PAGE 24 • SUMMER 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
INSTRUCTOR TIP
By Capt. Paul Mirenda
Using Channel 13: Ship to Ship or Vessel to Bridge
on your Marine Radio Near Commercial Traffic
W
hen cruising in a
slow moving
sailboat near
commercial traffic such as
tankers and tugboats towing
barges, it is important to
understand the intentions
of those vessels in order to
stay out of harm’s way. The
best way to avoid trouble is
to listen to channel 13
transmissions from
commercial vessels in your
immediate vicinity on your
handheld marine radio.
You may be unaware a
nearby tanker is lifting its
anchor and preparing to
head directly for you in the Monitoring Channel 13 while in commercial traffic lanes gives sailboaters foreknowledge of what tankers and other
channel, but if you’re large vessels in the area are doing before they get too close for comfort.
monitoring channel 13 you
will hear that vessel’s bridge alerting all commercial
especially if you feel you are entering into a dangerous
traffic of their time of departure and intended heading.
situation.
When cruising at night, it is wise to communicate with
In this case, the masthead lights indicate a barge is being
the bridge of approaching commercial vessels. For
towed behind at 200 meters. You will most likely find the
example, if you are unsure of the meaning of three
captain of the commercial vessel will welcome the call.
vertical masthead lights on a nearby tugboat - any
pleasure vessel can contact the bridge of an
Paul Mirenda is a USCG Licensed Captain since 1992 and
approaching commercial vessel on channel 13 -
ASA Certified Sailing Instructor since 1988.
AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 12079, MARINA DEL REY, CA
PRESORTED
90295-3079 TEL: 310/822-7171
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
WWW.AMERICAN-SAILING.COM
PAID
ANAHEIM, CA
PERMIT NO. 514
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