I've noticed that there has been a lot of freighter traffic in the Toronto harbour lately. There are usually 3 boats within visible range most of the time. Its unusual to see this much activity during the summer months, but perhaps there is more traffic now that ice has recently melted. These craft are doing tight turns in limited space (relatively speaking). I would expect them to be discussing their intentions on VHF, but I'm not picking up anything on my marine handheld. Why not? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> You didn't mention which channel you're monitoring > but I would try Channel 13 (bridge-to-bridge) for > communications with tugs and for talking to other ships. > Otherwise try finding Toronto's vessel control > frequencies and monitor those. I tried 9 and 16 two weekends ago, but this didn't pick up anything. This past weekend, I put the radio in "SCAN" mode but I didn't pick up anything there either. :( I was probably the only "leasure boat" on the water. The only traffic I saw was the commercial freighters and the Island Ferry boats. The sailing clubs don't have their docks in, and the ice cover is still solid between the islands. The Police are likely monitoring from their waterfront headquarters. Derek *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Derek wrote: > I tried 9 and 16 two weekends ago, but this didn't pick up anything. > This past weekend, I put the radio in "SCAN" mode but I didn't pick up > anything there either. :( The first two are hailing channels in most areas, with 16 being the emergency channel, as well. Ships maneuvering and communicating with each other would not use those. I'm guessing 13 is the one, with 12 dedicated to VTS. But 12 would more likely be used for seaway communications with VTS, not for ship-to-ship maneuvering communication. When your radio is on scan, can you pre-select which ones it scans? Some radios allow you to omit channels of low interest and concentrate on the ones where you want to monitor. If you can do that, have it scan 16, 9, 13, and 12 only. If your radio has provision for US and CAN frequencies, make sure it is on CAN. This should not affect 16, 9, 13, and 12, however. Lastly, a question: have you verified that the radio is working? Is it picking up any transmissions right now? I don't know if the CCG in your area will respond to radio check requests on 16 or 9, but you might try that, to verify that it is working. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, Mar 22, 2009 at 7:29 PM, Derek <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > I've noticed that there has been a lot of freighter traffic in the Toronto > harbour lately. There are usually 3 boats within visible range most of the > time. Its unusual to see this much activity during the summer months, but > perhaps there is more traffic now that ice has recently melted. That seems likely to me. The shippers probably save enough money using Toronto to make it worth their while to let ships wait for a bit at the head of the waterway waiting for ice out. These craft are doing tight turns in limited space (relatively speaking). I > would expect them to be discussing their intentions on VHF, but I'm not > picking up anything on my marine handheld. Why not? > You didn't mention which channel you're monitoring but I would try Channel 13 (bridge-to-bridge) for communications with tugs and for talking to other ships. Otherwise try finding Toronto's vessel control frequencies and monitor those. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Derek wrote: > I've noticed that there has been a lot of freighter traffic in the > Toronto harbour lately. There are usually 3 boats within visible range > most of the time. Its unusual to see this much activity during the > summer months, but perhaps there is more traffic now that ice has > recently melted. > > These craft are doing tight turns in limited space (relatively > speaking). I would expect them to be discussing their intentions on > VHF, but I'm not picking up anything on my marine handheld. Why not? Boy, that is a good question, Derek. It probably is because your radio is not tuned to the channel they are using. Not sure what the ship-to-ship comm channel is where you are. Commonly, 13 is used for that around here. But, there should be some guidance locally. This link may be useful: http://boating.ncf.ca/vhf.html A ways down is this language: > The St. Lawrence Seaway uses 11, 12, 13, 14. Contact locks and large > ships on 13. Channel 68 is a main working channel for boats, but may > also be used to call marinas and harbours (73 in the Pacific region). > Don't call them on 16! When transiting those areas, you might want to set your VHF on dual scan (or similar), selecting Chan 13 as the other channel (16 is typically in any preprogrammed scan mode). This will allow your radio to pick up both emergency calls and ship-to-ship transmissions. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Between VTS and AIS, there's not a lot to be said. Or perhaps the ships are just grumpy after their long winter naps. An icebreaker is opening up our harbour here in Thunder Bay. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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