Boatnerd Discussion Forum

This year during one trip up the Welland Canal on the Baie St Paul we met a much smaller US Coast Guard boat taking far more of the channel than was really necessary. As a subtle jab we gave one short on the whistle... (the signal was returned ;p)

Everyone is correct on the way of two ships passing as they now talk via the VHF radio sometimes when two ships are passing these days. I have observed this many times on the St. Clair River and think that a ship will signal another with a horn blow but, it is no longer the case with the VHF radio. It will happen a few times for instance once in 2013 the American Century was downbound and passed the upbound Cuyahoga. The Century blew one long to the Cuyahoga and they in turn returned the blow to the Century. However, another time the Edgar B. Speer was downbound and passed the upbound Paul R. Tregurtha in St. Clair. No horn blows were exchanged as each passed with little fanfare. Other than the engines running, you could have heard a pin drop as quiet as they passed!

Unless a vessel is planning on making a turn, overtaking another vessel, or a circumstance that is out of the norm. Vessel know that each will stay on their starboard side of the channel and pass port to port, and usually it is much clearer to make arrangements verbally.

Coledoug wrote:I notice that almost all ships don't blow their horn for a passing agreement with another freighter anymore. But I notice that the Roger Blough, Indiana Harbor and Walter J McCarthy do it. Why don't ships blow their horn to make a passing agreement anymore?

Often passing agreements are made over the VHF. Other times it is obvious enough that each vessel will keep to the Starboard side of the channel and arrangements aren't viewed as necessary.

They are talking to each other on the radio.

I notice that almost all ships don't blow their horn for a passing agreement with another freighter anymore. But I notice that the Roger Blough, Indiana Harbor and Walter J McCarthy do it. Why don't ships blow their horn to make a passing agreement anymore?