Death Cats

[Aaron]

I have grown up on sydney habour, sailing passed death cats many times (also known as river cats).
At night every boat runs a port light starboard light and a stern light and somthimes a steaming light and tri colour. River cats do this but what the heck is the orange flashing light?? are they a forklift??
The othe night I was on the boat and looked up and could see this big bright light heading towards me when I was on the mooring not knowing what is was, they have headlights!! There very useful if you want to see 5 metes in front you and that it.
What is the orange light??, and they breaking the sea law in terms of navigation at sea with a unnessary flashing light??
Cheers,
Dawn Breaker.

[Shaun]

I thought it may have something to do with "priority over sail, during daylight" that the ferries have when displaying their orange diamond shape, but it seems to be just a flashing yellow light they display to show they are a ferry...doesnt give them any additional rights over sail or any other craft.

cheers

[Phillip]

Sorry Shaun,

But 'Sydney ferries displaying an orange diamond shape have priority [right of way] over sailing vessels'


The 'high speed ferries also exhibit an allround flashing yellow light when they are travelling at speed"


Applies night or day!
Phillip.

[Dolphin]

Gentleman,
The red diamond over the wheel house on a Ferry, and that only applies to Sydney Ferries no others, means that they have right of way over everything no matter what you are, except ships.
The Yellow flashing light is an international signal and denotes a fast craft such as hovercraft and hydofoils.
I worked on Submarines and they have a yellow light on an extendable mast. It has a Group flash 3 pattern about 5 seconds from memory. It denotes its a submarine because they are 290ft long and the lights are generally awash when they are on the surface. The steaming light is at the bow and erected on a staff. It is often too rough to rig it. The stern light is low on the water and often underwater. THe yellow light means keep clear. However, like you, several fisherman have come up to see what the strange light is, and nearly run into the boat.
See rule 23 of the Colregs.

[Miker]

The death cats were one reason I moved out of the Gladesville area. They cost me some very expensive nuts and bolts and almost a brand new cordless drill because they don't slow down in the no wash zone under Gladesville Bridge. Hence they have a 2 foot bow wave, which when working at your mooring means down tools and hang on!

[Aaron]

Thanks guys,
Ive always wondered what they mean.
And Micheal I dont blame you, there is a two foot bow wave but also a swell that destroys the banks along the river.
For everyone who is not moored in sydeny habour STAY OUT OF THERE!!! Esspecilayy on a sunny weekend, between blues point and bradleys its full of D#$*&^@%$, its known as the washing machine

[Miker]

Too true Aaron,

I've been known to grab the radio microphone, call up the boat that raced past at 30 knots and simply say "(name of boat that just past) please observe 60 metres clearance" and ignore anything they say after that. I've also been known to say that I've reported their registration for not observing clearances, but you can't really do that with the death cats, I think they're exempt......

[Aaron]

I do the same Micheal but maybe no as Polite, I tend to raise my voise and do things with my hands and fingers, but I do some times call the up on the radio but very rarly do they reply.
But what really gets me is when they pass you by 5 metre dragging the habour behind them, but i think that they think that is a big distance, because when you on the road your less than 1 metre away from each other.

Dawn Breaker

[Shaun]

I dont think the death cats display the orange diamond shape...do they?

Anyone one know what light/s the ferries display at night, that denotes "priority over sail"?

Im thinking if they dont display some sort of specific light it must be during daylight hrs only, that "priority over sail"applies.

cheers

[Dolphin]

Shaun, the diamond may be lit by a flood light at night, I can't remember.
Most people know to keep out of the way. It still doesn't absolve the skipper of the ferry if he hits you. He still has to avoid a collision. If I saw a set of bright headlights on a fast moving vessel roaring toward me I think I'd give him a quick flash of a torch to make sure he saw me.

Often the lights of a yacht are low and indistinguishable against background lights on the harbour.