The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-05-09
SEA SIGNALS
Signals Beneath and Above Water IN
Thick Weather.
Thick Weather.

I guide is afforded enabling the ship
with the sound signalling apparatus
to clear the other. But in the writer
view this is only the beginning OF
things and it should be possible. when
the details have been worked out, to
know as exactly where an approach
ing ship is in the densest fog, and the
direction in which she is approach
ing, as on the clearest night.
All ships carry red light at night
on the left hand, or port, side. and a
green light on the right hand, or star
board, side, while all steamers carry
in addition a white light showing on
| both sides. Neither of the lights can
be seen astern, nor for some distance
toward the bows, the limit being
what sailors call two points abaft the
beam, a little astern of her middle
point. So that when approaching a
ship from astern no lights are visible
to the approaching ship, but her full
lights are visible from the ship aD-
preached.
Wheh two ships are approaching
each other from opposite directions.
end on, each ship will see the others
two or three lights, and can easily
steer to keep out of each others way.
There is simple rule for this, and
incidentally it may be mentioned that
the danger is least in this case, pro-
vided that both ships are properly
handled. The danger of collision
arises principally from ships crossing
each other, and for this also there are
simple rules governed by what is
called the rule of the road Leaving
out the question of sailing ships for
the moment, the ship which has the
other, the crossing ship, on her own
right hand (starboard) side. has to
keep out of the way, and it does so by
turning slightly to the right, or to
starboard, presenting her left side to
the other ship, and the two run on
parallel courses till clear of each
other. In all cases, except that of
steamers and sailing ships crossing,
each ship presents her own left, or
port, side, to the other to clear.
Evidently the same thing could be
done by the aid of sound signals. If
each ship carried, say, a bell on one
side and foghorn on the other side,
arranged as described, steamers also
carrying-till sailing ships complete
~ disappear-another sounding APP
paratus heard on both sides, when
two ships approached each other the
officer of the watch in each would
know, by the sound, bell or foghorn,
whether it was his place to give way
or that of the other ship. The officer
of the watch on the bridge of the ship
whose duty it was to hold on her
course could also follow the other go
ing through the necessary maneuvres
to get out of his way, just as he now
does by watching her lights, and
could be ready, in case of neglect on
the part of the other ship, to do what.
ever was necessary to clear his own
ship.
Steamships always keep clear Of
sailing ships. and the officer of the
watch Of q steamer meeting a sailing
ship knows that he has to give way.
and he also knows exactly how to put
his helm to clear the other ship by
the color of the sailing ships light
that is visible. Similarly he would
know. If the sailing ship carried
sound signals, by the sound nearest
which way she was crossing ana
which way to put his helm to clear
her.
Whenever a ship has to give way
20 another the color of the light of
the other ship is Oh the same side as
hat to which the helm must be
moved. Thus when a red light is
seen on the right hand (starboard)
side. the helm is put to port, the side
II the light seen. Similarly when a
Ealing ship is crossing from port to
showing her green light.
hat carried on her starboard side.
he steamer puts her helm to star
BOARD to clear. This rule could he
followed quite as easily with sound
'ignals.-11ondon Daily Mail.