Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Running lights

["Rob Carlson" <rob.carlson@verizon.net>]

Per the US Coast Guard's "Rules of the Road" navigation lights are required
for all vessels; the requirement for a stern light is dependant upon length
>40m, I think.  The rules also describe the Orange submarine light.
Contrary to the "Rules of the Road"  the US Coast Guard Circular #5-93 "
Guidance for Certification of Passenger Carrying Submersibles"  says that
the intermittant flashing amger light allowed for use on submersibles is not
applicable to passenger carrying submarines and recreational submarines.  In
the US, the submarine beacon is rarely used by military submarines though it
is equipped with one - the only place might be in the Medeteranean and
Baltic where, as Carsten noted, it is more commonly recognized by mariners.

Herves comments about when you need the lights is correct but there is a
practical aspect.  Submarines that surface at night will be dark but an
effort must be made to get the lights rigged as soon as possible.
Typically, once the sail/bridge is manned the lights are rigged and turned
on at dusk.  From a safety standpoint, it would make sense as part of
everyone's dive plan to make every attempt to surface before dusk to allow
time to rig any required lights.

Registration:  I'm pretty sure that any boat over 3m requires a US Coast
Guard registration number for US lakes and territorial waters.  I know we
had to have one on a 10 ft motor boat so I see no exception to the rule for
a PSUB.

- Rob
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Pier" <caribsub@coqui.net>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 1:19 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Running lights


> US Coats Guards regulations require a yellow flashing / rotation light for
> any powered submarines on the highest point of the vessel in  plus of the
> navigation lights.
> Lights are required 30 mn before sun set as soon as the sub is surfacing
> With no lights a submarine is prohibited to be at sea at night. And Night
> time starts before sun set !
> This is a serious matter, not only you would get fined for sailing a
> submarine at night without proper lights but you could trigger a hunt and
an
> arrest by law enforcement agencies thinking it was a smuggler sub.
> The color orange is dedicated to emergency signals and displays along
black,
> wheather it is a flag, a flare, a smoke generator , a light or a flag.
> Submarines are not to display orange lights for navigation.
> Human propelled subs, like diver propulsion vehicles and other BOBs are
not
> required to get a registration number.
> Herve
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Carsten Standfuß <MerlinSub@t-online.de>
> To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2001 3:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Running lights
>
>
> > Hi Mike, running lights  on submarine sails are a real problem..
> >
> > The sail is small in size to the hole boat - and normaly the only place
> > were you can fit the lights  - so the white top light and the red - port
> > light
> > and the green starboard side light are close together - indicate
> > more a  quick and moveable 6 m (20 ft) / 2 t  sail boat than a heavy and
> > slow
> > 16 m (52 ft) / 57 t submarine..
> >
> > For example the top light and the port/starborad side lights in CSSX
> > will
> > all close together in one pressure tight arcylic mast - the red/green
> > light will be a combination light and the top light will be 1 m above ..
> >
> > This is not according to the rules for boat longer than 7 m (23 ft)..
> > and for this reasopn I will have a additional orange rotation light ..
> >
> > The german navy submarine use the same light - this light is not listed
> > in any national or international convention light book  - but
> > anybody here in the Baltic and the North sea are knows that this
> > additional light indicates a slow, not very manoverale heavy and
> > deep in the water ---> submarine..
> >
> > Anybody with a small motorboat/sailboat sailing at night in a area of
> > high trafic will understand why this is a probblem ..
> >
> > During my first night sail with my first own small boat in the mouth
> > of the river weser - on left side a hopper with more lights than a
> > chrismas tree and right two or more fast big cargo freighter with 15-20
> > knots from two directions, 10 more sportsboats maybe from 5 directions
> > - is like a little - the year change party...
> >
> > see you - Carsten
> >
> >
> > "Michael B. Holt" schrieb:
> > >
> > > I see that all ships and boats have to have running lights.  When
> > > woould they have to turned if the submarine surfaced after dark?
> > > How long after surfacing does one have to have them illuminated?
> > >
> > > Looking at the rules for Virginia, I see that registration is not
> > > required for man-propelled boats under 16 feet. Presumably, this
> > > means that a replica of ARGONAUT JUNIOR would not need numbers ...
> > >
> > > Mike
> >
> >
>