LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS. VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 8 May 1863, Page 2

LIGHTHOUSES, PORT PHILLIP HEADS. VICTORIA.

(From the Gazette, March 18.)

The accompanying notice to mariners respecting alterations in fche light at Port Phillip Heads, and I

sailing directions rendered necessary by the alterations in question, are published for general information. Roasnx-S. Anderson, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Department of Trade and Customs, Melbourne, March 12, 1863. Notice to Mabikebs. poet philhp heads xighthotrses. Navigators are hereby informed that in accord, ance with a notice to mariners dated tho 27th of December, 18b'2, tho alterations in Shortland's Bluff and Swan Spit Lights, and the exhibition for tho 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. Consequent upon these changes, the following sailing directions are published for tho guidance of vessels navigating the entrance to Port Phillip at night : — Vessels from the southward and eastward will see the high light (6xed white) on a N £ W bearing, and the white low light (fixed white and red) onaNp 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. Vessels from tbe southward and westward sighting the high light to the eastward of NE by E should, to avoid the Barwon bight, haul out to the eastward to open the low light, which will be first saen white on a NE by E bearing, and as they proceed to bring the two lights in one the lowlighfc will change its color from white to red on a NE £ E bearing. A reference to the chart will show thafc. as hitherto, the best and safest oourso between the Heads is to keep the two Shortland's Bluff lights in one line on a NE by N and S W by S bearing ; but should the wind become scant and the vessel compelled to make a tack when in tho vicinity of tho Corsair Rock or the Point Lonsdale Reef, tliese dangers will be avoided by vessek of light draught so long as the Shortland's Bluff low red light is kept in sight. Vessels so circumstanced must be careful to go about or haul towards midchannel before tho 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 Lonsdalo and Ferguson rocks. A r essels steering from sea for Port Phillip, and ncnv the entrance, will first see the Point Lons da] 0 green light on a NW by N $ N bearing, and so 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 aN W by W bearing from the light over these dangers. When tho Lonsdale red light opens out fult. vessels are inside of them ; and when they shut it in on a W i N bearing, they are inside of the Corsair rock. - Vessels steering towards tbe West Channel will avoid tbo reef off Shortland's Bluff, and the bank between it and Swan Spit, and also clear the Royal George sand, when in their vicinity, by not opening out the white light on Swan Spit, but keeping the red light in sight until within throo cables' length of it, when they will be above the Royal George buoy, and should haul to tho 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 remindod that the low light on Shortlands Bluff now shows whi*.e from sea up to tho South Channel to the east end of Cnpid Sound. Vessels below Capo! Sound, White Perch Buoy, will be aided in thc-.ir passage up or down* the South Channel, and avoid tho north sand, by not shutting the light in, it beiug masked on a west by north bearing. With the view of keeping the fairway to the West Channel cloar, vessels of light draught at recommended, when anchoring off Shortland's Bluff, io bring up ns close over towards the shore as possible on the NW side of the fairway, indicated at night by the Swan Spit light changing from rod to white on a NE £ E bearing, nnd by day the Swan Spit lighthouse just open E of No. 1 black baov. Vessels of heavy draught should anchor on the SE side of the fairway, which is indicated at night by tho Swnn Spit light changing from red to white on a NE £ N bearing, and by day the Swan Spit Lighthouse just open W of No. 2 White Perch Bhov. Masters of vessels about to anohor at night off Shortland's Bluff are requested to noto that tho low light shuts in on a N by W bearing. All bearings are magnetic. Charles Ferguson, Chief Harbor Master. Department of Ports and Harbors, Williamstown, llth March, 1863.