Question 1

Good pilotage practice entering an unfamiliar harbour at night includes…

Accepted Answer

A prepared plan: clearing bearings, light characteristics, tides and an escape route — Pilotage is planned before you arrive: identify each light in sequence, note dangers with clearing bearings, know the tide and have a way out if it goes wrong.

Question 2

In the light description Fl(3)WRG.15s13m7-5M, the “13m” is…

Accepted Answer

Elevation of the light above the height datum — Class Fl(3); colours WRG (sectors); period 15 s; ELEVATION 13 m; range 7 to 5 miles depending on sector colour.

Question 3

A lateral buoy drawn with three colour bands and a light “Fl(2+1)” marks…

Accepted Answer

A preferred channel at a junction — Preferred-channel mark: the composite Fl(2+1) rhythm is reserved for it; the main channel lies on the side opposite the colour shown.

Question 4

In “Fl(3)W.15s 21m 24M” the final two figures are…

Accepted Answer

Height of the light (21 m above MHWS) and nominal range (24 nautical miles) — Character, colour, period, ELEVATION, RANGE. Height feeds the dipping-range trick; nominal range assumes clear weather.

Lights and their language

This lesson is part of a paid course