By Bob Currie, Recreational Boating Safety Specialist, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Galveston Flotilla.
Keep rollin’, rollin’ rollin,
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them dogies rollin, rawhide
Through rain and wind and weather
Hell bent for leather
Wishin’ my gal was by my side
All the things I’m missin’
Good vittles, love and kissin’
Are waiting at the end of my ride

The lyrics of the Rawhide television series theme song tell a tale of a cowhand’s hard work fighting the elements and of the cowhand’s incentive to work in the rain and wind and weather. The cowhand has no choice about working in bad weather, but we recreational boaters do. We do not have to get out there when the weather is bad, and we can come in when it begins to turn bad. Let’s look at what we are up against when things go bad.

The Station Galveston Flotilla of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary operates out of the USCG Station Galveston base on Galveston Island. They aid the Coast Guard by providing maritime observation patrols in Galveston Bay; by providing recreational boating vessel safety checks; and by working alongside Coast Guard members in maritime accident investigation, small boat training, Aids to Navigation verification, in the galley, and watch standing.

Fog
By now everyone has heard about the collision between the tanker and the fishing vessel that resulted in the loss of three lives. It happened in the fog. Bad things happen in the water when there is fog. One of our primary collision avoidance systems is shut down when the fog rolls in. I am talking about the mandatory lookout. A visual lookout is required by regulations. Rule 5 of the Rules of the Road says:

“Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.”

The Rules of the Road go into depth about operating a boat when visibility is restricted. The term “restricted visibility” means “any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy thunderstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.” Here is the rule:

Rule 19 – Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility
(a) This rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.
(b) Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power-driven vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate maneuver.
(c) Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility when complying with Rules 4-10 (Steering and Sailing Rules).
(d) A vessel which detects by radar alone the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close-quarters situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when such action consists of an alteration in course, so far as possible the following shall be avoided:
(i) An alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken (KEEP RIGHT!);
(ii) An alteration of course toward a vessel abeam or abaft of beam (DON’T TURN TOWARD A BOAT LOCATED ON YOUR SIDE OR LOCATED BEHIND YOU).
(e) Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with another vessel forward of her beam, shall reduce her speed to be the minimum at which she can be kept on her course. She shall if necessary take all her way off (STOP) and in any event navigate with extreme caution until the danger of collision is over.

Rule 35 – Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility
In areas of restricted visibility, whether by day or night the signals prescribed in this Rule shall be used as follows:
(a) A power-driven vessel making way through the water shall sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes one prolonged blast (FOUR TO SIX SECONDS DURATION).
(b) A power-driven vessel underway but stopped and making no way through the water shall sound at intervals of no more than 2 minutes two prolonged blasts in succession with an interval of about 2 seconds between them.
(c) A vessel not under command, a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver (whether underway or at anchor), a vessel constrained by her draft, a sailing vessel, a vessel engaged in fishing and a vessel engaged in towing or pushing shall, instead of the signals prescribed in Rule 35(a) or (b), sound at intervals of not more than 2 minutes three blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by two short blasts.
(d) INTERNATIONAL A vessel engaged in fishing, when at anchor, and a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver when carrying out her work at anchor, shall instead of the signals prescribed in Rule 35(g) sound the signal prescribed in Rule 35(c).
(e) A vessel towed or if more than one vessel is towed the last vessel of the tow, if manned, shall at intervals of not more than 2 minutes sound four blasts in succession, namely one prolonged followed by three short blasts. When practicable, this signal shall be made by the towing vessel.
(f) When a pushing vessel and a vessel being pushed ahead are rigidly connected in a composite unit they shall be regarded as a power-driven vessel and shall give the signals prescribed in Rule 35(a) or (b).
(g) A vessel at anchor shall at intervals of not more than 1 minute ring the bell rapidly for about 5 seconds, In a vessel 100 meters or more in length the bell shall be sounded in the forepart of the vessel and immediately after the ringing of the bell the gong shall be sounded rapidly for about 5 seconds in the after part of the vessel. A vessel at anchor may in addition sound three blasts in succession, namely, one short, one long and one short blast, to give warning of her position and of the possibility of collision to an approaching vessel.
(h) A vessel aground shall give the bell signal and if required the gong signal prescribed in Rule 35(g) and shall, in addition, give three separate and distinct stroked on the bell immediately before and after the rapid ringing of the bell. A vessel aground may in addition sound an appropriate whistle signal.
(i) A vessel of 12 meters or more but less than 20 meters in length shall not be obliged to give the bell signals prescribed in Rule 35(g) and (h). However, if she does not, she shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
(j) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length shall not be obliged to give the above mentioned signals, but, if she does not, shall make some other efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than 2 minutes.
(k) A pilot vessel when engaged on pilotage duty may, in addition to the signals prescribed in Rule 35(a), (b) or (g), sound an identity signal consisting of four short blasts.
(l) INLAND The following vessels shall not be required to sound signals as prescribed in Rule 35(g) when anchored in a special anchorage area designated by the Coast Guard:
(i) A vessel of less than 20 meters in length; and
(ii) A barge, canal boat, scow, or other nondescript craft.

Now that we have a clear understanding of conduct of vessels in restricted visibility and the sound signals required to be given in restricted visibility, we can get out there in the fog and operate safely, right? Don’t look for me in the fog. I won’t be there, and I hope in light of recent events that you won’t be either. Even the professionals have a rough time.

Wind
My telephone rang at 7:30 am Sunday morning. It was the Galveston Coast Guard Watchstander, who had one of our Coast Guard 29-foot small boats on the radio asking for advice on towing a 16-foot aluminum boat with three persons onboard to a safe ramp. Just so you know, the Watchstander is an Auxiliarist in my flotilla. He stands two watches back to back on certain weekends. I am in training to do the same and have stood 6 watches so far. Three duck hunters in a jon boat were located off Siever’s Cove, but the Coast Guard small boat crew did not know if there was a ramp nearby. I was able to tell them about the ramp at the Yacht Club Basin Marina, and they safely towed the vessel to the marina. I knew the wind was blowing because it was rocking my cabin. I looked at the weather for the area and saw that winds were out of the north northeast at 30 mph. Yes, 30 mph. There was a small craft advisory in effect. Siever’s Cove is difficult to navigate when winds are half that speed. Old Rowdy Yates may have been able to round up those dogies in such a wind, but trying to operate a small craft under these conditions is ill-advised. My friend and fellow Auxiliarist said there were whitecaps in Galveston Channel, which is usually protected from the wind to a degree. A north wind makes the Galveston East Bay and Siever’s Cove in particular as rough as the Atlantic Ocean, or so it seems.

Summary
Bad weather is never the time to operate a recreational vessel, especially when there is restricted visibility. Those mariners who might find themselves caught in situations where there is restricted visibility should learn the various whistle, bell and gong signals used by vessels. Knowing the different patterns could save your life.

For more information on boating safety, please visit the Official Website of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division at www.uscgboating.org. Questions about the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or our free Vessel Safety Check program may be directed to me at [email protected]. I am available to perform free Vessel Safety Checks, and I will come to your location to perform them. SAFE BOATING!

[1-20-2020]