what light on the tug
@chugalone100
What you say is absolutely true, Chugalone, especially on the topic of LED replacement and repair.
The discussion, however, arose from a specific request from StephenT, and in my opinion, a specific question requires a rigorous answer.
It's clear that the modeler will ultimately decide what he wants, free to make his own choices based on personal needs.
Many thanks to Ron for this research, who contacted the crew directly.
If StephenT wants to simplify the wiring, but still comply with the COLREG regulations to the letter, he can follow my initial advice.
I suggest this: prepare mock-ups [simulacrum] of all the lights (for towing and any maneuvering difficulties) but only wire those intended for nighttime navigation with a vessel under power (I noted and illustrated them in my first message).
In this case, the COLREG regulations are respected because a tugboat without a trailer doesn't need to turn on the other lights, and a minimal but correct electronic configuration is chosen.
What you say is absolutely true, Chugalone, especially on the topic of LED replacement and repair.
The discussion, however, arose from a specific request from StephenT, and in my opinion, a specific question requires a rigorous answer.
It's clear that the modeler will ultimately decide what he wants, free to make his own choices based on personal needs.
Many thanks to Ron for this research, who contacted the crew directly.
If StephenT wants to simplify the wiring, but still comply with the COLREG regulations to the letter, he can follow my initial advice.
I suggest this: prepare mock-ups [simulacrum] of all the lights (for towing and any maneuvering difficulties) but only wire those intended for nighttime navigation with a vessel under power (I noted and illustrated them in my first message).
In this case, the COLREG regulations are respected because a tugboat without a trailer doesn't need to turn on the other lights, and a minimal but correct electronic configuration is chosen.
Liked by hermank and pressonreguardless and
@AlessandroSPQR Alessandro,
Very interesting information and explanation. The more we read about Colreg lighting requirements, the more complicated the subject becomes.
From a modeler’s point of view, trying to reproduce the correct number, type, and exact placement of lights can become quite a challenge, especially when we also have to think about hiding the wiring inside a very limited hull or superstructure space. Sometimes the biggest difficulty is not installing the lights, but making them serviceable later if one burns out or a wire comes loose.
That is why, in my humble rookie opinion, many of us end up using a simplified or generic lighting pattern, mainly so the wiring remains accessible for future maintenance or replacement. Otherwise, one failed LED could require major disassembly of the model.
Still, discussions like this are one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby because we all learn something new from each other.
Very interesting information and explanation. The more we read about Colreg lighting requirements, the more complicated the subject becomes.
From a modeler’s point of view, trying to reproduce the correct number, type, and exact placement of lights can become quite a challenge, especially when we also have to think about hiding the wiring inside a very limited hull or superstructure space. Sometimes the biggest difficulty is not installing the lights, but making them serviceable later if one burns out or a wire comes loose.
That is why, in my humble rookie opinion, many of us end up using a simplified or generic lighting pattern, mainly so the wiring remains accessible for future maintenance or replacement. Otherwise, one failed LED could require major disassembly of the model.
Still, discussions like this are one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby because we all learn something new from each other.
Liked by hermank and pressonreguardless and
@Ronald
Perfect, Ron, it all makes sense.
A tugboat might actually need to indicate its ability to maneuver (RAM - Restricted in its Ability to Maneuver).
You're right, and thanks for looking into this further.
I hope StephenT is satisfied with this and has all the inspiration he needs to make his own decisions.
Perfect, Ron, it all makes sense.
A tugboat might actually need to indicate its ability to maneuver (RAM - Restricted in its Ability to Maneuver).
You're right, and thanks for looking into this further.
I hope StephenT is satisfied with this and has all the inspiration he needs to make his own decisions.
@AlessandroSPQR
I asked the skipper that uses this Red-White-Red lights and he said they are turned on when it is restricted in ability to manoeuvre such as if he is towing or pushing large barges.
I asked the skipper that uses this Red-White-Red lights and he said they are turned on when it is restricted in ability to manoeuvre such as if he is towing or pushing large barges.
Liked by hermank and pressonreguardless and
@Ronald
Hi Ron, I don't doubt it, but Colreg doesn't require that type of lights at night because they can be misleading.
From what I understand, Colreg is international and should be respected by everyone, but perhaps there are exceptions I'm not aware of.
This has piqued my curiosity; it would be interesting to delve deeper.
The best thing would be to ask them directly.
In the meantime (before you ask the crew directly if you have the opportunity), I could offer a few hypotheses.
Colreg requires red lights in the following cases:
Two vertical red lights (360° visibility) arranged in a vertical line: Vessel not under command (NUC - Not Under Command).
Three vertical red lights (360° visibility) arranged in a vertical line: Vessel constrained by her draft (CBD - Constrained By her Draught).
Red light above white vertical lights (360° visibility): Vessel engaged in general fishing (not trawling).
White light above red light, 360° vertical: Pilot on duty.
Red-White-Red, 360° vertical: Ship with difficulty maneuvering (RAM - Restricted in her Ability to Maneuver).
Perhaps, and I say perhaps, they have a predisposition for the first and last eventualities.
Hi Ron, I don't doubt it, but Colreg doesn't require that type of lights at night because they can be misleading.
From what I understand, Colreg is international and should be respected by everyone, but perhaps there are exceptions I'm not aware of.
This has piqued my curiosity; it would be interesting to delve deeper.
The best thing would be to ask them directly.
In the meantime (before you ask the crew directly if you have the opportunity), I could offer a few hypotheses.
Colreg requires red lights in the following cases:
Two vertical red lights (360° visibility) arranged in a vertical line: Vessel not under command (NUC - Not Under Command).
Three vertical red lights (360° visibility) arranged in a vertical line: Vessel constrained by her draft (CBD - Constrained By her Draught).
Red light above white vertical lights (360° visibility): Vessel engaged in general fishing (not trawling).
White light above red light, 360° vertical: Pilot on duty.
Red-White-Red, 360° vertical: Ship with difficulty maneuvering (RAM - Restricted in her Ability to Maneuver).
Perhaps, and I say perhaps, they have a predisposition for the first and last eventualities.
@AlessandroSPQR
This lighting was sent to me from the owners who pilot the tug along the waters of Nova Scotia.
This lighting was sent to me from the owners who pilot the tug along the waters of Nova Scotia.
Liked by pressonreguardless and hermank
@Ronald
Hi Ron,
I see too many red lights in the first photo.
They're very nice, great job, but they're not compliant with regulations for a tugboat (according to Colreg).
On a tugboat, the only red light you can see is the port navigation light.
This red light can only be seen from the front and port side, never from the rear.
You're absolutely right, the towed object must also have its lights on.
More precisely, as I've already written: "
The towed vessel must turn on the following at night:
The side lights (green on starboard, red on port).
The white stern light.
The towed vessel must never turn on the white masthead lights."
Hi Ron,
I see too many red lights in the first photo.
They're very nice, great job, but they're not compliant with regulations for a tugboat (according to Colreg).
On a tugboat, the only red light you can see is the port navigation light.
This red light can only be seen from the front and port side, never from the rear.
You're absolutely right, the towed object must also have its lights on.
More precisely, as I've already written: "
The towed vessel must turn on the following at night:
The side lights (green on starboard, red on port).
The white stern light.
The towed vessel must never turn on the white masthead lights."
Liked by pressonreguardless and RodC and
Don’t forget that the object being towed must have lights too.
Red Green & White Aft
Towing lights on your tugboat
Red Green & White Aft
Towing lights on your tugboat
Liked by pressonreguardless and RodC and
@Mike Stoney
You're right, Mike, because I was in a hurry, I couldn't find any better photos online.
But Stephen will have to rely on the last sketch I made of him and the recap.
But I hope I was at least clear.
Humor never hurts and is always welcome.
You're right, Mike, because I was in a hurry, I couldn't find any better photos online.
But Stephen will have to rely on the last sketch I made of him and the recap.
But I hope I was at least clear.
Humor never hurts and is always welcome.
Liked by pressonreguardless and RodC and
@AlessandroSPQR
Mamamia! Si prega di fornire immagini leggermente più grandi.
Ciao Alessandro
*****
For our English-speaking model boat enthusiasts:
Please provide slightly larger images.
Your Michel-C.
😍I love healthy humor 😍
Mamamia! Si prega di fornire immagini leggermente più grandi.
Ciao Alessandro
*****
For our English-speaking model boat enthusiasts:
Please provide slightly larger images.
Your Michel-C.
😍I love healthy humor 😍
if you don't ask, you won't get an answer!
Liked by pressonreguardless and RodC and
@Stephen T
Hi Stephen, SouthportPat provided a very helpful visual summary of COLREG.
If you're still not sure which lights you need on a tugboat, I hope this helps.
Please note that I'll include images from the internet because the ones in the books I studied (at the end) are in Italian.
The lights on a tugboat are the most difficult to learn among the various situations (ship aground, ship with difficulty maneuvering, dredger, fishing vessels, etc.) covered by COLREG.
They're difficult because they vary depending on the length of the tow and the tug.
In practice, there are four light combinations to learn.
1. Tugboat less than 50 meters in length and a tow less than 200 meters.
2. Tugboat less than 50 meters in length and a tow greater than/equal to 200 meters.
3. Tugboat greater than or equal to 50 meters in length and a tow less than or equal to 200 meters.
4. Tugboat greater than or equal to 50 meters in length and a tow greater than or equal to 200 meters.
If you'd like, I can explain these to you in detail and provide explanatory drawings, but you won't need them.
You need to know the length of your tugboat and then prepare it for a signaling system suitable for maximum effort, i.e., a tow greater than 200 meters.
These lights must only be turned on if the tugboat is actually towing another vessel.
If the tugboat is traveling without a tow, it is required to turn on the normal lights for a mechanically propelled vessel at night.
It will only be necessary to distinguish if the tugboat is greater than 50 meters in length.
I don't know yours, but it will probably be less than 50 meters.
To find out, just tell me the length of your tugboat and the scale ratio.
A vessel under 50 meters in length operating under power at night must display the following lights.
A masthead light: A white light directed forward, visible through a 225° arc.
A starboard light: A green light on the starboard side, visible from the forward sector to 22.5° abaft the beam (112.5°).
A port light: A red light on the starboard side, visible from the forward sector to 22.5° abaft the beam (112.5°).
A stern light: A white light directed aft, visible through a 135° arc.
A vessel over 50 meters in length must add:
A masthead light: A white light directed forward (225° arc) positioned aft (aft) and higher than the first.
See images 1 and 2
However, if you want to build a model as faithful as possible, you must install all the required lights, even if you don't turn on the ones required for actual towing.
So, here are the lights you need:
Assuming your vessel is less than 50 meters, you must be able to turn on:
Three white masthead lights: arranged in a vertical line, visible for a 225° arc. The presence of three lights (instead of two) specifically indicates that the tow exceeds 200 meters.
One starboard light (green): on the right side, visible for a 112.5° arc.
One port light (red): on the left side, visible for a 112.5° arc.
One aft light (white): directed aft, visible for a 135° arc.
One towing light (yellow): positioned in a vertical line directly above the white aft light, with the same sector of visibility (135°).
See Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6
For your information, the length of the tow should be calculated from the stern of the tugboat to the stern of the towed vessel.
The towed vessel must turn on the following at night:
The side lights (green on starboard, red on port).
The white stern light.
The towed vessel must never turn on the white masthead lights.
Now the question is how to connect and control these lights.
There are various options, but first it's important to understand the length of this tugboat.
TO RECAP
On your tugboat (if less than 50 meters), I would install the lights as shown in the last attached drawing.
Three white masthead lights: arranged in a vertical line, visible through a 225° arc.
One starboard light (green): on the starboard side, visible through a 112.5° arc.
A port light (red): on the port side, visible over a 112.5° arc.
A stern light (white): directed aft, visible over a 135° arc.
A trailer light (yellow): positioned in a vertical line directly above the white stern light, with the same visibility sector (135°).
You must be able to turn on only the navigation lights and the trailer lights separately. If you want, I can tell you how I would do it.
More realistically and simply, you should only be able to turn on the night navigation lights (and simply show the others that they are there).
I hope I've explained myself.
Hi Stephen, SouthportPat provided a very helpful visual summary of COLREG.
If you're still not sure which lights you need on a tugboat, I hope this helps.
Please note that I'll include images from the internet because the ones in the books I studied (at the end) are in Italian.
The lights on a tugboat are the most difficult to learn among the various situations (ship aground, ship with difficulty maneuvering, dredger, fishing vessels, etc.) covered by COLREG.
They're difficult because they vary depending on the length of the tow and the tug.
In practice, there are four light combinations to learn.
1. Tugboat less than 50 meters in length and a tow less than 200 meters.
2. Tugboat less than 50 meters in length and a tow greater than/equal to 200 meters.
3. Tugboat greater than or equal to 50 meters in length and a tow less than or equal to 200 meters.
4. Tugboat greater than or equal to 50 meters in length and a tow greater than or equal to 200 meters.
If you'd like, I can explain these to you in detail and provide explanatory drawings, but you won't need them.
You need to know the length of your tugboat and then prepare it for a signaling system suitable for maximum effort, i.e., a tow greater than 200 meters.
These lights must only be turned on if the tugboat is actually towing another vessel.
If the tugboat is traveling without a tow, it is required to turn on the normal lights for a mechanically propelled vessel at night.
It will only be necessary to distinguish if the tugboat is greater than 50 meters in length.
I don't know yours, but it will probably be less than 50 meters.
To find out, just tell me the length of your tugboat and the scale ratio.
A vessel under 50 meters in length operating under power at night must display the following lights.
A masthead light: A white light directed forward, visible through a 225° arc.
A starboard light: A green light on the starboard side, visible from the forward sector to 22.5° abaft the beam (112.5°).
A port light: A red light on the starboard side, visible from the forward sector to 22.5° abaft the beam (112.5°).
A stern light: A white light directed aft, visible through a 135° arc.
A vessel over 50 meters in length must add:
A masthead light: A white light directed forward (225° arc) positioned aft (aft) and higher than the first.
See images 1 and 2
However, if you want to build a model as faithful as possible, you must install all the required lights, even if you don't turn on the ones required for actual towing.
So, here are the lights you need:
Assuming your vessel is less than 50 meters, you must be able to turn on:
Three white masthead lights: arranged in a vertical line, visible for a 225° arc. The presence of three lights (instead of two) specifically indicates that the tow exceeds 200 meters.
One starboard light (green): on the right side, visible for a 112.5° arc.
One port light (red): on the left side, visible for a 112.5° arc.
One aft light (white): directed aft, visible for a 135° arc.
One towing light (yellow): positioned in a vertical line directly above the white aft light, with the same sector of visibility (135°).
See Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6
For your information, the length of the tow should be calculated from the stern of the tugboat to the stern of the towed vessel.
The towed vessel must turn on the following at night:
The side lights (green on starboard, red on port).
The white stern light.
The towed vessel must never turn on the white masthead lights.
Now the question is how to connect and control these lights.
There are various options, but first it's important to understand the length of this tugboat.
TO RECAP
On your tugboat (if less than 50 meters), I would install the lights as shown in the last attached drawing.
Three white masthead lights: arranged in a vertical line, visible through a 225° arc.
One starboard light (green): on the starboard side, visible through a 112.5° arc.
A port light (red): on the port side, visible over a 112.5° arc.
A stern light (white): directed aft, visible over a 135° arc.
A trailer light (yellow): positioned in a vertical line directly above the white stern light, with the same visibility sector (135°).
You must be able to turn on only the navigation lights and the trailer lights separately. If you want, I can tell you how I would do it.
More realistically and simply, you should only be able to turn on the night navigation lights (and simply show the others that they are there).
I hope I've explained myself.
Liked by pressonreguardless and chugalone100 and
what light on the tug
my big tug is based on a post war steam tug latter converted to a oil burner what light do inner to fit on the forward mast and other places bit confused over whats needed
Stephen james tucker
Liked by AlessandroSPQR and chugalone100 and
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