Craig & Peter Yesterday, I posted a fairly complete description of the ins & outs of NZ (and other countries) compliance with the International ColRegs. But as I'm still on PaddleWise 'probation' - you may have to wait a little while to read it ;-) First, let's do a quick run-down of what the lighting requirements in the International ColRegs require of boats similar in size to kayaks: (1) A smallish vessel (under 50m) at anchor must exhibit a all-round white light, visible for 2 nm (nautical-miles). (2) A powerboat under 7m "whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots" must exhibit a all-round white light (2 nm), If practicable, she shall also exhibit sidelights (ie: red & green 1 nm). (3) A sailboat under 7m shall, "if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision." The lights in (a) are the typical red, green & stern (white) lights - with (b) being some optional masthead lights. (4) "A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision." The above contains some verbatim quotes and the rest is a careful paraphrase. Now, to sum up and look at what individual jurisdictions do with these guidelines: International: We can see from this that a kayak has no limits to length or speed and shouldn't really exhibit an all-round light, unless she wants to be taken for a moving <7m power-boat (who must give way to sailboats). A kayak seems to be obliged to either run red-green-stern lights or just carry a display-at-need white light for collision prevention. USA: From a quick look at the American (Federal Level) Navigation Rules, the kayak-lighting situation appears to be a word-for-word copy of the Int.ColRegs. NZ: National Maritime Rules also specify an identical kayak-lighting requirement. Last year, a local Auckland bylaw was introduced to make all kayaks carry a permanent 2nm all-round white light _AND_ a torch/lantern. As this is a pretty terrible idea in a kayak group relying on night-vision, we are working to have this fixed. Australia: From what I can make out, rather than a national set of Maritime Rules, the individual states have separate Maritime Acts. Looking at the state of Western Australia, its wording (relating to kayak lighting) appears again to be the same as the Int.ColRegs. Tasmania makes it easy - they just point at the Int.ColRegs. Someone from Australia may be able to comment on all the other Australian jurisdictions - and to what extent local bodies layer additional requirements on top of these state ones. Canada: Sailboats & oars get away with the Int.ColRegs wording. However, Canada is tough on small powerboats - the single white light possibility is forbidden - the full R-G-S are required. Also, every light (or whistle, radar-reflector, etc) that you are required to have on board must have a label (or you must carry a certificate) to prove that is certified. Note that the Int.ColRegs don't anywhere mention vessels with paddles - we all just assume that "under oars" includes kayaks. There's a FAQ for the US Rules (but not the rules themselves), which lumps canoes & kayaks into the 'vessel under oars' category - which is all I can find anywhere - but not all that helpful ;-) Best Regards Paul =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Paul Hayward_____________________ (64)-(9)-479-2888 microMATION CONSULTANTS LTD________mob: 021-585-521 POB 101-257 NSMC, Auckland______________New Zealand *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jun 28 2009 - 17:19:30 PDT
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