LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS. VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 50, 1 May 1863, Page 2

LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS. VICTORIA.

(From the Gazette, March 18.) The accompanying notice to mariners respecting alterations in the'liffht at Port PhiHp Heads, and mailing directions rendered necessary by ths alterations in question, Are pablished for general information. RoaEET S. Andebsoh, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne, March 12, 1883. Notice to Mabiners; POBT PHIII-TP HEADS liaHTHOTTSEB. Navigators are hereby informed that in accord* anee with a notice to mariners dated the 27th o* December, 1862, the alterations in Shortland's Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for the first time of a light on Point Lonsdale. as notified on the 3rd February, 1863, were carried into effect on the respective dates mentioned in such notices. i Consequent upon these changes, "the following Bailing directions are published for the guidance of ] vessels navigating the entrance to Port Phil! : p at j ui?ht: — Vessels from the southward and eastward will ' soe the hieh light (fixed white) on a N \- W hear- j in?, and the white low light (fixed white and red) on a N "E bearing ; as they proceed to the NW to bring the two lights in one, the low light; will change its color from white to red on a NNE £ E bearing 1 ." Vessels from fie southward and westward flighting the high light to the eastward of NE by B shomld, to avoid the Barwon bight, haul out to the eastward to open the low light, which will be first s^en white on a NE byE bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights in one the low light will change iis color -from White to red on a NE J E bearing. A reference to the c'lart will show that, as hitherto, the best and safest course between the Heads is to keep the two Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on a NE by N and SW by S bearing ; but should the wind become scant and the vessel compelled to make a tack when in the vicinity of the Corsair Rock or the Point Lonsdale Beef, these dangers will be avoided by vessels of "ghfc draught so long as the Shortland's Bluff low red iisht is kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced ZOUgt be careful to go about or haul towarris midchannel before the low light changes from red to white. The light (fixed red and green) on Point Lonsdale has been established to warn vessels entering ' or departing at night, of their vicinity to. and when they are clear of, the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks. Vessels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and near the entrance, will first see the Point Lonsdale green light on a NW by N i N bearing, and sn long as they have it full in view they are to seaward of the Lonsdale and Ferguson rocks when the two colors, red and green, begin to blend, it Indicates vicinity to the line which passes on aNW by W bearing from the light over these dangers. When the Lonsdale red light opens out full, .vessels are inside of them ; and when they shut it in /ra a W £ N bearing, they are inside of the Corsair rock. Vessels steering towards the West Channel will avoid the reef off Shortland'B Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear the Royal George sand, when in their vicinity, t>y not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, but keeping the red light in si^hfc until within three cables' length of it, when they will be above the Royal George buoy, and should haul to the eastward, and open the white light, giving the lighthouse a. berth of three-quarter's of a cable's length in passing. Vessels navigating the South Chunnel are reminded that the low light on Shortlands Bluff now ■shows white from sea up to the South Channel to the east end of Capel Sound. Vessels below Capel Sound, White Perch Buoy, will be aided in their passage up or down the South Channel, and avoid the north sand, by not shutting the light in, it being masked on a west by north bearing. With the view of keeping the fairway to the West Channel clear, vessels of liybt draught are recommended, when anchoring off Rhortland's Bluff, to bring up as close over towards the shore as possible on the NW aide of the fairway, indicated at night by the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE ■£ E bearing, and hv day the Swan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black buoy. Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side of the fairway, winch is indicated at night by the Swan Spit light changing from red to white on a NE f N bearing, and by day the Swan Spit Lighthouse just open W of No. 2 White Perch Buoy. Masters of vessels about to anchor at night off Shortland's Bluff are requested to note that the low light shuts in on a N by W bearing. All bearings are magnetic. Charles Febrttson, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors, Williamstown, 11th March, 1863.