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From: Sandy Floe (no email)
Date: Fri Dec 10 2004 - 13:23:35 EST
We spend a lot of time boating in the fog. We have to because of the kind
of boating we like to do. The west coasts of the Pacific Northwest are
fogged in much of the time in the last half of the summer and sometimes
before that. It sometimes lasts for days and days.
We do a lot of fishing and cruising around the mouth of the Strait of Juan
De Fuca. In that area there are a lot of the small recreational fishing
boats, commercial charters, and large ships. All of the ships inbound and
outbound for any port in B.C.(excluding Prince Rupert) and WA state go
through there. Believe it or not most of the smarter small recreational
fishing boats (20ft. plus) to who fish around there have radar. These are
the people who, along with us, must cross the shipping lanes to get to their
favorite grounds.
We do not ever, ever assume we can cross in front of one of the large ships.
We wait until they have passed. Sometimes there are 4 and 5 in a row which
makes for a long wait.
We don't trust that anyone can see us even though we fly the biggest radar
reflector we can find. That especially applies to the big bottom ships.
These big guys are moving at more than three times our (trawler) speed. If
the fog is especially thick during a crossing we call VTS, tell them where
we are, and request they try to track our progress. Much like "flight
following" for the airplane. There is a lot of traffic in and out of the
Strait so it's sometimes like a turtle crossing a two lane highway.<G>
We also practice fog running when there is no fog by watching the ships on
radar and how they track across the radar screen and compare that image with
what we actually see. It is good training and interesting. We keep our
chart plotter and the radar on the same scale.
One thing we utilize is the traffic "separation zones." These are areas
generally off limits to the large ships. We run across and into them and
then wait there for conflicting traffic to pass. I say generally off limits
because once in awhile they do cross into these areas. If VTS cannot see any
conflicting traffic they will sometimes give permission for the ship to
proceed through those areas. Found that out the hard way a few years back.
(Another reason to call VTS for flight following.)
I think the biggest hazard out there are the charter fishing boats. They go
full speed through the fog even where the little 16 ft recreational fishing
boats congregate and are trolling slowly. If they would slow down they would
only add 5or so minutes to their run. They evidently don't have operating
horns either. I have watched the radar in disbelief as they go charging
through the little fleet.
Sandy Floe
Sea Eagle (39 CHB)
Day Island, WA
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