seen this video of a small boat which broke down and was anchored in the shipping channel near New York/New Jersey ports, completely unaware of an approaching fuel tanker. Of course, the tanker skipper saves the day:
"At 1300 when it was apparent the small craft was either unaware of the Horizons approach or disregarding right of way rules, Captain Skolos of the Horizon ordered steerage only speed (3-4kts) and sounded whistle and bells as well as trying to raise pleasure craft on VHF 16 & 9. (not on this video) At 13:14 he ordered course to the extreme starboard side of the channel. The Horizon passed within 20 ft (estimated) of the anchored craft. The U.S.C.G. obtained Towboat U.S. records indicating the captain of the pleasure craft "did not realize" he was anchored mid-channel, and was distracted by trying to get his engine started, he was "unaware" of the fuel tanker ship off his port beam. This incident is the fault of the pleasure boat captain who could have drifted safely out of the busy shipping channel and set his anchor in ample water for a vessel of his size.
ruclips.net/video/dW_dk2NCOUU/видео.html
I should have known better than to have clicked on the link...... I am so mad right now!!!!! So many people's lives could have been effected by one person's poor judgment or ignorance. I am so afraid that one day I will be involved with a maritime casualty that may not be my fault, but I will have to live with the knowledge that someone is dead because I couldn't stop or get out of the way. Thank you for watching. CUOTO
Enjoyed this video,should be required by all pleasure boat classes.I live on the Columbia River At Astoria Oregon.During late summer sport fishing season is going.The river and bar pilots have one hard time getting through the channel.The Coast Guard is busy clearing channel for ships and commercial traffic.Thanks
I bet. I've never been out there, but it seems to be well covered on TV showing how sporty the bar gets.
Tim, All of your advice is good to remember and use. However, there have been too many times that commercial ships, with poor collision avoidance equipment and typically poorly-trained crews, have used the excuse of the "Law of Gross Tonnage" to justify why they didn't maneuver to avoid a collision with a sailboat or other small boat that was underway and maneuvering in accordance with COLREGS, whether they could see it or not.
I am a retired submariner with 22 years of experience in large ship driving as well as a lifetime of experience sailing. I myself experienced a VERY close call while driving a submarine on the surface, in a heavy fog, at night, in the inbound San Juan de Luca Straights shipping lane, when a 40 foot single-handed sailboat, motoring across the lane (stupid in those conditions), crossed the bow of my 560 foot, 18,000 ton submarine. We were doing everything absolutely right (slowed, fog signals, sub ID beacon, two radars, extra watchstanders and lookouts (including the CO and XO themselves) and absolutely had the right-of-way. Yet, we were vigilant, finally saw him at about 100 yards, when it was almost too late to maneuver, and went Back Emergency and hard right rudder to avoid him - we picked him up with our bow wave and he slid off the port side, narrowly escaping with his life.
This is a perfect example of how inadequate RADAR is at picking up small contacts, yet we (large ship drivers) continue to use it for collision avoidance. Most crews don't even know how to use RADAR effectively, because it's not easy. AIS is no better, as a number of vessels don't carry it, regardless of the regulations, and it was never meant for smaller vessels.
Too many commercial ships don't ever see small boats because they have poorly-designed equipment and ARE NOT VIGILANT, yet justify their inaction with either the "Law of Gross Tonnage" or "Big Ocean/Small Ship Principle" - NEITHER of these are laws and are no justification for running over a small vessel. Commercial shipping runs with too few crew members with all too little training, who aren't vigilant in their jobs and either don't see smaller contacts or refuse to maneuver when they do. We, as smaller vessel mariners, have looked the other way for far too long - it's time commercial shipping companies are held accountable for providing effective collision-avoidance equipment (which incidentally doesn't exist... yet) and adequate training and standards of watchstanding for their crews.
Enigma Marine Electronics is my company, and we are starting to do something about it. We have a system that IS effective at collision avoidance for ALL vessels, especially smaller ones, but it's going to take a LOT of effort to achieve the DHS mandate it needs to BE effective. Time alone will tell whether anyone is really serious about protecting smaller vessels or not. I'm betting they are!
Thank you for watching William. Please consider subscribing. I try to post new content every Tuesday. CUOTO
Nice to hear the sound of air starters. We had them on our draglines.
Cool. My mate gave me the idea that some people might like to hear them start up. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
The Rule of Tonnage is pure COMMON SENCE. Everyone of us LEARNED IT on the Playground at RECESS the our first day. Stay Out of the Way of the Bigger Guy. IT IS the way of LIFE. Every Living Animal Functions by It. Nature endows the large with the POWER to dominate and the small with the Agility and Speed to escape. Regardless of the Kingdom of the Animal, Yes, That's What WE Are, Only the Most Fool Hardy take on One which Is Larger. The Option To Give Way always Exists and Most Often Should Be Used. sdh in CT
Hahahaha. True. I sailed with a little grumpy old engineer who used say "being big didn't help the dinosaurs". Lol. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
During Vietnam I was in the Navy. A destroyer turned in front of a carrier on Yankee Station. The destroyer was cut in half. Seventy eight men died. The bow sank. The stern was towed into Subic Bay. 80,000 tons vs 5,000 tons.
So sad. Thank you for your service and for sharing the story. Be safe my brother.
Superb. Professional. Good to listen to.
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Good morning Tim, Thank you for explaining things!! Even on the road you can experience similar problems!!! It’s just that some people are very inconsiderate!!! Anyway you take care and catch you next time 👍😎🇬🇧.
Thank you Wayne. By the way, I was looking at your emojis and thought how odd it is that a Brit is wearing sunglasses. You must be on vacation! Lol. Be safe my brother.
Hi Tim, just trying to be cool!!! There’s not much sun with all the rain we’ve been having!!! Will need a snorkel and goggles Ha Ha!!!! You take care and thank you for video 👍😎🇬🇧.
Cheers mate! , great vid..
I was only ever a marine fitter.. etc. and got to do/ spend a bit of time on working trips.., absolutely loved me time on the water.. it’s such a privilege the planet gives in our oceans n waterway🌹
I’d must see if I can do more of it.. getting old at 54😂 great vid, cheers from 🇳🇿👍
It's never to late. You just hurt more and taking stupid orders from kids gets harder as we age. But I'm sure you can put your mind and back into it. Thank you for watching and please consider subscribing.
TimBatSea
Mate smashed sub on the first vid 1/2 hr ago😂, now I’ve got myself all remembering.. those days, best day I ever had was covered in shit n mussel mush working on a guys barge hauling n fixing mooring.... wet n heavy chains etc head to toe in shit.. beautiful day Hauraki gulf.., come n have a look see if it ain’t a most beautiful cruising spot.
We were once on a cruise ship getting underway from the Port of Istanbul. The Bosphorus Strait is open enough at the cruise port that a ship can use thrusters to get off without a tug. We were watching from the bow on the promenade deck as the ship set out across the extremely busy waterway. We headed right at a big clot of 50 or so tiny fishing boats sitting right in the middle of our channel. They were a ways off and one long blast on the horn got them all busy getting out of the way. All but one. We could see the fisherman frantically wrapping his cord and yanking... one time... twice... three... four... five... that's when five horn blasts came. The cruise ship couldn't do much because a course deviation would have run down other boats. Finally the fisherman's motor caught and he pot pot pot potted safely out of the way. Barely. Everyone understood the unwritten law of tonnage that day, but the fisherman got a personal review of the unwritten corollary on keeping your gear in order.
Wow! Great story. Thank you for sharing. If you haven't already, please consider subscribing.