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Bridges
by Tom Neale
This is a continuation of Tom's Tips from his section of
the www.boatus.com
web site. Go to his section there for many more tips on this
subject and others.
1. If necessary, signal a bridge for an opening with one
long and one
short blast on an approved horn, but it’s always better
to communicate
verbally on the VHF. That way, you can be sure you and the
bridge tender
understand each other. Signal the bridge properly with one
or the other
means. If, as sometimes happens, the bridge starts to close
before
you’re through, it is probably appropriate to give the
danger signal of 5
short blasts. Bridges will normally signal with 5 shorts before
they
close after the opening.
2. Even if a bridge is scheduled to open at a certain time,
you should
call it anyway and request an opening for that time.
3. Sometimes the VHF set on the bridge will be inoperative.
A few
tenders seem to simply not want to answer. If you can’t
get through, a
call to a nearby bridge tender on the VHF might result in
that person
calling by telephone the one who isn’t answering.
4. Talk on the VHF to boats on the other side of the bridge
to work out
who is coming through first and whether anyone has a maneuverability
problem. Normally, the boats with the current pushing them
are given the
right of way, but this shouldn’t be taken for granted
without
communication. Other boats may not be aware of this and other
factors may
be involved.
Copyright 2004
Tom Neale
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