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BARGE
LIGHTING
It is the responsibility of the
owner/operator of all vessels including barges to show proper navigation
lights for the vessels size and the waters in which the vessel is
operating. Contrary to popular belief is not the responsibility of the
manufacturer, importer, or selling agent. Many boats and barges are
delivered with lights that do not meet legal requirements with respect to
technical characteristics or placement on the vessel.
The following information
is considered general knowledge and applies to barges in IALA region B.
Please consult your local authorities for detailed regulations in
your area.
Barges
pushed ahead of a tug must display red and green side lights. A barge in
a tow being pushed ahead will also have a flashing yellow bow light. A
vessel towing a barge astern must display two all-around white lights
vertically on its mast, instead of a masthead light, red and green side
lights and a white light above its stern light. If the object (barge)
being towed is more than 200 meters (656.2 feet) behind the towing
vessel, three white all-around lights will be displayed on the mast of
the towing vessel, plus side lights and a towing light above the stern
light.
Barges
described below must carry two unobstructed all-round white lights that
have a 1 nautical mile visibility at night and if practicable the lights
should be used in periods of restricted visibility such as rain, snow
and fog.
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Barges
projecting into a buoyed or restricted channel.
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Barges
moored so that it reduces the available navigable width of any channel
to less than 80 meters.
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Barges
moored in groups more than two barges wide or to a maximum width of
over 25 meters.
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Any barge
not moored parallel to the bank or dock.
Barges at
anchor or made fast to one or more mooring buoys or other similar
device, may carry unobstructed all-round white lights that are visible
for at least 1 nautical mile and should be arranged as follows:
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Any barge
that projects from a group formation, shall be lighted on its outboard
corners.
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On a
single barge moored in water where other vessels normally navigate on
both sides of the barge, lights shall be placed to mark the corner
extremities of the barge.
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On barges
moored in group formation, moored in water where other vessels
normally navigate on both sides of the group, lights shall be placed
to mark the corner extremities of the group.
The
following are exempt from the requirements:
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A barge
or group of barges moored in a slip or slough used primarily for
mooring purposes.
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A barge
or group of barges moored behind a pier head.
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A barge
less than 20 meters in length when moored in a special anchorage area
Barges
moored in well-illuminated areas may be exempt from the lighting
requirements.
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