Anchor Lights - Is it a Law ?

[Victory49]

Originally Posted by Adelie

This site, Learn about navigation lights for sail and power vessels, including the anchor light., indicates there are/were only 96 'Designated Anchorages' in the whole US as of 2009. That's less than 2 per state. Even if you exclude land locked states without a Great Lake or major river, it's something like 5 or 6 per state. The anchor light and shape exception isn't going to do very many people any good.

Not sure about the harbors of Arizona and new Mexico, but It seems many of the popular (and safe) anchorages in southern new England seem to be special anchorage areas.

But most people use lights even in special anchorages. I bet many don't know they don't have to, but many like us want them for safety, not legal reasons.... I also love the look of the harbor at night with all the anchor lights.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Bash

Not in Kansas, maybe. Here in the San Francisco Bay, they're all over the place.

From reading The California Coast Pilot...there is over 35 some (forgot my count) special anchorages in California...a bunch more if you add in the desert lakes.

BUT...page 94 CH 2 Vol & section 110.126a which is San fran Bay...there's only 1 special andchorage area...the Richardson Bay Anchorage

I could be wrong cause it's hard to read the PDF file on my laptop..but that's the only one I see...

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Victory49

Not sure about the harbors of Arizona and new Mexico, but It seems many of the popular (and safe) anchorages in southern new England seem to be special anchorage areas.

But most people use lights even in special anchorages. I bet many don't know they don't have to, but many like us want them for safety, not legal reasons.... I also love the look of the harbor at night with all the anchor lights.

Are you sure they are "special anchorage areas" designated by the secretary of Homeland Security and specifically defined in the Coast Pilots for the area?

[Victory49]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Are you sure they are "special anchorage areas" designated by the secretary of Homeland Security and specifically defined in the Coast Pilots for the area?

Yeah, they are labelled on the charts as such- special is the key word.

They are not everywhere, but there are a lot

[John A]

Originally Posted by psneeld

From reading The California Coast Pilot...there is over 35 some (forgot my count) special anchorages in California...a bunch more if you add in the desert lakes.

BUT...page 94 CH 2 Vol & section 110.126a which is San fran Bay...there's only 1 special andchorage area...the Richardson Bay Anchorage

I could be wrong cause it's hard to read the PDF file on my laptop..but that's the only one I see...

Yes that's the only one, and locals have been trying to shut it down for the last 40 years.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Victory49

Yeah, they are labelled on the charts as such- special is the key word.

They are not everywhere, but there are a lot

Yeah...more than I would have guessed.... just south of cape Cod the was 3 in Mass, 15 or so in Conn, a couple in RI....so that's pretty good. I think they get thinner as you move south....might have something to do with the towns up north are bigger into mooring areas...at least in the past.

[noelex 77]

Just because the law says you do not legally have to display a light does not stop it being sensible to do so.
Many of the laws were written in days when there was less traffic and before low power led lights and solar panels .
Conforming to the minimum standard written by the law makers is rarely a good idea when dealing with the sea.

[Adelie]

Here is the list of 'Special Designated anchorages' within US states and possesions as of July 2010 per http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_20...33cfr110.1.pdf

99 total, 97 in the 50 states and 1 each in Puerto Rico and Guam. There are 12 in CA, 2 in AZ and 1 in Wyoming of all places. None in WA oddly enough.

Pt. 110 33 CFR Ch. I (7–1–10 Edition)

Subpart A—Special Anchorage Areas

110.4 Penobscot Bay, Maine.
110.5 Casco Bay, Maine.
110.6 Portland Harbor, Portland, Maine (between Little Diamond Island and Great Diamond Island).
110.6a Fore River, Portland Harbor, Portland, Maine.
110.8 Lake Champlain, N.Y. and Vt.
110.10 Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, north of Newcastle Island.
110.25 Salem Sound, Mass.
110.26 Marblehead Harbor, Marblehead, Mass.
110.27 Lynn Harbor in Broad Sound, Mass.
110.29 Boston Inner Harbor, Mass.
110.30 Boston Harbor, Mass..
110.31 Hull Bay and Allerton Harbor at Hull, Mass.
110.32 Hingham Harbor, Hingham, Mass.
110.37 Sesuit Harbor, Dennis, Mass.
110.38 Edgartown Harbor, Mass.
110.40 Silver Beach Harbor, North Falmouth, Mass.
110.45 Onset Bay, Mass.
110.45a Mattapoisett Harbor, Mattapoisett, Mass.
110.46 Newport Harbor, Newport, R.I.
110.47 Little Narragansett Bay, Watch Hill, R.I.
110.48 Thompson Cove on east side of Pawcatuck River below Westerly, R.I.
110.50 Stonington Harbor, Conn.
110.50a Fishers Island Sound, Stonington, Conn.
110.50b Mystic Harbor, Groton and Stonington, Conn.
110.50c Mumford Cove, Groton, Conn.
110.50d Mystic Harbor, Noank, Conn.
110.51 Groton, Conn.
110.52 Thames River, New London, Conn.
110.53 Niantic, Conn.
110.54 Long Island Sound, on west side of entrance to Pataguanset River, Conn.
110.55 Connecticut River, Conn.
110.55a Five Mile River, Norwalk and Darien, Conn.
110.56 Noroton Harbor, Darien, Conn.
110.58 Cos Cob Harbor, Greenwich, Conn.
110.59 Eastern Long Island, NY.
110.60 Captain of the Port, New York.
110.65 Indian River Bay, Del.
110.67 Delaware River, Essington, Pa.
110.70 Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, easterly of Courthouse Point, Md.
110.70a Northeast River, North East, Md.
110.71 Jacobs Nose Cove, Elk River, Md.
110.71a Cabin Creek, Grasonville, Md.
110.71b Wye River, Wye, Md.
110.72 Blackhole Creek, Md.
110.72a Chester River, southeast of Chestertown, Md.
110.72aa Elizabeth River Spectator Vessel Anchorage Areas, between Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia.
110.72b St. Simons Island, Ga.
110.72c Lake Murray, S.C.
110.72d Ashley River anchorage areas, SC.
110.73 St. Johns River, Fla.
110.73a Indian River at Sebastian, Fla.
110.73b Indian River at Vero Beach, Fla.
110.73c Okeechobee Waterway, St. Lucie River, Stuart, FL.
110.74 Marco Island, Marco River, Fla.
110.74a Manatee River, Bradenton, Fla.
110.74b Apollo Beach, Fla.
110.74c Bahia de San Juan, PR.
110.75 Corpus Christi Bay, Tex.
110.77 Amistad Reservoir, Tex.
110.77a Duluth-Superior Harbor, Duluth, Minn.
110.77b Madeline Island, WI.
110.78 Sturgeon Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
110.79a Neenah Harbor, Neenah, Wis.
110.79b Millers Bay, Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, WI.
110.79c Fish Creek Harbor, Fish Creek, Wisconsin.
110.80 Milwaukee Harbor, Milwaukee, Wis.
110.80a Lake Macatawa, Mich.
110.80b Marquette Harbor, Marquette, Mich.
110.81 Muskegon Lake, Mich.
110.81a Lake Betsie, Frankfort, MI.
110.82 Charlevoix Harbor, Mich.
110.82a Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, Harbor Springs, Mich.
110.83 Chicago Harbor, Ill.
110.83a Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio.
110.84 Black Rock Channel opposite foot of Porter Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y.
110.84b Buffalo, N.Y.
110.85 Niagara River, Youngstown, N.Y.
110.86 Sodus Bay, NY.
110.87 Henderson Harbor, N.Y.
110.90 San Diego Harbor, California.
110.91 Mission Bay, Calif.
110.93 Dana Point Harbor, Calif.
110.95 Newport Bay Harbor, Calif.
110.100 Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, Calif.
110.111 Marina del Rey Harbor, Calif.
110.115 Santa Barbara Harbor, Calif.
110.120 San Luis Obispo Bay, Calif.
110.125 Morro Bay Harbor, Calif.
110.126 Monterey Harbor, Calif.
110.126a San Francisco Bay, Calif.
110.127 Lake Mohave and Lake Mead, Nevada and Arizona.
110.127a Lake Powell, Utah-Arizona.
110.127b Flaming Gorge Lake, Wyoming- Utah.
110.127c Trinidad Bay, Calif.
110.128 Columbia River at Portland, Oreg.
110.128b Island of Hawaii, Hawaii.
110.128c Island of Kauai, Hawaii.
110.128d Island of Oahu, Hawaii. (Datum: OHD)
110.129a Apra Harbor, Guam. (Datum: WGS 84)

§ 110.1 General.

(a) The areas described in subpart A
of this part are designated as special
anchorage areas for purposes of 33
U.S.C. §§ 2030(g) and 2035(j). Vessels of
less than 20 meters in length, and
barges, canal boats, scows, or other
nondescript craft, are not required to
sound signals required by rule 35 of the
Inland Navigation Rules (33 U.S.C.
2035). Vessels of less than 20 meters are
not required to exhibit anchor lights or

shapes required by rule 30 of the Inland

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Adelie

None in WA oddly enough.

In WA we can pretty much anchor anywhere except:

It's the Law: On the Water
Obstructing Navigation

It is illegal to:

Operate any vessel in such a way that it will interfere unnecessarily with the safe navigation of other vessels.

Anchor a vessel in the traveled portion of a river or channel in a way that will prevent or interfere with any other vessel passing through the same area.

Moor or attach a vessel to a buoy (other than a mooring buoy), beacon, light, or any other navigational aid placed on public waters by proper authorities.

Move, displace, tamper with, damage, or destroy any navigational aid.


Homeland Security Restrictions

Violators of the restrictions below can expect a quick and severe response.

Do not approach within 100 yards and slow to minimum speed within 500 yards of any U.S. Naval vessel. If you need to pass within 100 yards of a U.S. Naval vessel for safe passage, you must contact the U.S. Naval vessel or the U.S. Coast Guard escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.

Observe and avoid all security zones. Avoid commercial port operation areas, especially those that involve military, cruise-line, or petroleum facilities.
Observe and avoid other restricted areas near dams, power plants, etc.
Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in the channel.

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/a...y_brochure.pdf

[markpierce]

While there are many designated anchorage areas in the San Francisco Bay area, only Richardson Bay, off Sausalito, is a special anchorage.

"§ 110.126a San Francisco Bay, Calif.

"Richardson Bay Anchorage. That portion of Richardson Bay, north of a line bearing 257° from Peninsula Point to the shore at Sausalito, except for federally-maintained channels, and all channels approved for private use therein.
Note: Mariners anchoring in the special anchorage area should consult applicable ordinances of the Richardson Bay Regional Agency and the County of Marin. These ordinances establish requirements on matters including the anchoring of vessels, placement of moorings, and use of anchored and moored vessels within the special anchorage area. Information on these local agency requirements may be obtained from the Richardson Bay Harbor Administrator."

[markpierce]

"Do not approach within 100 yards and slow to minimum speed within 500 yards of any U.S. Naval vessel. If you need to pass within 100 yards of a U.S. Naval vessel for safe passage, you must contact the U.S. Naval vessel or the U.S. Coast Guard escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16."



(Richmond Harbor, Oct. 31, 2011)

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Just because the law says you do not legally have to display a light does not stop it being sensible to do so.
Many of the laws were written in days when there was less traffic and before low power led lights and solar panels .
Conforming to the minimum standard written by the law makers is rarely a good idea when dealing with the sea.

+1...

Post of the thread...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Just because the law says you do not legally have to display a light does not stop it being sensible to do so.
Many of the laws were written in days when there was less traffic and before low power led lights and solar panels .
Conforming to the minimum standard written by the law makers is rarely a good idea when dealing with the sea.

Island Hopper beat me to it............+1

[psneeld]

PART 109: GENERAL

109.10 - Special anchorage areas.

An Act of Congress of April 22, 1940, provides for the designation of special anchorage areas wherein vessels not more than sixty-five feet in length, when at anchor, will not be required to carry or exhibit anchorage lights. Such designation is to be made after investigation, by rule, regulation, or order, the procedure for which will be similar to that followed for anchorage grounds under section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of March 4, 1915, as referred to in ? 109.05. The areas so designated should be well removed from the fairways and located where general navigation will not endanger or be endangered by unlighted vessels. The authority to designate special anchorage areas was transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Homeland Security by section 902(j) of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-241, 120 Stat 516), and delegated to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard in Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. The Commandant redelegated the authority to establish anchorage grounds to each Coast Guard District Commander as provided in 33 CFR 1.05-1(e)(1)(i).


I believe the real concept of "special anchorage areas" is for a vessel to be left long term for whatever reason. Thus the "no watch", "no light" requirement. Sure having a light is safer...but if for any reason you don't want to leave a night light on...look for the closest "special anchorage" as hopefully those entering it realize there is a no light requirement for the little guys.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by swagman

Truly? We've arrived after dark and not found customs open to check in - until 9 am next day. No issues ever explaining we came in the night before.

Plus anyone ever seen a boat boy in Bequia with nav lights?
And drunk in charge and the cruiser he rammed got the blame?
Excuse my doubts - but it all sounds a bit over the top.

Any more info, like when? What bay? Boat name?

JOHN

Huh? There's only 1 bay... this was 2004/2005, before they put the razor wire on the beach. All water taxi's were drunk at night then (and stoned). You must check in upon arrival... 24 hours/day.

cheers,
Nick.