#10 – Communications
March 21, 2003
Mariners are advised that effective May 1, 2002, the following communications procedures will be in effect:
AT LOCKS
Lock crews’ initial communication with vessel will occur when vessel is inbound at the L/A2
Vessel to acknowledge at minimum the following 3 positioning instructions:
– Initial communication (final mooring position)
– 25 m spotting instruction (15 m at SLSDC locks)
– Final spotting instruction (In position)
At SLSDC locks for downbound maximum sized vessels required to winch to final mooring position the following additional communications must be acknowledged:
– The message “15 m to the 15m mark”
– The message “In position at the 15 m mark”,
– When the vessel has winched into position, the message “In position”
AT BRIDGES (remote from locks)
The following procedure applies at all free-standing Bridges, namely:
– Br. 7A/7B, SLU, VAL in the Montreal Lake Ontario Section
– Br. 4, 5, 11 and 21 in the Welland Canal Section
The bridge operator will make a VHF radio call on the normal working channel to the last vessel through the bridge draw, immediately prior to initiating the bridge lowering / closing sequence. Vessel may respond if there is a problem.
e.g. “VESSEL NAME, BRIDGE 21 WILL START TO LOWER”