The CYCC has responded in detail to the proposals in the General Light House Authorites
Aids to Navigation Review 2005. The CYCC also made the following general points.
Local buoys and aids on harbour approaches & etc. are more important
to yachtsmen than the GLAs' aids and their maintenance varies. GLAs have a
duty to supervise local authorities' aids, so we suggest that the GLA's encourage
local authorities to carry out a similar quinquennial consultation with users.
The review identifies a growing volume and speed of maritime traffic, which
increases collision risks for vulnerable leisure craft. We support the GLAs'
work by emphasising the importance of the GLAs' aids in encouraging situational
awareness by all mariners and not just as a substitute for GPS, since authoritative
studies support the point (see CYCC June 2004 bulletin "Visual Aids to
Navigation") and the GLAs use it to justify their work.
The review talks about marking wind farms, so we repeat the points made
by RYA and others about the need to avoid restricted areas around farms and
the risks of forcing yachts and commercial traffic to share narrow traffic
lanes through these installations.
The review talks about the effect of new technology, so we note that new
instruments do little to help commercial shipping identify leisure craft at
a safe distance and that AIS may well make the problem worse. This is another
'situational awareness' point.
Concerns were stated during CYCC's 2004/2005 survey of weather forecast
broadcasts that many sailors would like reports of actual conditions. As the
review notes that the GLAs' aids will be increasingly used to gather meteorological
data, we suggest that ways should be found to make data from aids easily accessible
in port and at sea.
Small vessels' responsibilities change in Traffic Separation Schemes, because
they may not impede power driven vessels and may only cross at right angles,
so it is vital that borders between schemes and the neighbouring Inshore Traffic
Zones are clearly identified. Accordingly, we support the GLAs' extensive
marking of scheme boundaries.