TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1979
LON
5
TYPHOON PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR PLEASURE CRAFT
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DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON EACH YEAR, A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF PLEASURE CRAFT BREAK FREE AND DRIFT FROM THEIR MOORINGS. THEY ARE LIABLE TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO SECURELY MOORED BOATS, BECOME STRANDED OR SINK, OR BECOME SWAMPED BY RAIN WATER.
IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST OWNERS TO SECURE THEIR BOATS PROPERLY AND AVOID ACCIDENTS, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE AND COMMONSENSE PRECAUTIONS:
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CHECK THE MOORING AND BOAT ON THE APPROACH AND FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A STORM. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN MOOR THE BOAT FOR TYPHOON CONDITIONS WHENEVER IT IS LEFT UNATTENDED DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON.
MAKE SURE THE MOORING ROPES OR CHAINS ARE LONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR HIGH WATER SPRINGS AND A STORM SURGE OTHERWISE THE BOAT MAY LIFT ITS MOORINGS FROM THE SEABED.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT MOORING ROPES BE OF GOOD QUALITY MANILA OR NYLON. REMEMBER THAT SOME TYPES OF SYNTHETIC ROPE DETERIORATE IN SUNLIGHT WITHOUT SHOWING ANY VISIBLE SIGNS.
+IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A SET OF STORM ROPES UNDER COVER BUT READY FOR USE ON THE APPROACH OF BAD WEATHER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
MOORING ROPES SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY FITTING FLEXIBLE PLASTIC TUBING, LEATHER OR CANVAS TO PREVENT THEM FROM CHAF ING, HE SAID.
+ IT IS USUALLY ADVISABLE TO USE TWO MOORING ROPES TO EACH MOORING BUOY, ONE FROM PORT AND THE OTHER FROM STARBOARD OR, BETTER STILL, AN ADEQUATE MOORING CHAIN SHACKLED TO THE BUOY MOORING CHAIN. IF SHACKLES ARE USED, THEY SHOULD BE MOUSED TO PREVENT WORKING BACK,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
MOORING ROPES, HE SAID, SHOULD BE SECURED TO AT LEAST TWO POINTS ON THE BOAT TO OBVIATE THE DANGER OF CLEATS AND BOLLARDS BEING TORN FROM THE DECK WHEN A HEAVY STRAIN IS PLACED ON THE MOOR ING.
SAYING THAT MOORING CHAINS USUALLY WASTE AT THE LINKS IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE BUOY AND ALONG THE LENGTH WHERE THEY REST ON THE SEABED, HE ADVISED OWNERS TO HAVE THE IR MOOR ING EQUIPMENT INSPECTED BY A COMPETENT SURVEYOR AT INTERVALS OF NOT MORE THAN TWO YEARS,
+ IF A BOAT IS KEPT AT FORE AND AFT MOORINGS, AS AT ABERDEEN HARBOUR AND CAUSEWAY BAY TYPHOON SHELTER, ADEQUATE FENDERS SHOULD BE USED TO PREVENT CONTACT DAMAGE TO ADJACENT BOATS, OLD CAR TYRES, WHICH ARE CHEAP AND NOT EASILY DISPLACED BY GUSTS OF WIND, MAKE VERY GOOD FENDERS,+ HE ALSO SAID.
WHEN MOTOR