We can't let this thread end!! I guess I might have missed the answer at some point to the original question regarding four short blasts. But, my memory is that this was (prior to the 1980 Inland Rules Changes) the former danger signal, at that time differing from that in International Waters by one short blast. I guess for a time there was only the US rules for US ships, then there was International, then there was the effort to bring the inland rules into general consistency with the International Rules. So, the rules were changed so that it is now five short in each jurisdiction. Also, there there remain several local provisions that allow four short blasts from a bridge tender, I believe, again as a danger signal. By the way, here's an old exam prep book that documents that old four short blast rule: http://books.google.com/books?id=kqAaAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage& q&f=false Mike Capt. Mike Curreri USCG 100GT Master, Near Coastal M/V Blue Grotto (Selene 5578) GoogleVoice: 443.987.6724 On 1/30/12 11:15 PM, "great-loop-request@lists.trawlering.com" <great-loop-request@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:30:09 -0500 > From: "Terry Allen" <tallen01@rochester.rr.com> > To: "Loop List Great, Loop List" <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> > Subject: GL: Clarification on 4 Whistle Signal > Message-ID: <56A7833789D14C06B4F4B8B1F86F27DD@tallen> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Not to "prolong" this any further. But in a previous e-mail message this > statement was made regarding restricted visability signals > > "Four short blasts MAY be sounded as an identity signal by a pilot boat."

Mike: The Navigation Rules apply to vessels, not bridges. Also, as has been stated, there is no provision in them for "local" custom. Bill At 10:10 AM 1/31/2012, Mike Curreri wrote: >We can't let this thread end!! > >I guess I might have missed the answer at some point to the original >question regarding four short blasts. But, my memory is that this was >(prior to the 1980 Inland Rules Changes) the former danger signal, at that >time differing from that in International Waters by one short blast. I >guess for a time there was only the US rules for US ships, then there was >International, then there was the effort to bring the inland rules into >general consistency with the International Rules. So, the rules were >changed so that it is now five short in each jurisdiction. Also, there >there remain several local provisions that allow four short blasts from a >bridge tender, I believe, again as a danger signal. > >By the way, here's an old exam prep book that documents that old four short >blast rule: >http://books.google.com/books?id=kqAaAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage& >q&f=false > >Mike > >Capt. Mike Curreri >USCG 100GT Master, Near Coastal >M/V Blue Grotto (Selene 5578) >GoogleVoice: 443.987.6724 > > > >On 1/30/12 11:15 PM, "great-loop-request@lists.trawlering.com" ><great-loop-request@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > > > Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:30:09 -0500 > > From: "Terry Allen" <tallen01@rochester.rr.com> > > To: "Loop List Great, Loop List" <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> > > Subject: GL: Clarification on 4 Whistle Signal > > Message-ID: <56A7833789D14C06B4F4B8B1F86F27DD@tallen> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > > Not to "prolong" this any further. But in a previous e-mail message this > > statement was made regarding restricted visability signals > > > > "Four short blasts MAY be sounded as an identity signal by a pilot boat." > > >_______________________________________________ >http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > >To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, >unsubscribe, etc.) go to: >http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

Mike, The following are replies to questions I sent from the List to my cousin who has his Unlimited Tonnage Masters License and is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. Hope his answers help answer your questions. John Inland Rules specify the prolong followed by three short for vessel being towed one vessel or last vessel if manned. Four short blasts MAY be sounded as an identity signal by a pilot boat. These are restricted visability signals. Traffic signals i.e. overtaking in international waters uses a four blast signal by a vessel overtaking consisting of two prolong blasts followed by two short blasts vessel; overtaking another meaning I wish to overtake you on your port side (a port course change by vessel overtaking-memory aid two prolong means hey you twoshort means coming up your port side). The E-mail about leaving a dock 4 whistles is actually a combination of two signals. Ships usually dock bow in due to maneuvering considerations. Most piers have warehouses on them that may hamper visability. The prolong blast is the "bend" signal. It is to warn any approaching vessel in the channel out of sight that they will encounter another vessel. In this case backing away from a pier into the channel. The three short blasts as you know indicates that my engines are going astern. These signals may be separated by more than about one second's duration. P.S. The maneuvering four signal of international overtaking is only in narrow channels. When is a vessel in narrow channels? No definition that would apply to all vessels and situations exists even though over a hundred years (maybe two hundred years) of court cases have tried. Therefore a useable definition is a narrow channel exists when the master thinks it does for his vessel. ====================================== On Jan 31, 2012, at 10:10 AM, Mike Curreri wrote: > We can't let this thread end!! > > I guess I might have missed the answer at some point to the original > question regarding four short blasts. But, my memory is that this was > (prior to the 1980 Inland Rules Changes) the former danger signal, at that > time differing from that in International Waters by one short blast. I > guess for a time there was only the US rules for US ships, then there was > International, then there was the effort to bring the inland rules into > general consistency with the International Rules. So, the rules were > changed so that it is now five short in each jurisdiction. Also, there > there remain several local provisions that allow four short blasts from a > bridge tender, I believe, again as a danger signal. > > By the way, here's an old exam prep book that documents that old four short > blast rule: > http://books.google.com/books?id=kqAaAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage& > q&f=false > > Mike > > Capt. Mike Curreri > USCG 100GT Master, Near Coastal > M/V Blue Grotto (Selene 5578) > GoogleVoice: 443.987.6724 > > > > On 1/30/12 11:15 PM, "great-loop-request@lists.trawlering.com" > <great-loop-request@lists.trawlering.com> wrote: > >> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:30:09 -0500 >> From: "Terry Allen" <tallen01@rochester.rr.com> >> To: "Loop List Great, Loop List" <great-loop@lists.trawlering.com> >> Subject: GL: Clarification on 4 Whistle Signal >> Message-ID: <56A7833789D14C06B4F4B8B1F86F27DD@tallen> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >> >> Not to "prolong" this any further. But in a previous e-mail message this >> statement was made regarding restricted visability signals >> >> "Four short blasts MAY be sounded as an identity signal by a pilot boat." > > > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com > > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address, > unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com